Base Station Channel Sounding via Blank Resources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cellular wireless communication networks face challenges in efficiently measuring and characterizing wireless channel parameters, particularly in real-time, due to the limitations of existing single-input single-output channel sounding systems, which are slow and difficult to modify for advanced measurements.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using the transceivers and baseband processors of an in-service base station to embed channel sounding waveforms into the time-frequency resource grid, leveraging blank resources for channel sounding, allowing for real-time measurement without the need for a dedicated transmitter, and utilizing existing waveforms to minimize implementation effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional single-input single-output channel sounding systems are used, then measurement capability is provided, but measurement speed is slow and system modification is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The base station's existing transceiver and baseband processor are made multi-functional by enabling them to generate and transmit channel sounding waveforms in addition to their normal communication functions. This allows the same hardware to serve both regular data transmission and channel measurement purposes, eliminating the need for separate dedicated sounding hardware and thereby increasing measurement speed without requiring complex system modifications.
2Loss of time
If dedicated channel sounding transmitters are deployed, then real-time channel measurement is achieved, but hardware cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The channel sounding function is merged with the base station's existing communication infrastructure. The same transceiver and baseband processor that handle regular data traffic are also used to generate and transmit channel sounding waveforms. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate dedicated sounding transmitters, reducing hardware complexity and cost while maintaining real-time measurement capability through efficient resource utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station equipment is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - regular data communication and channel sounding measurements. By making the base station transceiver multi-functional, the system achieves real-time channel characterization without requiring additional specialized hardware, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement timeliness.
3Measurement precision
If continuous channel sounding is performed, then accurate channel characterization is achieved, but resource consumption and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous channel sounding, the system employs periodic channel sounding where waveforms are transmitted at specific intervals rather than continuously. This periodic approach maintains sufficient channel characterization accuracy for network planning and performance prediction while significantly reducing resource consumption and minimizing interference with normal data traffic, as the sounding resources are activated only when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An example method may include a processing system of a base station having a processor selecting a blank resource of a time and frequency resource grid of the base station for a transmission of a channel sounding waveform and transmitting the channel sounding waveform via the blank resource. Another example method may include a processing system of a channel sounding receiver receiving at a location, from a base station, a channel sounding waveform via a blank resource of a time and frequency resource grid of the base station, and measuring a channel property at the location based upon the channel sounding waveform.