5G NR Reference Signal Conflict Handling for Accurate Pilot Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 5G NR technologies lack flexibility in resolving conflicts between various reference signals, leading to incorrect pilot determination by terminals.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for sending and configuring reference signals that select a processing manner from multiple conflict processing manners to resolve conflicts, including puncturing or changing parameters of reference signals, and using precoding space division.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a UE is configured to monitor PDCCH in multiple component carriers, then the UE capability is extended to support carrier aggregation, but the complexity of PDCCH monitoring and blind decoding increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrier aggregation supportVSAvoidPDCCH monitoring complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the PDCCH monitoring task by introducing a reference component carrier that serves as a anchor for determining monitoring configurations in other component carriers. This division allows the UE to handle multiple carriers more systematically by using the reference carrier as a basis for deriving monitoring parameters in aggregated carriers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes equipotentiality by configuring PDCCH monitoring parameters (such as monitoring occasions, search spaces, and candidate quantities) to be consistent or correlated across component carriers through the reference carrier mechanism. This ensures uniform monitoring behavior across aggregated carriers, reducing the cognitive load and complexity for the UE.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

2Reliability

If the network configures PDCCH monitoring on all component carriers, then complete coverage is achieved, but the power consumption and processing load of the UE increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePDCCH monitoring coverageVSAvoidUE power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential monitoring information from all component carriers and consolidates it into the reference component carrier. The UE only needs to perform comprehensive blind decoding on the reference carrier, while other carriers can be monitored with reduced effort or derived from the reference carrier's configuration, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The reference component carrier serves multiple functions: it acts as a monitoring anchor, provides configuration templates for other carriers, and enables the UE to infer monitoring parameters for aggregated carriers. This multi-functionality allows the UE to achieve comprehensive monitoring coverage with focused effort on a single reference carrier, reducing power consumption.

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

3Reliability

If PDCCH monitoring is performed on all component carriers with full blind decoding, then no scheduling information is missed, but the blind decoding complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling information detectionVSAvoidblind decoding time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary configuration by designating a reference component carrier and pre-configuring monitoring parameters based on this reference. This preliminary action allows the UE to anticipate monitoring requirements for aggregated carriers without performing exhaustive blind decoding on each carrier, thereby reducing time consumption while maintaining detection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The reference component carrier acts as an intermediary that mediates between the network's scheduling decisions and the UE's monitoring operations. By using the reference carrier's configuration as a template or basis, the UE can efficiently determine monitoring parameters for other carriers without direct exhaustive search, reducing blind decoding time while ensuring no scheduling information is missed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3713133B1Method for sending reference signal, method and device for configuring reference signal
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 ZTE CORP
  • EP3713133B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3713133B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3713133B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

Provided are a method and a device for sending a reference signal, and a method and device for configuring a reference signal. The method for sending the reference signal includes: determining that a conflict occurs between at least two reference signals, and selecting a processing manner for solving the conflict between the at least two reference signals from multiple conflict processing manners; and sending at least one reference signal in the at least two reference signals to a terminal according to the selected processing manner to instruct the terminal to measure the at least one reference signal.