Demodulation Reference Signal Allocation for URLLC Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing reference signal designs fail to meet the high-reliability transmission requirements of services like ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC), as they are optimized for lower reliability services such as eMBB.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that dynamically adjust the configuration of demodulation reference signals based on service type and reliability needs, using multiple types of configuration information for time-frequency resources, antenna ports, and sequence locations to optimize demodulation for both control and data signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single reference signal configuration is used for all services, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability cannot meet high-reliability service requirements (e.g., URLLC)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidreference signal configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides reference signal configurations into multiple types (first reference signal configuration and second reference signal configuration) with different parameters including time-frequency resource locations, antenna ports, and sequences. This segmentation allows selection of appropriate configurations for different service types (eMBB vs URLLC), thereby achieving high reliability without requiring a completely new reference signal system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic indication mechanisms where the network device dynamically indicates which reference signal configuration to use based on service type. The terminal device dynamically switches between different reference signal configurations depending on the current service requirements, enabling adaptive reliability optimization without fixed complex hardware redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If reference signal density is increased to improve reliability, then transmission reliability improves, but resource occupation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedemodulation reliabilityVSAvoidtime-frequency resource occupation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different reference signal densities and configurations to different local regions (time-frequency resource groups) based on service requirements. For URLLC services requiring high reliability, higher density configurations are applied to specific resource groups. For eMBB services, lower density configurations are used, optimizing the balance between reliability and resource utilization locally rather than uniformly across all resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes multiple parameters of reference signal configuration including time-frequency resource locations, antenna ports, and sequences to create different configuration types. By adjusting these parameters, the system can optimize reference signal density and distribution to match service requirements, achieving high reliability when needed while conserving resources when not required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple reference signal configurations are implemented to meet different service requirements, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice type adaptabilityVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal reference signal framework that can serve multiple service types (eMBB and URLLC) through a single system architecture. The network device and terminal device both support multiple reference signal configurations and can dynamically select appropriate ones based on service type, eliminating the need for separate reference signal systems for different services while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs preliminary configuration where the network device pre-configures multiple reference signal configurations and indicates which one to use before actual data transmission. This preliminary indication mechanism simplifies the terminal device's processing by providing advance information about the expected configuration, reducing real-time complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If reference signal location is adjusted to avoid collision with synchronization signals, then signal interference is reduced, but time-frequency resource utilization changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal collision interferenceVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves location conflicts by moving to different dimensions (time and frequency domains). Instead of simply changing the time location of reference signals to avoid synchronization signal collisions, the system uses multiple reference signal configurations with different time-frequency resource locations, antenna ports, and sequences, effectively utilizing multi-dimensional resource space to achieve both collision avoidance and efficient resource utilization.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3627732B1Reference signal sending method, reference signal receiving method, and communication apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3627732B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3627732B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3627732B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application provides a reference signal sending method. The method includes: determining a resource set, where the resource set is used to carry a demodulation reference signal and downlink information, the downlink information is downlink control information or downlink data, the demodulation reference signal is used to demodulate the downlink information, the resource set includes a first time-frequency resource group and a second time-frequency resource group, the first time-frequency resource group is reserved time-frequency resources, and the second time-frequency resource group is used to carry the demodulation reference signal; determining a third time-frequency resource group based on a location of the second time-frequency resource group and a preset offset when the first time-frequency resource group and the second time-frequency resource group overlap; and sending the demodulation reference signal by using the third time-frequency resource group. Therefore, a demodulation reference signal can be reliably sent, thereby improving communication reliability.