User Terminal Search Space Adaptation for Multiple Numerologies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Future radio communication systems face challenges in decoding downlink control channels due to the use of multiple numerologies, leading to potential throughput drops and communication quality deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A user terminal is designed to monitor downlink control information with different search space-related parameters for each numerology, allowing for flexible configuration of aggregation levels, blind decoding candidates, and CRC/C-RNTI lengths to support multiple numerologies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple numerologies are used in future radio communication systems, then communication flexibility and service diversity are improved, but downlink control channel decoding reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication flexibilityVSAvoiddownlink control channel decoding reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the downlink control channel monitoring process by creating separate search space configurations for each numerology. The terminal device monitors different search spaces (first search space for first numerology, second search space for second numerology) with distinct parameters, allowing independent optimization for each numerology type and ensuring reliable decoding despite multiple numerologies being used

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic adaptability by configuring search space parameters (aggregation level, blind decoding candidates, CRC/C-RNTI length) differently for each numerology based on channel conditions and service requirements. This dynamic configuration allows the system to optimize control channel monitoring for each specific numerology while maintaining overall system flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If multiple numerologies are used with existing LTE control methods, then system complexity is reduced, but communication quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcommunication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal search space configuration framework that works across multiple numerologies. By defining a standardized method for configuring search spaces with numerology-specific parameters, the system maintains a unified control structure that can handle different numerologies without requiring completely separate control mechanisms for each, thus avoiding excessive complexity while ensuring communication quality

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

3Ease of manufacture

If unified search space parameters are used for multiple numerologies, then configuration simplicity is improved, but resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration simplicityVSAvoidresource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality optimization by configuring search space parameters specifically for each numerology based on its characteristics. Different aggregation levels, blind decoding candidate counts, and CRC lengths are assigned to different numerologies according to their specific requirements, ensuring optimal resource utilization for each numerology type while maintaining overall system efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3518579B1User terminal and wireless communication method
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP3518579B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3518579B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3518579B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention is designed to allow communication based on appropriate numerologies even when multiple numerologies are used. According to one aspect of the present invention, a user terminal has a receiving section that monitors downlink control information by assuming a plurality of communication parameters that relate to a frequency domain and/or a time domain, and a control section that judges that at least part of parameters that relate to a search space for monitoring the downlink control information is different, for each of the communication parameters.