Uplink Collision Handling via ACK/NACK Extraction and PUCCH Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, uplink transmission collisions with ACK/NACK signals occur when a user equipment (UE) is configured to transmit a physical shared channel (PUSCH) and an ACK/NACK signal at the same subframe, leading to potential interference and degradation of uplink system throughput.

Innovation Solution

The method involves handling uplink transmission collisions by refraining from PUSCH transmission during ACK/NACK signal collisions and using alternative channels like PUCCH for ACK/NACK signals, ensuring that uplink HARQ feedback is properly managed to avoid unexpected non-adaptive retransmissions that could cause interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If PUSCH transmission is scheduled in the same subframe as ACK/NACK signal, then uplink resource utilization is improved, but uplink transmission reliability deteriorates due to collision and interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink resource utilizationVSAvoiduplink transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the ACK/NACK signal from the PUSCH transmission by identifying the collision between these two signals in the same subframe. The solution separates their transmission paths by using PUCCH for ACK/NACK when collision is detected, while PUSCH continues for data transmission, thus resolving the reliability issue while maintaining resource utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - the PUCCH channel - to handle ACK/NACK signals when they collide with PUSCH transmissions. This intermediary channel acts as a mediator that allows ACK/NACK feedback to be transmitted reliably without interfering with uplink data transmission on PUSCH

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If ACK/NACK signal is transmitted repeatedly in consecutive uplink subframes, then reception quality is improved, but uplink interference increases when collision with PUSCH occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception qualityVSAvoiduplink interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the ACK/NACK signal from the colliding PUSCH transmission and routes it through PUCCH instead. This separation removes the harmful interference effect while preserving the repeated transmission mechanism for improved reception quality in subsequent subframes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of collision into benefit by using the collision detection mechanism to trigger alternative transmission paths. When collision is detected, the system automatically switches ACK/NACK to PUCCH, turning what would be interference into a controlled transmission scenario that maintains both reliability and reduces harmful interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If PUSCH transmission is refrained during ACK/NACK collision, then uplink interference is reduced, but uplink resource utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink interferenceVSAvoiduplink resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the uplink transmission by separating data transmission (PUSCH) from control feedback (ACK/NACK on PUCCH) when collision occurs. This segmentation allows both functions to operate simultaneously without interference, maintaining resource utilization while reducing harmful interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal handling mechanism that works for both colliding and non-colliding scenarios. The system universally applies collision detection and conditional channel selection (PUCCH for ACK/NACK, PUSCH for data), ensuring optimal resource utilization across all transmission scenarios while preventing interference

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

Data Source

PatentEP2823653B1System and method for handling of an uplink transmission collision with an ACK/NACK signal
Publication Date: 2019.11.13 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2823653B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2823653B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2823653B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

Systems and methods for handling of an uplink transmission collision with an ACK/NACK signal are provided. The scheduled uplink transmission is refrained due to the collision. Subsequent non-adaptive retransmission for the scheduled uplink transmission may be refrained by delivering an ACK for the scheduled uplink transmission to high layers. Alternatively, subsequent non-adaptive retransmission for the scheduled uplink transmission may be refrained by setting the HARQ feedback for the scheduled transmission to ACK. In some implementations, a subsequent non-adaptive retransmission for the scheduled uplink transmission may be transmitted. If a subsequent non-adaptive retransmission is to be transmitted, the HARQ redundancy version for the subsequent non-adaptive retransmission is refrained from incrementing from the original redundancy version for the scheduled uplink transmission.