Terminal Device CSI Feedback Mode Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In MIMO communication systems, especially in TDD systems, the limited number of transmit channels in terminal devices restricts the flexibility of CSI feedback, leading to incomplete downlink channel information and increased overheads, which hampers system throughput.

Innovation Solution

A data transmission method where the terminal device determines a target mode based on channel status and transmit port correlation to selectively feed back CSI, using a combination of reference signals to optimize feedback efficiency, allowing for flexible CSI reporting and reducing overheads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the terminal device sends SRS through all receive ports to obtain complete downlink channel information, then the accuracy of downlink channel information is improved, but the overhead of uplink transmission increases and the flexibility of CSI feedback is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of downlink channel informationVSAvoidoverhead of uplink transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the receive ports into two groups: ports configured with transmit channels (first group) and ports without transmit channels (second group). This segmentation allows the terminal to send SRS only through the first group of ports, reducing uplink overhead while maintaining necessary channel information for precoding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by having the terminal device send SRS only through a subset of receive ports (those with transmit channels) rather than all receive ports. This partial transmission is sufficient to obtain the necessary downlink channel information for precoding, avoiding the need to transmit through all ports and thereby reducing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Quantity of substance

If the terminal device sends SRS through a subset of receive ports to reduce overhead, then the overhead of uplink transmission is reduced, but the completeness of downlink channel information is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverhead of uplink transmissionVSAvoidcompleteness of downlink channel information
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces indication information as an intermediary that conveys the configuration of receive ports to the network device. This indication information serves as a mediator that allows the network device to understand which ports are used for SRS transmission and how to properly interpret the channel information, ensuring completeness despite using only a subset of ports.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of port usage from 'all receive ports' to 'receive ports configured with transmit channels'. This parameter change is supported by configuration information that defines which ports have transmit capabilities, allowing the system to adaptively use only the necessary ports for SRS transmission while maintaining channel information completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If the terminal device feeds back CSI for all ports, then the completeness of channel state information is improved, but the complexity of feedback processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of channel state informationVSAvoidcomplexity of feedback processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary CSI information related to receive ports configured with transmit channels and excludes information from ports without transmit channels. This extraction process removes redundant data, reducing feedback complexity while maintaining the completeness of information needed for precoding operations at the network device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the system configures all receive ports with transmit channels to enable flexible SRS transmission, then the flexibility of CSI feedback is improved, but the cost and complexity of the transmit channel increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility of CSI feedbackVSAvoidcomplexity of transmit channel
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic configuration where receive ports are selectively assigned transmit channel capabilities based on operational needs. The configuration information dynamically defines which ports have transmit channels, allowing the system to adapt flexibility to actual requirements without permanently equipping all ports with transmit capabilities, thus avoiding unnecessary complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3667958B1Data transmission method and device
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3667958B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3667958B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3667958B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

This application provides a data transmission method and apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a terminal device, a first reference signal sent by a network device; measuring, by the terminal device, a downlink channel based on the first reference signal, to obtain a channel status of the downlink channel; determining, by the terminal device, a target mode from a plurality of modes based on the channel status of the downlink channel, where information that is used to feed back channel state information CSI and that is sent by the terminal device in different modes of the plurality of modes is different; and sending, by the terminal device, indication information to the network device, where the indication information is used to indicate the target mode. The data transmission method and apparatus in the embodiments of this application are conducive to improvement of flexibility of feeding back CSI.