CSI Measurement Resource Units in Communication Networks

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current CSI measurement techniques in communication networks face challenges in accurately measuring interference levels, especially at low loads, due to overestimation by Cell-specific Reference Signals (CRS) and averaging across subframes, which affects CoMP and TDD systems, leading to inefficient resource allocation and increased measurement overhead.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining a set of measurement resource units (MRUs) shared by a group of cells, configuring MRUs based on the number of cells and MRUs for transmission and measurement, and selecting subsets for transmission and measurement to minimize concurrent transmissions and improve estimation accuracy, using a Balanced Incomplete Block Design (BIBD) theory for scalable and uniform CSI estimation across the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If interference level is measured using Cell-specific Reference Signals (CRS), then interference measurement can be performed, but at low loads the measurement overestimates the interference level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement reliability at low load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the interference measurement function from CRS and creates a separate CSI-IM resource structure. This allows interference to be measured independently from reference signal transmissions, eliminating the overestimation problem that occurs when CRS transmissions dominate the measurement at low loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces CSI-IM resources as an intermediary measurement mechanism. These dedicated interference measurement resources allow the system to measure interference without the contamination from CRS transmissions, providing accurate interference levels even when actual interference is low.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If interference measurement averages across multiple subframes, then measurement stability improves, but uncertainty on how interference is measured increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement stabilityVSAvoidinterference measurement uncertainty
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic CSI-IM resources that are configured at specific intervals. This periodic structure provides stable, predictable measurement opportunities while maintaining precise interference measurement by using dedicated resources rather than averaging contaminated CRS measurements across subframes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If more MRUs are allocated for transmission, then transmission capacity increases, but the number of concurrent transmissions increases causing measurement interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission capacityVSAvoidinterference measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the MRU configuration into dedicated transmission resources and dedicated measurement resources (CSI-IM). This segmentation allows transmission capacity to be increased on transmission resources while measurement accuracy is preserved on separate measurement resources that are specifically designed to avoid transmission interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Area of stationary object

If CRS transmissions are used in neighboring cells, then reference signal coverage is maintained, but interference measurement is dominated by CRS transmissions leading to overestimation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference signal coverage areaVSAvoidinterference measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the interference measurement function from CRS and creates a separate CSI-IM resource structure. This allows interference to be measured independently from reference signal transmissions, eliminating the overestimation problem that occurs when CRS transmissions dominate the measurement at low loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3850778B1Channel state information measurements in communication networks
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3850778B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3850778B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3850778B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to channel state information measurement in communication networks. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the measurement resource unit, MRU, configuration is determined based on the number of MRU and the identity of the cell. The MRU configuration is scalable and the set of MRUs is reused by the network. In this way, the resources are saved and the accuracy is improved.