Base Station Reference Signal Configuration for Wireless Overhead Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in configuring reference signals for user equipment, leading to increased overheads and resource usage due to the need to send and measure multiple combinations of reference signals for optimal channel quality, especially in scenarios with a large number of antenna ports.

Innovation Solution

A method where a base station sends a reduced set of M reference signals to user equipment in N time units, allowing for channel quality measurement and feedback, and selects an optimal reference signal based on the received indications, reducing unnecessary signal configurations and overheads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all possible drive network configuration combinations are configured for reference signals, then the base station can select the optimal configuration based on channel quality feedback, but the number of reference signals and measurement overheads increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptimal configuration selectionVSAvoidnumber of reference signals
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary reference signals from the complete set of all possible drive network configuration combinations. Instead of configuring all possible reference signals, the system selectively transmits a reduced subset that is sufficient for determining optimal configurations, thereby reducing overhead while maintaining selection capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by transmitting fewer reference signals than the complete set of all possible configurations. The base station sends only a subset of reference signals corresponding to selected drive network configurations, which is sufficient for UE to provide feedback for determining optimal configurations without requiring all possible signals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Measurement precision

If multiple reference signals are sent for comprehensive channel quality measurement, then the base station can make accurate optimization decisions, but the measurement and feedback overheads increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel quality measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement and feedback overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential reference signals needed for accurate channel quality measurement. By selecting and transmitting only a subset of reference signals that provide sufficient information for optimization decisions, the system reduces measurement and feedback overhead while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial action by sending a limited number of reference signals rather than all possible configurations. This partial set provides adequate channel quality information for the base station to make accurate optimization decisions without requiring comprehensive measurement of all possible configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3217705B1Resource configuration method, user equipment and base station
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3217705B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3217705B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3217705B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

According to a resource configuration method, user equipment, and a base station that are provided in embodiments of the present invention and relate to the communications field, reference signals used for measurement and overheads of corresponding measurement and feedback are reduced. A specific solution is as follows: Abase station sends M reference signals to UE in N time units in a time unit set, where the reference signal is used by the UE to perform channel quality measurement, and each reference signal in the M reference signals is corresponding to one piece of precoding matrix information; receives channel quality indication information sent by the UE, where the channel quality indication information is determined by the UE according to the M reference signals; selects an optimal reference signal for the UE according to the channel quality indication information; and sends the optimal reference signal to the UE. The present invention is used for reference signal configuration.