Coordinated Reference Signal Configuration for Channel Quality Acquisition

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Solution Overview

Problem

In Coordinated Multipoint Transmission and Reception (CoMP) systems, especially in LTE-Advanced, the need for multiple user equipment to send sounding reference signals (SRS) to various transmission points leads to resource waste and delays in obtaining channel quality, as each transmission point requires separate SRS resource configuration and reception.

Innovation Solution

A method where reference signal configuration information is exchanged between devices, allowing coordinated transmission of SRS, thereby reducing the need for separate resource configuration and enabling simultaneous reception, thus saving resources and reducing channel quality delay.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If separate SRS resource configuration is performed for each transmission point in CoMP systems, then channel quality detection accuracy is improved, but resource waste increases and channel quality acquisition delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel quality detection accuracyVSAvoidresource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the SRS resource configuration for multiple transmission points into a unified configuration. The network device configures one SRS resource that can be simultaneously received by multiple transmission points, eliminating the need for separate configurations. This reduces resource overhead while maintaining the capability for each transmission point to independently measure channel quality for its respective user equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If separate SRS resource configuration is performed for each transmission point in CoMP systems, then channel quality detection accuracy is improved, but channel quality acquisition delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel quality detection accuracyVSAvoidchannel quality acquisition delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary configuration of a shared SRS resource that is pre-configured and available for simultaneous reception by multiple transmission points. This preliminary setup eliminates the sequential configuration process, allowing all transmission points to receive and process the SRS at the same time, thereby reducing the overall channel quality acquisition delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If multiple transmission points independently receive SRS from user equipment, then individual channel quality measurement is improved, but resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual channel quality measurementVSAvoidresource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal SRS resource configuration that serves multiple transmission points simultaneously. A single SRS resource is configured with parameters that allow it to be effectively received and processed by multiple transmission points, each of which can independently extract channel quality information relevant to its user equipment. This multi-functional resource reduces overall system resource consumption while maintaining individual measurement capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3496320B1Signal transmission method and device
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3496320B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3496320B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3496320B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a signal transmission method and apparatus. In the embodiments of this application, a first device exchanges reference signal configuration information with a second device, to implement coordinated transmission of a reference signal sent by CoMP user equipment, so that the first device and the second device do not need to separately configure, for the CoMP user equipment, a resource used to transmit the reference signal. In addition, the CoMP user equipment sends a same reference signal to a plurality of devices (including the first device and the second device), so as to reduce delays in obtaining channel quality by different devices, and improve performance of coordinated transmission.