LTE Reference Signal Allocation for Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, such as LTE and LTE-Advanced, face latency issues due to processing delays in transceivers, particularly because reference signals are embedded in minimum scheduling units, limiting data transmission efficiency and increasing latency.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves separate resource allocation for dedicated reference signals, allowing for channel state measurements and coherent detection prior to user data reception, eliminating the need for reference signals in user data transmission units, thereby reducing latency and optimizing data channel resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reference signals are embedded in minimum scheduling units for data transmission, then channel state information can be obtained, but latency increases due to processing delays and resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the scheduling unit into two independent parts: a reference signal portion and a data transmission portion. The reference signal is transmitted in one minimum scheduling unit, while data transmission occurs in subsequent units. This segmentation allows channel estimation to be performed separately without delaying data transmission, thereby reducing latency while maintaining channel state information accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting the reference signal before the data transmission. The base station receives the reference signal, performs channel estimation, and prepares for data transmission in advance. This preliminary reference signal transmission enables the base station to be ready for immediate data processing without waiting for reference signals embedded in data units, thus reducing processing latency.
2Reliability
If reference signals are included in every minimum scheduling unit, then channel estimation is continuous, but overhead increases and data transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission resources by dedicating separate minimum scheduling units for reference signals versus data transmission. Not every minimum scheduling unit contains both reference signals and data; instead, reference signals are transmitted in dedicated units followed by data transmission units. This segmentation eliminates redundant reference signals in data units, reducing overhead while maintaining continuous channel estimation capability through periodic reference signal transmissions.
3Reliability
If reference signals are transmitted periodically, then channel state information is updated, but processing time for symbol-level operations is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the base station receive and process the reference signal before the data transmission begins. The base station performs channel estimation and prepares symbol-level processing operations in advance based on the reference signal. This allows that when data transmission starts, the processing operations are already ready, significantly reducing the processing time duration compared to waiting for reference signals embedded in data units.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus and method for communication are provided. In the proposed solution resources for transmission of user data and dedicated reference signals for demodulating a signal are allocated separately. The minimum scheduling units in frequency and time in the resources reserved for user data transmission do not comprise any reference signals.