TRP Selection for Retransmissions in Coordinated Multipoint Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

In coordinated multipoint networks, existing technologies face challenges in efficiently selecting the optimal transmission/reception points (TRPs) for retransmissions, particularly in scenarios with rapidly changing channel conditions, leading to poor communication reliability and increased latency.

Innovation Solution

A method where user equipment (UE) and TRPs in a coordinated multipoint network determine and transmit negative acknowledgments (NACKs) to multiple TRPs, and a controller analyzes channel measurements to select the best TRPs for retransmissions based on channel conditions, ensuring improved spatial diversity and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional single TRP transmission is used, then device complexity is low, but communication reliability deteriorates under rapidly changing channel conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidTRP coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple TRPs into a coordinated multipoint network where multiple transmission points work together to serve a single UE. This combining of multiple transmission resources improves communication reliability by providing spatial diversity, allowing the UE to receive transmissions from different TRPs that may have better channel conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining low complexity and achieving high reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic TRP selection and coordination mechanisms where the network can adaptively choose which TRPs to use for transmission and retransmission based on real-time channel conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to respond to rapidly changing channel conditions by selecting optimal TRPs, improving reliability without requiring permanent complex configurations at all TRPs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If multiple NACKs are transmitted to multiple TRPs, then communication reliability improves, but loss of time increases due to additional signaling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretransmission success rateVSAvoidretransmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary actions by having multiple TRPs prepare for potential retransmissions in advance. When a transmission fails, the coordinated network structure allows pre-configured TRPs to quickly take over for retransmission without requiring extensive new coordination or signaling, thus reducing the time penalty associated with sending multiple NACKs and enabling faster recovery from transmission failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If TRP selection is based on real-time channel measurements, then retransmission success rate improves, but device complexity increases due to measurement and analysis requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretransmission reliabilityVSAvoidchannel measurement processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary coordination mechanism where a designated TRP or network controller acts as a mediator to collect channel measurements from multiple TRPs and make the selection decision. This intermediary approach centralizes the complex measurement analysis function, allowing individual TRPs to maintain simpler implementations while still benefiting from coordinated, measurement-based TRP selection that improves retransmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3744031B1Transmission/reception point (TRP) selection for retransmissions in a coordinated multipoint network
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3744031B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3744031B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3744031B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may determine that a communication from a transmission/reception point (TRP), included in a coordinated multipoint network, was not successfully received. The UE may transmit a plurality of negative acknowledgements (NACKs), corresponding to the communication, to a plurality of TRPs included in the coordinated multipoint network based at least in part on determining that the communication was not successfully received. The UE may receive a retransmission of the communication from one or more TRPs of the plurality of TRPs. Numerous other aspects are provided.