Unified TCI State Indication for NR Beam Configuration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In New Radio (NR) mobile communication networks, the independent indication of beams for different channels results in high signaling overhead and low beam transmission efficiency, particularly in Frequency Range 2 (FR2) due to rapid high-frequency channel attenuation.
Innovation Solution
A communication method where a terminal device receives first control information carried in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on a control resource set (CORESET), which includes an indication field for indicating a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state or quasi co location (QCL), allowing the device to determine applicable channels and signals for the indicated state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beams for different channels are independently indicated, then each channel can have its own optimized beam configuration, but the configuration signaling overhead becomes too high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the beam indication for multiple channels (PDCCH, PUCCH, PDSCH, PUSCH) into a unified TCI state indication. Instead of independently indicating beams for each channel, a single TCI state can now indicate beams for multiple channels simultaneously, reducing the number of indication signals while maintaining proper beam configuration for each channel type.
Solution Approach 2:
The TCI state indication mechanism is designed to serve multiple functions across different channel types. A single TCI state can be applied universally to multiple channels (downlink and uplink), allowing the same indication structure to configure beams for PDCCH, PUCCH, PDSCH, and PUSCH channels, thereby reducing overall signaling overhead.
2Reliability
If beams for different channels are independently indicated, then each channel can be optimized separately, but the beam transmission efficiency becomes relatively low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate beam indication procedures into a unified TCI state framework. By merging the indication mechanisms for PDCCH, PUCCH, PDSCH, and PUSCH beams into a single coordinated system, the patent reduces the time and signaling required for beam configuration while maintaining the ability to optimize each channel's beam separately when needed.
3Reliability
If multiple independent beam indications are used for different channels, then comprehensive channel optimization is achieved, but the configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The unified TCI state mechanism provides a universal framework that can indicate beams for multiple channel types (PDCCH, PUCCH, PDSCH, PUSCH) through a single indication structure. This universal approach reduces the complexity of managing separate beam indications for each channel while still allowing comprehensive optimization across all channels through the coordinated TCI state application.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method comprises: receiving, by a terminal device, first control information carried by a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on a first control resource set (CORESET). The first control information includes an indication field, and the indication field indicates at least one of a first transmission configuration indication (TCI) state or a first quasi co-location (QCL); determining, by the terminal device, at least one of: at least one channel applicable to the first TCI state, at least one signal applicable to the first TCI state, at least one channel and at least one signal applicable to the first TCI state, at least one channel applicable to the first QCL, at least one signal applicable to the first QCL, or at least one channel and at least one signal applicable to the first QCL.