Uplink Control Channel Multiplexing for ACK and SR
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently conveying information for ACK/NAK and service request (SR) channels when both are scheduled simultaneously, leading to increased processing complexity, reduced link efficiency, and limited multiplexing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A predetermined mapping scheme is implemented to multiplex ACK, SR, or ACK+SR using one uplink control channel resource, allowing for demultiplexing without blind decoding, higher order modulation, or additional hardware/software complexity, applicable to both frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If both ACK/NACK and SR channels are transmitted simultaneously using separate resources, then both channels can be conveyed, but processing complexity increases and link efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the transmission of ACK/NACK and SR channels by allowing the UE to transmit both channels on a single PUCCH resource when scheduled simultaneously. The base station receives and processes both channels from the same resource, eliminating the need for separate transmission resources and reducing processing complexity while maintaining reliable conveyance of both channel types.
Solution Approach 2:
The PUCCH resource is designed to serve multiple functions by accommodating both ACK/NACK and SR channel transmissions. The base station configuration and UE transmission mechanisms enable this single resource to universally handle different channel types, reducing the overall system complexity and improving link efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate resources are allocated for ACK/NACK and SR channels, then channel multiplexing capability is maintained, but hardware/software requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the handling of ACK/NACK and SR channels on a single PUCCH resource, reducing hardware/software requirements. The base station processes both channels from the same resource using unified processing mechanisms, eliminating the need for separate dedicated resources and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining multiplexing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The PUCCH resource is configured to universally handle both ACK/NACK and SR channel transmissions. The base station's processing capabilities are designed to accommodate multiple channel types on the same resource, reducing hardware/software requirements while preserving adaptability and multiplexing capability.
3Measurement precision
If blind decoding is used to distinguish between ACK and SR transmissions, then channel identification is achieved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary configuration and knowledge of the mapping between PUCCH resources and channel types before transmission. This preliminary setup enables the base station to quickly identify and process the correct channel without requiring time-consuming blind decoding, as the resource-channel mapping is pre-established through configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the UE indicates its transmission intentions through the selected PUCCH resource and modulation scheme. This feedback approach allows the base station to efficiently identify the channel type and process the transmission without blind decoding, reducing processing time while maintaining identification accuracy.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A communication system incorporates a multiplexing scheme so that a base node that schedules user equipment (UE) can determine whether an ACK/NACK and/or a service request (SR) has been received when both uplink (UL) transmissions are simultaneously scheduled. Significant complexity reduction, better link efficiency, and higher multiplexing capability since the base node can interpret selective use by the UE of either the ACK/NACK or SR UL channel. Such interpretation can be extended to when multiple downlink (DL) transmission modes can be used, specifically DL single input multiple output (SIMO), DL multiple input multiple output (MIMO) with rank 1 transmission, and DL MIMO with rank 2 transmission. Based upon knowledge of the scheduling and DL transmission mode, the base node does not have to blind decode a number of possibilities due to the mapping of possible responses from the UE. In addition, the multiplexing scheme is applicable to FDD and TDD.