CSI-RS Configuration for FD-MIMO Channel Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems with multiple antennas, the existing methods for channel state information transmission are inefficient, leading to increased uplink overhead and reduced data transmission resources due to excessive allocation of radio resources for channel state information reference signals, particularly in Full Dimension MIMO systems with a large number of transmit antennas.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using two Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS), one for horizontal and one for vertical channel state information, allowing efficient measurement and transmission of channel state information by grouping antennas into virtual ports, reducing the number of CSI-RS ports required and minimizing resource allocation for CSI-RS transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the number of CSI-RS ports is increased to support a large number of transmit antennas, then the channel measurement accuracy is improved, but the uplink overhead and resource consumption for CSI feedback are increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel measurement accuracyVSAvoiduplink overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the channel state information feedback into two parts: wideband CSI feedback and subband CSI feedback. The wideband CSI-RS is transmitted across the entire bandwidth for comprehensive channel measurement, while subband feedback only reports differential information for specific frequency regions. This segmentation allows accurate channel measurement using fewer CSI-RS ports while reducing the overall feedback overhead by avoiding redundant wideband information transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a frequency dimension differentiation by implementing wideband and subband feedback mechanisms. Instead of uniformly feedbacking CSI across all frequency bands, the system differentiates between wideband (entire bandwidth) and subband (specific frequency regions) feedback, allowing the receiver to report differential CSI only for subbands where channel conditions vary significantly, thereby reducing overhead while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If more radio resources are allocated for CSI-RS transmission, then the channel state information quality is improved, but the resources available for data transmission are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel state information qualityVSAvoiddata transmission capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial feedback by reporting only the differential subband CSI information rather than complete CSI for all bands. The terminal calculates differential CSI values only for subbands where channel conditions differ from the wideband average, and reports only these differential values. This partial action approach maintains reliable channel state information quality by capturing essential frequency-selective fading characteristics while consuming fewer uplink resources, thereby preserving more resources for data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the number of antennas is increased in FD-MIMO systems, then the system throughput is improved, but the complexity of CSI feedback and resource allocation is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem throughputVSAvoidCSI feedback complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the CSI feedback process into wideband and subband components, which simplifies the handling of large-scale MIMO systems. By dividing the feedback into a comprehensive wideband part and selective subband differential parts, the system can manage complexity even with many antennas, as the terminal only needs to compute and report differential values for specific subbands rather than processing all frequency resources simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a frequency dimension to the CSI feedback structure by implementing wideband-subband differentiation. This dimensional approach allows the system to handle large numbers of antennas more efficiently by organizing feedback in a hierarchical structure: wideband CSI provides the baseline for all antennas across the entire bandwidth, while subband differential feedback adds frequency-selective information only where needed, reducing the overall feedback dimensionality and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3627720B1Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving channel state information in wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3627720B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3627720B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3627720B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Base station for receiving channel state information (CSI) in a communication system, the base station comprising: a transceiver and a controller connected with the transceiver and configured to transmit, to a terminal, CSI configuration information including configuration on a first CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) and a second CSI-RS and configuration for CSI feedback associated with the first CSI-RS and the second CSI-RS; transmit, to the terminal, the first CSI-RS and the second CSI-RS; and receive, the CSI including at least one of a rank indicator (RI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), or a channel quality indicator (CQI), wherein the CSI configuration information includes information on RI restriction associated with allowable RIs to be reported, the CSI being generated based on the configuration for CSI feedback, and both the first CSI-RS and the second CSI-RS, the CSI configuration information including information RI restriction associated with allowable RIs to be reported.