System and method for modulation scheme changes
View Patent ↗A system and method are disclosed that allow changes of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) without overhead signaling. A priori, a network device and a user device know the manner in which the MCS will be changed. In one embodiment, the network device indicates the MCS to be used to decode a second portion of a message in a first portion of the message. In another embodiment, the user device blind detects the MCS used over a sub-set of MCSs.
1. A method of indicating a change in modulation and coding schemes (MCSs) at a network comprising:
sending an indication to a user equipment to use a first blind detection configuration MCS set;
choosing a MCS from the first blind detection configuration set;
encoding data in accordance with the chosen MCS;
sending the encoded data;
sending an indication to use a second blind detection configuration set; and
sending data encoded with a MCS chosen from the second blind detection configuration MCS set, wherein thereafter, the network avoids sending additional blind MCS configuration sets and other MCS signalling.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second blind configuration sets each contain a single MCS.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending the first and second blind detection configuration sets via one of:
RRC signaling; and
a physical downlink control channel.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the indication to use the second blind detection configuration further comprises sending the indication via a MAC control PDU.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an indication that a second blind detection configuration set is needed.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the receiving an indication that a second blind detection configuration is needed comprises receiving an indication that a user equipment's geometry in relation to a network access device has changed.
7. A method of indicating a change in modulation and coding schemes (MCSs) at a user equipment comprising:
receiving an indication to use a first blind detection configuration set;
receiving data;
blind detecting which MCS to use to decode the data from the first blind detection configuration set;
receiving an indication to use a second blind detection configuration set;
receiving additional data; and
blind detecting which MCS to use to decode the data from the second blind detection configuration set, wherein signaling of additional MCS signaling is avoided thereafter.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first and second blind detection configuration sets each contain a single MCS.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving the first and second blind detection configuration sets via one of:
RRC signaling; and
a physical downlink control channel.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein receiving an indication to use the first or second blind detection configuration sets further comprises receiving the indications via a MAC Control PDU.
11. A network device comprising:
a transmission module configured to send an indication to a user equipment to use a first blind detection configuration set;
a modulation coding scheme (MCS) module configured to choose a MCS from the first blind detection configuration set;
the MCS module further configured to encode data in accordance with the chosen MCS;
the transmission module further configured to send the encoded data;
the transmission module further configured to send an indication to use a second blind detection configuration set; and
the transmission module further configured to send data encoded with a MCS chosen from the second blind detection configuration set, wherein the transmission module is further configured to avoid sending further MCS signaling thereafter.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the first and second blind configuration sets each contain a single MCS.
13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the transmission module is further configured to send the first and second blind detection configuration sets via one of:
RRC signaling; and
a physical downlink control channel.
14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the transmission module is further configured to send the indication via a MAC control PDU.
15. The device of claim 11 , wherein the MCS determination module is further configured to receive an indication that a second blind detection configuration set is needed.
16. A user equipment comprising:
a receive module configured to receive an indication to use a first blind detection configuration set;
the receive module further configured to receive data;
a decoder module configured to blind detect which modulation and coding scheme (MCS) to use to decode the data from the first blind detection configuration set;
the receive module further configured to receive an indication to use a second blind detection configuration set;
the receive module further configured to receive additional data; and
the decoder module further configured to blind detect which MCS to use to decode the data from the second blind detection configuration set, wherein the decoder module blind detects which MCS to use to decode the data from the second blind detection configuration set without receiving further MCS signaling.
17. The user equipment of claim 16 , wherein the first and second blind detection configuration sets each contain a single MCS.
18. The user equipment of claim 16 , wherein the receive module is configured to receive the first and second blind detection configuration sets via one of:
RRC signaling; and
a physical downlink control channel.
19. The user equipment of claim 16 , wherein the receive module is configured to receive the indications via a MAC Control PDU.