Concatenation-Assisted Symbol-Level Combining for MIMO HARQ Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) data transmission systems face challenges in effectively decoding received signal vectors due to noise and channel effects, often requiring complex systems to utilize information from multiple transmissions, which increases complexity and may not fully leverage available data.

Innovation Solution

The system combines multiple received signal vectors from the same transmit signal vector before decoding, using protocols like HARQ type-I and repetition coding, and processes the concatenated channel response matrices to reduce receiver complexity, allowing for decoding with a single decoder regardless of the number of received vectors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple received signal vectors are combined before decoding to improve reliability, then error correction capability is improved, but receiver complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror correction capabilityVSAvoidreceiver complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple received signal vectors corresponding to the same transmitted signal vector into a single concatenated vector before decoding. This merging approach allows the system to leverage information from multiple transmissions (including retransmissions under HARQ protocols) to improve error correction capability while maintaining a unified decoding process that avoids the complexity of managing multiple separate decoders

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a single universal decoder that can process concatenated signal vectors of varying lengths corresponding to different numbers of received transmissions. This universal decoder replaces the need for multiple specialized decoders, thereby reducing receiver complexity while maintaining the ability to handle various transmission scenarios (single transmission, multiple transmissions, HARQ retransmissions)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If a single decoder is used for concatenated vectors of varying lengths, then device complexity is reduced, but decoding accuracy may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoder structureVSAvoiddecoding accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic decoding approach where the single decoder adapts to varying concatenated vector lengths based on the number of received transmissions. The decoder dynamically adjusts its processing to handle different amounts of combined signal data while maintaining optimal decoding accuracy through protocols like HARQ that ensure the concatenated vectors contain sufficient information for reliable decoding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2047626B1Concatenation-assisted symbol-level combining for MIMO systems with HARQ and/or repetition coding
Publication Date: 2017.07.05 MARVELL WORLD TRADE LTD
  • EP2047626B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2047626B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2047626B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for decoding signal vectors in multiple- input multiple -output (MIMO) systems, where the receiver has received one or more signal vectors from the same transmitted vector. The receiver combines the received vectors by vector concatenation The concatenated vector may then be decoded using, for example, maximum- likelihood decoding. In some embodiments, the combined signal vector is equalized before decoding. HARQ Type I is envisaged as retransmission scheme. An equalizer is also used before the detection and performs equalization of the concatenated vector either by QR decomosition or ZF equalization.