Dynamic Pilot Signal Resource Allocation for Wireless Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications systems, particularly in LTE, the existing method of allocating pilot signals results in significant idle resource wastage due to the reservation of time-frequency resources based on the maximum transport layer quantity, leading to low resource usage as the number of transport layers increases.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for dynamically determining and configuring pilot signal resources based on the actual number of transport layers, allowing for the release of idle pilot resources to improve resource usage by adjusting the time-frequency allocation according to the specific data stream requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If pilot resources are pre-configured based on maximum transport layer quantity, then the system can support simultaneous transmission on up to eight layers, but idle pilot resources are wasted when fewer layers are used

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport for multiple transport layersVSAvoidresource usage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic pilot resource allocation where the number of pilot resources is adjusted according to the actual transport layer quantity. The base station determines the actual number of transport layers and dynamically configures the corresponding pilot resources, allowing the system to adapt between supporting up to eight layers while efficiently releasing unused pilot resources when fewer layers are active.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If more antenna ports are configured for pilot signals, then spatial multiplexing on more layers is supported, but overhead of resource elements occupied by pilot signals increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethroughput of wireless communications systemVSAvoidoverhead of resource elements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of pilot resource quantity based on the actual transport layer quantity. When the actual number of transport layers is less than the maximum supported layers, the system reduces the number of configured pilot resources to match the actual need, thereby reducing resource element overhead while maintaining support for higher throughput when more layers are utilized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If pilot resources are reserved for maximum transport layer quantity, then simultaneous transmission on up to eight layers is supported, but resource usage becomes extremely low when fewer layers are used

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport for simultaneous transmissionVSAvoidresource usage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts pilot resource allocation based on actual transport layer usage. The base station determines the actual number of transport layers and configures pilot resources accordingly, releasing idle pilot resources for data transmission when fewer than eight layers are active, thus improving resource usage while maintaining reliable support for simultaneous transmission when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3396886B9Method and apparatus for transmitting pilot signal
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3396886B9 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3396886B9 patent drawingFigure 3~4a
  • EP3396886B9 patent drawingFigure 4b

AI summary

This application discloses a method and an apparatus for transmitting a pilot signal, so that more flexible resource configuration can be achieved, thereby improving resource usage. The method includes: determining, by a transmit end device based on prestored N pilot patterns, a target time-frequency resource for transmitting a pilot signal, where the target time-frequency resource corresponds to a total quantity of layers of a to-be-transmitted data stream, the N pilot patterns are different from each other, and N is a natural number greater than or equal to 1; and sending, by the transmit end device, indication information to a receive end device, where the indication information is used to instruct the receive end device to transmit the pilot signal to the transmit end device based on the target time-frequency resource. The apparatus includes a determining module and a transceiver module. The determining module is configured to determine, based on prestored N pilot patterns, a target time-frequency resource for transmitting a pilot signal. The target time-frequency resource corresponds to a total quantity of layers of a to-be-transmitted data stream. The transceiver module is configured to send indication information to a receive end device, to instruct the receive end device to transmit the pilot signal to the apparatus based on the target time-frequency resource.