Reference Signal Configuration for Multi-Port Antenna Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior-art reference signals in LTE systems do not support more than eight antenna ports, leading to performance degradation and interference issues when attempting to expand to higher antenna configurations, such as 16 or more ports, which affects channel state information measurement and system throughput.
Innovation Solution
A method for reference signal transmission that configures resource elements across multiple antenna ports in different resource blocks, ensuring no intersection of resource element groups between antenna port subsets, allowing for efficient channel state information measurement and reduced interference by staggering CSI RS positions across cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If prior-art reference signals are directly expanded to support 16 or more antenna ports, then the number of supported antenna ports increases, but resource overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna port set into multiple subsets (first antenna port subset and second antenna port subset). Each subset is associated with different resource blocks (first RB pair and second RB pair). This segmentation allows the system to support more antenna ports (16 or more) by distributing reference signals across multiple resource blocks rather than concentrating them in a single block, thereby reducing resource overhead while increasing adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If prior-art reference signals are directly expanded to support 16 or more antenna ports, then the number of supported antenna ports increases, but interference to downlink data transmission occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments reference signal resources across different resource blocks for different antenna port subsets. By placing reference signals for the first antenna port subset in a first RB pair and reference signals for the second antenna port subset in a second RB pair, the system avoids concentration of reference signals in a single resource block, thereby reducing interference to downlink data transmission while supporting 16 or more antenna ports.
3Adaptability or versatility
If expansion is performed by using a neighboring resource block, then more antenna ports can be supported, but correct CSI estimation cannot be performed by legacy UE
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna port set into multiple subsets, where each subset can be independently configured with specific resource blocks. This segmentation allows legacy UE to correctly identify and estimate channel state information for their supported antenna ports while enabling new UE to utilize additional resource blocks for extended antenna port support, thereby maintaining CSI estimation accuracy across different UE types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic configuration of reference signal resources through higher-layer signaling, allowing the network to flexibly assign different resource blocks to different antenna port subsets based on UE capabilities and channel conditions. This dynamic approach ensures that legacy UE can perform correct CSI estimation while supporting advanced antenna configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclose a reference signal transmission method and an apparatus. The method includes receiving reference signal resource configuration information sent by a base station, where the reference signal resource configuration information includes antenna port quantity information and a resource configuration index. The method also includes determining a reference signal configuration from a reference signal configuration set according to the antenna port quantity information and the resource configuration index. The method also includes obtaining, according to the determined reference signal configuration, positions of the resource elements (REs) that are used to send the reference signal on the antenna ports in the antenna port set, and receiving reference signals according to the positions of the REs.