UE E-PDCCH Search Space Determination for Heterogeneous Networks

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication technologies face challenges in determining the search space for Enhanced PDCCH (E-PDCCH) in heterogeneous networks, leading to issues with capacity, coverage, and interference coordination, as prior art lacks methods for UE to perform control channel detection in scenarios with multiple configured control channel resource sets.

Innovation Solution

The UE determines an E-PDCCH search space based on control channel resource sets and types, using methods that include determining control channel sets, calculating the number of candidates, and identifying search start points through recursive functions and mapping relationships, allowing for control channel detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple control channel resource sets are configured for UE, then control channel capacity and coverage are improved, but the complexity of determining search space increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol channel capacityVSAvoidsearch space determination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control channel search space is segmented into multiple control channel resource sets, each with independent eCCE numbering. The UE determines search space separately for each resource set based on formulas that incorporate set-specific parameters, allowing parallel processing and reducing overall determination complexity while maintaining high capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of resource set indexing (k-c) and set-specific offset parameters (N_CCE,k,j) to differentiate search spaces across multiple resource sets. This dimensional expansion allows the system to manage complexity by organizing search space determination in a structured multi-dimensional framework rather than a single flat space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple control channel resource sets are configured for UE, then interference coordination is improved, but the difficulty of control channel detection increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference coordinationVSAvoidcontrol channel detection difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Each control channel resource set is assigned local quality characteristics through set-specific parameters (k-c index, N_CCE,k,j offsets) that define its unique search space properties. This allows the UE to optimize detection parameters locally for each resource set, improving interference coordination while maintaining manageable detection complexity through localized rather than global processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If discrete user-specific search spaces are used, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but the complexity of managing multiple resource sets increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidresource set management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network side performs preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple control channel resource sets with discrete user-specific search spaces before UE operation. Each resource set is pre-numbered with independent eCCE indices and associated with specific parameters, allowing the UE to directly utilize these pre-organized structures without complex runtime management, thereby maintaining high resource utilization efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2894915B1Control channel detection method and user equipment
Publication Date: 2017.07.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2894915B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2894915B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4a
  • EP2894915B1 patent drawingFigure 4b~5

AI summary

A control channel detection method and user equipment are disclosed. The control channel detection method includes: determining, by a user equipment, a control channel search interval according to a control channel resource set and/or a control channel type; and performing control channel detection in the search interval, where the control channel resource set includes at least one physical resource block. In embodiments of the present invention, the UE can determine an E-PDCCH search interval according to the control channel resource set and/or the control channel type, thereby implementing control channel detection of the UE. In this way, a solution is provided for the scenario in which multiple control channel resource sets are configured by a network side for the UE.