Uplink Channel Collision Resolution via MAC Prioritization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in resolving uplink channel collisions between physical uplink control channels (PUCCH) and physical uplink shared channels (PUSCHs) with varying media access control (MAC) priorities, which affects the efficient multiplexing of uplink control information (UCI).

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for wireless communication that detect collisions between PUCCH and multiple PUSCHs with corresponding MAC priorities, selectively apply MAC prioritization rules to process the PUSCHs based on their priorities and their effect on UCI multiplexing, and selectively transmit the PUSCHs with UCI based on the application of these rules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If MAC prioritization rules are applied to resolve uplink channel collisions, then uplink channel collision resolution efficiency is improved, but decoding complexity at the base station increases due to potential ambiguity in UCI multiplexing configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink channel collision resolution efficiencyVSAvoiddecoding complexity at base station
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE determine the UCI multiplexing configuration before transmitting uplink channels. The UE evaluates whether MAC prioritization rules would cause ambiguity in UCI multiplexing configuration, and proactively adjusts the multiplexing configuration to avoid such ambiguity before the collision resolution process begins. This prevents the base station from facing decoding complexity issues later.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by having the UE continuously monitor and determine the effect of MAC prioritization rules on UCI multiplexing configuration. When the UE detects that applying MAC prioritization would create ambiguity in the multiplexing configuration, it provides feedback by adjusting its transmission strategy to avoid the ambiguous configuration, thereby preventing increased decoding complexity at the base station.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If MAC prioritization rules are selectively applied based on their effect on UCI multiplexing configuration, then reliability of UCI transmission is improved, but device complexity at user equipment increases due to additional evaluation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of UCI transmissionVSAvoiddevice complexity at user equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE determine the effect of MAC prioritization rules on UCI multiplexing configuration before actually applying the prioritization rules. This advance evaluation allows the UE to ensure reliable UCI transmission by avoiding ambiguous configurations while performing the assessment as an initial step in the transmission process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the UCI multiplexing configuration parameters based on the determined effect of MAC prioritization rules. When the evaluation shows that MAC prioritization would cause ambiguity, the UE changes the multiplexing configuration parameters to eliminate the ambiguity, thereby maintaining reliable UCI transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If all PUSCHs are processed with MAC priorities in collision scenarios, then productivity of uplink transmission is improved, but loss of information may occur due to ambiguous UCI multiplexing configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproductivity of uplink transmissionVSAvoidloss of UCI information
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by having the UE continuously evaluate whether applying MAC prioritization rules to all PUSCHs would create ambiguous UCI multiplexing configurations. When ambiguity is detected, the UE provides feedback by adjusting the multiplexing configuration or selecting alternative processing approaches, thereby preventing potential loss of UCI information while maintaining uplink transmission productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by having the UE identify and prevent ambiguous UCI multiplexing configurations before they can cause information loss. The UE evaluates the effect of MAC prioritization rules in advance and takes corrective action to avoid configurations that would lead to ambiguity and potential UCI information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP3970433B1Uplink channel collision resolution for conditional media access control (MAC) layer based prioritization
Publication Date: 2025.06.18 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3970433B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3970433B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3970433B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment may detect a collision between a physical uplink control channel and a plurality of physical uplink shared channels (PUSCHs) with a corresponding plurality of media access control (MAC) priorities, selectively applying a MAC prioritization rule for processing the plurality of PUSCHs based at least in part on the corresponding plurality of MAC priorities and based at least in part on an effect of the plurality of MAC priorities on an uplink control information (UCI) multiplexing configuration for UCI multiplexing, and selectively transmitting at least one of the plurality of PUSCHs with the UCI based at least in part on a result of selectively applying the MAC prioritization rule. Numerous other aspects are provided.