Resource Block Bundling for Channel Estimation in LTE

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for channel estimation in LTE systems face challenges in efficiently sizing bundled resource blocks (RBs) with user equipment (UE)-specific demodulation reference signals, particularly in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, which affects channel estimation accuracy and system throughput.

Innovation Solution

The method involves receiving configuration information for UE-specific demodulation reference signals and processing resource blocks into bundles based on system bandwidth size ranges, allowing for effective channel estimation by expanding the span of sampled reference signals in both time and frequency domains.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the number of reference signals in each RB is increased to improve channel estimation accuracy, then channel estimation performance is improved, but system throughput is reduced due to overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidsystem throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple resource blocks into RB bundles, where channel estimation is performed across multiple RBs simultaneously. By combining reference signals from multiple RBs into a unified estimation process, the system achieves improved channel estimation accuracy without requiring additional reference signals in each individual RB, thus maintaining system throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces RB bundling as an additional dimension for channel estimation. Instead of only considering reference signals within a single RB, the system extends estimation across multiple RBs in the frequency domain, creating a multi-dimensional estimation approach that improves accuracy without increasing overhead in individual RBs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If RBs are bundled into larger bundles to improve channel estimation, then estimation accuracy is improved, but the complexity of processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent defines specific RB bundle sizes based on system bandwidth parameters (1 RB for narrowband, 2 RBs for wideband, 4 RBs for extra wideband). By changing the bundle size parameter according to system conditions, the system achieves improved estimation accuracy while controlling processing complexity through standardized, pre-defined bundle configurations rather than arbitrary large bundles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the system bandwidth is increased to support higher data rates, then system capacity is improved, but the number of RBs and processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidprocessing load
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple RBs into bundles for channel estimation in wideband and extra wideband systems. By merging RBs into larger bundles, the system can handle higher system capacities without proportionally increasing processing load, as the bundled estimation approach processes multiple RBs simultaneously using the same estimation framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2497215B1Method of resource block (RB) bundling
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2497215B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2497215B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2497215B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of sizing bundled resource blocks (RBs) having at least one user equipment (UE)-specific demodulation reference signal in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method includes: receiving configuration information related to at least one UE-specific demodulation reference signal; receiving a plurality of resource blocks (RBs) from a network, wherein the plurality of resource blocks comprises the at least one UE-specific demodulation reference signal, at least one cell-specific demodulation reference signal or data, wherein a number of the plurality of RBs is dependent on a size of a system bandwidth, the size of the system bandwidth corresponding to one of four size ranges; and processing at least one of the received plurality of RBs by bundling the plurality of RBs into RB bundles, wherein the size of each RB bundle is based on the one of the four size ranges.