Non-Uniform Sub-Carrier Selection for CSI Feedback

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Modern wireless communication networks face challenges in efficiently transmitting channel state information (CSI) from user equipment to the network, particularly due to bandwidth constraints, which limits the accuracy of link adaptation and increases uplink overhead, especially in interference-limited environments like CoMP systems.

Innovation Solution

The method involves selecting non-uniformly spaced sub-carriers for channel estimation and feedback, using a scheme synchronized with the network, to reduce the number of bits required for CSI feedback, thereby minimizing uplink bandwidth usage while maintaining accurate channel characterization, and applying techniques like pseudo-randomized index selection and quantization to optimize CSI reporting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If full channel state information is feedback from UE to network, then link adaptation accuracy is improved, but uplink bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelink adaptation accuracyVSAvoiduplink bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the channel state information feedback by selecting only specific sub-carriers (e.g., every 4th sub-carrier) rather than feedback all sub-carrier data. This segmentation approach maintains sufficient channel characterization accuracy while significantly reducing the number of bits required for CSI feedback, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing different feedback resolutions for different parts of the spectrum. Instead of uniform feedback across all sub-carriers, the system selects specific local regions (sub-carriers) for detailed feedback while using coarser feedback for other regions, optimizing the balance between accuracy and bandwidth efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If PMI feedback compression is used to reduce uplink bandwidth, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but information about channel directions useful for JP optimization is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink bandwidth efficiencyVSAvoidchannel direction information for JP
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the feedback into two parts: (1) subsampled channel state information at reduced resolution for bandwidth efficiency, and (2) indicator information about the strongest subsampled channels. This segmentation allows the system to maintain sufficient channel direction information for JP optimization while significantly reducing overall feedback bandwidth compared to full CSI feedback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the most critical information needed for JP optimization - the indicator of strongest channels - while discarding redundant information. This extraction approach maintains the essential channel direction information required for coordinated multipoint processing while minimizing uplink bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Quantity of substance

If non-uniform sub-carrier selection is applied for CSI feedback, then feedback bandwidth is reduced, but channel estimation accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback bandwidthVSAvoidchannel estimation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the sampling parameters from uniform to non-uniform sub-carrier selection. By strategically selecting specific sub-carrier indices (e.g., 0, 4, 8, 12...) rather than consecutive sub-carriers, the system achieves sufficient channel estimation accuracy with fewer samples, thus reducing feedback bandwidth while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3152844B1Efficient uplink transmission of channel state information
Publication Date: 2019.11.13 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3152844B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3152844B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3152844B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A User Equipment, UE, (20) in a wireless communication network (10) includes a multiplicity of antennas (224), from which a subset of antennas is selected using a selection scheme synchronized to the network. A set of sub- carriers is selected from a plurality of sub-carriers using a selection scheme synchronized to the network. The UE receives a plurality of known reference symbols over the selected set of sub-carriers and through the selected subset of antennas. A frequency response for each selected sub-carrier is estimated over only the selected subset of antennas. The results are quantized and transmitted to the network on an uplink control channel.