Uplink Control Information Reporting via Self-Contained TDD Slots
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in determining channel status with reduced latency, especially for mobile user equipment, to effectively choose transmission modes and techniques that ensure reliable data reception amidst noise and interference.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves mechanisms for transmitting uplink control information, including channel state information (CSI) and beam-related information, through physical uplink control channels (PUCCH) and physical uplink shared channels (PUSCH), utilizing self-contained time-division duplex (TDD) slot structures that incorporate both downlink and uplink resources to facilitate low-latency reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional separate downlink and uplink slots are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but latency for channel status determination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges downlink and uplink slots into a single integrated slot structure, allowing downlink transmission and uplink feedback to occur within the same time slot. This eliminates the sequential processing delay inherent in separate slots, enabling the UE to receive downlink data and send CSI feedback simultaneously, thereby reducing latency without requiring complex multi-slot coordination mechanisms
2Loss of information
If all UCI elements are transmitted in a single PUCCH, then transmission simplicity is maintained, but payload size constraints cause information loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments UCI elements into different categories (HARQ-ACK, CSI, BSI, BRI) and enables selective transmission based on payload size and channel conditions. The UE can divide UCI into multiple parts and transmit them through different channels (PUCCH and PUSCH), or prioritize critical elements like HARQ-ACK when payload constraints exist, preventing information loss while managing complexity through intelligent UCI management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic UCI transmission where the UE can adaptively choose between single-PUCCH and multi-channel transmission modes based on real-time conditions. The system dynamically adjusts transmission strategy based on UCI payload size, channel quality indicators, and available resources, optimizing information completeness without fixed complexity
3Measurement precision
If beam related information is added to existing UCI formats, then reporting accuracy is improved, but UCI payload size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces beam-related information (BSI, BRI) as optional supplementary elements rather than mandatory components. The UE includes beam measurement data only when needed based on local channel conditions and network requirements. This allows high measurement precision for beam management when beneficial, while avoiding unnecessary payload overhead in scenarios where beam information is not required
4Quantity of substance
If multiple UCI elements are multiplexed in time within a slot, then payload capacity is increased, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the PUSCH channel as an intermediary carrier for UCI elements when multiple elements need transmission. Instead of complex time-division multiplexing within a single PUCCH, the UE can transmit multiple UCI elements through PUSCH which has greater payload capacity. This intermediary approach increases payload capacity while reducing processing complexity by leveraging the existing PUSCH transmission framework rather than implementing complex intra-slot multiplexing
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus that sends uplink control information (UCI) from user equipment (UE) to a network node, generates elements of the UCI including at least one of hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) feedback for one or more uplink (UL) resources, a scheduling request (SR), a channel state information (CSI) report and a beam related information report in response to a trigger set by the network node. The apparatus encodes the UCI elements for transmission via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) of the one or more UL resources. The one or more UL resources may be UL slots or UL portions of downlink-uplink (DL-UL) slots received from a network node.