Method and apparatus for enhanced modulation in a wirless communication system

摘要

Disclosed are methods for facilitating enhanced modulation (such as 256-QAM) in wireless networks. The methods generally involve enhancements to physical-layer signaling (such as enhanced MCS tables), enhancements to transport-block tables (to support enhanced MCS values), CSI-feedback enhancements (to ensure that the UE signals the appropriate MCS for enhanced modulation), enhancements to higher-layer signaling, allowing UEs to signal their ability to use the enhanced modulation, and UE category enhancements.

主权项

1. In a wireless network comprising a network entity, a method for a user equipment (“UE”) to process downlink transmissions from the network entity, the method comprising:
transmitting, by the UE to the network entity, a message identifying a first type of modulation; receiving, by the UE from the network entity, a first configuration message that indicates that the UE is to be configured to use the first type of modulation; in response to the first configuration message, selecting a first set of modulation and coding schemes; receiving, by the UE from the network entity, a first downlink control information message, wherein the first downlink control information message includes a designation of a first modulation and coding scheme and an assignment of a first set of downlink resource blocks to the UE, and wherein the first modulation and coding scheme is one of the first set of modulation and coding schemes; determining, based on the first modulation and coding scheme, that the UE is to use the first type of modulation; determining a first transport block size based on the first modulation and coding scheme and on the first set of assigned downlink resource blocks; receiving a first downlink signal from the network entity; and processing the first downlink signal using the first type of modulation and the first transport block size.