Layer Mapping and CSI Feedback for Dynamic Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications, especially in dynamic time-division duplexing (TDD) scenarios, cross-link interference (CLI) significantly reduces signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratios (SINR) for some spatial layers, leading to high frame error rates (FER) in first transmissions, and existing methods struggle to effectively handle dynamic interference and combine CSI feedbacks from different interference scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a UE that estimates the subspace spanned by the channel response of an interfering signal and determines a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) to align spatial layers with the channel response, allowing for CSI feedback that includes information on signal quality of each spatial layer, sorted in descending or ascending order, and uses multiple-bit HARQ feedback to manage codeblock errors, enabling the base station to handle dynamic interference and optimize transmission strategies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional interference mitigation methods are used in dynamic TDD scenarios, then device complexity is reduced, but SINR deteriorates due to cross-link interference

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSINRVSAvoidinterference handling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE estimates the subspace spanned by the channel response of interfering signals before determining the PMI. This preliminary estimation of interference subspace allows the system to proactively prepare for interference mitigation rather than reacting after interference occurs, thereby improving SINR while managing complexity through structured pre-processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediate subspace representation of interfering signals as a mediator between the raw interference and the PMI selection process. By projecting channel responses onto this estimated interfering subspace, the system creates an intermediate representation that facilitates more effective interference mitigation while maintaining manageable computational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If traditional CSI feedback methods are used, then feedback overhead is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates in different interference scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCSI measurement accuracyVSAvoidfeedback overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by sorting spatial layers according to their signal quality and selectively reporting only those layers that meet a threshold criterion. Instead of uniformly reporting all layer information, the system adapts the feedback content to the local quality characteristics of each spatial layer, improving measurement precision for critical layers while reducing feedback overhead for poor-quality layers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial action by reporting only the most relevant spatial layer information rather than complete CSI for all layers. By selectively feedbackting sorted layer indexes and associated quality metrics for only the necessary layers, the patent achieves sufficient measurement precision while minimizing feedback overhead through partial information transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If spatial layers are transmitted without interference alignment, then transmission speed is maintained, but reliability deteriorates due to cross-link interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of precoder selection by determining PMI based on the estimated subspace of interfering signals rather than using conventional precoding methods. This parameter change in the precoding strategy enables the system to adapt to interference conditions, improving transmission reliability while the sorted layer reporting mechanism maintains efficiency by focusing resources on viable spatial layers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3610609B1Layer mapping, CSI feedback and HARQ feedback in mobile communications
Publication Date: 2023.06.14 MEDIATEK INC
  • EP3610609B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3610609B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3610609B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques and examples of layer mapping, channel state information (CSI) feedback and hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback in mobile communications are described. A user equipment (UE) receives from a base station one or more reference signals, which may be non-zero power (NZP) or zero power (ZP), on one or more time-frequency resources indicated by a network via a communication link between the UE and the base station. The UE estimates, based on the receiving, a subspace spanned by a channel response of an interfering signal. The UE determines a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) based on the estimated subspace. The UE transmits to the base station a channel state information (CSI) feedback comprising at least the PMI. The PMI may include at least a first precoder and a second precoder.