Channel Estimation Using Undamaged CRS in Compressed Bandwidth

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE networks, channel estimation errors occur due to compression of standard bandwidth into non-standard bandwidth, leading to inaccurate demodulation results when resource blocks are lost, causing damaged CRSs and resulting in significant errors in data demodulation services.

Innovation Solution

A method where the terminal determines if there are damaged CRSs in target resource blocks and performs channel estimation using undamaged CRSs to avoid errors caused by bandwidth compression, by receiving CRS damage indication information or dividing target RBs into groups to assess channel quality and select undamaged CRSs for estimation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If standard bandwidth is compressed into non-standard bandwidth to improve spectral efficiency, then spectral efficiency and data throughput are improved, but resource blocks are lost and CRSs are damaged leading to channel estimation errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata throughputVSAvoidchannel estimation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary actions by indicating damaged CRS positions to the terminal before channel estimation is performed. This allows the terminal to proactively avoid using damaged CRSs for channel estimation, thereby preventing channel estimation errors before they occur. The indication information is provided in advance so the terminal can adjust its channel estimation strategy accordingly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Indication information acts as an intermediary between the base station and terminal regarding damaged CRS positions. This intermediary mechanism allows the terminal to obtain critical information about which CRSs are damaged without directly observing the damage, enabling the terminal to make informed decisions about channel estimation and avoid using corrupted reference signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the terminal selects another RB from standard bandwidth for channel estimation, then channel estimation can be performed, but if the selected RB is lost due to compression, the channel estimation result becomes inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation capabilityVSAvoidchannel estimation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The base station provides feedback information to the terminal about which CRSs are damaged due to bandwidth compression. This feedback mechanism allows the terminal to adjust its channel estimation strategy by avoiding damaged CRSs and selecting only undamaged ones, thereby maintaining accurate channel estimation results even in compressed bandwidth scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal extracts and identifies undamaged CRSs from the available reference signals by using the indication information provided by the base station. This extraction process allows the terminal to separate useful undamaged CRSs from damaged ones, ensuring that only valid reference signals are used for channel estimation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If damaged CRSs are used for channel estimation, then channel estimation can be performed quickly, but the demodulation result has relatively large error

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoiddemodulation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The indication information about damaged CRSs, which could be considered harmful information about system imperfections, is converted into a beneficial mechanism for improving demodulation accuracy. By providing this information, the system enables the terminal to avoid damaged CRSs and use only undamaged ones for channel estimation, thereby turning knowledge of the damage into a tool for achieving more accurate demodulation results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP3457610B1Channel estimation method, and associated apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.01.18 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3457610B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3457610B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3457610B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a channel estimation method, a related device, and a system. The method includes: in a case in which there is a damaged CRS in a plurality of cell measurement reference signals CRSs in target resource blocks RBs, where the target RBs are RBs in compressed standard bandwidth, performing, by a terminal, channel estimation by using an undamaged CRS instead of the damaged CRS in the plurality of CRSs. According to the embodiments of the present invention, accuracy of channel estimation can be improved, and a problem of a relatively large error of a demodulation result of a data demodulation service performed based on the channel estimation result is resolved.