User Terminal PUCCH Hopping for Variable Uplink Bandwidths

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Solution Overview

Problem

In future radio communication systems, there is a need to appropriately control the pattern of intra-slot frequency hopping for uplink channels/signals, such as PUCCH, PUSCH, and SRS, due to varying accessible bandwidths configured for different user terminals.

Innovation Solution

A method for controlling intra-slot frequency hopping by reporting frequency resource information to user terminals, configuring PUCCH resource sets through higher layer signaling, and using DCI to indicate frequency hopping patterns for PUCCH and PUSCH, allowing flexible control of frequency hopping patterns based on user terminal-specific bandwidths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed PUCCH resource allocation method is used, then resource allocation is simple, but it cannot adapt to varying accessible bandwidths of different user terminals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to varying bandwidthsVSAvoidresource allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters used for PUCCH resource allocation from fixed values to terminal-specific parameters including accessible bandwidth, number of slots, and slot format. By dynamically adjusting these parameters based on each terminal's characteristics, the system achieves adaptability to varying bandwidths while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized calculation methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by allocating PUCCH resources differently for each user terminal based on their specific accessible bandwidth and service requirements. Each terminal receives customized resource allocation parameters rather than a uniform allocation, allowing the system to optimize performance for diverse terminal capabilities while keeping the overall allocation mechanism systematic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If frequency hopping is controlled uniformly for all terminals, then control is simple, but it cannot optimize performance for terminals with different accessible bandwidths

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidfrequency hopping control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by configuring frequency hopping patterns based on terminal-specific parameters such as accessible bandwidth, number of slots, and slot format. This allows the system to optimize communication efficiency for each terminal's bandwidth characteristics while maintaining controlled complexity through systematic parameter management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making frequency hopping patterns adaptive and configurable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts hopping behavior based on real-time parameters including terminal bandwidth, slot configuration, and service requirements, enabling optimization of communication efficiency while keeping control mechanisms organized and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If PUCCH resources are allocated without considering terminal-specific bandwidth, then allocation is straightforward, but resource utilization is inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation reliabilityVSAvoidallocation mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the allocation approach by incorporating terminal-specific parameters including accessible bandwidth, number of slots, and slot format into the PUCCH resource allocation calculation. This ensures reliable resource allocation that adapts to each terminal's actual capabilities while maintaining systematic control through standardized parameter-based methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by customizing PUCCH resource allocation for each terminal based on their specific accessible bandwidth and service requirements. Each terminal receives appropriately sized and positioned resources matched to their capabilities, improving overall resource utilization efficiency while keeping the allocation mechanism organized and controllable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3713171B1User terminal and wireless communication method
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP3713171B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3713171B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3713171B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

To appropriately control intra-slot frequency hopping of an uplink channel/signal. A user terminal of the present invention includes a transmitting section that transmits an uplink control channel in one slot or over a plurality of slots, a receiving section that receives information related to a frequency resource to which the uplink control channel is to be mapped, and a control section that controls frequency hopping of the uplink control channel in each slot, based on the information related to the frequency resource.