Uplink Carrier Selection for Flexible Spectrum Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current carrier aggregation mechanisms in mobile communication systems limit the flexible use of spectrum resources due to the pairing of uplink and downlink carriers, increasing complexity and reducing the efficiency of spectrum utilization.

Innovation Solution

The method allows for the flexible selection of carriers beyond the uplink and downlink concurrency capabilities of a device, enabling the configuration of additional carriers for improved spectrum resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of bits for HARQ-ACK information is increased to support more PDSCHs, then the coverage of simultaneous PDSCH reception is improved, but the PUCCH resource requirements and signal complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage of simultaneous PDSCH receptionVSAvoidPUCCH resource requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The PUCCH transmission is divided into multiple segments corresponding to different PDSCH groups. Each segment carries HARQ-ACK information for a specific group of PDSCHs, allowing the system to handle multiple simultaneous PDSCH receptions by distributing the acknowledgment burden across multiple segmented transmissions rather than requiring a single complex PUCCH resource

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a group index dimension to organize PDSCHs into multiple groups (e.g., first group, second group). This dimensional organization allows HARQ-ACK information to be structured and transmitted in a way that scales with the number of PDSCHs without linearly increasing PUCCH resource requirements, as multiple PDSCHs within the same group can share acknowledgment resources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If multiple PUCCH resources are allocated for different PDSCH groups, then the capability to acknowledge multiple PDSCHs is improved, but the overhead and resource management complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to acknowledge multiple PDSCHsVSAvoidresource management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The PUCCH resources are designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple PDSCH groups. The same PUCCH resource structure and format can be reused across different groups and time slots, reducing the need for entirely separate resources for each group. This universal design reduces overhead while maintaining the capability to acknowledge multiple PDSCHs

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

Solution Approach 2:

PUCCH resources are pre-configured and associated with specific PDSCH groups before transmission occurs. This preliminary association reduces real-time resource management complexity by establishing clear mappings in advance, allowing the UE to determine which PUCCH resource to use based on pre-configured rules rather than dynamic allocation decisions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If the PUCCH format is changed to accommodate more bits, then the information capacity is improved, but the compatibility with existing systems and the simplicity of implementation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation capacityVSAvoidimplementation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple HARQ-ACK bits from different PDSCH groups are merged into a single codebook structure that can be transmitted using existing PUCCH formats. Instead of requiring new PUCCH formats to handle increased bit quantities, the patent combines multiple acknowledgment bits into a unified structure that fits within conventional transmission capabilities, maintaining implementation simplicity while increasing information capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters such as the codebook size and grouping configuration rather than changing the fundamental PUCCH format structure. By adjusting these parameters, the system can accommodate varying numbers of HARQ-ACK bits using existing PUCCH formats, avoiding the need for new format definitions and maintaining compatibility with current systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4181601B1Information transmission method and communication apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4181601B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP4181601B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~3
  • EP4181601B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Embodiments of this application disclose an information transmission method and a communication apparatus, to flexibly use spectrum resources. An embodiment of this application provides an information transmission method, including: receiving first configuration information from a second device, where the first configuration information instructs the second device to configure T uplink carriers for a first device, at least one element in a value set of T is a positive integer greater than L, and L is a maximum quantity of uplink carriers on which the first device can simultaneously perform uplink transmission; determining N uplink carriers from the T uplink carriers, where N is a positive integer less than or equal to L; and sending information on the N uplink carriers.