Method and device for allocating and detecting downlink control channel resources

• US 9,769,808 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2013
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Liu, Zheng, Jiang, Qi, Liu, Jianguo, Han, Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): MEW, KEVIN D
• Application Number:
  US14/386,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20150049700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2607 Cyclic extensions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2653 with direct demodulation of individual subcarriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0039 Frequency-contiguous, i.e. with no allocation of frequencies for one user or terminal between the frequencies allocated to another
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention disclose methods and devices for allocating and detecting downlink control channel resources. The method for allocating downlink control channel resources comprises: allocating a resource area for enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel, ePDCCH, localized transmission in a UE-specific way; and allocating at most one ePDCCH candidate for the ePDCCH localized transmission in each resource allocation granularity within the resource area. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the ePDCCH candidates at each aggregation level are distributed to radio resources sparsely so that sufficient options can be provided for resource allocation.

Claims

1. A method for allocating downlink control channel resources, comprising:

allocating a resource area for enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel, ePDCCH, localized transmission in a user equipment, UE, specific way such that each resource area is allocated to a different UE; and

allocating at most one ePDCCH candidate for the ePDCCH localized transmission in each resource allocation granularity within the resource area;

wherein each resource allocation granularity comprises a subband, the size of which is dependent on at least one of available frequency bands and physical resource block (PRB) pairs.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

setting a UE identifier based offset within the resource area to indicate a starting position of a UE specific search space.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

allocating an anchor candidate according to the set offset.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

allocating other candidates based on the allocated anchor candidate.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending information on the resource area to the UE via a semi-static signaling message.

6. A method for detecting downlink control channel resources, comprising:

obtaining information on a resource area, wherein the resource area is allocated for enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel, ePDCCH, localized transmission in a user equipment, UE, specific way; and

detecting ePDCCH candidates within the resource area for reception on the ePDCCH, wherein each resource allocation granularity within the resource area comprises at most one ePDCCH candidate;

wherein each resource area is allocated to a different UE; and

wherein each resource allocation granularity comprises a subband, the size of which is dependent on at least one of available frequency bands and physical resource block (PRB) pairs.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

determining a UE identifier based offset within the resource area to indicate a starting position of a UE specific search space.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

detecting an anchor candidate according to the determined offset.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

detecting other candidates based on the detected anchor candidate.

10. A device for allocating downlink control channel resources, comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute;

a resource area allocation module configured to allocate a resource area for enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel, ePDCCH, localized transmission in a user equipment, UE, specific way; and

a candidate allocation module configured to allocate at most one ePDCCH candidate for the ePDCCH localized transmission in each resource allocation granularity within the resource area;

wherein each resource area is allocated to a different UE; and

wherein each resource allocation granularity comprises a subband, the size of which is dependent on at least one of available frequency bands and physical resource block (PRB) pairs.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute:

an offset setting module configured to set a UE identifier based offset within the resource area to indicate a starting position of a UE specific search space.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the candidate allocation module is further configured to allocate an anchor candidate according to the set offset.

13. A device for detecting downlink control channel resources, comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute;

a resource area obtaining module configured to obtain information on a resource area, wherein the resource area is allocated for enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel, ePDCCH, localized transmission in a user equipment, UE, specific way; and

a candidate detection module configured to detect ePDCCH candidates within the resource area for reception on the ePDCCH, wherein each resource allocation granularity within the resource area comprises at most one ePDCCH candidate;

wherein each resource area is allocated to a different UE; and

wherein each resource allocation granularity comprises a subband, the size of which is dependent on at least one of available frequency bands and physical resource block (PRB) pairs.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute:

an offset determination module configured to determine a UE identifier based offset within the resource area to indicate a starting position of a UE specific search space.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the candidate detection module is further configured to detect an anchor candidate according to the determined offset.