Uplink Control Transmission to Retain Shared Spectrum Access

Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, user equipment (UE) may lose access to a shared radio frequency spectrum band during the uplink data portion due to the lack of scheduled transmissions in the uplink control portion, allowing other devices to occupy the band, despite receiving an uplink grant for the data portion.

Innovation Solution

The UE transmits an unscheduled transmission, such as a control or data transmission, during the uplink control portion using a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) waveform to retain access to the shared radio frequency spectrum band.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the UE does not transmit during the uplink control portion (when no uplink grant is received), then the UE conserves energy and avoids unnecessary transmissions, but the UE loses access to the shared radio frequency spectrum band, allowing other devices to occupy it and preventing the UE from transmitting during the uplink data portion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy conservationVSAvoidaccess to shared radio frequency spectrum band

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs a preliminary transmission during the uplink control portion to secure access to the shared radio frequency spectrum band before the uplink data portion begins. This preliminary action ensures that the UE maintains channel occupancy and prevents other devices from seizing the band, thereby guaranteeing reliable access for subsequent data transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE transmits during the uplink control portion as a preventive measure to counteract the potential loss of band access. By performing this anti-action (transmission) in advance, the UE prevents the harmful effect of other devices occupying the shared band during the uplink data portion, ensuring continuous access despite the initial intention to conserve energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If the UE transmits during the uplink control portion to retain access to the shared band, then the UE prevents other devices from seizing the band, but the UE consumes additional energy and performs transmissions that were not scheduled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to shared radio frequency spectrum bandVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs a preliminary transmission during the uplink control portion to secure access to the shared radio frequency spectrum band before the uplink data portion begins. This preliminary action ensures that the UE maintains channel occupancy and prevents other devices from seizing the band, thereby guaranteeing reliable access for subsequent data transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE transmits during the uplink control portion as a preventive measure to counteract the potential loss of band access. By performing this anti-action (transmission) in advance, the UE prevents the harmful effect of other devices occupying the shared band during the uplink data portion, ensuring continuous access despite the initial intention to conserve energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If the UE transmits during the uplink control portion, then the UE maintains continuous access to the shared band for the uplink data portion, but the transmission structure timing and resource allocation become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous access to shared bandVSAvoidtransmission structure timing and resource allocation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs a preliminary transmission during the uplink control portion to secure access to the shared radio frequency spectrum band before the uplink data portion begins. This preliminary action ensures that the UE maintains channel occupancy and prevents other devices from seizing the band, thereby guaranteeing reliable access for subsequent data transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE transmits during the uplink control portion as a preventive measure to counteract the potential loss of band access. By performing this anti-action (transmission) in advance, the UE prevents the harmful effect of other devices occupying the shared band during the uplink data portion, ensuring continuous access despite the initial intention to conserve energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP3501131B1Retaining access to a shared radio frequency spectrum band during an uplink control portion of a transmission structure

Publication Date: 2026.01.28 QUALCOMM INC

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5

AI summary

Techniques are described for wireless communication. One method includes receiving, in a downlink portion of a transmission structure on a shared radio frequency spectrum band, an uplink grant for an uplink data portion of the transmission structure. The transmission structure includes the downlink portion, followed by and time domain multiplexed with an uplink control portion, followed by and time domain multiplexed with the uplink data portion. The method also includes retaining access to the shared radio frequency spectrum band by transmitting an unscheduled transmission during the uplink control portion of the transmission structure.