Adaptive Pilot Symbol Insertion for Channel Estimation Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems experience reduced transmission efficiency due to the insertion of redundant pilot symbols, which are necessary to estimate and adapt to variations in the transmission channel, especially under conditions of impulse noise or phase fluctuation.

Innovation Solution

A communication apparatus and method that dynamically adjust the number and placement of pilot symbols within communication frames based on the state of the transmission channel, allowing for efficient communication by inserting pilot symbols only when necessary and optimizing their length and frequency to maintain channel stability and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pilot symbols are inserted periodically into communication frames to estimate transmission channel variations, then channel estimation accuracy is improved, but transmission efficiency deteriorates due to reduced data payload ratio

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the pilot symbol insertion pattern adaptive rather than fixed. The communication apparatus dynamically adjusts whether to insert pilot symbols based on detected channel variation. When channel conditions are stable, no pilot symbols are inserted. When variations are detected, pilot symbols are inserted at appropriate positions. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making channel estimation accuracy improve only when necessary, thereby maintaining transmission efficiency during stable conditions while ensuring reliability during channel variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the number of pilot symbols is increased to detect channel variations more reliably, then channel estimation reliability is improved, but the proportion of data transmission capacity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation reliabilityVSAvoiddata transmission capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically modifying the pilot symbol insertion parameters (whether to insert, insertion positions) based on channel conditions. The system changes the parameter of pilot symbol presence/absence according to detected channel variation thresholds. This resolves the contradiction by adjusting pilot symbol usage parameters adaptively - using more pilots only when channel reliability requirements increase, thereby preserving data transmission capacity during normal conditions while ensuring reliable channel estimation when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If pilot symbols are inserted to maintain communication quality under impulse noise or phase fluctuation, then communication stability is improved, but transmission efficiency deteriorates due to redundant symbol insertion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication stabilityVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the communication process into distinct phases: normal communication phase and channel variation response phase. During normal phase, no pilot symbols are inserted and full transmission efficiency is maintained. When channel variations (impulse noise or phase fluctuation) are detected, the system transitions to the response phase where pilot symbols are inserted at specific positions to maintain communication stability. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by ensuring communication stability measures are activated only when actually needed, rather than continuously reducing transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2193640B1Communication apparatus, communication method, and integrated circuit
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP2193640B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2193640B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2193640B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

A communication apparatus is connected to a transmission channel for transmitting data to another communication apparatus. The communication apparatus includes: a communication frame generator which generates a communication frame for storing the data; and a controller which controls to insert a pilot symbol into the communication frame based on a state of the transmission channel.