UCI Multiplexing on PUSCH for Overlapping Uplink Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently multiplexing physical uplink control channels (PUCCH) with uplink control information (UCI) and physical uplink shared channels (PUSCH), particularly when resource elements are insufficient, and handling configured grant UCI (CG-UCI) multiplexing is unclear.

Innovation Solution

The method involves combining UCIs with the same physical priority as configured grant UCI (CG-UCI) to form a new UCI, assigning it the same type, and multiplexing it on the PUSCH according to a pre-defined rule, while UCIs with different priorities are assigned the same priority as the PUSCH and multiplexed accordingly, using localized or distributed concatenation methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple channels of uplink control information are transmitted separately using different physical channels, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple channels of uplink control information (HARQ-ACK, CSI, SR) that were previously transmitted separately on different physical channels (PUCCH or PUSCH) into a single PUSCH transmission. This merging approach maintains reliability by ensuring all control information is delivered together while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need to manage multiple separate physical channels and their associated signaling procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The PUSCH is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it carries both uplink data and multiple types of uplink control information (HARQ-ACK, CSI, SR) in a single transmission. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by allowing one channel to perform what previously required multiple dedicated channels, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining the reliability of control information transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple channels of uplink control information are transmitted separately, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to multiple transmission opportunities

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidloss of time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple control information channels into a single PUSCH transmission, the patent eliminates the need for multiple separate transmission opportunities. All control information (HARQ-ACK, CSI, SR) is transmitted simultaneously in one go, reducing the time loss associated with multiple separate transmissions while maintaining reliability through the robustness of the unified transmission mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares and multiplexes all control information channels in advance before a single transmission event. By performing preliminary multiplexing of HARQ-ACK, CSI, and SR into the PUSCH structure beforehand, the system avoids the time delay of sequential transmissions and ensures all control information is ready for simultaneous delivery, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple channels of uplink control information are transmitted separately, then reliability is improved, but use of energy increases due to multiple transmission operations

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiduse of energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple control information transmissions into a single PUSCH operation, reducing the total energy consumption. Instead of separately transmitting HARQ-ACK, CSI, and SR on different physical channels (each requiring separate power amplification and processing), all control information is combined and transmitted in one energy-efficient PUSCH operation, thereby reducing overall energy usage while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The PUSCH is designed to perform multiple functions (carrying data and multiple control information types) in a single transmission operation. This multi-functionality reduces energy consumption by eliminating redundant transmission operations and processing steps that would be required if each control information type were transmitted separately, while still ensuring reliable delivery of all control information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Device complexity

If uplink control information is multiplexed with uplink data on PUSCH, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of control information may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidmeasurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allocating different resource elements within the PUSCH to different control information types (HARQ-ACK, CSI, SR) and data, ensuring each has appropriate modulation and coding characteristics optimized for its specific requirements. This localized optimization maintains measurement precision for control information while allowing the overall PUSCH structure to reduce device complexity through unified transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The PUSCH transmission is segmented into different resource elements and regions, with specific segments allocated for control information (HARQ-ACK, CSI, SR) and others for data. This segmentation allows control information to be processed with appropriate precision while maintaining the benefits of multiplexing, as the receiver can separately decode control information segments with the necessary measurement precision without requiring separate physical channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4344467B1Methods, devices, and systems for UCI multiplexing with pusch
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 ZTE CORP
  • EP4344467B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4344467B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4344467B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure describes methods, system, and devices for uplink control information (UCI) multiplexing with a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). One method includes in response to a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) with a set of UCIs overlapping with a PUSCH with a configured grant UCI (CG-UCI), multiplexing, by a user equipment (UE), the set of UCIs in the PUCCH with the CG-UCI in the PUSCH by: in response to a UCI in the set of UCIs having a same physical priority as the CG-UCI: combining the UCI and the CG-UCI to obtain a new UCI, assigning, the new UCI with a type being same as that of the UCI, and multiplexing the new UCI on the PUSCH according to a pre-defined multiplexing rule.