Matrix Resource Element Mapping for Millimeter Wave Port Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently mapping resource elements to ports for reference signals, particularly in millimeter wave communication, where a large number of antennas are paired with a smaller number of RF chains, leading to inefficiencies in beamforming and data transmission.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of matrix-based techniques for mapping resource elements to ports, which allows for independent mapping periodicities in time and frequency, minimizing overhead and enabling simultaneous sweeping of transmit and receive beams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a large number of antennas are paired with a smaller number of RF chains in millimeter wave communication, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity of data transmission decreases due to inefficiencies in beamforming and resource element mapping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of RF chainsVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the mapping process into separate time and frequency components, allowing independent optimization of each dimension. This enables efficient resource element to port mapping even with fewer RF chains by systematically organizing the mapping across time periods and frequency subcarriers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces independent mapping periodicities in both time and frequency dimensions, transforming a single-dimensional mapping problem into a two-dimensional solution space. This allows the system to achieve higher productivity by utilizing both time and frequency resources more effectively despite having fewer RF chains

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

2Device complexity

If traditional resource element mapping is used without independent time and frequency periodicities, then the device complexity is low, but the loss of time increases due to inability to perform simultaneous beam sweeping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemapping configurationVSAvoidbeam sweeping time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the mapping periodicities dynamic and configurable in both time and frequency domains, allowing the system to adapt to different beamforming requirements. This dynamic approach enables simultaneous beam sweeping operations by independently controlling the mapping periodicity in each dimension

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic mapping patterns in both time and frequency dimensions with independently configurable periodicities. This periodic structure enables coordinated beam sweeping operations where transmit and receive beams can be swept simultaneously by aligning the periodic mappings appropriately

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If reference signals are mapped without optimized resource element distribution, then the ease of operation is high, but the loss of information increases due to overhead and reduced data rates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference signal transmissionVSAvoiddata rate efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mapping parameters by introducing independent periodicities for time and frequency dimensions. This parameter optimization allows reference signals to be distributed more efficiently across resource elements, reducing overhead while maintaining ease of operation through systematic mapping patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3577824B1Matrix-based techniques for mapping resource elements to ports for reference signals
Publication Date: 2021.07.07 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3577824B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3577824B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3577824B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques are described for wireless communication. A method of wireless communication at a first wireless device includes identifying a template mapping of a plurality of ports to a first plurality of frequency subcarriers and a first plurality of time periods of a template time-frequency resource grid; mapping a plurality of resource elements of an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) time-frequency resource grid to the plurality of ports based at least in part on the template mapping; receiving a reference signal from a second wireless device, on a subset of the plurality of ports, based at least in part on the mapping; and decoding the reference signal from a subset of the plurality of resource elements based at least in part on the mapping. In some cases, each port of the plurality of ports is associated with a corresponding radio frequency (RF) chain.