Uplink Control Information Multiplexing in Overlapping PUCCH Sub-slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly 5G NR, face challenges in efficiently multiplexing uplink control information (UCI) due to overlapping PUCCH resources with different priorities, leading to issues with latency and reliability, especially when high priority and low priority UCI need to be multiplexed or dropped in overlapping channels.
Innovation Solution
A method for a UE to perform UCI multiplexing by receiving RRC configurations for PUCCH resources with specific sub-slot configurations, allowing for the selection and multiplexing of UCI in overlapping resources based on timing constraints and priority, ensuring that high priority UCI is reliably transmitted while low priority UCI can be dropped or multiplexed as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple PUCCH resources with different priorities are configured for UCI transmission, then reliability of high priority UCI is improved, but resource overlap and multiplexing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The PUCCH resources are segmented by priority levels (first priority and second priority), allowing independent configuration and management of high-priority and low-priority uplink control information. This segmentation enables the system to handle different priority requirements separately while reducing overall multiplexing complexity through structured resource allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different PUCCH resources are allocated with different priority qualities - first PUCCH resources for high-priority UCI and second PUCCH resources for low-priority UCI. This local quality differentiation ensures that high-priority transmissions receive dedicated, protected resources while low-priority transmissions use remaining resources, improving overall reliability without uniform complexity increase.
2Productivity
If PUCCH resources are allocated for both high priority and low priority UCI, then spectral efficiency is improved, but resource overlap leading to multiplexing conflicts increases
Solution Approach 1:
When a first PUCCH resource and second PUCCH resource overlap in time-frequency domain, the patent merges their UCI payloads into a single multiplexed transmission. The first UCI from high-priority PUCCH and second UCI from low-priority PUCCH are combined and transmitted together on the first PUCCH resource, improving spectral efficiency by eliminating redundant transmissions while maintaining reliability through priority-based multiplexing rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary multiplexing mechanism that mediates between overlapping high-priority and low-priority PUCCH resources. This intermediary process determines whether to multiplex low-priority UCI into high-priority PUCCH or vice versa based on timing constraints and priority rules, resolving conflicts while optimizing spectral efficiency.
3Productivity
If overlapping PUCCH resources are multiplexed to improve resource utilization, then spectral efficiency increases, but timing constraints and multiplexing procedures become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes preliminary multiplexing procedures and timing constraints before actual UCI transmission occurs. By pre-defining rules for handling overlapping PUCCH resources, including priority-based selection and timing requirements, the system reduces real-time decision complexity while maintaining high resource utilization efficiency through structured multiplexing.
Data Source
AI summary
A UE and a method for handling multiplexing UCI are provided. The method receives an RRC configuration including a first PUCCH resource configuration and a second PUCCH resource configuration. The method obtains a first set of PUCCH resources in a first sub-slot and a second set of PUCCH resources in a second sub-slot, where the first sub-slot overlaps the second sub-slot. The method performs a first UCI multiplexing procedure after determining that a first PUCCH resource of the first set of PUCCH resources overlaps a second PUCCH resource of the second set of PUCCH resources and a timing constraint for multiplexing is satisfied. The first PUCCH resource is associated with transmission of first UCI. The first UCI multiplexing procedure includes selecting a third PUCCH resource from the second set of PUCCH resources and multiplexing the first UCI in the third PUCCH resource.