UCI Multiplexing for Multi-TRP Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

In next-generation wireless communication systems, the lack of tight scheduling coordination between multiple transmit and receive points (TRPs) leads to overlapping uplink control information (UCI) transmissions, causing inefficiencies and difficulties in multiplexing UCI for multi-TRP operations, especially when there is no or loose coordination between TRPs.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a UCI multiplexing enhancement for multi-TRP operations by prioritizing UCI transmissions based on priority rules and using joint UCI reports, with explicit or implicit TRP index indication to ensure proper decoding, allowing for efficient resource utilization and handling of overlapping UCI from different TRPs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple TRPs operate independently without tight scheduling coordination, then each TRP can autonomously manage its resources and operations, but UCI transmissions from different TRPs overlap in time causing multiplexing difficulties and resource contention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous TRP operationVSAvoidUCI transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a priority-based UCI selection mechanism as an intermediary layer between multiple TRPs and the uplink transmission channel. This mechanism mediates conflicts by selecting which UCI to transmit based on priority rules when resources overlap, enabling autonomous TRP operation while maintaining reliable UCI delivery through structured conflict resolution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If UCI from different TRPs is transmitted simultaneously without priority rules, then resource utilization is maximized, but UCI multiplexing becomes difficult and decoding reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidUCI decoding reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the UCI transmission process by introducing priority levels and selection rules that divide the transmission decision into distinct stages: identifying overlapping UCIs, applying priority rules to select which to transmit, and dropping lower-priority UCIs. This segmentation maintains high resource utilization while ensuring decoding reliability through systematic conflict management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of UCI transmission by introducing dynamic priority-based selection. Instead of treating all UCI equally, the system adjusts which UCI is transmitted based on priority parameters assigned to different TRPs and UCI types, enabling simultaneous operation of multiple TRPs while maintaining reliable decoding through parameter-driven discrimination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If tight scheduling coordination is implemented between multiple TRPs, then UCI multiplexing becomes easier and resource contention is reduced, but system complexity and coordination overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUCI multiplexing easeVSAvoidscheduling coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables TRPs to self-manage UCI transmission conflicts through autonomous priority-based selection rules. Each TRP independently determines whether to transmit or drop UCI based on pre-configured priority rules, eliminating the need for complex real-time coordination between TRPs while maintaining ease of UCI multiplexing through self-service conflict resolution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3874669B1Uplink control information (UCI) multiplexing for multi-transmit and receive point (TRP) system
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 INTEL CORP
  • EP3874669B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3874669B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3874669B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Technology for a user equipment (UE) operable to encode uplink control information (UCI) for transmission to a Next Generation NodeB (gNB) is disclosed. The 5 UE can identify first UCI for a first transmit and receive point (TRP). The UE can identify second UCI for a second TRP. The UE can determine that a first physical uplink channel resource associated with the first UCI overlaps in time in a slot with a second physical uplink channel resource associated with the second UCI within a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) group. The UE can apply a priority based UCI selection rule to 10 produce a priority based UCI communication of one or more UCI. The UE can encode the one or more UCI for transmission to the gNB using one or more of the first physical uplink channel resource or the second physical uplink channel resource.