Reference Signal Port-Frequency Mapping for Channel Estimation Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing channel estimation solutions result in high resource overheads due to the need for transmitting reference signals on all frequency and transmit antenna ports, leading to inefficient use of time and frequency domain resources.
Innovation Solution
A communication method that involves sending reference signals based on specific combinations of transmit antenna ports and frequency domain units indicated by a network device, reducing the need to transmit on all ports and units, thereby optimizing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If reference signals are transmitted on all frequency domain resources and all transmit antenna ports, then channel estimation accuracy is improved, but resource overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmit antenna ports into multiple antenna port groups, where each group is associated with a specific frequency domain unit. Instead of transmitting reference signals on all antenna ports across all frequency resources, the terminal device transmits reference signals only on the antenna port group corresponding to the scheduled frequency domain unit. This segmentation reduces resource overhead while maintaining channel estimation accuracy for the scheduled resources.
2Loss of information
If reference signals are transmitted on all transmit antenna ports, then channel state information for all ports is obtained, but time domain resource overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides all transmit antenna ports into multiple antenna port groups, with each group mapped to specific frequency domain units. The terminal device transmits reference signals only on the antenna port group corresponding to the currently scheduled frequency domain unit, rather than all antenna ports. This reduces the number of symbols needed for reference signal transmission while ensuring complete channel state information is obtained for the scheduled resources.
3Measurement precision
If reference signals are transmitted on all frequency domain units, then comprehensive channel estimation is achieved, but frequency domain resource overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments frequency domain units into multiple groups, with each group associated with a specific antenna port group. The terminal device transmits reference signals only on the frequency domain unit corresponding to the scheduled resources, rather than all frequency domain units. This targeted approach reduces frequency domain resource overhead while maintaining comprehensive channel estimation coverage for the scheduled frequency resources.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. The method includes: A network device sends first information to a terminal device, to indicate at least one combination of a first transmit antenna port and a first frequency domain unit that are used by the terminal device to send a reference signal to the network device; each combination includes one first transmit antenna port and one first frequency domain unit; and all first transmit antenna ports in the at least one combination are a part of all transmit antenna ports of the terminal device, and/or all first frequency domain units in the at least one combination are a part of all scheduled frequency domain units. The terminal device sends a first reference signal to the network device based on the at least one combination. The network device determines a first channel matrix based on the first reference signal.