MIMO Reference Signal Port Adaptation for Channel Estimation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In MIMO communications systems, the varying large-scale properties of antenna ports across different base stations limit the spatial degree of freedom, leading to reduced spectral efficiency and increased demodulation complexity, especially for users at the cell edge due to inter-cell interference.

Innovation Solution

The method involves allocating data demodulation reference signal ports to user equipment (UE) and determining whether these ports experience similar large-scale properties, allowing for flexible channel estimation and demodulation using either shared or distinct parameters based on explicit or implicit signaling, thereby improving demodulation precision and reducing complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple base stations allocate data demodulation reference signal ports to UE without considering port relationship, then spatial degree of freedom increases, but demodulation complexity increases and spectral efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial degree of freedomVSAvoiddemodulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the processing approach based on the QCL relationship between ports. For ports with QCL relationship, the UE uses shared parameters for channel estimation and demodulation, while for ports without QCL relationship, separate parameters are used. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing spatial diversity while managing complexity through selective parameter sharing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter usage strategy based on QCL relationships. When ports have QCL relationships, the same parameters (channel estimation parameters, frequency offset estimation parameters, demodulation parameters) are applied across multiple ports. When ports lack QCL relationships, distinct parameters are used. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between spatial freedom and demodulation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple base stations allocate data demodulation reference signal ports to UE without considering port relationship, then spatial degree of freedom increases, but spectral efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial degree of freedomVSAvoidspectral efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the processing approach based on the QCL relationship between ports. For ports with QCL relationship, the UE uses shared parameters for channel estimation and demodulation, while for ports without QCL relationship, separate parameters are used. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing spatial diversity while managing complexity through selective parameter sharing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the need for separate full-parameter processing for all ports with a simplified mechanism that uses QCL relationships to determine parameter sharing. Instead of treating each port independently with full processing, the system uses the QCL relationship to substitute shared parameters where applicable, thereby maintaining spectral efficiency while preserving spatial degree of freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If UE separately processes parameters for each data demodulation reference signal port, then demodulation precision is maintained, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedemodulation precisionVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the processing approach based on the QCL relationship between ports. For ports with QCL relationship, the UE uses shared parameters for channel estimation and demodulation, while for ports without QCL relationship, separate parameters are used. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing spatial diversity while managing complexity through selective parameter sharing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the set of data demodulation reference signal ports into two groups: ports with QCL relationships and ports without QCL relationships. This segmentation allows the UE to apply different processing strategies to each group, maintaining precision for ports requiring separate processing while reducing complexity for ports that can share parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If UE uses shared parameters for channel estimation and demodulation across multiple ports, then processing complexity is reduced, but this is only valid when ports have QCL relationships

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing complexityVSAvoidport relationship adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the parameter sharing strategy dynamic by baseing it on the QCL relationship between ports. The system dynamically determines whether to share parameters or use separate parameters based on the measured QCL relationship. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing complexity reduction through parameter sharing when QCL relationships exist, while maintaining adaptability to handle cases where QCL relationships do not exist.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3480965B1Information processing method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3480965B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3480965B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3480965B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An information processing method is provided and applied to a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications system, where a plurality of data demodulation reference signal ports are allocated to UE, and the method includes: obtaining, in a scheduled time-frequency resource, information about whether the plurality of data demodulation reference signal ports allocated to the UE meet a particular port relationship, where meeting the particular port relationship means that signals sent by using any ports experience same or similar large-scale properties; and sending an indication of the information about whether the particular port relationship is met, so that for at least two data demodulation reference signal ports that meet the particular port relationship, the UE performs channel estimation, frequency offset estimation, or demodulation by using same parameters.