U.S. patent application number 17/394993 was filed with the patent office on 2021-11-25 for methods and devices for transmission of control data to a user equipment.
The applicant listed for this patent is Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ). Invention is credited to Christian Hoymann, George Jongren, Lars Lindbom, Stefan Parkvall.
Application Number | 20210368492 17/394993 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005756585 |
Filed Date | 2021-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210368492 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hoymann; Christian ; et
al. |
November 25, 2021 |
Methods and Devices for Transmission of Control Data to a User
Equipment
Abstract
A method for transmission of control data to a user equipment in
a mobile telecommunication system, wherein the method comprises
sending control data to the user equipment in a data transmission,
and performing, by the user equipment, a blind decoding of
transmission elements within the data transmission in order to
detect the control data in a data region in the data
transmission.
Inventors: |
Hoymann; Christian; (Aachen,
DE) ; Jongren; George; (Sundbyberg, SE) ;
Lindbom; Lars; (Karlstad, SE) ; Parkvall; Stefan;
(Stockholm, SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) |
Stockholm |
|
SE |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005756585 |
Appl. No.: |
17/394993 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16677971 |
Nov 8, 2019 |
11115961 |
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17394993 |
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15195645 |
Jun 28, 2016 |
10506559 |
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16677971 |
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14114991 |
Dec 4, 2013 |
9520975 |
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PCT/EP2011/006540 |
Dec 23, 2011 |
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15195645 |
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61481926 |
May 3, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 5/001 20130101;
H04L 5/0048 20130101; H04L 5/0053 20130101; H04L 5/0094 20130101;
H04L 5/0023 20130101; H04W 72/0406 20130101; H04L 5/0035
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 72/04 20060101
H04W072/04; H04L 5/00 20060101 H04L005/00 |
Claims
1. A method for transmission of control data to a user equipment in
a mobile telecommunication system, wherein the method comprises:
sending control data to the user equipment in a data transmission,
wherein the data transmission has a first control data region and a
second control data region, wherein the second control data region
is located in a data region of the data transmission, wherein the
first control data region is located in a control region in the
data transmission preceding the data region, wherein the first
control data region comprises common control data for different
user equipments, and wherein the second control data region
comprises user-equipment-specific control data for said user
equipment; performing, by the user equipment, a blind decoding of
transmission elements within the data transmission in order to
detect the control data in the control region and in the data
region in the data transmission.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring a
position of a plurality of transmission elements that are potential
bearers of the control data; sending control information to the
user equipment in order to select transmission elements among the
configured transmission elements; monitoring the selected
transmission elements, by the user equipment, for the blind
decoding.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transmission comprises a
control region in the data transmission preceding the data region,
wherein the control region is free of control data specifically
associated with the user equipment.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:
determining whether the user equipment is capable of deriving
control data from the data region of the data transmission; and
upon determining that the user equipment is capable of deriving
control data from the data region, sending the
user-equipment-specific control data for said user equipment in the
data region.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transmission comprises a
first section in the time-frequency domain and comprises a distinct
second section in the time-frequency domain, wherein the first
section comprises a first control region and a first data region,
and wherein the second section comprises a second data region,
wherein at least one of the first data region and the second data
region comprises at least a part of the control data.
6. A user equipment for a mobile telecommunication system, wherein
control data is to be transmitted to the user equipment in the
mobile telecommunication system, wherein the user equipment
comprises: a receiver adapted to receive control data in a data
transmission, wherein the data transmission has a first control
data region and a second control data region, wherein the second
control data region is located in a data region of the data
transmission, wherein the first control data region is located in a
control region in the data transmission preceding the data region,
wherein the first control data region comprises common control data
for different user equipments, and wherein the second control data
region comprises user-equipment-specific control data for said user
equipment; and a decoder for performing a blind decoding of
transmission elements in the control region and in the data region
within the data transmission in order to detect the control data in
the data transmission.
7. The user equipment of claim 6, wherein a position of a plurality
of transmission elements is configured, which transmission elements
are potential bearers of the control data, wherein the user
equipment is adapted to receive control information in order to
select transmission elements among the configured transmission
elements which the user equipment monitors for the blind decoding;
wherein the user equipment comprises a controller for specifying
selected transmission elements among the configured transmission
elements and for controlling the decoder so that blind decoding is
restricted to the selected transmission elements.
8. The user equipment of claim 7, wherein the user equipment is
adapted for monitoring control data regions associated with two
options of sending Downlink Control Information messages based on
the detected control data.
9. The user equipment of claim 6, wherein the user equipment is
configured with a control data region of a second type, the second
type relating to user-equipment-specific control data regions for
said user equipment.
10. The user equipment of claim 9, wherein the control data region
of the second type is divided into two sets, wherein a first set is
associated with reception of downlink assignments and another set
is associated with reception of uplink grants.
11. The user equipment of claim 9, wherein the control information
instructs the user equipment to only monitor a subset of sets of
control data regions of a specific type.
12. A control node for a mobile telecommunication system, wherein
the control node comprises a transmitter for sending control data
to a user equipment in a data transmission, wherein the data
transmission has a first control data region and has a second
control data region, wherein the second control data region is
located in a data region of the data transmission, wherein the
first control data region is located in a control region in the
data transmission preceding the data region, wherein the first
control data region comprises common control data for different
user equipments, and wherein the second control data region
comprises user-equipment-specific control data for said user
equipment; an encoder for encoding of transmission elements within
the data transmission in order to enable the user equipment to
detect the control data in the control region and in the data
region in the data transmission by a blind decoding of the
transmission elements.
13. The control node of claim 12, wherein a position of a plurality
of transmission elements is configured, which transmission elements
are potential bearers of the control data, wherein control
information is sent to the user equipment in order to select
transmission elements among the configured transmission elements
which the user equipment monitors for the blind decoding; wherein
the control node comprises a controller for specifying selected
transmission elements among the configured transmission elements
and for indicating the selected transmission elements to the user
equipment.
14. A mobile telecommunication system for transmission of control
data, wherein the mobile telecommunication system comprises a user
equipment, the user equipment comprising: a receiver adapted to
receive control data in a data transmission, wherein the data
transmission has a first control data region and a second control
data region, wherein the second control data region is located in a
data region of the data transmission, wherein the first control
data region is located in a control region in the data transmission
preceding the data region, wherein the first control data region
comprises common control data for different user equipments, and
wherein the second control data region comprises
user-equipment-specific control data for said user equipment; and a
decoder for performing a blind decoding of transmission elements in
the control region and in the data region within the data
transmission in order to detect the control data in the data
transmission, and a control node, the control node comprising: a
transmitter for sending control data to a user equipment in the
data transmission; and an encoder for encoding of transmission
elements within the data transmission in order to enable the user
equipment to detect the control data in the control region and in
the data region in the data transmission by a blind decoding of the
transmission elements, wherein the control data is to be
transmitted from the control node to the user equipment.
15. A method of operating a user equipment for a mobile
telecommunication system, the method comprising: receiving control
data in a data transmission, wherein the data transmission has a
first control data region and has a second control data region,
wherein the second control data region is located in a data region
of the data transmission, wherein the first control data region is
located in a control region in the data transmission preceding the
data region, wherein the first control data region comprises common
control data for different user equipments, and wherein the second
control data region comprises user-equipment-specific control data
for said user equipment; and performing a blind decoding of
transmission elements in the control region and in the data region
within the data transmission in order to detect the control data in
the data transmission.
16. A method of operating a control node for a mobile
telecommunication system, wherein the method comprises: sending
control data to a user equipment in a data transmission, wherein
the data transmission has a first control data region and has a
second control data region, wherein the second control data region
is located in a data region of the data transmission, wherein the
first control data region is located in a control region in the
data transmission preceding the data region, wherein the first
control data region comprises common control data for different
user equipments, and wherein the second control data region
comprises user equipment specific control data for said user
equipment; and encoding transmission elements within the data
transmission in order to enable the user equipment to detect the
control data in the control region and in the data region in the
data transmission by a blind decoding of the transmission elements.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a method for transmission of
control data to a user equipment in a mobile telecommunication
system.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Enhanced capacity of downlink lower layer (layer 1 or
L1/layer 2 or L2) control signaling is currently considered in 3GPP
LTE (3rd Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution) for
meeting higher control signaling loads in new deployment scenarios
as well as for introducing L1/L2 control signaling that can be
demodulated by using UE (user equipment) specific reference
symbols. One such deployment scenario which would benefit from an
enhanced L1/L2 control signaling design is heterogeneous networks
with single cell identities. Another deployment scenario where
enhanced L1/L2 control signaling could be of interest is for
carrier aggregation with extension carriers, i.e., carriers that
are not backward compatible. In release 10 of LTE, a new L1/L2
control signaling design was specified for wireless backhaul
communications between a donor eNB (evolved node B) and relay node
(RN). A similar L1/L2 control signaling design is considered to be
introduced also on the access link, i.e., the link between an eNB
and a UE, as a tool for enhancing the L1/L2 control signaling
capacity and open up for demodulation of L1/L2 control signaling
using UE specific reference symbols.
[0003] Heterogeneous networks are characterized by deployments with
a mixture of cells of differently sized and overlapping coverage
areas. One example of such network 100 is where pico cells 108 are
deployed within the coverage area of a macro cell 106, as
illustrated in FIG. 1 which shows different user equipment UE 102
in the cells 106, 108 associated with different base stations 104.
A pico cell 108 is a small cellular base station 104 transmitting
with low output power and typically covers a much smaller
geographical area than a macro base station 104. The small cellular
base station 104 may be referred to as a low power node, whereas a
macro base station 104 represents a high power node. Other examples
of low power nodes in heterogeneous networks are home base stations
and relays.
[0004] Heterogeneous networks represent an alternative to
densification of macro networks, and have classically been
considered and motivated in cellular networks with areas of
non-uniform user distributions, i.e., geographical areas with
typical clustered traffic hotspots. There small cells covering the
traffic hotspot can off-load the macro cell and thus improve both
capacity and the overall data throughput within the coverage area
of the macro cell. In emerging mobile broadband applications, there
is however a continuous demand for higher bit rates and therefore
it is of interest to deploy low power nodes not necessarily to
cover traffic hotspots only but also at locations within the macro
cell coverage where the signal-to-noise ratio prevents high data
bit rates.
[0005] The traditional way of deploying cellular networks is to let
different base stations 104 form separate cells 106, 108, as
illustrated in FIG. 1, in which each cell 106, 108 has its own cell
identity (cell-id). This means that physical layer signals
transmitted from a base station 104, as well as signals received by
a base station 104, are associated with a cell-id that is different
from the cell identities used by neighbor base stations 104.
Typically, a base station 104 in a cellular system 100 transmits
its own unique signals for broadcasting of cell information and for
cell synchronization. In LTE (Long Term Evolution), base stations
104 transmit cell-specific reference signals and downlink
scrambling is applied to transport channels and L1/L2 control
signaling where the scrambling sequence depends on the cell-id in
order to randomize inter-cell interference. The use of different
cell identities forms the base for reusing the same physical layer
resources within a certain coverage area. For example, resources
used in the macro cell 106 can also be used by the pico cells 108
in FIG. 1. The benefits of reusing resources within a geographical
area are sometimes referred to as cell splitting gains. A challenge
though with this type of deployment is mitigation of inter-cell
interference between macro cells 106 and pico cells 108, in
particular interference from the high power macro node towards the
pico cells 108.
[0006] An alternative to the traditional way of deploying
heterogeneous networks is to let low power nodes (related cell is
denoted with reference numeral 204) within the macro coverage use
the same cell-id as the macro cell 202 as illustrated in network
200 in FIG. 2. This deployment scenario is sometimes referred to as
heterogeneous networks with single cell identity, in which base
station nodes 104 in the network 200 are often referred to as
transmission/reception points, or simply points.
[0007] Thus, UEs 102 within the geographical area defined by the
coverage of the high power macro point will be served with signals
from points associated with the same cell-id. Other neighbor macro
points will typically use different cell identities. The concept of
points is closely related with techniques for coordinated
multipoint (CoMP) transmissions and receptions. In this context, a
point corresponds to a set of antennas covering essentially the
same geographical area in a similar manner. Antennas correspond to
different points when they are sufficiently geographically
separated and/or having antenna diagrams pointing in sufficiently
different directions. Techniques for CoMP entail introducing
dependencies in the scheduling or transmission/reception among
different points, in contrast to conventional cellular systems
where a point from a scheduling point of view is operated more or
less independently from the other points.
[0008] Characteristics for heterogeneous networks 200 with single
cell id are the need for tight coordination of the transmissions
across points within the coverage defined by the macro point and
that received signals at the UE 102 appear coming from a single
cell 202. A fundamental difference from deployments with multiple
cell identities, as for instance the one illustrated in FIG. 1, is
the avoidance of inter-cell interference across points within the
coverage defined by the high power macro point. However, in
contrast to multiple cell identity approach, the single cell
identity approach requires both fast connections (such as fiber)
and tight transmission coordination between the macro point and the
pico points. Which physical signals and channels that are sent from
a certain point, or points, can be deployment specific but
broadcast and control channels may all be transmitted from the high
power point only while data can be transmitted to a UE 102 also
from low power points by using shared data transmissions relying on
UE specific reference symbols. One example would be a base station
104 serving one or more sectors on a macro level as well as having
fast fiber connections to remote radio units (RRUs) playing the
role of the other points sharing the same cell-id. Those RRUs could
represent low power points with one or more antennas each. Another
example is when all the points have a similar power class with no
single point having more significance in than the others. The base
station 104 would then handle the signals from all RRUs in a
similar manner.
[0009] LTE uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
in the downlink and Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM
(DFT-spread OFDM) in the uplink. In OFDM transmissions, a set of
modulated symbols is transmitted over narrowband and orthogonal
subcarriers, where the number of subcarriers defines the
transmission bandwidth of the OFDM signal. In DFT-spread OFDM, the
set of modulated symbols is first pre-coded before generating the
OFDM signal, where the pre-coding aims to provide power
characteristics of the OFDM signal suitable for transmit power
limited terminals.
[0010] A basic LTE physical resource can thus be seen as a
time-frequency grid 300 as illustrated in FIG. 3, where each
resource element 302 corresponds to one subcarrier during one OFDM
symbol interval. In LTE, frequency spacing between subcarriers is
15 kHz. Time domain is plotted as reference numeral 304, whereas
frequency domain is plotted as reference numeral 306.
[0011] In the time domain 304, LTE downlink transmissions are
organized into radio frames of 10 ms, each radio frame comprising
ten equally-sized subframes of 1 ms. A subframe is divided into two
slots, each of 0.5 ms time duration. Each slot comprises of either
6 or 7 OFDM symbols depending on the selected cyclic prefix length.
LTE supports two cyclic prefix lengths, commonly referred to as the
normal and extended cyclic prefix, respectively. The cyclic prefix,
inserted in the beginning of the OFDM symbol interval, aims to
mitigate inter-symbol interference.
[0012] The resource allocation of data in LTE is described in terms
of resource blocks, where a resource block corresponds to one slot
in the time domain 304 and 12 contiguous subcarriers in the
frequency domain 306. Two in time consecutive resource blocks
represent a resource block pair and corresponds to the time
interval upon which scheduling operates. A user can be assigned
data in one or multiple resource block pairs. Transmissions in LTE
are dynamically scheduled in each subframe where the base station
104 transmits assignments and/or grants to certain user equipments
102 via the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). The PDCCH is
transmitted in the first OFDM symbol(s) in each subframe and spans
over the whole system bandwidth. A UE 102 that has decoded downlink
control information, carried by a PDCCH, knows which resource
blocks in the subframe contain data aimed for the user equipment
102. In LTE, data is carried by the physical downlink shared
channel (PDSCH).
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates an example for LTE data transmission 400
in the form of a DL subframe 402 having a control region 404 and a
data region 406. Individual blocks include cell specific reference
symbols 408, control blocks 410 and data blocks 412.
[0014] Demodulation of sent data requires estimation of the radio
channel which is done by using transmitted reference symbols 408,
i.e., symbols known by the receiver. In LTE, cell specific
reference symbols 408 are transmitted in all downlink subframes and
in addition to assist downlink channel estimation they are also
used for mobility measurements performed by the user equipments
102. LTE supports also UE specific reference symbols 408 aimed only
for assisting channel estimation for demodulation purposes. The UE
specific reference symbols 408 are transmitted in the data region
406 such that they do not collide with the cell specific reference
symbols 408.
[0015] The length of the control region 404, which can vary on
subframe basis, is conveyed in the Physical Control Format
Indicator CHannel (PCFICH). The PCFICH is transmitted within
control region 404, at locations known by terminals. After a
terminal has decoded the PCFICH, it thus knows the size of the
control region 404 and in which OFDM symbol the data transmission
starts. Also transmitted in the control region 404 is the Physical
Hybrid-ARQ Indicator Channel. This channel carries ACK/NACK
responses to a UE 102 to inform if the uplink data transmission in
a previous subframe was successfully decoded by the base station
104 or not.
[0016] Downlink assignments and uplink grants are conveyed in
Downlink Control Information (DCI) messages carried by PDCCHs.
Multiple DCI formats of different payloads are supported in LTE and
reflect the different transmission modes that UEs 102 can be
configured to operate within. Encoded into the DCI message is a
specific radio network temporary identity (RNTI), used to either
address a single user or a group of users, or all users connected
to the cell. Thus, LTE supports multiple types of RNTIs considered
for different purposes such as unicast transmissions and
transmissions of system information, paging and random access
responses. In the case of unicast data transmissions, a UE specific
RNTI is encoded into the DCI message. UEs 102 monitor PDCCH
transmissions and check if it's unique RNTI match the received DCI
message. If it does, it demodulates the message and
receive/transmit data in accordance with the control message. Which
DCI format that is used in the transmission is unknown to the UE
102 and it therefore needs to blindly decode PDCCHs under different
DCI format hypotheses.
[0017] In order to facilitate link adaptation on PDCCH
transmissions, as a request to meet different radio reception
conditions, LTE has introduced a certain mapping structure of PDCCH
to resource elements in which 36 resource elements are grouped into
Control Channel Elements (CCEs). The PDCCH can then be mapped to 1,
2, 4 or 8 CCEs, depending on the DCI payload and the desired coding
rate of the control information. Thus, the number of resource
elements used for a PDCCH transmission is 36n, where n=1, 2, 4, 8.
Depending on the coding rate, the robustness of the signals can be
modified in view of the transmission quality.
[0018] Typically, multiple PDCCHs are transmitted within the
control region as a request of addressing multiple users in the
same subframe. Exactly where in the control region the PDCCH is
transmitted to a certain user is not known in advance, implying
that the UE 102 needs to search blindly for the locations of the
PDCCHs. However, in order to reduce the search burden of blind
detection attempts of possible PDCCH locations UE-specific spaces
and common search spaces can be defined.
[0019] The UE-specific space refers to limit the possible set of
PDCCH resources that can be allocated for a particular UE 102 to
address unicast transmissions. Each connected UE 102 in the cell is
configured with its own search spaces. As multiple users can be
scheduled within the same subframe, the UE-specific spaces
associated to the connected users within the cell should not fully
overlap. The common search spaces are used to send DCI messages
intended to several or all users at the same time. Thus, a UE 102
is supposed to monitor its own configured UE-specific spaces for
unicast transmissions as well as the common search spaces for
primarily receiving for instance system information and paging,
i.e., information that address all, or a group, of connected users.
It can be noted that the common search spaces can also be used for
unicast transmissions.
[0020] In connected mode, a UE 102 will be configured by higher
layer signaling with two common search spaces and four UE-specific
spaces. The common search spaces relate to aggregation levels of 4
and 8 CCEs, respectively, whereas the UE-specific spaces relate to
one for each CCE aggregation level, i.e., 1, 2, 4 and 8 CCEs.
[0021] Heterogeneous networks with single cell-id prevent cell
splitting of PDCCH resources within the coverage of the macro
point. This implies that the PDCCH capacity is the same
irrespective if low power points are introduced or not. As
introducing heterogeneous networks are motivated to improve the
mobile broadband user experience in cellular networks and at the
same time meet a dramatically increasing number of mobile broadband
users, there is an emerging need to enhance the PDCCH capacity.
Furthermore, the requirement of transmitting cell specific
reference symbols in all subframes prevents efficient solutions for
saving energy in the base stations and therefore it is of interest
to reduce the dependency of cell specific reference symbols in
future LTE releases.
[0022] Relaying was introduced in LTE Rel.10, see 3GPP TS 36.216
v10.1.0, "Physical layer for relaying operation". Since relay nodes
(RNs) might not be able to receive the regular control channel
(PDCCH) from its donor eNB (DeNB) a new control channel, the
R-PDCCH, (Relay PDCCH) was introduced. FIG. 5 illustrates a scheme
500 indicating an example of R-PDCCH transmission.
[0023] The R-PDCCH 502 is not transmitted in the L1/L2 control
region 504, which is composed of the first (up to 4) OFDM symbols
per subframe and which spans the entire frequency domain 306.
Instead the R-PDCCH 502 is transmitted in the regular data region
506 of a subframe as illustrated in FIG. 5. In time domain 304, the
R-PDCCH 502 starts at the 4th (in first slot 508 of a subframe) or
first OFDM symbol of a slot (in second slot 510 of a subframe) and
ends at the end of the slot. In frequency domain 306 it is
transmitted on one or more resource blocks. Downlink assignments
512 are transmitted on an R-PDCCH 502 in the first slot 508 and
uplink grants 514 are transmitted on an R-PDCCH 502 in the second
slot 510. The R-PDCCH 502 can be transmitted on antenna ports with
UE-specific reference symbols.
[0024] Similar to PDCCH transmissions, R-PDCCHs 502 can be
transmitted by applying the concept of a search space, i.e.,
configuring candidate locations in the time-frequency grid where
the receiver can expect an R-PDCCH transmission. For the R-PDCCH
design two search spaces exist. The search space in the first slot
508 of a subframe contains candidate locations for downlink
assignments 512 and the search space in the second slot 510 of a
subframe contains candidate locations for uplink grants 514.
[0025] The R-PDCCH 502, or a similar control channel based on
UE-specific reference signals, may be used to transmit control
information to regular UEs 102 in future releases of LTE.
[0026] However, UEs 102 capable of receiving and detecting PDCCH
and further control transmissions need to monitor search spaces
associated with both ways of sending DCI messages. This implies
that the number of blind detections needed by a UE 102 will
increase significantly in comparisons with monitoring PDCCH only.
This would significantly increase the requirements on processing
capability of the receiver as well as the power consumption.
SUMMARY
[0027] It is an object of the invention to limit the search
complexity for blindly monitoring control transmissions.
[0028] In order to achieve the object defined above, a method for
transmission of control data to a user equipment in a mobile
telecommunication system, a user equipment for a mobile
telecommunication system, a control node, a mobile
telecommunication system for transmission of control data, a method
of operating a user equipment for a mobile telecommunication
system, and a method of operating a control node for a mobile
telecommunication system according to the independent claims are
provided.
[0029] According to an embodiment of the invention, a method for
transmission of control data to a user equipment in a mobile
telecommunication system is provided. The method comprises sending
control data to the user equipment in a data transmission, and
performing, by the user equipment, a blind decoding of transmission
elements within the data transmission in order to detect the
control data in the data transmission.
[0030] According to another embodiment of the invention, a user
equipment for a mobile telecommunication system is provided,
wherein control data is to be transmitted to the user equipment in
the mobile telecommunication system. The user equipment comprises a
receiver adapted to receive control data in a data transmission,
and a decoder for performing a blind decoding of transmission
elements within the data transmission in order to detect the
control data in the data transmission.
[0031] According to another embodiment of the invention, a control
node for a mobile telecommunication system is provided. The control
node comprises a transmitter for sending control data to a user
equipment in a data transmission, and an encoder for encoding of
transmission elements within the data transmission in order to
enable the user equipment to detect the control data in a data
region in the data transmission by a blind decoding of the
transmission elements.
[0032] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a
mobile telecommunication system for transmission of control data is
provided. The mobile telecommunication system comprises a user
equipment having the above mentioned features, and a control node
having the above mentioned features, wherein the control data is to
be transmitted from the control node to the user equipment.
[0033] According to still another embodiment of the invention, a
method of operating a user equipment for a mobile telecommunication
system is provided. The method comprises receiving control data in
a data transmission. The method further comprises performing a
blind decoding of transmission elements in a data region within the
data transmission in order to detect the control data in the data
transmission.
[0034] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a
method of operating a control node for a mobile telecommunication
system is provided. The method comprises sending control data to a
user equipment in a data transmission. The method further comprises
encoding transmission elements within the data transmission in
order to enable the user equipment to detect the control data in a
data region in the data transmission by a blind decoding of the
transmission elements.
[0035] An embodiment of the invention may be embodied in software,
for instance on a data carrier, adapted to execute any of the above
methods when loaded into a user equipment or a control node.
[0036] Particularly, a program element (for instance a software
routine, in source code or in executable code) is provided, which,
when being executed by a processor (such as a microprocessor or a
CPU), is adapted to control or carry out any of the methods having
the above mentioned features.
[0037] These described embodiments have the advantages that the
processing effort for UEs monitoring the UE-specific space will be
reduced significantly. This means that terminals need less
processing power and thus can save battery consumptions.
[0038] The aspects defined above and further aspects of the
invention are apparent from the examples of embodiment to be
described hereinafter and are explained with reference to these
examples of embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] Embodiments of the invention will be described in more
detail hereinafter with reference to examples but to which the
scope is not limited.
[0040] FIG. 1 illustrates a heterogeneous network with macro and
pico cell deployments.
[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates a heterogeneous network with single
cell-id.
[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates an LTE downlink physical resource.
[0043] FIG. 4 illustrates mapping of LTE physical control channels,
data channels and cell specific reference signals within a downlink
subframe.
[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of R-PDCCH transmission.
[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates a data transmission having a control
region and a data region and being constituted in accordance with
an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0046] FIG. 7 illustrates a data transmission having a control
region and a data region and being constituted in accordance with
another exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0047] FIG. 8 illustrates a data transmission having a control
region and a data region and being constituted in accordance with
still another exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0048] FIG. 9 illustrates a mobile communication system according
to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0049] FIG. 10 illustrates a user equipment according to an
exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0050] FIG. 11 illustrates a base station according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention.
[0051] FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart of a method of operating a
mobile telecommunication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention.
[0052] FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 illustrate data transmissions having
several control regions according to exemplary embodiments of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0053] In the context of this application, the term "data
transmission" may particularly denote a transmission of user data
and/or control data. Such a data transmission may be in the form of
a subframe.
[0054] In the context of this application, the term "data region"
particularly denotes a portion of the entire data transmission that
carries user data, i.e., data for forwarding to higher layers of
the data transmission above layer 1 and/or 2. The user data
comprises in particular a content to be transmitted from a base
station to a user equipment, or vice versa. An example for such
user data is audio and/or video data, multimedia data or any other
telecommunication related data, more generally data relating to the
user plane. The data region may be the part of the data
transmission used for user data transmission and may have embedded
therein control data so that blocks of user data may be located
around or surrounding blocks of control data. In an embodiment, the
data region may be distinct from the control region, particularly
may be arranged downstream of the control region in terms of data
flow.
[0055] In the context of this application, the term "control
region" may particularly denote an, in some embodiments optional,
portion of a data transmission, for instance located at an initial
portion or header portion of a data transmission, which carries,
particularly exclusively, control data.
[0056] In the context of this application, the term "control data"
may particularly denote data being used for controlling the
transmission in layer 1 and/or 2 of the user equipment receiving
such control data. This can be, for example, a physical control
channel or control data for layer 2 retransmission control (Hybrid
ARQ). Hence, the control data may be sent in the form of
instructions from the base station to the user equipment. Based on
the control data, an operation mode of layer 1 and/or 2 of the user
equipment may be adjusted.
[0057] In the context of this application, the term "transmission
elements" may particularly denote blocks of the data transmission
via which control and/or user data are transmitted. Such
transmission elements may be defined by a portion in the time
domain and a portion in the frequency domain.
[0058] In the context of this application, the term "blind
decoding" may particularly denote a method of decoding at least a
part of a data transmission by user equipment, wherein the user
equipment does not possess the unambiguous information that the
desired control data is really present in the decoded portion of
the data transmission. However, in an exemplary embodiment, the
user equipment may possess information indicative of candidate
transmission elements in which there is a high likelihood of the
presence of control data. It is for instance also possible that the
user equipment needs to blindly decode transmission elements (such
as transmission elements related to PDCCH) under certain format
hypotheses.
[0059] Next, further exemplary embodiments of the method for
transmission of control data to a user equipment in a mobile
telecommunication system will be explained. However, these
embodiments also apply to the user equipment for the mobile
telecommunication system, the control node, the mobile
telecommunication system for transmission of control data, the
method of operating the user equipment for the mobile
telecommunication system, and the method of operating the control
node for the mobile telecommunication system.
[0060] In an embodiment, the method comprises configuring, e.g. by
a control node such as a base station, a position of a plurality of
transmission elements which are potential bearers of the control
data, and sending, e.g. by a control node such as a base station,
control information to the user equipment in order to select
transmission elements among the configured transmission elements
which the user equipment monitors for the blind decoding. In such
an embodiment, the control node may indicate to the user equipment
specific transmission elements which are candidates for carrying
the control data to be extracted by the user equipment from a data
transmission. Therefore, the probability is increased that the
blind decoding is successful, thereby reducing complexity of the
user equipment. The control information selects a subset of
transmission elements where control data could be located in a data
transmission among the configured transmission elements. The
configuring may be performed in layer 3, whereas the sending may be
performed in layers 1 and 2.
[0061] Search spaces may denote sections in the data transmission
bearing the control data. In this application control data regions
are correspondingly also denoted as search spaces. In an
embodiment, the data transmission has a first control data region
and has a second control data region. The second control data
region may be located in the data region of the data transmission.
The user equipment may be capable of detecting the control data
both in the first control data region and in the second control
data region. Hence, it is possible that different, i.e., a
plurality of, control data regions or search spaces are present in
which control data may be provided. At least a part of such control
data may be arranged in the data region of the data transmission
allowing to use these resources also for the transmission of
control data.
[0062] In an embodiment, the first control data region relates to a
Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). In an embodiment, the
second control data region relates to an enhanced Physical Downlink
Control Channel (e-PDCCH).
[0063] In another embodiment, the first control data region is
located in the data region of the data transmission. Thus, control
space may be increased, and it may be even possible to omit a
separate control region completely to thereby allow a more flexible
allocation of user data and the control data transmission. Omitting
the control region, i.e., not using PDCCH, is possible particularly
for non-legacy users, i.e., users capable of receiving E-PDCCH.
[0064] In an alternative embodiment, the first control data region
is located in a region in the data transmission distinct from the
data region, e.g. preceding the data region. Such a region distinct
from the data region may be a dedicated control region used for
transmitting exclusively control information. When using this
region for the transmission of control data, the system may be
rendered compatible with legacy equipment not being capable of
determining control data in the data region.
[0065] In an embodiment, the first control data region comprises
common control data for monitoring by a group of user equipments
and may correspondingly also be denoted as a common search space.
The second control data region may comprise user equipment specific
control data for said user equipment and may correspondingly also
be denoted as a user equipment specific search space. Thus, common
search spaces may be located in the control region, whereas the
user equipment specific control data may be located in the data
region. This simplifies the handling of the control data because
control information which is potentially directed to a plurality of
user equipments is located in the control region so that it can
both be decoded by user equipment adapted to the present method and
legacy user equipment. This can avoid reconfigurations if legacy
user equipment, e.g., enters or leaves a cell.
[0066] In an embodiment, the data transmission is configured
without a control region, i.e., does not comprise a control region,
in the data transmission preceding the data region. In such an
embodiment, the entire data transmission such as a subframe may
consist of a data region only, wherein any free slots within the
data region can be used for transmitting necessary control data.
This is a very efficient way of using resources. In such an
embodiment, the data transmission is configured so that only
advanced user equipment, not legacy user equipment, is supported,
advanced user equipment being capable of extracting control data
from the data region.
[0067] In an embodiment, the data transmission comprises a control
region in the data transmission preceding the data region, wherein
the control region is free of control data specifically associated
with the user equipment, i.e., does not contain search spaces
exclusively for the user equipment under consideration. The control
region may still comprise other search spaces for different user
equipment or common search spaces addressed to both the user
equipment under consideration and one or more further user
equipment, e.g. to any user equipment receiving the data
transmission. In this case, a double provision of control data in
the control region for legacy user equipment and in the data region
for advanced user equipment (being compatible with PDCCH) can be
avoided. In other words, for advanced user equipment control data
may be provided in the data region only.
[0068] In an embodiment, the method further comprises determining
whether the user equipment is capable of deriving control data from
the data region of the data transmission, and upon determining that
the user equipment is capable of deriving control data from the
data region, configuring search spaces for said user equipment in
the data region. Particularly, the method may comprise determining
whether the user equipment is a legacy user equipment capable of
deriving control data from a control region of the data
transmission only, or whether the user equipment is advanced user
equipment capable of deriving control data also from the data
region of the data transmission. Upon determining that the user
equipment is a legacy user equipment, the user equipment is
operated in a first configuration with search spaces in the control
region of the data transmission preceding the data region. Upon
determining that the user equipment is an advanced user equipment,
the user equipment is operated in a second configuration with
search spaces in the data region. Thus, one or more communication
messages may be exchanged between a control node and the user
equipment so that the control node can determine type or identity
of the user equipment. Then, depending on the determined capability
or functionality of the user equipment, the control node may adjust
the position of control data in the data transmission so that the
user equipment with the defined functionality is able to find and
interpret the control data.
[0069] In an embodiment, the data transmission comprises a first
section in the time-frequency domain and comprises a distinct
second section in the time-frequency domain, wherein the first
section comprises a first control region and a first data region,
and wherein the second section comprises a second data region and
optionally a second control region, wherein at least one of the
first data region and the second data region comprises at least a
part of the control data. The first section and the second section
may relate to a secondary component carrier and to a primary
component carrier.
[0070] Next, further exemplary embodiments of the user equipment
for the mobile telecommunication system will be explained. However,
these embodiments also apply to the method for transmission of
control data to a user equipment in a mobile telecommunication
system, the control node, the mobile telecommunication system for
transmission of control data, the method of operating the user
equipment for the mobile telecommunication system, and the method
of operating the control node for the mobile telecommunication
system.
[0071] In an embodiment, a position of a plurality of transmission
elements is configured, which transmission elements are potential
bearers of the control data. The user equipment may be adapted to
receive control information in order to select transmission
elements among the configured transmission elements which the user
equipment monitors for the blind decoding. The user equipment
comprises a controller for specifying selected transmission
elements among the configured transmission elements according to
the control information and for controlling the decoder so that
blind decoding is restricted to the selected transmission elements.
Hence, the user equipment may be configured to carry out the above
mentioned method in terms of managing transmission elements being
potential bearers of control data.
[0072] In an embodiment, the user equipment is capable of receiving
and detecting Physical Downlink Control Channel messages (PDCCH).
However, the transmission elements may be of different type as
well.
[0073] In an embodiment, the user equipment is adapted for
monitoring control data regions or search spaces, associated with
two options of sending Downlink Control Information (DCI) messages
based on the detected control data. Common search spaces (CSS) may
be provided in common for a group of user equipment. The term
denotes a search space which is monitored by all the user equipment
in the group. The group may comprise all user equipment receiving
the transmission, e.g. all UE in a cell, or a subgroup of them,
i.e., typically a plurality of user equipments but optionally also
a single user equipment, e.g. if it is the only UE in a cell.
Common search spaces may also be used for unicast transmissions to
any user equipment in the group monitoring the common search space.
User equipment specific search spaces (USS) may be provided
individually for each individual user equipment.
[0074] In an embodiment, the user equipment is configured with a
control data region or search space of a first type, the first type
particularly relating to common control data for different or a
plurality of user equipments. In an embodiment, the search spaces
of the first type are associated with the Physical Downlink Control
Channel. The first type of search spaces can therefore be a common
search space which is provided unspecifically with regard to the
individual user equipments.
[0075] In an embodiment, the user equipment is configured with a
control data region or search space of a second type, the second
type particularly relating to user equipment specific search
spaces. In an embodiment, the search spaces of the second type are
associated with an enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel. The
second type may be user equipment dependent specific search spaces
which individually relates to a certain user equipment. Hence, the
position of such corresponding transmission elements may depend on
an identity of a user equipment.
[0076] In an embodiment, the control data regions or search spaces
of the second type are divided into two sets of user equipment
specific search spaces, wherein one set is associated with
reception of downlink assignments and another set is associated
with reception of uplink grants. In the context of this embodiment,
the term "downlink" may relate to a data transmission direction
from a base station to the user equipment. In the context of this
embodiment, the term "uplink" may particularly denote to a data
transmission direction from a user equipment to a base station.
[0077] In an embodiment, the user equipment is instructed to only
monitor a subset of sets of control data regions or search spaces
of a specific type, i.e., the same type, in accordance with an
indication to the user equipment by a network, particularly by the
mobile telecommunication system. By only monitoring a subset of the
search spaces, the processing capability for detecting control data
in the user equipment may be significantly reduced.
[0078] Next, further exemplary embodiments of the control node will
be explained. However, these embodiments also apply to the method
for transmission of control data to a user equipment in a mobile
telecommunication system, the user equipment for the mobile
telecommunication system, the mobile telecommunication system for
transmission of control data, the method of operating the user
equipment for the mobile telecommunication system, and the method
of operating the control node for the mobile telecommunication
system.
[0079] In an embodiment, a position of a plurality of transmission
elements is configured, which transmission elements are potential
bearers of the control data, wherein control information is sent to
the user equipment in order to select transmission elements among
the configured transmission elements which the user equipment
monitors for the blind decoding. The control node may comprise a
controller for specifying selected transmission elements among the
configured transmission elements and for indicating the selected
transmission elements to the user equipment. Therefore, even the
controller may be configured for performing the transmission
element classification in which specific transmission elements are
configured for blind decoding.
[0080] In an embodiment, the control node is configured as a base
station for a telecommunication system. Other opportunities are
possible as well. For instance, the control node can also be a
control node operating in a wired manner within a wired
communication network.
[0081] Next, a further exemplary embodiment of the mobile
telecommunication system for transmission of control data will be
explained. However, this embodiment also applies to the method for
transmission of control data to a user equipment in a mobile
telecommunication system, the user equipment for the mobile
telecommunication system, the control node, the method of operating
the user equipment for the mobile telecommunication system, and the
method of operating the control node for the mobile
telecommunication system.
[0082] In an embodiment, the mobile telecommunication system is
adapted as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. 3GPP Long Term
Evolution (LTE) is a standard for wireless communication of
high-speed data. It is based upon GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network
technologies. The standard is maintained as a project of the 3rd
Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
[0083] Embodiments of the invention provide methods for controlling
search space monitoring in deployments with enhanced physical
downlink control channels.
[0084] In order to limit the search complexity for blindly
monitoring control, for instance DCI, messages intended to the UE,
a mechanism for restricting the search space monitoring is
specified.
[0085] In the terms of LTE, an exemplary embodiment provides
mechanisms on how a UE shall monitor the UE-specific space and the
common search space when DCI messages can be sent in enhanced PDCCH
(E-PDCCH). The term E-PDCCH may relate to any further developments
of PDCCH as any future control channel design for the UE. In the
remainder of the description, the term E-PDCCH will be used as a
synonym for an enhanced PDCCH design that might resemble in format
to R-PDCCH design as well as to any future control channel design
based on UE specific reference signals.
[0086] In general terms, an exemplary embodiment provides a method
for transmission of control data to a user equipment in a mobile
telecommunication system, wherein the control data is sent to the
user equipment in a data transmission and wherein the user
equipment performs a blind decoding of transmission elements within
the data transmission in order to detect the control data in the
data transmission.
[0087] In the method, the position of a plurality of transmission
elements may be configured which are potential bearers of the
control data. Control information may be sent to the user equipment
in order to select transmission elements among the configured
transmission elements which the user equipment monitors for the
blind decoding.
[0088] In an embodiment, a user equipment of the telecommunication
system can be adapted to the method. In this case the user
equipment may comprise a receiver for the data transmission, a
decoder for the control signaling and a controller for specifying
selected transmission elements among the configured transmission
elements and for controlling the decoder so that the blind decoding
is restricted to the selected transmission elements.
[0089] In a further embodiment, a control node, for instance in a
base station of the telecommunication system, can be adapted to the
method. In this case the control node may comprise a transmitter
for the data transmission, an encoder for the control signaling and
a controller for specifying selected transmission elements among
the configured transmission elements and for indicating the
selected transmission elements to a user equipment.
[0090] In the following, more detailed examples of embodiments are
described in the terms of an LTE system. However, it is to be
understood that this description and all embodiments can be
generalized to other systems in line with the general features as
described above. Some examples for such generalizations are
indicated in the following text. For example, a PDCCH can be
considered in general terms as a first control data region in the
data transmission, and an E-PDCCH as a second control data region
in the data transmission. The second control data region may be
located in a data region of the data transmission.
[0091] In connected mode a UE capable of detecting both PDCCH and
E-PDCCH may be configured, for instance by higher layer signaling,
with common search spaces and UE-specific spaces associated with
detection of PDCCH, or E-PDCCH, or combinations of them. By
directly introducing E-PDCCH and adopting the concepts of search
spaces would imply that a UE would need to monitor more than two
configured set of common search spaces and more than four
configured set of UE-specific spaces.
[0092] A UE that has been configured with search spaces associated
with PDCCH can be re-configured with search spaces associated with
E-PDCCH. Search spaces of a certain type (for instance common or
UE-specific) forms a set of search spaces of same type. A network
may indicate to a UE to only monitor a subset of the sets
configured for E-PDCCH.
[0093] In general terms, reconfigurations allow that a UE when
first accessing a cell can be configured in a first configuration
with search spaces in the control region of a data transmission. In
this way communications with legacy equipment can be ensured. If
both the user equipment and the control node are adapted to the
present method a further configuration allows also for use of a
second control data region.
[0094] In a further option, the UE-specific spaces associated with
E-PDCCH can be divided into two sets of UE-specific spaces, one set
associated with reception of downlink assignments and another set
associated with reception of uplink grants.
[0095] The illustration in the drawing is schematical. In different
drawings, similar or identical elements are provided with the same
reference signs.
[0096] In the following three examples of embodiments are described
in more detail referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8:
[0097] In a first embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, a UE (for instance
the one shown in FIG. 10) is configured with one common search
space set (CSS) associated with PDCCH transmissions and one
UE-specific space set (USS) associated with E-PDCCH transmissions.
A UE that has been instructed by the network (for instance the one
shown in FIG. 9) to monitor the UE-specific space(s) associated
with E-PDCCH does not need to (shall not) monitor the UE-specific
spaces associated with PDCCH. The UE shall, when configured to
monitor E-PDCCH, only monitor the common search space set in the
control region associated with PDCCH transmissions.
[0098] An example of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 6, which
depicts a downlink subframe 600 in time and frequency dimension,
wherein time is plotted along an abscissa 610 and frequency is
plotted along an ordinate 620. The downlink subframe 600 (which may
generally be denoted as a data transmission also) starts with a
control region 602. The control region 602 comprises also the
common search space set CSS for any user equipment. In addition,
the subframe 600 comprises also an E-PDCCH in a data region 604
which comprises the UE specific first set USS for a first UE
(indicated by dotted lines). A second UE has another position for
the associated USS' in the data region 604 (indicated by broken
lines). An advantage of this embodiment is that it is compatible
with legacy user equipment which may receive a USS'' in the control
region 602. According to particular embodiments, this control
region 602 is not monitored by UE adapted to an embodiment of the
invention for the associated USS, USS' as described above.
[0099] In a second embodiment as shown in FIG. 7, a UE (for
instance the one shown in FIG. 10) is configured by higher layer
signaling with one set of common search spaces CSS associated with
E-PDCCH and with one set of UE-specific spaces USS also associated
with E-PDCCH. Both CSS and USS are assigned to the data region 604,
whereas control region 602 is free of CSS and USS.
[0100] It is also possible that a corresponding subframe 700 does
not comprise a control region 602, for instance if the carrier is
an extension carrier in carrier aggregation and only the primary
carrier comprises a control region 602.
[0101] In a third embodiment and corresponding subframe 800 as
shown in FIG. 8, the UE (for instance the one shown in FIG. 10) is
configured with one common search space set CSS associated with
PDCCH transmissions on a primary component carrier (PCC or Pcell,
see reference numeral 820) and one UE-specific space set USS
associated with E-PDCCH transmissions on a secondary component
carrier (SCC or Scell, see reference numeral 810). A UE that has
been instructed by the network (for instance the one shown in FIG.
10) to monitor the UE-specific space(s) associated with E-PDCCH on
the SCC does neither need to (shall not) monitor the UE-specific
spaces USS associated with PDCCH nor the common search space set
CSS associated with PDCCH on the SCC. In particular if legacy user
equipment is not adapted to carrier aggregation backward
compatibility of user equipment is not required in the scenarios of
FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 if the legacy user equipment cannot handle the
respective carriers.
[0102] In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the data transmission
corresponding to the subframe 800 comprises an SCC or first section
810 in the time-frequency domain and comprises a separate PCC or
second section 820 in the time-frequency domain, wherein the first
section 810 comprises a first control region 602 and a first data
region 604 and the second section 820 comprises a second control
region 602 and a second data region 604. The first control region
602 of the first section 810 is free of control data. The first
data region 604 of the first section 810 comprises control data
assigned to USS. The second control region 602 of the second
section 820 comprises control data CSS. The second data region 604
of the second section 820 is free of control data.
[0103] Embodiments of the invention, particularly the embodiments
of FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, can be implemented in base stations (for
instance the one shown in FIG. 11) and user equipment (for instance
the one shown in FIG. 10), for example, in eNBs and terminals
compliant with LTE and LTE-Advanced standards.
[0104] Although the described solutions may be implemented in any
appropriate type of telecommunication system supporting any
suitable communication standards and using any suitable components,
particular embodiments of the described solutions may be
implemented in an LTE network, such as that illustrated in FIG.
9.
[0105] As shown in FIG. 9, the example network 902, which may form
part of a mobile communication system 900, may include one or more
instances of user equipment 904 (UEs) and one or more base stations
906 capable of communicating with these UEs 904, along with any
additional elements suitable to support communication between UEs
904 or between a UE 904 and another communication device (such as a
landline telephone or a data server). Although the illustrated UEs
904 may represent communication devices that include any suitable
combination of hardware and/or software, these UEs 904 may, in
particular embodiments, represent devices such as the example UE
904 illustrated in greater detail by FIG. 10.
[0106] Similarly, although the illustrated base stations 906 may
represent network nodes that include any suitable combination of
hardware and/or software, these base stations 906 may, in
particular embodiments, represent devices such as the example base
station 906 illustrated in greater detail by FIG. 11.
[0107] As shown in FIG. 10, the example UE 904 includes a processor
1002, a memory 1004, a transceiver 1000 (having a receiver and a
transmitter), and an antenna 1006. In particular embodiments, some
or all of the functionality described above as being provided by
mobile communication devices or other forms of UE 904 may be
provided by the UE processor 1002 executing instructions stored on
a computer-readable medium, such as the memory 1004 shown in FIG.
10.
[0108] FIG. 10 also shows an exemplary constitution of processor
1002 of the user equipment 904. The processor 1002 comprises a
controller 1014 for specifying selected transmission elements among
configured transmission elements and for controlling a decoder 1012
so that blind decoding is restricted to the selected transmission
elements. For the definition of the transmission elements,
reference is made to the examples of FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 described
below. Decoder 1012 is provided for performing a blind decoding of
transmission elements in a data region within a data transmission
in order to detect control data in the data transmission and works
under control of the controller 1014. Optionally, other components
may be part of the processor 1002 as well.
[0109] In general terms, the user equipment 904 is capable of
operating within mobile telecommunication system 900. In this
mobile telecommunication system 900, control data is to be
transmitted from one of the base stations 906 to the user equipment
904. The transceiver 1000 (having a receiver function as well) of
the user equipment 904 is adapted to receive the control data in a
data transmission (as shown with reference numerals 600, 700, 800,
1300, 1400 in this description). The decoder 1012 is adapted for
performing a blind decoding of transmission elements in a data
region within the data transmission in order to detect the control
data in the data transmission.
[0110] Alternative embodiments of the UE 904 may include additional
components beyond those shown in FIG. 10 that may be responsible
for providing certain aspects of the UE's functionality, including
any of the functionality described above and/or any functionality
necessary to support the solution described above.
[0111] As shown in FIG. 11, the example base station 906 includes a
processor 1104, a memory 1106, a transceiver 1102, and an antenna
1110. A network interface 1108 may be foreseen as well. In
particular embodiments, some or all of the functionality described
above as being provided by a mobile base station, a base station
controller, a node B, an enhanced node B, and/or any other type of
mobile communications node may be provided by the base station
processor 1104 executing instructions stored on a computer-readable
medium, such as the memory 1106 shown in FIG. 11.
[0112] Also FIG. 11 shows a detailed view of the processor 1104 of
the base station 906. A controller 1114 is configured for
specifying selected transmission elements among configured
transmission elements and for indicating the selected transmission
elements for the user equipment 904. This is described in more
detail and shown in the examples of FIG. 13 and FIG. 14.
Furthermore, the control node 906 has an encoder 1112 for encoding
transmission elements within the data transmission in order to
enable the user equipment 904 to detect the control data in the
data region 604 in the data transmission (as shown with reference
numerals 600, 700, 800, 1300, 1400 in this description) by a blind
decoding of the transmission elements.
[0113] Again, further sections or control portions within the
processor 1104 are possible as well.
[0114] Alternative embodiments of the base station 906 may include
additional components responsible for providing additional
functionality, including any of the functionality identified above
and/or any functionality necessary to support the solution
described above.
[0115] More particularly, a computer-readable medium (for instance
a CD, a DVD, a USB stick, a hard disk or any other memory) is
provided, in which a computer program is stored which, when being
executed by a processor (such as a microprocessor or a CPU), is
adapted to control or carry out a method having the above mentioned
features.
[0116] Data processing which may be performed according to
embodiments of the invention can be realized by a computer program,
that is by software, or by using one or more special electronic
optimization circuits, that is in hardware, or in hybrid form, that
is by means of software components and hardware components.
[0117] FIG. 12 shows a flowchart diagram indicating procedures
according to a method 1200 for transmission of control data from a
base station 906 to a user equipment 904 of a mobile
telecommunication system 900 according to an exemplary embodiment
of the invention.
[0118] The base station, as shown in block 1210, configures a
position of a plurality of transmission elements which are
potential bearers of the control data. Thus, the transmission
elements of the data transmission are analyzed or configured by the
base station 906 in terms of which of them could serve as
transmission elements via which control data is to be transmitted
to the user equipment 904.
[0119] As shown in block 1220, the base station 906 sends control
information to the user equipment 904 in order to select
transmission elements among the configured transmission elements
which the user equipment 904 monitors for the blind decoding.
Therefore, it is possible to specify a decision rule indicating to
the user equipment 904 which positions within the data transmission
(as shown with reference numerals 600, 700, 800, 1300, 1400 in this
description) should be searched in the process of blind decoding as
promising candidates to find blocks of control data for controlling
operation of the user equipment 904.
[0120] As shown in block 1230, the user equipment 904 specifies
selected transmission elements among the configured transmission
elements and restricts blind decoding to the selected transmission
elements. Thus, in accordance with a definition made by the base
station 906, the user equipment 904 has to perform blind decoding
only for specific transmission elements which makes it easier to
determine position and content of the control data and reduces the
required processing capability.
[0121] In block 1240, the base station 906 generates a data
transmission (as shown with reference numerals 600, 700, 800, 1300,
1400 in this description) having a control region 602 and the data
region 604. Examples for such a data transmission are shown, for
instance, in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8.
[0122] As shown in a subsequent block 1250, the user equipment 904
receives the data transmission (as shown with reference numerals
600, 700, 800, 1300, 1400 in this description) from the base
station 906.
[0123] In a subsequent block 1260, the user equipment 904 blindly
decodes only the selected transmission elements within the data
transmission in order to detect the control data in the data region
604 in the data transmission (as shown with reference numerals 600,
700, 800, 1300, 1400 in this description).
[0124] FIG. 13 shows a data transmission 1300 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0125] Again, the data transmission 1300 has a control region 602
and a data region 604 succeeding the control region 602. The
control region 602 consists of control data for controlling
communication between the base station 906 and the user equipment
904, whereas the data region 604 is a block in the time frequency
domain which includes user data, such as telecommunication content
data.
[0126] As can be taken from FIG. 13, a plurality of transmission
elements 1310 can be seen, each of which being capable of
transporting data. However, only some of them, denoted with
reference numerals 1320, are defined by the base station 906 as
potential bearers of control data used for controlling the user
equipment 904. With a corresponding position rule which of the
transmission elements 1310 are selected transmission elements 1320
for bearing the control data, it is possible that the user
equipment 904 only has to detect these selected transmission
elements 1320 to analyze them in terms of the potential bearing of
control data. This renders the processing capabilities of the user
equipment 904 very moderate.
[0127] As can be taken in FIG. 13, a first control data region 1302
is located within the control region 602, whereas a second control
data region 1304 is located within the data region 604 as well as a
second control data region 1306. Therefore, a user equipment 904
only has to search specifically in one or more of the regions 1302,
1304 and 1306 to determine the control data in the context of a
blind decoding procedure.
[0128] FIG. 14 shows a data transmission 1400 according to another
exemplary embodiment of the invention in which three control data
regions 1402, 1304, 1306 are shown which are all part of a data
region 604. In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the data transmission
1400 is free of a control region 602, i.e., consists of the data
region 604 only. Again, only the control data regions 1304, 1306,
1402 need to be searched by user equipment 904 for the presence of
control data in the context of a blind decoding procedure.
[0129] It should be noted that the term "comprising" does not
exclude other elements or features and the "a" or "an" does not
exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with
different embodiments may be combined.
[0130] It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims
shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.
* * * * *