Flexible Reference Symbol Placement for Resource Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems face challenges in reducing latency and optimizing resource efficiency, particularly in next-generation mobile communication systems, where the overhead of control symbols hinders data channel performance and resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

A data communication apparatus that selects a subset of transmission symbol positions within a two-dimensional grid for data transmission, allowing flexible placement and multiplexing of reference symbols based on desired relative positions, which can vary with respect to time slots or subframes, to optimize resource allocation and sharing between data communication devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of reference symbols is reduced to optimize resource efficiency, then resource efficiency improves, but channel estimation accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource efficiencyVSAvoidchannel estimation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple reference symbols from different user equipments into shared reference symbol positions. By multiplexing reference symbols from multiple UEs at the same time-frequency resources, the system reduces the total number of reference symbols required while maintaining channel estimation capability through the combined reference signal energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables reference symbol positions to serve multiple functions: they act as reference symbols for channel estimation for multiple different UEs simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows a single reference symbol position to support channel estimation for multiple users, thereby reducing overall overhead while maintaining estimation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of time

If shorter TTI lengths are used to reduce latency, then latency is reduced, but reference symbol overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovelatencyVSAvoidreference symbol overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges reference symbols from multiple UEs into shared positions within short TTI structures. By allowing multiple UEs to share the same reference symbol positions through multiplexing, the system maintains low latency with short TTIs while avoiding the proportional increase in reference symbol overhead that would normally accompany shorter transmission intervals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic reference symbol positioning where the exact position of reference symbols can vary depending on the selected group of transmission symbol positions. This flexibility allows the system to adapt reference symbol placement to minimize overhead while maintaining channel estimation performance in short TTI scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If reference symbol positions are fixed to maintain simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but resource flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration complexityVSAvoidresource flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic reference symbol positioning where reference symbol positions are determined based on the selected group of transmission symbol positions. Rather than being fixed, the reference symbol positions adapt dynamically to the actual data transmission resources allocated, providing resource flexibility while using standardized procedures to maintain manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of reference symbol position from a fixed value to a variable that depends on the transmission resource allocation. By making the position parameter adaptive to the selected resource group, the system achieves resource flexibility without requiring complex configuration, as the position is determined by standardized rules applied to the allocated resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250023681A1Data communication apparatuses, data communication system and methods using reference symbols

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV

AI summary

A data communication apparatus, for transmitting one or more blocks of data within a frame including a two-dimensional grid of transmission symbol positions is configured to select a group of transmission symbol positions, which is a subset of the two-dimensional grid of transmission symbol positions, for a transmission of a data portion. The data communication apparatus is configured to select one or more reference symbol positions associated to the selected group of transmission symbol positions, out of a plurality of possibilities, based on an information describing a desired relative position of the reference symbol position with respect to the selected group of transmission symbol positions. Other apparatuses also use a flexible selection of transmission symbol positions and a flexible selection of reference symbol positions. A system, methods and computer programs are also described.