Uplink Feedback Method for Asymmetric Bandwidth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face challenges in performing uplink feedback when the downlink bandwidth is greater than the uplink bandwidth or when the uplink transmission time interval is longer than the downlink transmission time interval, leading to difficulties in efficient data transmission.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves a method where user equipment detects downlink data in multiple consecutive sub-frames, performs joint encoding of feedback information, and transmits joint uplink feedback information in an uplink sub-frame, using specific codebooks and configurations to synchronize feedback across different carriers, enabling effective uplink feedback even when bandwidth or time intervals differ.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If downlink bandwidth is greater than uplink bandwidth, then downlink data transmission capacity is improved, but uplink feedback transmission becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownlink data transmission capacityVSAvoiduplink feedback transmission capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback information for multiple downlink sub-frames is segmented and jointly encoded into a single uplink feedback message. This allows the uplink feedback to aggregate acknowledgments for multiple downlink transmissions, resolving the mismatch between larger downlink bandwidth and limited uplink feedback capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple feedback messages corresponding to different downlink sub-frames are merged into a single joint uplink feedback transmission. This combining approach enables efficient utilization of the uplink channel despite the bandwidth asymmetry between downlink and uplink

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Length of moving object

If uplink transmission time interval is longer than downlink transmission time interval, then uplink transmission coverage is improved, but feedback timing synchronization becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink transmission time intervalVSAvoidfeedback timing synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback information for multiple consecutive downlink sub-frames is prepared and jointly encoded in advance, so that a single uplink feedback transmission can cover the timing gap. This preliminary preparation of aggregated feedback resolves the timing synchronization issue caused by the uplink-downlink time interval mismatch

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If narrow-band system is used, then spectral efficiency is improved, but uplink feedback in asymmetric bandwidth scenario becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoiduplink feedback capability in asymmetric bandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The joint feedback mechanism is designed to be universal and adaptable to different bandwidth configurations. By jointly encoding feedback for multiple sub-frames, the system maintains efficient spectral utilization in narrow-band mode while simultaneously achieving adaptability to asymmetric bandwidth scenarios where downlink bandwidth exceeds uplink bandwidth

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

Data Source

PatentEP3883161B1Uplink feedback method, user equipment, and base station
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3883161B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3883161B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3883161B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

The present invention provides an uplink feedback method, user equipment, and a base station, where the method includes: detecting, by user equipment, downlink data in at least two consecutive downlink sub-frames; performing joint encoding, by the user equipment, for a feedback for the downlink data in the at least two consecutive downlink sub-frames; and transmitting, by the user equipment in an uplink sub-frame corresponding to the last sub-frame of the at least two consecutive downlink sub-frames, joint uplink feedback information for the at least two consecutive downlink sub-frames, so as to resolve issue how uplink feedback is performed when downlink bandwidth is different from uplink bandwidth.