Uplink Power Control via HARQ Feedback Merging

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the LTE system, uplink closed-loop power control cannot be implemented in a group scheduling manner, leading to increased complexity and overhead in control signaling, especially when using PDCCH signaling formats 0/4 or 3/3a.

Innovation Solution

The method involves the base station sending HARQ acknowledgment feedback information with power control information to user equipment, using specific formats and fields to indicate which user equipment requires power control, allowing user equipment to parse and apply power control based on the received information, thereby enabling uplink closed-loop power control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If PDCCH signaling format 0/4 is used for group scheduling, then scheduling overhead is reduced, but power control cannot be configured for multiple user equipments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling overheadVSAvoidpower control configuration capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines power control information with HARQ acknowledgment feedback information in the same PDCCH signaling format. The base station sends both HARQ feedback and power control commands together in a unified signaling structure, allowing power control to be implemented within group scheduling without increasing overall signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The PDCCH signaling format is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides HARQ acknowledgment feedback, delivers power control information, and maintains group scheduling efficiency. This multi-functional signaling approach allows a single message to address multiple control needs.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If PDCCH signaling format 3/3a is used to configure power control in contention area, then power control can be implemented, but complexity of blind detection increases and control signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower control configuration capabilityVSAvoidblind detection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges power control information with existing HARQ feedback signaling, so that user equipment does not need to perform separate blind detection for power control commands. The power control information is embedded within the already-necessary HARQ feedback reception process, eliminating additional blind detection complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If PDCCH signaling format 3/3a is used to configure power control in contention area, then power control can be implemented, but overheads of control signaling increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower control configuration capabilityVSAvoidcontrol signaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines power control information with HARQ acknowledgment feedback information into a single signaling transmission. This merging approach ensures that power control commands are delivered without requiring additional separate signaling messages, thereby avoiding increased control signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3393179B1Uplink power control method and device
Publication Date: 2022.01.19 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3393179B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3393179B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3393179B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of communications technologies, and provide an uplink power control method and an apparatus, so as to perform uplink closed-loop power control in a group scheduling manner. The method includes: determining, by a base station, power control information, where the power control information is used to control a power of user equipment; sending, by the base station, HARQ acknowledgment feedback information to X user equipments, where the HARQ acknowledgment feedback information carries the power control information of at least one of the X user equipments, the X user equipments contend for use of a same transmission resource, and X is an integer greater than or equal to 1; receiving, by the user equipment, acknowledgment feedback information sent by the base station to the X user equipments; and parsing the HARQ acknowledgment feedback information; and if it is determined that the HARQ acknowledgment feedback information includes the power control information of the user equipment, performing power control on the user equipment based on the power control information of the user equipment.