Antenna Allocation via Distributed Port Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cellular mobile communication systems using Centralized Antenna Systems (CAS) struggle to provide high data rates to User Equipments (UEs) located at cell edges due to the concentration of transmit/receive antennas at the center of cells, limiting their capability to serve UEs effectively at high data rates.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) where antennas are allocated and configured based on Channel Status Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS) feedback from UEs, allowing for efficient selection and distribution of antennas across the cell, enabling high data rates regardless of UE location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If antennas are concentrated at the center of the cell (CAS configuration), then the system structure is simple and easy to manage, but UEs located at cell edges cannot achieve high data rates due to poor channel conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna management simplicityVSAvoiddata rate for cell edge UEs
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the cell into multiple sectors, each served by a different antenna or antenna group. The base station transmits sector identification information to UEs, enabling them to measure channel conditions for multiple sectors and select the best one, thereby improving data rates for cell edge UEs while maintaining manageable system structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces spatial dimension by transmitting the same data to different UEs through different antennas or antenna groups (spatial multiplexing). This allows the system to serve multiple UEs simultaneously with different channel conditions, improving overall system productivity without complicating the basic antenna management structure

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

2Productivity

If antennas are distributed across the cell (DAS configuration), then high data rates can be achieved for UEs across the entire cell, but the system complexity increases due to multiple antenna configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rate for UEs across the cellVSAvoidantenna configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic antenna selection where the base station receives feedback from UEs about channel conditions and dynamically determines which antenna or antenna group to use for transmission. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to achieve high data rates for UEs across the cell while managing complexity through intelligent, condition-based antenna selection rather than static complex configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where UEs report channel quality information to the base station, which then uses this feedback to select the appropriate antenna or antenna group for transmission. This feedback loop enables the system to achieve high data rates adaptively while keeping the antenna configuration management tractable through information-driven decision making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If channel-sensitive scheduling is implemented, then system capacity increases through multi-user diversity gain, but the complexity of resource management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidresource management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies channel-sensitive scheduling selectively to enhance system capacity where beneficial, rather than implementing it universally. By using feedback information to determine when and how to apply advanced scheduling techniques, the system achieves multi-user diversity gain while avoiding the full complexity of continuous sophisticated resource management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2643936B1Antenna allocation apparatus and method for cellular mobile communication system
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2643936B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2643936B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2643936B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method and apparatus for selecting and allocating antennas efficiently are provided.. The method includes transmitting, to a User Equipment (UE), information indicating a configuration of a plurality of Channel Status Information Reference Signals (CSI-RSs) through UE specific signaling during an initial access attempt with the UE; receiving, from the UE, CSI-RS measurement results indicating configured CSI-RSs; transmitting CSI-RSs corresponding to a set of available distributed ports (D-ports) based on received signal strength information included in results of the CSI-RS measurement; and determining a CSI-RS of a selected D-port set for use in communications based on feedback information received from the UE.