UE Early Capability Indication for RedCap Msg3 Access

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently identifying and accommodating reduced capability User Equipments (RedCap UEs) and their coverage enhancement needs during initial access, leading to suboptimal resource allocation and communication efficiency.

Innovation Solution

User Equipments (UEs) employ implicit and explicit signaling methods to indicate their RedCap capability and Msg3 repetition requirements using distinct RACH resource sets or additional uplink transmissions, allowing network nodes to efficiently allocate resources based on these capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If UEs use generic initial access procedures without capability indication, then the access procedure is simple, but resource allocation is inefficient and coverage enhancement needs are not met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidinitial access procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE indicates its capability characteristics (RedCap status, Msg3 repetition capability) during the initial access procedure before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary indication allows the gNB to prepare and allocate appropriate resources in advance, avoiding the need for complex capability exchange procedures later in the connection establishment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The capability indication is segmented into specific characteristics that can be independently signaled: RedCap UE status and Msg3 repetition capability. This segmentation allows the network to selectively apply different resource allocation strategies based on the specific capability组合, rather than requiring a complete capability description, thus balancing efficiency and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If UEs transmit Msg3 without repetition for all cases, then the transmission is fast, but coverage is insufficient for cell-edge users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage enhancementVSAvoidaccess delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the Msg3 transmission strategy based on UE capability indication. UEs that indicate support for Msg3 repetition can receive configured repetitions from the gNB, while UEs that do not support repetition use standard single-transmission procedures. This dynamic adaptation ensures that each UE receives the appropriate coverage enhancement without unnecessarily increasing access delay for all UEs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the network allocates resources without knowing UE capabilities, then the resource allocation process is simple, but communication efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidcapability information exchange
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Capability information is exchanged preliminarily during the initial access procedure through uplink signaling. The UE includes capability indicators in its initial uplink transmission, allowing the gNB to obtain necessary capability information before allocating resources for data transmission. This preliminary exchange minimizes the need for additional capability negotiation messages later, maintaining efficient communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Measurement precision

If additional signaling is used to indicate UE capabilities, then resource allocation accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability indication accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring complete capability descriptions, the system uses partial capability indication focusing on the most critical characteristics for resource allocation: RedCap UE status and Msg3 repetition capability. This partial indication provides sufficient information for the gNB to make accurate resource allocation decisions while minimizing the signaling overhead compared to comprehensive capability exchange.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4135467B1Early indication by user equipment
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4135467B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4135467B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4135467B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system and method for providing early indications. In some embodiments, the method, includes: indicating, by a User Equipment, UE, as part of an initial access uplink transmission, a characteristic of the UE, the characteristic including at least one of the following: the UE is a reduced-capability UE and has a Msg3 repetition capability, the UE is a reduced-capability UE and lacks a Msg3 repetition capability, the UE is not a reduced-capability UE and has a Msg3 repetition capability, and the UE is not a reduced-capability UE and lacks a Msg3 repetition capability.