DFTS-OFDM PUCCH Transmit Diversity via Frequency-Domain Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE systems face challenges in efficiently utilizing wide carriers for legacy terminals and achieving backward compatibility in LTE Rel-10 deployments, particularly in ensuring efficient resource allocation and transmission diversity for Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) signals, especially with the introduction of additional transmit antennas.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution combines DFT precoding and transmit diversity coding for PUCCH transmission, employing frequency-domain separation and time-domain orthogonal spreading separation, using multiple antennas to transmit data and reference signals across different subcarriers, enhancing orthogonality and multiplexing capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If transmit diversity coding is implemented for DFTS-OFDM PUCCH transmission, then link performance is improved by 2-2.5 dB, but device complexity increases due to additional antennas and processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelink performanceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The data symbols are divided into two separate blocks, with each block transmitted through a different antenna port using distinct sets of subcarriers. This segmentation enables transmit diversity while maintaining manageable complexity by processing smaller symbol blocks independently through each antenna path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces frequency-domain separation as an additional dimension for diversity, where different antenna ports transmit on different sets of subcarriers. This complements the time-domain orthogonal spreading already present in DFTS-OFDM, creating a two-dimensional diversity structure that improves reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple antennas are used for PUCCH transmission, then transmit diversity and multiplexing capacity are enhanced, but resource allocation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultiplexing capacityVSAvoidresource allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The available subcarriers are segmented into different sets assigned to different antenna ports. This segmentation simplifies resource allocation by creating distinct, non-overlapping frequency resources for each antenna, making it easier to manage and track resources compared to a fully shared approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sets of subcarriers are allocated to different antenna ports based on their specific transmission requirements. This local quality approach allows optimized resource distribution where each antenna port receives appropriate frequency resources tailored to its function, enhancing multiplexing capacity while maintaining clear resource boundaries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If frequency-domain separation is applied to data symbols from different antenna ports, then orthogonality is improved, but spectrum efficiency may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveorthogonalityVSAvoidspectrum efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of allocating all subcarriers to each antenna port, the patent uses partial action by assigning specific subsets of subcarriers to each antenna. This partial allocation ensures sufficient orthogonality for reliable detection while avoiding the excessive resource consumption that would occur if all subcarriers were assigned to every antenna port.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds frequency-domain separation as another dimension of orthogonality complementing the existing time-domain orthogonal spreading. This multi-dimensional approach achieves robust orthogonality without requiring complete spectral exclusion, as the diversity gains from multiple dimensions allow more efficient overall spectrum utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2603983B1Systems and methods for transmit diversity for DFT precoded channels
Publication Date: 2019.06.19 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2603983B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2603983B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2603983B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A transmission method and apparatus that combines the benefits of DFT preceding and transmit diversity coding for PUCCH transmission. In one aspect, the invention provides an improved transmit diversity coding method and apparaius for DFTS-OFDM PUCCH with minimal impact on multiplexing capacity. In one embodiment, the improved transmit diversity method and apparatus has the feature of employing frequency-domain separation for the payload signals.