Three-Carrier HARQ-ACK Encoding on a Single Code Channel

Solution Overview

Problem

Current HARQ-ACK encoding solutions for Ternary Cell (TC) technologies require excessive power consumption and increase the Cubic Metric (CM) value, affecting system performance when transmitting feedback signals across multiple carriers.

Innovation Solution

A system that encodes Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request-Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) signals from three carriers into a single codeword, using a specific mapping relationship to reduce power overhead and maintain system performance without affecting the CM value, utilizing a single code channel for transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If three code channels are used for feedback transmission in TC mode, then feedback information can be transmitted for three carriers, but power consumption increases to 2-3 times that of single carrier and CM value increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeedback transmission capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges feedback information from three carriers into a single code channel by mapping multiple HARQ-ACK signals onto one codeword. Instead of using separate code channels for each carrier, the invention combines all feedback signals (ACK/NACK/DTX states for three carriers) into a unified encoding structure that transmits through a single code channel, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining full feedback capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal encoding scheme that can represent all possible feedback combinations for three carriers within a single codeword structure. The mapping relationship allows one code channel to perform the function of multiple code channels by efficiently encoding different feedback states (ACK, NACK, DTX) for multiple carriers in a unified framework

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If two code channels are used with mixed encoding solutions, then feedback information can be transmitted, but power consumption increases to 2-3 times that of single carrier and system performance is affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeedback transmission capabilityVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges feedback information from three carriers into a single code channel by mapping multiple HARQ-ACK signals onto one codeword. Instead of using separate code channels for each carrier, the invention combines all feedback signals (ACK/NACK/DTX states for three carriers) into a unified encoding structure that transmits through a single code channel, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining full feedback capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the encoding parameters by defining a specific mapping relationship between feedback signals and codeword bits. The encoding scheme transforms the representation of feedback information by assigning specific bit patterns to different feedback combinations, optimizing the parameter structure to achieve reliable transmission with reduced power overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If excessive power is consumed for feedback transmission, then feedback signals can be transmitted for multiple carriers, but CM value increases and system performance is affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-carrier feedback capabilityVSAvoidCM value

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges feedback information from three carriers into a single code channel by mapping multiple HARQ-ACK signals onto one codeword. Instead of using separate code channels for each carrier, the invention combines all feedback signals (ACK/NACK/DTX states for three carriers) into a unified encoding structure that transmits through a single code channel, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining full feedback capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the encoding parameters by defining a specific mapping relationship between feedback signals and codeword bits. The encoding scheme transforms the representation of feedback information by assigning specific bit patterns to different feedback combinations, optimizing the parameter structure to achieve reliable transmission with reduced power overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2975793B1Method and apparatus for encoding feedback signal

Publication Date: 2019.07.10 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

Figure 1~3

AI summary

A method and apparatus for encoding feedback signal is provided. The method includes: encoding feedback signals of three carriers to output a bit sequence; and transmitting the bit sequence on a High Speed-Dedicated Physical Control Channel (HS-DPCCH). The encoding the feedback signals of the three carriers may specifically include: mapping the feedback signals of the three carriers into a codeword, in which the codeword can be selected from a codebook, and codewords in the codebook satisfy a particular code distance relationship. The method for jointly encoding feedback signals of three carriers in a Ternary Cell (TC) mode is provided. Feedback signals are transmitted over a single code channel. Therefore, power overhead is reduced, and system performance is improved.