DMRS Port QCL Group Indication for NR Channel Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the New Radio (NR) system, there is no effective method to indicate and determine the information about Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) ports, which hinders the channel estimation process and performance improvement.

Innovation Solution

The proposed method involves determining and notifying the terminal of the Quasi-Co-Location (QCL) group information of DMRS ports, which includes determining the available DMRS port range and QCL grouping information, allowing the terminal to accurately configure and utilize DMRS ports for improved channel estimation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If no method is provided to indicate DMRS port information, then the system maintains simplicity in signaling, but the terminal cannot determine QCL relationships for accurate channel estimation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidDMRS port information indication
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces QCL (Quasi-Co-Location) relationship indication as an intermediary mechanism to convey DMRS port information. The network device indicates QCL relationships between DMRS ports and CSI-RS resources, allowing the terminal to infer channel estimation parameters without directly signaling all DMRS port details. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by providing necessary information through indirect relationships rather than direct specification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation from direct DMRS port indexing to QCL relationship configuration. By transforming the indication method from explicit port numbers to implicit QCL relationships with CSI-RS resources, the system enables the terminal to determine channel estimation parameters through configured relationships rather than direct signaling, thus improving measurement precision while managing information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If QCL relationships are indicated for all DMRS ports, then channel estimation performance is improved, but signaling complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation performanceVSAvoidsignaling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the QCL indication mechanism universal by using a single signaling approach that can handle multiple DMRS ports and multiple CSI-RS resources. The same QCL configuration framework applies regardless of the number of ports or resources involved, allowing the system to improve reliability for multi-port scenarios without proportionally increasing signaling complexity. This multi-functional approach enables scalable channel estimation performance.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial QCL indication by configuring QCL relationships only for the necessary DMRS ports and CSI-RS resources required for channel estimation, rather than indicating all possible relationships. This selective approach provides sufficient information for reliable channel estimation while avoiding unnecessary signaling overhead, thus improving performance without excessive complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3739793B1Information indicating and determining method and apparatus, and computer storage medium
Publication Date: 2022.07.06 DATANG MOBILE COMM EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP3739793B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3739793B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3739793B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application discloses an information indicating and determining method and apparatus, and a computer storage medium, being used for indicating QCL group information of a DMRS port, thereby enabling a terminal to determine the QCL group information of the DMRS port. The embodiments of the present application provide an information indicating method, comprising: determining QCL group information of a demodulation reference signal DMRS port; and notifying a terminal of the QCL group information.