CSI-RS Precoding Resource Block Group Configuration for Channel Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication technologies, such as LTE and NR, face inefficiencies in channel state information (CSI) reporting due to unclear precoding resource block group configurations, leading to inaccurate channel estimation and suboptimal resource allocation, which affects downlink throughput and reliability.

Innovation Solution

Configuring channel state information reference signal subband precoding resource block groups by transmitting specific information to user equipment (UE) about the quantity of resource blocks in the CSI-RS precoding group, allowing accurate channel estimation and improved resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If precoding resource block group configuration is not clearly specified, then device complexity is reduced, but channel estimation accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the bandwidth into multiple subbands and configures precoding resource block groups (PRGs) for each subband separately. This segmentation allows the UE to perform channel estimation with appropriate granularity - using wider PRGs for low-frequency subbands and narrower PRGs for high-frequency subbands, thereby improving channel estimation accuracy without uniformly increasing configuration complexity across the entire bandwidth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic configuration of PRG sizes that can be adjusted based on frequency location and channel conditions. The network can signal different PRG sizes for different subbands, allowing the system to adapt to varying channel characteristics across the bandwidth. This dynamic approach optimizes channel estimation accuracy while maintaining reasonable configuration complexity through standardized signaling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If subband-specific precoding resource block group sizes are configured, then channel estimation accuracy is improved, but resource allocation overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidconfiguration overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different PRG sizes to different subbands based on their specific characteristics. Instead of using a uniform PRG size across the entire bandwidth, the system configures appropriate PRG sizes locally for each subband, allowing optimal channel estimation for each frequency region while avoiding the overhead of configuring unnecessarily detailed parameters everywhere.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the PRG size parameter based on subband index and frequency location. By dynamically adjusting this key parameter across different subbands, the system achieves accurate channel estimation where needed while minimizing configuration overhead through efficient parameter signaling and default values for unspecified regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If uniform precoding resource block group size is used across all subbands, then configuration complexity is reduced, but downlink throughput deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownlink throughputVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the PRG size parameter across different subbands to match channel characteristics. Low-frequency subbands use larger PRG sizes for robust estimation, while high-frequency subbands use smaller PRG sizes for finer granularity. This parameter variation optimizes downlink throughput by improving channel estimation accuracy where it matters most, without requiring complex configurations for all subbands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the bandwidth into subbands with different PRG configurations, allowing optimized throughput for each segment. This segmentation enables the system to achieve high overall throughput by tailoring PRG sizes to local channel conditions, while maintaining manageable configuration complexity through standardized segmentation and signaling approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3884722B1Configuring channel state information reference signal subband precoding resource block groups
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3884722B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3884722B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3884722B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment may receive a signaling communication that includes information specifying whether a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) precoding resource block group includes a same quantity of resource blocks (RBs) that is included in a CSI reporting subband configured for the UE. The CSI-RS precoding resource block group may enable the UE to perform a channel estimation based at least in part on a CSI-RS transmitted by a base station. The UE may perform the channel estimation based at least in part on the CSI-RS transmitted by the base station. The channel estimation may be based at least in part on whether the CSI-RS precoding resource block group includes the same quantity of RBs that is included in the CSI reporting subband configured for the UE. Numerous other aspects are provided.