Reference Signal Placement for Low-Overhead Channel Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing antenna scales and physical ports in terminal and network devices lead to significant overheads in reference signal indication for channel estimation, necessitating a reduction in these overheads to improve estimation accuracy and reduce measurement delays.

Innovation Solution

A communication method that determines the frequency domain position and transmit antenna port of reference signals based on channel noise constraints, employing specific regularities to minimize indication overheads and enhance channel estimation accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If antenna scales and physical ports are increased, then channel estimation capability is improved, but reference signal overhead is greatly increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidreference signal overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the reference signal resources by determining specific frequency domain positions and transmit antenna ports based on channel noise constraints. This segmentation allows selective placement of reference signals only where needed, rather than uniformly across all antenna ports and frequency resources, thereby reducing overall overhead while maintaining estimation accuracy for large-scale antennas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by optimizing reference signal placement according to local channel noise characteristics. By determining frequency domain positions and antenna ports based on channel noise constraint conditions, the system concentrates reference signal resources in regions with higher noise or greater estimation difficulty, rather than distributing them uniformly, thus improving efficiency and reducing overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If reference signal overhead is reduced, then resource efficiency is improved, but channel estimation accuracy may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource efficiencyVSAvoidchannel estimation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes key parameters (frequency domain position and transmit antenna port) of reference signals based on channel noise constraint conditions. By dynamically adjusting these parameters according to channel characteristics, the system ensures reference signals are placed where they provide maximum estimation value, maintaining accuracy while reducing overall overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary determination of reference signal parameters based on channel noise constraints before actual channel estimation. This preliminary action identifies optimal frequency domain positions and antenna ports in advance, ensuring that reference signals are strategically placed to maximize estimation accuracy with minimal resources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20260046184A1Communication Method and Communication Apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

In a method, a first apparatus may determine a frequency domain position and a transmit antenna port of a reference signal based on a channel noise constraint condition, so that a position of the reference signal follows specific regularity. The first apparatus indicates the frequency domain position and the transmit antenna port of the reference signal to a second apparatus.