Top-to-Bottom Search Space for Downlink Control Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, especially in 3G/NR networks, particularly in mmWave deployments, the bottom-to-top search technique for downlink control channels leads to gaps between control channel elements, degrading single-carrier properties and inefficiency due to covering fewer UEs, resulting in suboptimal performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a top-to-bottom search space for control resource sets, where base stations generate candidate samples spanning the entirety of the control channel for single UEs and minimize gaps by selecting appropriate aggregation levels, allowing UEs to search efficiently across multiple aggregation levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If bottom-to-top search technique is used for downlink control channels, then UE can search for control information, but gaps appear between control channel elements degrading single-carrier properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional bottom-to-top search technique by implementing a top-to-bottom search space for control resource sets. Instead of starting the search from the bottom of the control channel and moving upward, the UE now searches from the top aggregation levels downward. This inversion eliminates the gaps between control channel elements that occur in the bottom-to-top approach, thereby preserving single-carrier waveform integrity while maintaining control channel search functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the search parameter order by reversing the aggregation level search sequence. Rather than searching aggregation levels in ascending order (bottom-to-top), the system now searches in descending order (top-to-bottom). This parameter change in the search methodology eliminates the harmful gaps between control channel elements and maintains continuous single-carrier waveform characteristics.
2Loss of information
If bottom-to-top search technique is used, then control information can be transmitted, but efficiency decreases due to covering fewer UEs
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the search technique from bottom-to-top to top-to-bottom, the patent improves network efficiency. The top-to-bottom search space allows the base station to more effectively cover multiple UEs by organizing control resource sets in a manner that eliminates gaps and optimizes resource utilization, thereby increasing overall network productivity while maintaining control information transmission.
3Adaptability or versatility
If candidate samples are generated for multiple aggregation levels, then search flexibility is improved, but gaps appear in the control channel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains search flexibility across multiple aggregation levels while eliminating control channel gaps by inverting the search approach. The top-to-bottom search methodology processes aggregation levels in reverse order, ensuring that candidate samples are organized contiguously without gaps, thus preserving control channel continuity while retaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous control channel structure by eliminating gaps between candidate samples across aggregation levels. The top-to-bottom search space organization maintains uninterrupted control channel elements, ensuring continuous useful action in control information transmission while preserving the versatility of multi-aggregation level searching.
Data Source
AI summary
User equipment associated with a legacy network may utilize a bottom-to-top search technique to identify relevant control channel samples. Generating a control channel that is configured for the bottom-to-top search technique may lead to poor performance in a single-carrier waveform, which may be disadvantageous as networks move toward New Radio. In some aspects, described herein, a base station generates a control channel that is configured to minimize gaps in the control channel, and a user equipment performs a top-to-bottom search technique to identify relevant control channel samples. By using the top-to-bottom search technique, degradation of single-carrier waveforms is reduced and efficiency is improved.