Unified TCI State Framework for Multi-Panel Uplink
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems face challenges in efficiently managing Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states for User Equipment (UE) specific Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) via MAC Control Element (CE) signaling, particularly in activating and deactivating TCI states dynamically to adapt to changing UE conditions.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves extending the unified TCI state framework to support multi-Transmission Reception Points (TRPs) and multi-panel transmission for configured grants, allowing for simultaneous transmission across multiple panels (STxMP) or repetition, and enabling the unified TCI state framework to indicate transmit/receive spatial filters for multiple signals/channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE is configured with multiple TCI states for PDSCH, then the transmission reliability is improved through multi-TRP operation, but the device complexity increases due to the need to manage and switch between multiple TCI states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TCI state management by introducing separate TCI state lists for different channels (PDSCH TCI state list and PUCCH TCI state list). This allows independent management and activation of TCI states for different purposes, reducing the complexity of managing a single large list of TCI states while maintaining multi-TRP reliability benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic activation of TCI states through MAC CE signaling, where the network can dynamically select which TCI states to activate from the configured lists. This dynamic mechanism allows the system to adapt to changing transmission conditions without requiring the UE to continuously manage all possible TCI states, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the network activates multiple TCI states via MAC CE, then the adaptability to changing UE conditions is improved, but the signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TCI state configuration into separate lists (PDSCH TCI state list and PUCCH TCI state list), each with its own activation mechanism. This segmentation allows the network to activate TCI states selectively for different channels based on actual transmission needs, reducing unnecessary signaling overhead while maintaining the ability to adapt to changing UE conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the TCI state lists universal by allowing the same list to be used for multiple purposes (e.g., the PDSCH TCI state list can be used for both PDSCH transmission and PUCCH transmission). This multi-functionality reduces the total number of separate configurations needed, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the UE supports up to 8 active TCI states, then the versatility of beam management is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the complexity of tracking and updating multiple TCI states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TCI state tracking by separating PDSCH TCI states from PUCCH TCI states into different lists. This segmentation allows the UE to track and update TCI states for different channels independently, simplifying the operation by focusing on one list at a time rather than managing a single large list of 8 TCI states simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by allowing the UE to automatically track and update TCI states based on network signaling without requiring manual intervention or complex user-side management. The UE autonomously manages the TCI state lists and their activation/deactivation status, reducing the operational complexity while maintaining beam management versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for configured grant for multi-panel Uplink (UL) transmission are provided. In some embodiments, a method performed by a User Equipment (UE) for transmitting PUSCH configured grant to multiple-TRPs includes: receiving a configuration of at least one unified TCI state, indicating mTRP operation; receiving an indication of a configured grant, indicating either mTRP operation using repetition or Simultaneous Transmission Across Multiple Panels (STxMP); and transmitting a PUSCH according to the configuration o. In this way, the unified TCI state framework can be extended to mTRP and multi-panel transmission for configured grant. With the unified TCI state framework, separate spatial relations do not have to be configured for UL transmission. Hence, unified TCI state framework can provide some higher layer overhead savings. By extending unified TCI state framework for mTRP and multi-panel transmission for configured grant, configured grant based PUSCH can also leverage this advantage.