Adaptive DMRS Mapping for Lower Wireless Resource Overhead

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The transmission of demodulation reference signals (DMRS) in wireless communication systems, such as LTE and 5G, requires a fixed number of resource blocks, leading to resource wastage in scenarios with good channel conditions, thereby reducing overall system efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining a mapping relationship between DMRS and time-frequency resources, allowing the DMRS to occupy fewer than the total available resource blocks, thereby reducing resource overhead and improving payload capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed number of DMRS are configured on a unit time-frequency resource block, then channel estimation can be performed reliably, but system resources are wasted in scenarios with good channel conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation reliabilityVSAvoidsystem resource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the DMRS configuration adaptive rather than fixed. The network device dynamically adjusts the number of DMRS based on channel condition feedback from the terminal device. When channel conditions are good, fewer DMRS are configured; when conditions are poor, more DMRS are configured. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliable channel estimation and reducing system resource waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of DMRS quantity from a fixed value to a variable parameter that adjusts according to channel conditions. The terminal device measures channel quality and feeds back this information, allowing the network device to modify the DMRS configuration parameter accordingly. This parameter change enables the system to optimize the balance between estimation reliability and resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the same number of DMRSs as in general scenarios is used for channel estimation in good channel conditions, then channel estimation accuracy is maintained, but resource overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidresource overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating DMRS configuration based on local channel conditions. Instead of uniformly applying the same DMRS quantity across all scenarios, the system tailors the DMRS configuration to match the specific channel conditions of each terminal. In good channel conditions, reduced DMRS quantity maintains sufficient estimation accuracy while lowering resource overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by using only the necessary amount of DMRS for channel estimation rather than always deploying the maximum or standard quantity. When channel conditions are favorable, the system uses a reduced (partial) number of DMRS, which is sufficient for maintaining estimation accuracy without the excessive resource consumption of a full DMRS configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If more DMRS are transmitted to improve channel estimation, then demodulation performance improves, but resource utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedemodulation performanceVSAvoidresource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by having the terminal device measure channel quality and report this information back to the network device. Based on this feedback, the network device adjusts the DMRS configuration appropriately. This feedback mechanism ensures that DMRS are transmitted in quantities that optimize demodulation performance while avoiding unnecessary resource consumption, thereby improving overall resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4708752A1Demodulation reference signal transmission method and apparatus, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 ZTE CORP
  • EP4708752A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4708752A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4708752A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present application relates to the technical field of communications. Provided are a demodulation reference signal transmission method and apparatus, and a storage medium, which are used for reducing resource overheads of a demodulation reference signal and improving a resource utilization rate. The method comprises: determining a time-frequency resource for signal transmission, wherein the time-frequency resource comprises N resource blocks, N being a positive integer; determining a mapping relationship between a demodulation reference signal and the time-frequency resource, which correspond to signal transmission; and according to the mapping relationship, mapping the demodulation reference signal in the time-frequency resource, and then sending same, wherein the demodulation reference signal occupies x resource blocks, x being a positive integer less than N.