UE TCI State Time-Domain Resource Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, face challenges in efficiently managing time-domain resources for multiple transmission/reception points (TRPs), leading to complexities in scheduling and resource allocation, which affects the flexibility and efficiency of data transmission.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves a user equipment (UE) that receives downlink control information (DCI) signaling, which includes a Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) specifying multiple TCI states and indicates time-domain resources associated with each state, allowing the UE to receive or transmit data on these resources, thereby simplifying the association and allocation of time-domain resources across multiple TRPs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple TCI states are configured for multiple TRPs, then the flexibility and efficiency of data transmission is improved, but the complexity of scheduling and resource allocation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of data transmissionVSAvoidcomplexity of scheduling

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the time-domain resources into distinct slots, each associated with a specific TCI state. This segmentation allows the UE to process and manage multiple TRPs independently through separate time slots, reducing the scheduling complexity while maintaining the ability to communicate with multiple TRPs simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a time-domain dimension to differentiate between multiple TRPs. Instead of managing multiple TRPs within a single time slot which would increase complexity, the system assigns different time slots to different TRPs, effectively using time as an additional dimension for resource allocation and simplifying the scheduling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If time-domain resources are dynamically associated with TCI states, then the efficiency of resource allocation is improved, but the signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of resource allocationVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the association between time slots and TCI states before actual data transmission occurs. The UE and network agree on the mapping between time-domain resources and TCI states in advance, allowing for efficient dynamic allocation without requiring extensive real-time signaling, thus reducing overhead while maintaining allocation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple TRPs are supported with separate time-domain resources, then the ability to handle multiple TRPs is improved, but the complexity of resource management increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle multiple TRPsVSAvoidcomplexity of resource management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the time-domain resources into separate slots for each TRP, creating independent management units. This segmentation allows the UE to manage multiple TRPs by processing each slot independently, simplifying resource management complexity while maintaining the capability to communicate with multiple TRPs simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the UE can flexibly select which time slots to monitor and process based on current transmission needs. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to varying network conditions and TRP availability, managing multiple TRPs efficiently without requiring continuous monitoring of all possible time slots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250106829A1User equipment and scheduling node

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a user equipment, UE, and a scheduling node, as well as to the corresponding methods. In particular, a downlink control information, DCI, signaling carries a Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, indicator specifying that two or more TCI states are configured; and an indication indicating time-domain resources for transmissions and associations of the time-domain resources with the two or more TCI states, wherein each of the time-domain resources is associated with one of the two or more TCI states; wherein the transceiver, in operation, receives or transmits, for each of the two or more TCI states, data on the time-domain resources associated with the respective TCI state.