Wireless Uplink Multiplexing for Conflicting Signal Priorities
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communications networks face challenges in efficiently handling uplink signals with different priority levels, leading to inefficient resource usage due to the legacy behavior of always dropping lower priority transmissions, which results in resource wastage and suboptimal performance for services like eMBB and URLLC.
Innovation Solution
Introduce an intra-UE multiplexing indicator to determine whether uplink signals with different physical layer priority levels should be multiplexed or not, allowing for more efficient use of radio resources by transmitting both signals when possible, rather than always dropping the lower priority one.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the legacy behavior of always dropping lower priority transmissions is used, then the simplicity of transmission handling is maintained, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic multiplexing indicators that allow the transmission system to adaptively switch between dropping lower priority signals and multiplexing them, based on real-time channel conditions and signal priorities. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by making the transmission handling complexity variable rather than fixed, improving resource utilization while maintaining simplicity when conditions permit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of transmission handling from a fixed binary choice (drop or multiplex) to a flexible decision based on multiplexing indicators and priority levels. By introducing these new parameters and their associated thresholds, the system can optimize resource utilization without excessively complicating the transmission handling process.
2Reliability
If lower priority transmissions are always dropped, then the reliability of higher priority transmissions is ensured, but overall network efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces multiplexing indicators as intermediary elements that mediate between higher priority and lower priority transmissions. These indicators provide additional information that enables the system to make informed decisions about whether to multiplex lower priority signals without compromising higher priority transmissions, thus improving overall network efficiency while maintaining the reliability of critical communications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the transmission decision-making process into multiple stages: detecting multiplexing indicators, determining priority levels, and making multiplexing decisions based on predefined rules. This segmentation allows the system to ensure higher priority transmission reliability through structured decision-making while efficiently utilizing resources by multiplexing lower priority signals when conditions allow.
3Productivity
If multiplexing detection and decision mechanisms are introduced, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the communications device autonomously detects multiplexing indicators, determines priority levels, and makes multiplexing decisions without requiring complex external coordination. This self-service approach improves resource utilization efficiency while limiting device complexity by keeping the decision-making logic contained within standardized protocols and algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms through multiplexing indicators that provide information about channel conditions and transmission priorities. This feedback enables the device to make informed multiplexing decisions that improve resource utilization while maintaining manageable complexity through rule-based decision-making rather than requiring complex real-time optimization algorithms.
4Productivity
If multiplexing is always performed, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but the reliability of transmission deteriorates due to potential signal interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic decision-making based on detected multiplexing indicators and signal priority levels. The system adaptively switches between multiplexing and non-multiplexing modes depending on channel conditions and traffic requirements, thereby improving resource utilization efficiency while maintaining transmission reliability by avoiding multiplexing when it would cause harmful interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different transmission handling strategies to different signals based on their local characteristics (priority levels and multiplexing indicators). By making multiplexing decisions signal-by-signal rather than applying a uniform approach, the system improves overall resource utilization while protecting the reliability of specific transmissions that would be adversely affected by multiplexing.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method of operating a communications device in a wireless communications network is provided. The method comprises determining that the communications device should transmit at least two uplink signals to the wireless communications network, wherein the uplink signals are each to be transmitted in a set of uplink resources of a wireless access interface, determining that the set of uplink radio resources in which a first of the uplink signals should be transmitted at least partially overlaps the set of uplink radio resources in which a second of the uplink signals should be transmitted, wherein the first uplink signal has a different one of a plurality of physical layer priority levels to the second uplink signal, and detecting an indication of whether the first uplink signal and the second uplink signal should be multiplexed. If the indication indicates that the first uplink signal and the second uplink signal should be multiplexed, the method further comprises multiplexing the first uplink signal and the second uplink signal into a third uplink signal, and transmitting the third uplink signal. If the indication indicates that the first uplink signal and the second uplink signal should not be multiplexed, the method further comprises transmitting only the one of the first uplink signal and the second uplink signal that has a higher physical layer priority level.