Adaptive Time-Frequency Grid and Pilot Configuration for Vehicular Links

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Solution Overview

Problem

Legacy communication systems, such as OFDM, face significant performance degradation in high mobility environments due to Doppler shifts, necessitating a more flexible and robust modulation scheme that can adapt to time-frequency dispersion conditions in vehicular communication systems.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining a time-frequency grid and pilot configuration based on the relative velocity and delay spread between transceivers, allowing for adaptive adjustments to the delay-Doppler characteristics of the radio channel, which can be applied to both OTFS and OFDM systems, enabling efficient channel estimation and improved reliability in vehicular communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If OFDM is used in high mobility environments, then the system is simple and well-known, but performance degrades significantly due to Doppler shifts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidDoppler shift impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the modulation scheme by transitioning from OFDM to OTFS, altering the time-frequency grid configuration and pilot symbol arrangement to be adaptive to channel conditions. This allows the system to maintain reliability under high Doppler shifts by adjusting parameters such as pilot density and grid configuration based on estimated channel characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptation capabilities where the time-frequency grid and pilot configuration are adjusted based on real-time channel conditions. The system dynamically selects appropriate pilot patterns and grid parameters to match the current Doppler spread and delay spread characteristics, enabling the system to adapt to varying mobility conditions rather than using a fixed configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If OTFS is used to handle high Doppler spreads, then robustness improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobustness to Doppler spreadVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary actions by pre-configuring multiple pilot patterns and time-frequency grid configurations before actual communication begins. The system pre-preares a set of candidate pilot arrangements and grid parameters that can be quickly selected based on initial channel estimates, avoiding the need for complex real-time optimization while still achieving adaptive robustness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the pilot configuration into multiple discrete patterns and grid types that can be independently selected. Rather than dealing with a continuous complex optimization problem, the system divides the configuration space into manageable segments (different pilot densities, grid resolutions, and arrangements) and selects from these predefined options based on channel conditions, reducing computational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If the time-frequency grid is adapted to channel conditions, then channel estimation accuracy improves, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary configuration of multiple time-frequency grid options and pilot patterns before actual channel estimation begins. By pre-preparing a set of candidate configurations that cover typical channel conditions, the system can quickly select and apply the most appropriate grid without performing computationally intensive real-time optimization, thus achieving accurate channel estimation with reduced processing delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where initial channel estimates are used to select appropriate time-frequency grid configurations and pilot patterns, which are then refined through subsequent estimation iterations. This feedback-driven approach allows the system to quickly converge on accurate channel characteristics by using coarse initial information to guide finer-grained estimation, reducing overall processing time compared to exhaustive methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3965340B1Access node, user equipment, apparatuses, methods and computer programs for determining a time-frequency grid and pilot configuration for a radio link between two transceivers of a mobile communication system
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3965340B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3965340B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3965340B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an access node, user equipment, apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for determining a time-frequency grid and pilot configuration for a radio link between two transceivers of a mobile communication system. The method (10) for determining a time-frequency grid and pilot configuration for a radio link between two transceivers of a mobile communication system comprises obtaining (12) information on a relative velocity between the two transceivers and retrieving (14) predetermined information on a delay spread of a radio channel between two transceivers. The method (10) further comprises deriving (16) the time-frequency grid configuration for the radio link based on in the information on the relative velocity and based on the information on the delay spread and determining the pilot configuration in relation to the time-frequency grid.