Uplink Control Information Transmission Timing in Unlicensed Spectrum

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless cellular systems using unlicensed frequency bands, there is a recurring issue of time resource collisions between uplink control information and downlink data, leading to potential discarding of uplink control information and inefficiencies in data transmission.

Innovation Solution

A method where a terminal determines a third time resource for transmitting uplink control information, which is located after a second time resource for downlink data transmission and has a preset time interval with it, ensuring that uplink control information is not discarded and reducing unnecessary Listen Before Talk processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If uplink control information is transmitted according to a predetermined period on an unlicensed frequency band, then the transmission timing is regular and predictable, but time resource collision with downlink burst data occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission timing regularityVSAvoidcollision avoidance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the uplink control information transmission timing flexible rather than fixed. The terminal determines the actual transmission time based on whether the resource coincides with downlink burst data transmission, allowing the system to adapt between periodic scheduling and collision avoidance modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the terminal check in advance whether the predetermined uplink transmission time resource coincides with downlink burst data transmission before actually transmitting. This advance detection prevents collision before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If uplink control information is discarded due to time resource collision, then downlink data transmission is maintained, but uplink control information is lost and transmission efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownlink data transmission efficiencyVSAvoiduplink control information loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a time resource determination mechanism as an intermediary between the periodic uplink control information scheduling and the dynamic downlink burst data transmission. This intermediary checks for conflicts and adjusts timing to prevent information loss while maintaining downlink efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If Listen Before Talk detection is performed frequently to avoid collisions, then collision avoidance improves, but transmission delays increase and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidtransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing a single advance check of time resource coincidence between uplink control information and downlink burst data before transmission. This eliminates the need for repeated Listen Before Talk detections, reducing transmission delays while maintaining collision avoidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4102918A1Method for sending uplink control information, terminal, and base station
Publication Date: 2022.12.14 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP4102918A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4102918A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4102918A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for sending uplink control information, and a terminal. The method comprises: determining (310), by a terminal, a first time resource for transmitting first uplink control information; determining (330), by the terminal, a third time resource for transmitting the first uplink control information, wherein the first time resource comprises downlink time resource, and the third time resource is located after the downlink time resource; and in case that the third time resource comprises a time resource for transmitting second uplink information, transmitting, by the terminal, the first uplink control information and the second uplink information by multiplexing via the third time resource.