DMRS Muting for 5G NR Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in reducing the overhead of DeModulation Reference Signals (DMRS) in 5G New Radio (NR) systems, particularly in scenarios with low mobility and low scattering environments where channel conditions are static.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves partial or full DMRS muting, where a proper subset or all resources associated with DMRS are muted, allowing other information to occupy these resources. This is achieved through indications in downlink control information (DCI), MAC control elements (MAC-CE), or radio resource control (RRC) layers, allowing dynamic, semi-persistent, or semi-static DMRS muting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If DMRS is transmitted in every resource element, then channel estimation accuracy is maintained, but overhead increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by transmitting DMRS only in a subset of resource elements rather than all REs. The network entity determines a muting pattern that selectively mutes certain DMRS REs while keeping others active, providing sufficient channel estimation accuracy for low-mobility scenarios while freeing resources for data transmission to improve throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission parameters of DMRS by dynamically adjusting the muting pattern based on channel conditions and mobility characteristics. The network entity configures different muting patterns (e.g., time-domain, frequency-domain, or combined) to adapt DMRS density to actual channel variability, reducing overhead when full density is not needed
2Productivity
If DMRS density is reduced to increase throughput, then resource efficiency improves, but channel estimation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating DMRS transmission across different time-frequency resources. Instead of uniform DMRS density, the network entity configures specific muting patterns that apply different transmission qualities to different REs - maintaining high density in critical regions while reducing or muting DMRS in regions where channel conditions permit lower density
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptation of DMRS density through configurable muting patterns that can be adjusted based on channel conditions, mobility state, and traffic requirements. The network entity can switch between different muting patterns or adjust pattern parameters dynamically to optimize the trade-off between overhead and estimation accuracy
3Quantity of substance
If full DMRS muting is applied to maximize resource utilization, then overhead is minimized, but reliability of data transmission decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent avoids extreme full muting by applying partial muting patterns that retain sufficient DMRS coverage. The network entity configures muting patterns that mute only a proper subset of DMRS REs while maintaining adequate density in critical time-frequency regions, ensuring reliability is not compromised while still achieving overhead reduction and improved resource utilization
Data Source
AI summary
A user device, UE, for a wireless communication system, like a 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, system, is disclosed. The UE receives and/or transmits one or more physical channel transmissions. The one or more of the physical channel transmissions are received or transmitted without any associated DeModulation Reference Signal, DMRS, or with a partial or full DMRS muting.