Receiver Channel Quality Estimation via Antenna Configuration Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, especially those using multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and space-time coded systems, face challenges in accurately estimating and reporting channel quality measures due to dependency on receiver type and complexity in multi-band environments, which affects link adaptation and user equipment scheduling.

Innovation Solution

A method and receiver configuration that selects and reports channel quality measures by allocating different antenna configurations, utilizing the distance and number of active antennas to achieve diversity and noise reduction, enabling improved signal-to-noise/interference ratio and spatial multiplexing for enhanced bandwidth utilization without power efficiency degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple antenna configurations are used to improve channel quality measurement accuracy and diversity, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel quality measurement accuracyVSAvoidreceiver complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver is divided into multiple independent receiver chains, each associated with a specific antenna configuration. Each receiver chain independently processes signals from its assigned antennas, enabling parallel channel quality measurements for different antenna configurations without requiring a single complex processing unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects which antenna configurations to measure and reports based on current channel conditions, power consumption requirements, and scheduling needs. The base station can request CQI for specific antenna configurations or all configurations, allowing flexible adaptation to changing system requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If multiple antenna configurations are measured and reported, then channel quality measurement accuracy improves, but loss of time in reporting increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel quality measurement accuracyVSAvoidreporting time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of always measuring and reporting CQI for all antenna configurations, the system performs partial measurements based on current needs. The base station can request CQI reports for only the necessary antenna configurations, reducing measurement and reporting time while maintaining sufficient accuracy for link adaptation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver pre-calculates and stores channel quality measurements for multiple antenna configurations during channel estimation phases. When the base station requests CQI reports, the receiver can quickly retrieve pre-computed values or perform minimal additional processing, reducing reporting time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple receiver chains are activated for different antenna configurations, then channel quality measurement capability improves, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna configuration flexibilityVSAvoidreceiver power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver dynamically activates only the receiver chains corresponding to the antenna configurations that need to be measured at any given time. Based on base station requests and current operational requirements, the system powers up only the necessary receiver chains, maintaining adaptability while minimizing power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

When certain antenna configurations are not required for measurement or reporting, the associated receiver chains are deactivated to save power. The system can quickly reactivate these chains when needed, effectively discarding their operation during low-power periods and recovering functionality when required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS8649735B2Method and receiver for estimating and reporting a channel quality measure

Publication Date: 2014.02.11 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A method of estimating and reporting, for a receiver (4) associated with a plurality of antennas (41, 42, 43, 44), a channel quality measure of a wireless communication channel from a transmitter (2) to the receiver, the method comprising the steps of: selecting at least one antenna configuration from a set of mutually different antenna configurations inherent to the receiver; determining a channel quality measure for the selected antenna configuration; and reporting the channel quality measure. The set of mutually different antenna configurations comprises antenna configurations that are allocated to different frequency bands (FB1, FB3). A receiver (4), user equipment, computer program and computer readable medium are also disclosed.