Unicast Multicast Message Multiplexing for Wireless Resource Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless communication systems incur increased network overhead and reduced spectral efficiency due to separate transmission of unicast and multicast messages, which can lead to inefficient use of resources when communicating with a specific UE and a group of UEs.
Innovation Solution
Multiplexing a unicast message intended for a specific UE with a multicast message intended for a group of UEs on shared resources, allowing the first UE to transmit the multiplexed messages and receive HARQ feedback, thereby reducing the number of transmissions from the network node.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If unicast and multicast messages are transmitted separately, then message delivery reliability is maintained, but network overhead increases and spectral efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines unicast and multicast message transmissions into a single multiplexed transmission. The transmitting UE multiplexes the unicast message (intended for a specific second UE) with the multicast message (intended for a group of UEs) on the same physical resources, thereby reducing the number of separate transmissions and lowering network overhead while maintaining delivery reliability through separate HARQ feedback mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables a single transmission to serve multiple functions: it simultaneously delivers unicast data to a specific UE and multicast data to a group of UEs. The receiving UEs can each extract their intended message from the multiplexed transmission, allowing one transmission resource to fulfill multiple communication purposes and improving spectral efficiency.
2Loss of information
If unicast and multicast messages are transmitted separately, then message specificity is preserved, but spectral efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges unicast and multicast transmissions into a single multiplexed signal that occupies the same time-frequency resources. This combination improves spectral efficiency by eliminating redundant transmissions while preserving message specificity through the use of different destination identifiers and separate HARQ feedback channels for each message type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the multiplexed transmission into distinct logical components: the unicast message portion and the multicast message portion. Each receiving UE can identify and extract its intended message segment based on destination identifiers, ensuring that message specificity is maintained even though both messages are transmitted together on the same physical resources.
3Reliability
If separate transmissions are used for unicast and multicast messages, then transmission reliability is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the transmission processes for unicast and multicast messages into a single multiplexing operation at the transmitting UE. This reduces transmission complexity by eliminating the need for separate transmission procedures while maintaining reliability through the preservation of distinct message structures and separate HARQ feedback mechanisms for each message type.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for wireless communication at a first user equipment (UE) includes multiplexing a unicast message for a second UE with a multicast message for a group of UEs that includes the second UE. The unicast message may be multiplexed on one or more resources of a resource set associated with transmitting the multicast message. The method also includes transmitting, to the group of UEs, the multiplexed unicast and multicast messages. The method further includes receiving, from the second UE, one or more hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback messages including first HARQ feedback for the unicast message and second HARQ feedback for the multicast message based on transmitting the multiplexed unicast and multicast messages.