Unified DCI for Multi-Cell PDSCH and PUSCH Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy 5G NR systems lack efficient methods for joint scheduling of multiple physical downlink shared channels (PDSCHs) and physical uplink shared channels (PUSCHs) across multiple cells using a single DCI format, leading to high signaling overhead and redundant parameter repetitions.
Innovation Solution
Implement multi-cell scheduling using a single DCI format that includes modified DCIs (M-DCIs) for multiple cells, with common and cell-specific scheduling parameters, and employs techniques like MAC CE inclusion or multiplexing in PDSCH resources, along with multi-cell mapping and configured tables to reduce signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple separate DCI formats are used to schedule PDSCHs and PUSCHs on different cells, then each cell can be scheduled independently with full control flexibility, but signaling overhead increases and redundant parameters are repeated across multiple DCI messages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate DCI formats into a single unified DCI format that can schedule multiple PDSCHs and PUSCHs across different cells simultaneously. This merging eliminates redundant parameter repetitions and reduces signaling overhead while maintaining the ability to independently control scheduling parameters for each cell through compact field representations.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified DCI format is designed to perform multiple scheduling functions simultaneously - it can schedule downlink shared channels on multiple cells, uplink shared channels on multiple cells, or a combination thereof, all within a single DCI message. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for multiple cell-specific DCI formats.
2Loss of information
If a single DCI format is used to schedule multiple cells, then signaling overhead is reduced, but the ability to provide cell-specific scheduling parameters is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The unified DCI format incorporates both common scheduling parameters that apply across multiple cells and cell-specific parameters that can be individually configured for each scheduled cell. This allows the system to apply different levels of specificity - common parameters for efficiency and local cell-specific parameters for adaptability - within the same DCI structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The DCI format is segmented into distinct fields: common scheduling information applicable to multiple cells, and cell-specific scheduling information for individual cells. This segmentation enables the system to efficiently transmit common parameters once while still providing the ability to customize parameters for each cell when needed, balancing overhead reduction with scheduling flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for down-link control information (DCI) for multi-cell scheduling. A method includes receiving first information for a first number of sets of serving cells, a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) providing a first downlink control information (DCI) format on a first cell, and a second PDCCH providing a second DCI format on a second cell; determining: parameters for reception or transmission of first physical downlink shared channels (PDSCHs) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCHs), respectively, on a first set of serving cells based on the first DCI format, and parameters for reception or transmission of a second PDSCH or PUSCH, respectively, on the second cell based on the second DCI format. The method further includes receiving the first PDSCHs or transmitting the first PUSCHs on the first set of serving cells and receiving the second PDSCH or transmitting the second PUSCH on the second cell.