Multi-Granular Feedback Reporting for Precoding Overhead Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In spatial multiplexing schemes for radio communications, existing feedback reporting and processing methods face challenges with high computational complexity and significant signaling overhead, particularly in codebook-based precoding, which limits performance and increases complexity as the number of transmit antennas increases.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a multi-part feedback signal structure allows different parts of the precoder matrices to be updated at varying time and frequency granularities, enabling more efficient feedback signaling by correlating channel state information across multiple antennas, reducing overhead and complexity through a Kronecker product structure and differential encoding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If codebook-based precoding is used to enable spatial multiplexing, then data rates are improved, but signaling overhead and computational complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata ratesVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The precoder matrix is segmented into multiple sub-matrices, each corresponding to a specific antenna port or group of antenna ports. This segmentation allows the feedback signaling to be divided into multiple parts, where each part reports information for a specific sub-matrix, reducing the overall signaling overhead compared to reporting the entire precoder matrix at once.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the precoder matrix are reported with different granularities and levels of detail based on local channel conditions. For example, antenna ports with higher correlation may use fewer feedback bits, while ports with lower correlation require more detailed reporting. This local optimization reduces overall feedback overhead while maintaining performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the number of transmit antennas is increased to improve system capacity, then data rates are improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback signaling is segmented into multiple parts, each corresponding to a specific antenna port or group of antenna ports. This allows the system to handle a large number of transmit antennas by dividing the feedback into manageable chunks, reducing the peak signaling overhead at any given time while still supporting high system capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of reporting complete and detailed information for all antenna ports, the system uses partial reporting where only the most significant parameters are fed back. This partial action approach reduces signaling overhead while maintaining sufficient accuracy for precoding operations with multiple transmit antennas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If frequent feedback reporting is performed to track channel variations, then precoding accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecoding accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Feedback reporting is performed periodically with different periods for different parts of the precoder. Some sub-matrices are reported more frequently than others based on their importance and channel variability. This periodic action with varying frequencies maintains precoding accuracy for critical components while reducing overhead for less critical ones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The feedback mechanism dynamically changes parameters such as reporting frequency, granularity, and precision based on channel conditions and system state. When channel conditions are stable, reporting frequency and detail are reduced. When conditions change rapidly, reporting is intensified. This adaptive parameter change maintains accuracy while minimizing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2942895B1Multi-granular feedback reporting and feedback processing for precoding in telecommunications
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2942895B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2942895B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2942895B1 patent drawingFigure 4A

AI summary

A communications system comprises a second device (30) and a first device (28). The first device (28) is of a type which receives, on a downlink over a radio interface from a second device, precoded information (29). In an example mode the first device (28) generates a multi-part feedback signal (22) which is configured to affect content of a precoder matrix (40) utilized by the second device (30). On an uplink over the radio interface to the second device, at least two different parts of the multi-part feedback signal are transmitted with two respective different transmission granularities in time and/or frequency.