DMRS Port Reuse for Data Transmission in Wireless Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional wireless communications systems, unused demodulation reference signal (DMRS) ports lead to a waste of communication resources and reduced spectrum efficiency due to irregular service distribution, where not all spatial layers are scheduled, resulting in idle DMRS ports that neither transmit DMRS nor data information.
Innovation Solution
A communication method where a network device determines unused DMRS ports and allocates them for data transmission by sending indication information to a terminal device, allowing data to be sent using these idle resources, thereby avoiding resource wastage and enhancing spectrum efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a fixed time-frequency resource element is configured for each antenna port for DMRS transmission, then channel estimation performance is improved, but communication resources are wasted when not all spatial layers are scheduled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes DMRS ports multi-functional by enabling them to serve dual purposes: transmitting demodulation reference signals when spatial layers are scheduled, and transmitting data information when not scheduled. This is achieved through dynamic port allocation where the same physical resource elements can be dynamically assigned to different functions based on service requirements, thereby eliminating resource waste while maintaining channel estimation capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic configuration of DMRS port usage, where the network device determines in real-time whether each DMRS port should transmit reference signals or data information based on the actual number of scheduled spatial layers. This dynamic switching allows the system to adapt resource allocation to instantaneous service demands, transforming static resource allocation into a flexible, demand-driven mechanism that optimizes both channel estimation performance and resource utilization.
2Measurement precision
If code division multiplexing mode is used between DMRSs, then channel estimation performance is enhanced by using power of unused DMRS ports, but resource flexibility is reduced in future new radio communications systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of DMRS port usage from a fixed state (always transmitting reference signals) to a dynamic state (switching between reference signal transmission and data transmission). By modifying the operational mode parameter of DMRS ports based on scheduling requirements, the system achieves both improved resource utilization and maintained channel estimation performance, while providing the flexibility needed for future radio communication systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the functionality of DMRS ports into distinct operational modes: reference signal transmission mode and data transmission mode. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each mode's performance while enabling flexible switching between modes based on service requirements, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining channel estimation capability and achieving resource allocation flexibility.
3Device complexity
If time division multiplexing or frequency division multiplexing is mainly used between DMRSs, then system complexity is reduced, but resource utilization efficiency decreases when DMRS ports are not fully utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality in DMRS ports, allowing the same time-frequency resources to serve either reference signal transmission or data transmission based on instantaneous needs. This universal usage eliminates the need for separate dedicated resources for each function, thereby maintaining low system complexity while dramatically improving spectrum efficiency by ensuring that no resources remain idle when data transmission is required.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide a communication method and a network device. The method includes: determining, by a network device, that a resource corresponding to at least one DMRS port of a plurality of DMRS ports of the network device is not used to transmit a DMRS in a first time segment; determining, by the network device, a first resource used to carry, in the first time segment, first data information to be sent to a terminal device, where the first resource includes the resource that is corresponding to the at least one DMRS port and that is not used to transmit the DMRS; sending, by the network device, indication information of the first resource to the terminal device; determining, by the terminal device based on the received indication information of the first resource, the first resource used to carry the first data information in the first time segment.