Unified Scheduling Assignment for Contiguous and Non-Contiguous PRB Allocations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently supporting control signaling for scheduling PUSCH transmissions over non-contiguous PRB allocations, leading to increased decoding operations and PDCCH overhead.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves using a unified scheduling assignment (SA) for both contiguous and non-contiguous PRB allocations, where the number of addressable PRB clusters is limited to one or two, and the RA IE is adapted to maintain a consistent SA size, with the unused bit indicating the allocation type and FH not supported for non-contiguous allocations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate SAs are used for contiguous and non-contiguous PRB allocations, then the system can support both allocation types, but the number of decoding operations increases and SA size variability grows

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport for both contiguous and non-contiguous PRB allocationsVSAvoidnumber of decoding operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a unified SA structure that serves both contiguous and non-contiguous PRB allocation purposes. The same SA format with 11 resource allocation bits is used for both allocation types, allowing the system to support multiple allocation modes without requiring separate decoding procedures. The resource allocation field is interpreted differently based on a mode indicator, enabling one structure to fulfill multiple functions.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate SAs are used for contiguous and non-contiguous PRB allocations, then the system can support both allocation types, but the SA size variability increases leading to larger PDCCH overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport for both contiguous and non-contiguous PRB allocationsVSAvoidPDCCH overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a universal SA structure that maintains constant size regardless of whether contiguous or non-contiguous allocation is used. The resource allocation field consistently occupies 11 bits in both cases, and the overall SA size remains unchanged. This eliminates SA size variability and prevents increased PDCCH overhead while still supporting both allocation types through different interpretation of the same field.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the interpretation parameter of the resource allocation field based on a mode indicator. When the mode indicates non-contiguous allocation, the same 11-bit field is interpreted to represent multiple PRB clusters rather than a single contiguous allocation. This parameter change allows flexible support for different allocation types without altering the physical SA size or increasing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If the RA IE is adapted to maintain consistent SA size, then PDCCH overhead is minimized, but the number of addressable PRB clusters must be limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePDCCH overheadVSAvoidnumber of addressable PRB clusters
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by supporting a limited but sufficient number of PRB clusters (up to 5 clusters) rather than attempting to address all possible cluster combinations. The 11-bit resource allocation field is designed to cover the most common and critical allocation scenarios, providing adequate versatility for practical system operation while maintaining compact SA size and minimizing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3131358B1Control signaling for transmissions over contiguous and non-contiguous frequency bands
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3131358B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3131358B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3131358B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A communication method between a user equipment, UE, and a node B in a communication system, the communication method comprising: receiving a scheduling assignment including a resource allocation type, a resource allocation, a modulation and Coding Scheme, MCS, and a frequency hopping flag from the node B; and transmitting data based on the scheduling assignment to the node B, wherein the resource allocation type indicates whether the resource allocation is for a first set of at least one contiguous resource block or second sets of resource blocks, and the frequency hopping flag is used as a part of the resource allocation based on the resource allocation type, and wherein each of the second sets comprises one or more consecutive resource block groups.