UL Grant-Free Transmission Configuration for Throughput

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Solution Overview

Problem

In future radio communication systems, such as NR, the configuration for UL grant-free transmission to meet varying latency and reliability requirements has not been adequately studied, leading to potential declines in communication throughput and spectral efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The configuration of UL grant-free transmission is designed with parameters such as numerologies, waveform, codeword mapping, time-domain and frequency-domain resources, HARQ processes, and power control-related parameters, allowing UEs to support multiple GF configurations for flexible control and efficient data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If UL grant-free transmission is employed to reduce latency, then communication latency is reduced, but communication throughput and spectral efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication latencyVSAvoidcommunication throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by configuring multiple GF configurations with different parameters including numerologies (subcarrier spacing, cyclic prefix lengths), waveform types (CP-OFDM, DFT-S-OFDM), time-domain resources (periodicity, duration), and frequency-domain resources. This allows dynamic adaptation of transmission parameters to balance latency reduction with throughput and spectral efficiency maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by enabling UEs to support multiple GF configurations and dynamically select appropriate configurations based on channel conditions, traffic characteristics, and quality of service requirements. The base station can also dynamically indicate which GF configuration to use through DCI, allowing flexible control to optimize both latency and throughput performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If UL grant-free transmission is employed to enable low-latency communication, then latency is reduced, but spectral efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoidspectral efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses parameter changes by configuring multiple GF configurations with different numerologies (subcarrier spacing values of 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 kHz), cyclic prefix configurations, and waveform types. These parameter variations allow optimization of spectral efficiency while maintaining low latency performance for different service requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different GF configurations to be optimized for specific service types, channel conditions, or resource conditions. Each GF configuration can have locally optimized parameters such as specific numerology, waveform, and resource allocation patterns suited for particular transmission scenarios, thereby improving overall spectral efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple GF configurations are configured for flexible control, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexible controlVSAvoidUE configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a unified GF configuration framework that can handle multiple service types, channel conditions, and resource scenarios through a common set of configurable parameters. The multiple GF configurations share the same structural framework and selection mechanism, allowing flexible control without proportionally increasing complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the base station monitors channel conditions, traffic patterns, and quality of service metrics, then dynamically indicates the appropriate GF configuration to use through DCI. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to changing conditions while keeping UE complexity manageable by centralizing the decision-making process at the base station.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3637924B1Terminal, radio communication method, base station and system
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP3637924B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3637924B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3637924B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to one aspect of the present invention, a user terminal has a transmission section that performs UL data transmission on a given carrier, without an uplink (UL) transmission command from a radio base station, and a control section that selects a configuration to apply to the UL data transmission when there are a plurality of configurations for the UL data transmission. According to one aspect of the present invention, even when UL grant-free transmission is employed, the decline in communication throughput and the like can be reduced.