Massive Antenna Array Feedback Reporting for Beamforming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently reporting feedback for massive antenna array based beamforming, which affects the performance and efficiency of beamforming in wireless communication systems.

Innovation Solution

A method for transmitting and receiving feedback information between user equipment and base stations to adaptively control beamforming using a partial antenna array, reducing feedback overhead and improving beamforming performance by selecting an effective antenna port set based on channel conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If feedback information is reported using a massive antenna array for beamforming, then beamforming performance is improved, but feedback overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeamforming performanceVSAvoidfeedback overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the massive antenna array into multiple antenna ports and groups them for feedback reporting. Instead of reporting feedback for all antenna elements individually, the system divides the antenna array into manageable groups and reports feedback information for each group separately, thereby reducing the overall feedback overhead while maintaining beamforming performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial feedback reporting by selecting and reporting feedback information only for a subset of antenna ports rather than all antenna ports in the massive array. This partial action approach reduces feedback overhead significantly while still achieving effective beamforming through the reported subset information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Measurement precision

If feedback information is reported for all antenna ports, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel state information accuracyVSAvoidfeedback processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the antenna ports into multiple groups and processes feedback information for each group separately. This segmentation reduces the complexity of feedback processing by breaking down the large-scale feedback task into smaller, more manageable sub-tasks, while still maintaining comprehensive channel state information through the aggregated feedback from all groups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the feedback reporting strategy by configuring different antenna port groups based on channel conditions and system requirements. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt the level of feedback detail to actual needs, reducing unnecessary processing complexity while maintaining measurement precision when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of information

If a partial antenna array is used for beamforming, then feedback overhead is reduced, but beamforming gain decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback overheadVSAvoidbeamforming gain
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by reporting feedback for only a selected subset of antenna ports rather than all ports. This partial feedback is sufficient to achieve effective beamforming in many scenarios, reducing overhead while maintaining acceptable beamforming gain through intelligent selection of which antenna ports to report.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of feedback granularity by adjusting the number and configuration of antenna port groups reported. By dynamically changing these parameters based on system conditions, the system can optimize the trade-off between feedback overhead and beamforming gain, reporting more detailed information when high gain is needed and less when overhead reduction is prioritized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3100366B1Feedback reporting method for massive antenna array based beamforming in wireless communication system, and apparatus therefor
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3100366B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3100366B1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(B)
  • EP3100366B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for transmitting feedback information to a base station by a user equipment, for massive antenna array based beamforming in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes receiving information about a plurality of pilot patterns for a massive antenna array from the base station, estimating a plurality of channels corresponding to the plurality of pilot patterns by receiving a pilot signal based on the plurality of pilot patterns, and transmitting the feedback information for the plurality of channels to the base station, wherein the feedback information includes information about whether closed-loop beamforming or open-loop beamforming is applied to the plurality of channels and information about an effective antenna array for the plurality of channels.