Uplink Control Signal Transmission for Dual Connectivity HARQ Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE, the introduction of small cells with dual connectivity to macro cells for enhanced performance in hotspot areas faces challenges such as increased HARQ round-trip time due to delayed HARQ feedback, which can reduce transmission rates.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a functional split of cells, where user equipment (UE) transmits uplink control signals on different physical channels to master and secondary eNodeBs, allowing for dual connectivity, with specific configurations for control plane and user plane cells, enabling autonomous activation and optimized HARQ feedback management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dual connectivity is implemented with small cells for enhanced performance, then service quality and system capacity are improved, but HARQ round-trip time increases due to delayed HARQ feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the uplink control signal transmission by introducing two distinct PUCCH resources: one for control plane cells (PUCCH-CP) and another for user plane cells (PUCCH-UP). This segmentation allows HARQ feedback for user plane data to be transmitted independently and more efficiently, reducing the overall HARQ round-trip time while maintaining dual connectivity benefits for system capacity enhancement
2Reliability
If dual connectivity is implemented with small cells, then transmission coverage and service availability are improved, but transmission rate decreases due to delayed HARQ feedback
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting PUCCH resources into control plane and user plane components, the patent enables parallel and optimized transmission paths. User plane HARQ feedback can be transmitted through the user plane PUCCH resource without being bottlenecked by control plane signaling, thereby maintaining high transmission rates while preserving the reliability benefits of dual connectivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces separate PUCCH-UP resources as an intermediary channel specifically for user plane control signals. This intermediary pathway allows HARQ feedback to be transmitted more efficiently, preventing the degradation of transmission rates that would otherwise occur in dual connectivity scenarios
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for transmitting uplink control signals in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment (UE) transmits a first uplink control signal for a first type cell to a first eNodeB (eNB) on a first physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) in the first type cell. The UE transmits a second uplink control signal for a second type cell to a second eNB on a second PUCCH in the second type cell. The UE transmits a third uplink control signal for a third type cell to the second eNB on the second PUCCH in the second type cell. The third type cell is a cell where a PUCCH is not configured, and the UE supports dual connectivity with the first eNB and the second eNB.