Uplink Resource Request Scheduling via Dedicated Physical Channel

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Solution Overview

Problem

In current NB-IoT systems, terminals face inefficiencies when requesting uplink transmission resources, as they can only initiate a random access procedure, leading to inflexibility and potential collisions with other terminal behaviors.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a scheduling request (SR) mechanism allows terminals to request uplink transmission resources more flexibly, avoiding the need for repeated random access procedures and reducing collisions by adjusting the manner of sending requests based on preset rules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a terminal initiates a random access procedure to request an uplink transmission resource, then the terminal can obtain uplink transmission resources, but the process is inflexible and may cause collisions with other terminal behaviors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility of requesting uplink transmission resourceVSAvoidcollision avoidance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the uplink transmission resource request process into two independent parts: a scheduling request (SR) mechanism for requesting resources and a random access procedure for actual data transmission. The SR can be sent via dedicated physical channel separately from the random access procedure, allowing terminals to request resources without initiating full random access procedures for every data transmission need, thus improving flexibility and reducing collisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a scheduling request (SR) as an intermediary mechanism between the terminal and network device. Instead of directly using random access procedure for every resource request, the terminal first sends an SR via dedicated physical channel to indicate its need for uplink resources. The network device then schedules resources based on this SR, separating the request function from the data transmission function and reducing collisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If a terminal uses random access procedure to request uplink transmission resource, then the terminal can transmit data, but repeated procedures increase time consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of requesting uplink transmission resourceVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by allowing the terminal to send a scheduling request (SR) before the actual data transmission. The SR is sent via dedicated physical channel to reserve or request uplink transmission resources in advance. This preliminary scheduling action avoids the need for terminals to repeatedly initiate full random access procedures for each data transmission, thereby reducing time consumption and improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables continuity of useful action by establishing a dedicated physical channel for scheduling requests that remains available for use. Once a terminal sends an SR via this dedicated channel, the network device can continuously schedule resources without requiring the terminal to re-initiate random access procedures, maintaining continuous and efficient resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a terminal initiates random access procedure for uplink resource request, then the terminal can communicate with network device, but the process lacks flexibility in different scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in different communication scenariosVSAvoidcomplexity of request mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication mechanism into two distinct parts: a simplified scheduling request (SR) function via dedicated physical channel for resource requests, and the existing random access procedure for data transmission. This segmentation allows terminals to use the appropriate mechanism for different scenarios - SR for simple resource requests and random access for data transmission - improving adaptability without significantly increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent achieves universality by making the dedicated physical channel available for multiple purposes: carrying scheduling requests (SR), and potentially carrying other control information. This multi-functional approach allows the system to handle different communication scenarios efficiently - resource requests via SR and data transmission via random access procedure - without requiring separate dedicated channels for each function.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3614779B1Method, terminal and network device for requesting uplink transmission resources
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3614779B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3614779B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3614779B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

This application discloses a method for requesting an uplink transmission resource, a terminal, and a network device. The method includes: determining, by a terminal, that a collision occurs when the terminal sends a first request to a network device, where the first request is used to request the network device to schedule an uplink transmission resource for the terminal; and adjusting, by the terminal according to a preset rule, a manner of sending the first request. In embodiments of this application, the terminal may request the uplink transmission resource from the network device by using the first request. This avoids a prior-art problem that a terminal can request an uplink transmission resource from a network device only by initiating a random access procedure, and improves flexibility of requesting an uplink transmission resource by the terminal from the network device.