Uplink Control Information Reporting via Staged Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE and LTE-Advanced, the limited capacity of uplink control channels poses a challenge for efficiently transmitting the large amount of control information required for accurate hybrid beamforming, such as channel state information, which is essential for baseband and analog beamforming operations.

Innovation Solution

A communication device is designed to transmit an analog beam indicator (ABI) independently at a first time instant and a rank indicator (RI) along with channel state information (CSI), including a precoding matrix index (PMI) and channel quality indicator (CQI), at a second time instant, with the ABI being transmitted when specific events occur or based on control signals, thereby optimizing the reporting of control information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If all control information (including ABI, CSI, PMI, CQI) is transmitted simultaneously, then the eNB can operate hybrid beamforming accurately, but the uplink control channel capacity is exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeamforming accuracyVSAvoidcontrol channel capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The control information is segmented into different types and transmitted at different time instants. Specifically, ABI is transmitted independently at a first time instant, while CSI report (including RI, PMI, CQI) is transmitted at a second time instant. This segmentation prevents control channel capacity overflow while ensuring all necessary information is eventually delivered for accurate hybrid beamforming operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ABI is transmitted preliminarily at an earlier time instant before the CSI report is transmitted. This allows the eNB to receive and process the beam indicator information in advance, and the subsequent CSI report builds upon this preliminary information, enabling accurate beamforming operations through staged information delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If control information is transmitted at different time instants, then uplink control channel capacity is managed efficiently, but the timing coordination becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol channel capacityVSAvoidtiming coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission of control information follows a periodic pattern where ABI is transmitted at predetermined intervals at first time instants, and CSI reports are transmitted at subsequent second time instants. This periodic structure simplifies timing coordination by establishing predictable transmission schedules, reducing the complexity of resource management while efficiently managing control channel capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3512113B1Device of reporting control information
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 ACER INC
  • EP3512113B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3512113B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3512113B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A communication device for reporting control information comprises a storage unit for storing instructions and a processing means coupled to the storage unit. The processing means is configured to execute the instructions stored in the storage unit. The instructions comprise transmitting an analog beam indicator (ABI) at a first time instant to a network; and transmitting a rank indicator (RI) at a second time instant to the network, wherein the first time instant is before the second time instant.