DM-RS Combining for Wireless Channel Estimation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional wireless communication systems face challenges in combining different types of reference signals due to varying precoding applied to demodulation reference signals (DM-RS), which limits their flexibility and efficiency, especially for advanced mobile devices with different timing characteristics.

Innovation Solution

The system configures wireless communications networks to allow user equipment (UE) to combine multiple DM-RSs for demodulating physical downlink shared channels and other downlink transmissions by using explicit or implicit signaling to determine combinable reference signals, enabling UE-specific and control channel reference signals to be combined across multiple transmission time intervals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple DM-RS are combined across transmission time intervals, then channel estimation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to different timing characteristics and precoding variations

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the timing parameters of DM-RS transmissions to align different services (e.g., eMBB and URLLC) to a common timing grid. This parameter adjustment enables reference signals from different services to be combined at the receiver without requiring complex timing adjustments, thereby improving channel estimation accuracy while controlling device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the timing structure into common reference signal occasions that can be shared across multiple services. By dividing the transmission time intervals into segments with aligned DM-RS positions, the system enables selective combining of reference signals from different services, improving measurement precision without overwhelming device processing capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If DM-RS transmissions are reduced through combining, then pilot overhead is decreased, but reliability deteriorates due to potential precoding differences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepilot overheadVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies transmission parameters including precoding consistency across combined DM-RS instances. By ensuring that precoding remains consistent or can be properly accounted for when combining reference signals, the system reduces pilot overhead while maintaining the reliability needed for accurate channel estimation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the receiver provides information about precoding conditions and timing alignment to the transmitter. This feedback enables the system to adjust DM-RS transmissions to be combinable while maintaining reliability, thereby reducing overall pilot overhead in the system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3186917B1Reference signal transmission and averaging for wireless communications
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3186917B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3186917B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3186917B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques are provided for combining different types of reference signals. A wireless communications network may be configured to allow a user equipment (UE) to combine multiple demodulation reference signals (DM-RSs) to support demodulation of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and/or other downlink transmissions, transmitted from a base station to the UE. The base station may provide explicit signaling that reference signals transmitted in two or more transmission time intervals may be combined, or a determination that reference signals transmitted in two or more transmission time intervals may be combined may be made implicitly based on system configuration and previous transmissions. Based on the explicit signaling and/or implicit determination, a UE may combine reference signals included in each of two or more reference signals for use in demodulation of downlink transmissions.