3D Channel State Information Feedback via Vertical Dimension Reference Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional channel estimation methods in LTE systems only support channel state information feedback in the horizontal dimension, which is inadequate for 3D beamforming technologies that require feedback in both horizontal and vertical dimensions.

Innovation Solution

Configuring and sending multiple reference signal resources by the base station to user equipment, allowing the equipment to determine and feedback channel state information and reference signal resource indication information in both dimensions, enabling the base station to obtain channel state information in both dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional channel estimation method is used, then channel state information feedback is simple and easy to implement, but only horizontal dimension channel state information can be obtained, which is insufficient for 3D beamforming technology

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedimension coverage of CSI feedbackVSAvoidchannel estimation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends conventional 2D channel estimation (horizontal dimension only) to 3D channel estimation by adding vertical dimension. Multiple reference signal resources with different spatial filters are configured to capture channel characteristics in both horizontal and vertical dimensions, enabling 3D beamforming technology to obtain comprehensive channel state information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The channel estimation process is segmented into multiple independent reference signal resources, each corresponding to different spatial directions or beams. The user equipment measures each reference signal resource separately and combines the measurements to obtain complete 3D channel state information, making the complex estimation process manageable and systematic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If multiple reference signal resources are configured for 3D beamforming, then channel state information in both horizontal and vertical dimensions can be obtained, but feedback overhead and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCSI feedback precisionVSAvoidfeedback overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential channel state information parameters (such as channel quality indicator, precoding matrix indicator, and rank indicator) from the complete 3D channel measurements and feeds back only these extracted parameters to the base station. This reduces feedback overhead while maintaining the precision needed for 3D beamforming operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the raw channel measurement data into compressed parameter representations (CQI, PMI, RI) that capture the essential channel characteristics in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. This parameter transformation reduces the amount of data to be fed back while preserving the measurement precision required for accurate 3D beamforming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3565140B1Channel state information feedback method, user equipment, and base station
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3565140B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3565140B1 patent drawingFigure 3A
  • EP3565140B1 patent drawingFigure 3B

AI summary

This application provides a channel state information feedback method, user equipment, and a base station. A base station configures N first reference signal resources for UE, and sends the N first reference signal resources to the UE. After receiving the first reference signal resources, and then determining CSI of the first reference signal resources and M pieces of first reference signal indication information based on a feedback mode, the UE feeds back the CSI and the M pieces of first reference signal resource indication information to the base station. In this process, the UE feeds back the CSI of the M first reference signal resources in a horizontal dimension and the M pieces of first reference signal resource indication information to the base station, so that the base station determines channel state information in a vertical dimension based on the first reference signal resource indication information and finally obtains the channel state information in the two dimensions. This overcomes a disadvantage that only channel state information in a horizontal dimension is fed back in conventional channel estimation.