Adaptive Pilot Port Selection for Channel Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pilot systems in future network scenarios, such as eMBB, URLLC, and mMTC, face challenges in meeting diverse requirements, leading to degraded channel estimation and data transmission reliability due to inappropriate pilot usage.

Innovation Solution

The method involves aggregating pilot ports with overlapping and differing time-frequency resources to create a target pilot with improved density, allowing for adaptive selection based on channel quality and priority, enhancing data transmission reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a specific pilot is used for channel estimation, then channel estimation can be performed, but channel estimation performance degrades in diverse network scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation performanceVSAvoidadaptability to diverse scenarios
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic pilot selection by configuring multiple pilot ports with different time-frequency resource densities and allowing the terminal to select appropriate pilots based on current channel conditions and service requirements. This transforms the static pilot structure into a dynamic, adaptive system that can adjust to varying network scenarios such as eMBB, URLLC, and mMTC.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of pilot density by providing multiple pilot ports with different time-frequency resource allocations. The terminal can select pilots with appropriate density based on channel quality indicators and service type, thereby optimizing channel estimation performance for different scenarios without changing the fundamental pilot structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If high-density pilots are used for channel estimation, then channel estimation performance improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation performanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the pilot resources into multiple pilot ports with different density characteristics. Instead of using a single high-density pilot structure for all scenarios, the system divides pilot resources into multiple groups with varying densities, allowing selective usage based on needs. This reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high estimation performance when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by allowing the terminal to select only the necessary pilot ports based on current channel conditions and service requirements. Rather than always using all available high-density pilots, the system uses only the appropriate density level needed for each specific scenario, reducing unnecessary complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of manufacture

If a specific pilot configuration is used, then implementation is simple, but data transmission reliability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoiddata transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal pilot configuration that serves multiple functions and scenarios. The network device configures multiple pilot ports that can be universally applied across different service types (eMBB, URLLC, mMTC) and channel conditions. This multi-functional approach maintains implementation simplicity while significantly improving data transmission reliability through adaptive selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the terminal reports channel quality indicators and service requirements to the network device. Based on this feedback, the network device appropriately configures and indicates which pilot ports to use. This feedback loop enables reliable adaptive selection while keeping the implementation straightforward through standardized reporting and configuration procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3614611B1Communication method and device
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3614611B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3614611B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3614611B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application provides a communications method and apparatus, to improve data transmission reliability. The method includes: determining, by a terminal device, M pilot ports that are used to transmit one data stream, where M is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2; and sending, by the terminal device to a network device, M pilot signals and the data stream that have been subject to same precoding processing, where the M pilot signals are respectively generated based on the M pilot ports.