Uplink Inter-Slot Frequency Hopping Control for User Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Future radio communication systems face challenges in appropriately controlling inter-slot frequency hopping patterns for uplink channels and signals, as access bandwidths differ per user terminal, necessitating flexible control of frequency hopping positions and timings.

Innovation Solution

A user terminal and radio communication method that enables flexible control of inter-slot frequency hopping by determining frequency resources and hopping patterns based on higher layer signaling, DCI, and implicit information, allowing user terminals to manage frequency hopping without explicit network notification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If explicit network notification is used to control frequency hopping, then frequency hopping control precision is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency hopping control precisionVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The user terminal autonomously determines frequency hopping patterns by combining received higher layer signaling parameters with implicit information from DCI formats, eliminating the need for explicit network notification of hopping patterns. The terminal uses its own processing capabilities to generate frequency hopping sequences based on configured parameters like hopOffset and hoppingBandwidth, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The network pre-configures frequency hopping parameters (hopOffset, hoppingBandwidth, nFrequencyHopping) through higher layer signaling before actual data transmission. These preliminary configurations enable the terminal to autonomously determine hopping patterns without requiring real-time explicit notifications, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining precise frequency hopping control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If frequency hopping is controlled per user terminal, then adaptability to different access bandwidths is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to access bandwidthVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different frequency hopping parameters (hopOffset, hoppingBandwidth) tailored to each user terminal's specific access bandwidth and service requirements. Each terminal receives customized frequency hopping configurations that match its local conditions, enabling adaptive frequency resource allocation without requiring complex centralized control for each terminal's specific scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts frequency hopping parameters (hopOffset, hoppingBandwidth, nFrequencyHopping) based on each user terminal's access bandwidth and service type. By changing these parameters according to terminal-specific conditions, the system achieves high adaptability while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized parameter adjustment mechanisms rather than custom control logic for each terminal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3713100B1User terminal and wireless communication method
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP3713100B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3713100B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3713100B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Inter-slot frequency hopping of an uplink channel/signal is appropriately controlled. A user terminal according to the present invention includes: a transmission section that transmits an uplink data channel over a plurality of slots; and a control section that controls frequency hopping of the uplink data channel between the plurality of slots.