Reference Signal Phase Division Multiplexing for Massive MIMO
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standardized wireless communication systems, such as 3GPP LTE, face challenges in extending predefined reference signal patterns to support channel estimation for a larger number of transmit antennas without causing interference, especially with the anticipated increase to massive MIMO configurations, which limits the ability to define additional reference signals without using additional resource elements that could compromise backward compatibility.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a phase division multiplexing (PDM) technique to extend reference signal patterns, allowing additional reference signals to be defined without interference by applying different phase shifts to each reference signal transmitted over the same resource elements, enabling channel estimation for a greater number of transmit antennas, including those in massive MIMO configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional reference signals are defined for massive MIMO configurations, then channel estimation capability is improved, but interference between reference signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase division multiplexing by changing the phase parameter of reference signals transmitted from different antenna ports. Each reference signal is multiplied by a distinct phase factor (e.g., e^(j2πk/N)) where k is the antenna port index and N is the total number of ports. This phase parameter differentiation allows multiple reference signals to coexist in the same time-frequency resources without interfering with each other, enabling channel estimation for massive MIMO configurations with many antenna ports.
2Adaptability or versatility
If phase division multiplexing is applied to extend reference signal patterns, then the number of supported transmit antennas is increased, but the complexity of signal processing is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends reference signal patterns by applying phase division multiplexing, which uses phase shifts as a parameter to differentiate signals from different antenna ports. This approach allows the system to support a larger number of transmit antennas (including massive MIMO configurations with 64, 128, or more ports) without requiring additional time-frequency resources. The phase parameter differentiation enables the receiver to separate and estimate channels for each antenna port using standard signal processing techniques, thereby increasing adaptability while keeping processing complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for extending a reference signal pattern to define additional reference signals using a phase division multiplexing (PDM) technique. The reference signal pattern can be a predefined reference signal pattern in a wireless communication standard and can be extended to support massive MIMO communication.