Uplink Primary Component Carrier Configuration for Control Information Multiplexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems supporting carrier aggregation, there is a challenge in efficiently configuring uplink component carriers for transmitting uplink control information, particularly in systems with multiple component carriers, which affects the transmission of ACK/NACK, CSI, and SR information.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for configuring an uplink primary component carrier to multiplex and transmit uplink control information through a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), using configuration information received via RRC or L1/L2 signaling, allowing for efficient transmission of ACK/NACK, CSI, and SR across multiple uplink component carriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carrier aggregation is implemented to support expanded bandwidth, then system throughput is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple component carriers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the uplink control information transmission by designating specific component carriers as primary and others as secondary. Each secondary component carrier is associated with a specific downlink component carrier for control information transmission, while data transmission can occur across all configured component carriers. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by organizing multiple carriers into a structured hierarchy that maintains manageable device complexity while enabling expanded bandwidth utilization for higher throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by allowing primary component carriers to serve dual purposes: both data transmission and control information transmission (via PUCCH). Secondary component carriers primarily handle data transmission but can also transmit control information when associated with specific downlink carriers. This universal approach enables the system to efficiently utilize all component carriers for both data and control purposes, improving overall throughput while maintaining reasonable device complexity through standardized handling rules.
2Productivity
If multiple uplink component carriers are configured for data transmission, then data throughput is improved, but control information transmission becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control information transmission function from all component carriers and concentrates it on designated primary component carriers. Each user equipment is configured with one or more primary component carriers that are specifically designated for PUCCH transmission. This extraction simplifies control information transmission by removing the complexity of determining control channel resources on every component carrier, while still allowing data transmission on all configured component carriers, thus maintaining high data throughput with reduced control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces primary component carriers as intermediary elements between secondary component carriers and the control channel infrastructure. Secondary component carriers are associated with specific primary component carriers, which then handle the actual control information transmission. This intermediary approach allows the system to support multiple uplink component carriers for data transmission while maintaining a manageable control information transmission structure through the mediating primary carriers.
3Ease of operation
If a single primary component carrier is designated for control information transmission, then control channel management is simplified, but uplink resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling primary component carriers to serve both as control information transmission channels (via PUCCH) and as data transmission channels. User equipment can be configured with one or more primary component carriers, each capable of handling both control and data traffic. This universal approach allows the system to maintain simplified control channel management through designated primary carriers while simultaneously improving uplink resource utilization efficiency by allowing these same carriers to carry data traffic, thus eliminating the need for separate dedicated control carriers.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for allocating an uplink carrier for transmitting uplink control information in a wireless communication system that supports carrier aggregation. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for transmitting uplink control information in a wireless communication system that supports carrier aggregation of M (M≥1) uplink component carriers comprises: a step of receiving setup information on a primary uplink component carrier, from among said M uplink component carriers, via which one or more pieces of uplink control information are to be transmitted; a step of multiplexing said one or more pieces of uplink control information; and a step of transmitting the multiplexed uplink control information through the primary uplink component carrier.