FD-MIMO Base Station Selective Reference Signal Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

In radio communication systems, especially in FD-MIMO, the overhead of transmitting reference signals for channel estimation increases, affecting data transmission performance and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A base station selectively transmits a dedicated reference signal to specific radio terminals based on channel state information feedback, allowing for improved data transmission performance while reducing overhead by using a combination of common and dedicated reference signals for channel estimation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If dedicated reference signals are transmitted to all radio terminals for channel estimation in FD-MIMO, then channel estimation precision is improved, but reference signal overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel estimation precisionVSAvoidreference signal overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of reference signals based on terminal characteristics. Specifically, dedicated reference signals are transmitted only to selected terminals that require improved channel estimation precision, while other terminals use common reference signals. This selective approach optimizes channel estimation quality for specific terminals without unnecessarily increasing overhead for all terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by providing dedicated reference signals to only a subset of terminals rather than all terminals. The base station selects specific terminals based on channel state information feedback and transmission requirements, allocating dedicated reference signals partially to those terminals that benefit most from improved channel estimation, thereby reducing overall reference signal overhead while maintaining necessary precision where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Productivity

If dedicated reference signals are transmitted to all radio terminals, then data transmission performance is improved, but system resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission performanceVSAvoidsystem resource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by enhancing data transmission performance selectively for terminals that require it. Dedicated reference signals are allocated to specific terminals based on their channel conditions and transmission requirements, improving their data transmission performance locally without wasting system resources on terminals that do not need such enhancement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by providing dedicated reference signals only to a subset of terminals that benefit from improved channel estimation. This partial allocation improves data transmission performance for selected terminals while avoiding the excessive resource consumption that would result from allocating dedicated reference signals to all terminals in the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Quantity of substance

If common reference signals are used for all terminals, then reference signal overhead is reduced, but channel estimation precision for specific terminals deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereference signal overheadVSAvoidchannel estimation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing enhanced channel estimation capability (dedicated reference signals) only to specific terminals that require it, while other terminals continue to use common reference signals. This creates local quality improvement for selected terminals without degrading the overall system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by supplementing common reference signals with dedicated reference signals for specific terminals. Rather than providing dedicated reference signals to all terminals (excessive action), the system partially enhances channel estimation for selected terminals based on their specific needs, maintaining overhead efficiency while improving precision where necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10985807B2Base station and radio terminal

Publication Date: 2021.04.20 KYOCERA CORP

AI summary

A base station according to an embodiment supports full-dimension MIMO (FD-MIMO). The base station includes: an antenna array having antenna elements arranged two-dimensionally in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction; and a controller configured to perform a process of transmitting a dedicated reference signal that is a reference signal used for measurement of channel characteristics and is individually generated for a radio terminal. The controller is configured to select a specific target radio terminal from among target radio terminals to be connected to the base station, and perform a process of transmitting the dedicated reference signal only to the specific target radio terminal.