Grant-Free Uplink Transport Block Scheduling With Unused Block Reuse

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in resource utilization and latency for grant-free uplink transmissions due to unused transport blocks, leading to wasted resources and suboptimal handling of different traffic types.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a mechanism to configure a maximum number of transport blocks for grant-free uplink transmissions and signaling unused blocks for reuse, along with HARQ feedback based on this configuration, to optimize resource utilization and reduce latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If transport blocks are allocated for grant-free uplink transmission, then transmission capacity is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates when blocks remain unused

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission capacityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The base station receives feedback information from the UE indicating the actual number of transport blocks used in a transmission period. Based on this feedback, the base station dynamically adjusts the configured grant parameters (such as time resources, frequency resources, or number of transport blocks) for subsequent transmission periods, thereby optimizing resource allocation and improving utilization efficiency while maintaining transmission capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static transport block allocation to dynamic adjustment. The configured grant parameters are modified based on actual usage patterns, allowing the system to adapt to varying traffic conditions and optimize the balance between transmission capacity and resource utilization efficiency over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If maximum number of transport blocks is configured, then transmission throughput is improved, but latency increases due to unused blocks occupying resources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission throughputVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures a maximum number of transport blocks for grant-free uplink transmission to ensure sufficient capacity for bursty traffic. However, by implementing feedback mechanisms and dynamic adjustment, the system can release or reallocate unused blocks in subsequent periods, thereby reducing latency while maintaining adequate throughput capacity when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The transport block configuration operates in periodic transmission periods. Each period allows for independent optimization where unused blocks from one period can be reallocated in the next period. This periodic adjustment enables the system to maintain high throughput when traffic demands it while reducing latency by freeing up resources when traffic subsides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If transport blocks are reserved for specific traffic types, then quality of service is improved, but system flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of serviceVSAvoidsystem flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different quality of service parameters to different traffic types by configuring separate transport block allocations or priority levels for each traffic type. This allows critical traffic to receive guaranteed resources while less critical traffic shares remaining capacity, maintaining QoS for important communications while preserving system flexibility through differentiated resource management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The traffic type-specific transport block configuration is made dynamic through feedback mechanisms. The base station can adjust the allocation of dedicated blocks for different traffic types based on actual traffic patterns and QoS requirements, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining the structural framework needed for quality service differentiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3912409B1Scheduling of multiple transport blocks for grant-free uplink transmission
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3912409B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3912409B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3912409B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment may receive configuration information that indicates a maximum number of transport blocks permitted to be transmitted in one or more transmission occasions in a transmission period of a configured grant for an uplink (UL) transmission; transmit, based at least in part on a set of transport blocks to be transmitted in the transmission period including fewer transport blocks than the maximum number of transport blocks, an indication to suppress communication of one or more remaining transport blocks of the transmission period other than the set of transport blocks; and perform the UL transmission of the set of transport blocks in the transmission period based at least in part on the configuration information. Numerous other aspects are provided.