UE HARQ Process Allocation Across Carrier Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Increasing the maximum number of Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) processes in user equipment to enhance uplink coverage leads to increased complexity and hardware size, constraining the need for further improvements in mobile communication technology.
Innovation Solution
User equipment generates capability information based on band combination (BC) information and maximum HARQ processes, allocates HARQ processes per carrier component (CC), and performs HARQ operations accordingly, without requiring additional memory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the maximum number of HARQ processes is increased to 16 or more to increase uplink coverage, then the coverage is improved, but the complexity of user equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the HARQ process management by introducing a separate indicator field that independently identifies the number of HARQ processes to be used. This allows the system to support variable numbers of HARQ processes (including 16 or more) without requiring the entire user equipment to be designed for the maximum possible number, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the ability to achieve extended coverage when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by using an indicator field that dynamically specifies the number of HARQ processes. Instead of hardcoding support for a fixed maximum number of HARQ processes in the user equipment, the system uses parameter variation to adapt the number of active HARQ processes to actual needs, allowing coverage extension without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If the maximum number of HARQ processes is increased to 16 or more, then the uplink coverage is extended, but the hardware size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the HARQ functionality by introducing a separate indicator field that independently controls the number of HARQ processes. This segmentation allows the hardware to be designed with modular capacity, where the actual hardware size can remain compact while the system can dynamically activate up to 16 or more HARQ processes when coverage extension is required, without permanently increasing hardware volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control over the number of HARQ processes through an indicator field that can be adjusted based on coverage requirements. This dynamic approach allows the system to scale HARQ process usage from 1 to 16 or more as needed, rather than requiring fixed hardware capacity for the maximum number, thereby avoiding unnecessary hardware size increases.
3Reliability
If the maximum number of HARQ processes is increased to 16 or more, then the uplink coverage is improved, but the production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by introducing an indicator field that specifies the number of HARQ processes to be used. This allows manufacturers to produce user equipment with a standardized base configuration that can support variable HARQ process counts. The same hardware platform can be deployed across different scenarios with different coverage requirements, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost compared to producing multiple hardware variants for different coverage needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the user equipment universal by designing it to handle variable numbers of HARQ processes (from 1 to 16 or more) through a common architecture with an adjustable indicator field. This multi-functionality allows a single device design to serve both coverage-limited scenarios (fewer HARQ processes) and extended coverage scenarios (more HARQ processes), eliminating the need for multiple specialized hardware versions and thereby reducing production costs.
Data Source
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AI summary
An operating method of a user equipment for performing wireless communication with a base station includes receiving, from the base station, band combination (BC) information including at least one frequency band and at least one carrier component (CC) corresponding to the at least one frequency band, generating capability information, based on the BC information and maximum numbers of Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) processes supported by the user equipment for the at least one CC, transmitting, to the base station, the capability information, receiving, from the base station, an allocated number of HARQ processes allocated to the user equipment for each CC of the at least one CC, based on the capability information, and performing a HARQ operation, based on the allocated number of HARQ processes.