Uplink Control Channel Coverage Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in providing enhanced uplink channel coverage, particularly for UEs without dedicated physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources, leading to suboptimal communication capabilities, especially in scenarios requiring improved coverage before dedicated resources are allocated.

Innovation Solution

The system configures a PUCCH resource set for UEs by transmitting control signaling that identifies specific power-related parameters, such as power ramp-up step size and initial transmit power, enabling coverage enhancement through dynamic selection and configuration of uplink control channel resources based on UE type, allowing for improved communication configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a PUCCH resource set is configured for UEs without dedicated PUCCH resources, then uplink control channel coverage is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional configuration parameters and resource management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuplink channel coverageVSAvoidconfiguration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The PUCCH resource configuration is segmented into multiple parameter groups (power ramping parameters, resource allocation parameters, format parameters) that can be independently configured and activated. This allows the system to provide enhanced coverage functionality while enabling UEs to only process relevant parameter subsets, thereby managing complexity through modular configuration rather than monolithic parameter sets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The network pre-configures multiple PUCCH resource set candidates with different parameter combinations before UE connection. When a UE requires enhanced coverage, the network can immediately activate a pre-configured resource set without requiring real-time parameter negotiation, thus improving coverage reliability while reducing the computational burden of dynamic configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Power

If power-related parameters are configured for coverage enhancement, then uplink transmit capability is improved, but use of energy increases due to higher transmit power requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuplink transmit powerVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The PUCCH resource set configuration includes dynamic power control parameters such as powerRampingStep and powerOffset values that allow transmit power to be adjusted in real-time based on uplink coverage requirements. This enables the system to increase power only when and where needed for coverage enhancement, rather than maintaining high power continuously, thus managing energy consumption dynamically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple PUCCH resource sets are configured with different power-related parameter combinations (e.g., different powerRampingStep values, different powerOffset values). The network can switch between these parameter sets depending on the current coverage conditions, allowing optimal power consumption by selecting parameter sets that provide sufficient coverage with minimal energy expenditure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple PUCCH resource sets are configured for different UE types, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to resource selection and management overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUE type compatibilityVSAvoidresource management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The PUCCH resource set configuration structure is designed to be universal across different UE types (e.g., reduced capability UEs, normal UEs). A single configuration framework supports multiple UE types by parameter instantiation rather than requiring separate configuration mechanisms for each UE category, thus improving adaptability while controlling complexity through unified resource management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The configuration includes self-identifying parameters within each PUCCH resource set (such as UE type identifiers or capability flags) that enable UEs to autonomously determine which resource sets are appropriate for their type. This self-service mechanism reduces the burden on the network to explicitly manage resource allocation and simplifies UE-side resource selection logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11490374B2Uplink channel coverage configuration

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive a control message including a first parameter and a second parameter. The first parameter may identify a first uplink control channel resource set for a first type of UE. The second parameter may identify a second uplink control channel resource set for a second type of UE. In some cases, a UE may receive the control message before receiving configuration information identifying a uplink control channel resource configuration. In some cases, a UE may optionally select an uplink control channel resource set based at least in part on the control message and a type of the UE. Also, a UE may transmit on an uplink using a communication configuration associated with the selected uplink control channel resource set. Numerous other aspects are provided.