Dynamic CQI Reporting for Wireless Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in reporting channel quality indicators (CQIs) due to the consumption of significant radio resources, particularly when channel conditions vary over time due to factors like fading and interference.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves dynamically adjusting CQI reporting based on data activity at the receiver, such as determining data activity through expected packet arrivals, ACK/NACK feedback, and operating in discontinuous transmission (DTX) modes, allowing CQI reporting during DTX ON periods and varying reporting rates based on detected activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If CQI reporting is performed periodically at a fast rate to ensure up-to-date channel quality information, then the transmitter can maintain accurate transmission parameters, but radio resources are significantly consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel quality information accuracyVSAvoidradio resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the CQI reporting rate variable rather than fixed. The receiver dynamically adjusts the CQI reporting frequency based on detected data activity patterns. When data activity is detected, CQI reporting occurs at a first (faster) rate to provide accurate channel quality information for timely transmission. When no data activity is detected, CQI reporting switches to a second (slower) rate to conserve radio resources. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining accurate channel quality information and reducing radio resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If CQI reporting is suspended during DTX OFF periods to conserve resources, then radio resource consumption is reduced, but channel quality feedback may become outdated when data activity resumes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradio resource consumptionVSAvoidchannel quality feedback timeliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the transmitter monitors for data activity (such as buffer status reports or scheduling requests) and uses this feedback to adjust CQI reporting behavior. When data activity is detected during or after DTX OFF periods, the transmitter triggers resumption of CQI reporting at the faster rate, ensuring channel quality feedback becomes current before the next transmission. This feedback-driven approach maintains reliability by ensuring timely CQI updates when needed while preserving energy during idle periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If CQI reporting rate is increased to track rapid channel variations, then transmission performance is improved, but more radio resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission throughputVSAvoidradio resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by coupling the CQI reporting rate to detected data activity levels. During periods of active data transmission, the system increases CQI reporting to a faster rate to accurately track rapid channel variations and maintain optimal transmission performance. During idle periods with no data activity, the system reduces CQI reporting to a slower rate. This dynamic rate adaptation ensures high throughput is maintained when data is being transmitted while minimizing radio resource consumption during idle periods, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2074727B1Dynamic channel quality reporting in a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2016.03.16 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2074727B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2074727B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2074727B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques for reporting channel quality indicators (CQIs) are described. Data activity at a receiver may be determined, and CQI reporting by the receiver may be adjusted based on the determined data activity. In one design, CQI reporting may be enabled for a time window around each expected packet arrival for a periodic or quasi-periodic transmission and may be suspended outside of the time window. In another design, CQI reporting may be varied based on ACK/NACK feedback. In yet another design, CQIs may be sent at a first rate when data activity is not detected and at a second rate faster than the first rate when data activity is detected. In yet another design, CQIs may be sent only during discontinuous transmission (DTX) ON periods when data activity is not detected and may be sent during both DTX ON and OFF periods when data activity is detected.