Uplink Control Information Transmission Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently transmitting uplink control information (UCI) due to limitations in frame structures and channel allocation, which affect the overall performance and user experience.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining the content for uplink control information (UCI) based on a portion of a subframe and transmitting it within that portion, incorporating channel quality indicators (CQI) that include correlation or whitening matrices, and optimizing ACK/NACK transmissions to reduce payload size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If uplink control information is transmitted using traditional frame structures with separate PUCCH and PUSCH channels, then channel allocation is simplified, but transmission efficiency and overall system performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidframe structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines PUCCH and PUSCH transmissions into a single uplink message structure, allowing control information and data to be transmitted together in the same time-frequency resources. This merging eliminates the need for separate channel allocations and improves transmission efficiency by utilizing resources more effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The uplink message structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously - it can carry control information (UCI), data payloads, and channel quality indicators (CQI) all in one transmission. This multi-functional approach replaces the traditional separate PUCCH and PUSCH channels, simplifying the frame structure while maintaining versatility.

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

2Measurement precision

If full CQI matrices are transmitted, then channel quality feedback precision is improved, but payload size and transmission overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel quality feedback precisionVSAvoidpayload size
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and transmits only the essential components of the CQI matrix - specifically the correlation matrix or whitening matrix - rather than transmitting the complete CQI information. This extraction approach maintains sufficient channel quality feedback precision while significantly reducing the payload size and transmission overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of transmitting uniform full-resolution CQI data across all dimensions, the patent applies local quality optimization by transmitting reduced-rank representations (correlation/whitening matrices) that capture the most critical channel characteristics. This provides locally optimized feedback quality where it matters most while reducing overall data volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If ACK/NACK information is transmitted with full detail for each code block, then acknowledgment precision is improved, but control information payload size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacknowledgment precisionVSAvoidcontrol information payload size
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential acknowledgment status from detailed per-code-block feedback and transmits only the critical ACK/NACK indicators needed for retransmission decisions. This extraction maintains sufficient acknowledgment precision for reliable communication while minimizing the payload size of control information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3520269B1Uplink control information
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3520269B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3520269B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3520269B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various additional and alternative aspects are described herein. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a method for wireless communication. The method includes determining content to include in an uplink control information (UCI) based on a portion of a subframe that includes the UCI. The method further includes transmitting the UCI in the portion of the subframe.