CSI-RS Resource Element Grouping for Large-Scale Antenna Port Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
The LTE-A R10/11 system is limited to supporting only 8 antenna ports for channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs), restricting the performance of large-scale antenna systems as the number of antennas increases, due to a limited number of available antenna ports.
Innovation Solution
A method is proposed to provide CSI-RSs supporting more antenna ports by selecting and combining resource elements from existing CSI-RSs of 2, 4, or 8 antenna ports within resource blocks, allowing for the creation of resource element groups that can transmit CSI-RSs for a greater number of antenna ports, thereby enhancing the performance of large-scale antenna systems without significantly affecting previous users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of antenna ports is increased to support large-scale antenna systems, then system capacity and performance are improved, but the LTE-A R10/11 system is restricted to supporting only 8 antenna ports for CSI-RSs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the resource elements for CSI-RS transmission into multiple groups, where each group corresponds to a subset of antenna ports (2, 4, or 8 ports). By dividing the total antenna ports into multiple groups and assigning separate resource element groups to each, the system can support more antenna ports than the traditional 8-port limitation while maintaining compatibility with existing CSI-RS structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the resource element allocation from a single resource block to multiple resource blocks in the frequency domain. By selecting resource elements from multiple resource blocks and combining them into resource element groups, the system creates an additional dimensional space for accommodating more antenna ports beyond the conventional 8-port limit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If resource elements are selected from multiple resource blocks to support more antenna ports, then the number of supported antenna ports is extended, but resource element selection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent defines universal selection rules for resource elements that can be applied across different numbers of antenna ports (2, 4, or 8 ports per group). The same resource element selection methodology and group formation process can accommodate various antenna port configurations, reducing the need for separate complex selection algorithms for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of resource element selection by allowing flexible configuration of the number of resource blocks (r>1) and the number of antenna ports per group (mi, mj). By adjusting these parameters, the system can adapt to different antenna port requirements without fundamentally changing the resource element selection mechanism, thereby managing complexity.
3Reliability
If existing CSI-RS resource elements are reused for more antenna ports, then compatibility with previous users is maintained, but the performance potential of large-scale antenna systems is not fully utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple resource element groups from different resource blocks to form a comprehensive resource element group that supports more antenna ports. By combining existing CSI-RS resource elements (which maintain compatibility) with additional resource elements from multiple resource blocks, the system simultaneously preserves backward compatibility and enables large-scale antenna system performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission method of a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), including: selecting from a resource block s groups of resource elements for transmitting CSI-RSs of mi antenna ports, or selecting at least one resource element from each of r resource blocks for transmitting CSI-RSs of mj antenna ports, to constitute a resource element group to which CSI-RSs of n antenna ports correspond, n>mi, n>mj, 1≤i≤s, 1≤j≤r; transmitting the CSI-RSs of n antenna ports to a terminal via the resource elements, and informing related information to the terminal by using indication signaling and further provides a base station, a terminal, a system, a machine-readable program and a storage medium storing a machine-readable program. The present disclosure may provide CSI-RSs supporting more antenna ports according to CSI-RSs of existing antenna ports of a low number, thereby fully bringing performance of a large-scale antenna system into play.