Uplink Control Channel Pilot Symbol Patterns for False Detection Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In the EUTRA mobile communication system, there is a risk of false detection of ACK/NACK information by the base station when a user equipment (UE) transmits only CQI information, leading to potential communication failures due to misinterpretation of channel coding and interference with downlink scheduling.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of distinct RS symbol patterns for cases where the UE transmits only CQI information and cases where both CQI and ACK/NACK information are transmitted, ensuring accurate channel estimation and preventing false alarms by maintaining orthogonality between different transmission scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the base station uses a unified channel estimation method for both CQI-only and CQI+ACK/NACK transmissions, then the system complexity is reduced, but the false detection rate of ACK/NACK information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidfalse detection rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the channel estimation process into two distinct paths: one for CQI-only transmission and another for CQI+ACK/NACK transmission. The base station determines which path to use based on the transmission type, applying different demapping and channel estimation methods accordingly. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining low complexity through structured decision-making while improving reliability through scenario-specific optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the channel estimation parameters based on the transmission scenario. For CQI-only transmission, a specific demapping method is applied, while for CQI+ACK/NACK transmission, a different demapping method is used. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal performance for each scenario without requiring a completely separate system for each case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the base station applies aggressive channel coding for CQI information to improve reception reliability, then the CQI reception quality improves, but the probability of false ACK/NACK detection increases due to misinterpretation of coded bits

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCQI reception qualityVSAvoidfalse detection probability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary decision-making process at the base station that determines whether the received signal contains only CQI or both CQI and ACK/NACK. This intermediary step prevents the misinterpretation of channel-coded CQI bits as ACK/NACK information by selecting the appropriate demapping method based on the transmission type, thus resolving the contradiction between reception quality and false detection probability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing channel decoding and determination of transmission type before final ACK/NACK detection. The base station first decodes the CQI information, then determines whether ACK/NACK was transmitted based on the decoding results and signal characteristics. This preliminary processing prevents false detection by establishing the correct interpretation context before extracting ACK/NACK bits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2176964B1Apparatus and method for transmitting uplink control channels in a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2016.04.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2176964B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2176964B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2176964B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving pilot symbols for demodulation of control channel information in the uplink of a wireless communication system are provided. When an Evolved Node B (ENB) expects to receive both the Channel Quality Information (CQI) and the Acknowledgement (ACK)/Negative ACK (NACK) from a User Equipment (UE) in a certain subframe, if the UE transmits only the CQI channel, the ENB is prevented to detect the nonexistent ACK/NACK information from the CQI channel, thereby avoiding false alarm.