User Equipment HARQ Feedback Reliability via PUSCH Multiplexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In radio communication systems, HARQ feedback errors lead to latency issues due to retransmission processing, necessitating improved reliability of uplink control information transmission from user equipment to base stations.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves a radio communication system configuration that uses time division duplex (TDD) with flexible switching of uplink and downlink resources within a 1TTI frame, allowing simultaneous allocation and transmission of downlink data resources and HARQ feedback resources, enhancing reliability through double transmission using both uplink control channels and data resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If HARQ feedback is transmitted using conventional uplink control channels, then uplink control information can be transmitted, but reception errors occur leading to latency due to retransmission processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of HARQ feedbackVSAvoidlatency due to retransmission
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines uplink control information (HARQ feedback) with uplink data transmission by allowing UCI to be multiplexed on PUSCH resources. This merging of control and data channels enables simultaneous transmission, improving reliability through diverse paths while reducing latency by eliminating separate control channel dependencies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables uplink data resources (PUSCH) to serve dual purposes: transmitting both uplink data and uplink control information (HARQ feedback). This multi-functionality allows the same resource to handle multiple communication tasks, improving reliability through redundant transmission paths without requiring dedicated control channel resources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If dedicated uplink control channels are used for HARQ feedback, then control information transmission is enabled, but system complexity increases due to separate resource management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation simplicityVSAvoidresource management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes uplink data resources universal by enabling them to carry both data and control information. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated control channel resource management, simplifying the system by reducing the number of distinct resource types while maintaining full functionality for both data and control transmissions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3500017B1User equipment and communication method
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP3500017B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3500017B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3500017B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A user equipment in a radio communication system including a base station and the user equipment, the user equipment including: a reception unit that receives control information, which includes allocation information of a resource for downlink data reception, and allocation information of a resource for uplink control information transmission, from the base station by a downlink control channel; and a transmission unit that transmits the uplink control information to the base station on the basis of the control information that is received by the reception unit.