Resource Element Muting in Coordinated Multi-Point Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, particularly in LTE-A Downlink Coordinated Multi-point Processing (CoMP), the lack of awareness by user equipment (UE) about all transmission points involved in joint transmissions can lead to decoding errors due to incorrect treatment of resource elements designated for cell-specific reference signals, resulting in data loss and excessive downlink control information overhead.
Innovation Solution
Implementing Resource Element (RE) muting by designating a lead base station to map data to all available resource blocks except those reserved for cell-specific reference signals, and instructing other base stations to mute transmissions in these reserved resource elements, thereby avoiding decoding errors and minimizing control overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If user equipment does not have awareness of all transmission points involved in joint transmissions, then device complexity is reduced, but decoding errors occur due to incorrect treatment of resource elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the problematic transmissions from resource elements designated for cell-specific reference signals by implementing RE muting. The lead base station identifies which resource elements contain CRS and instructs other base stations to mute their transmissions in those specific resource elements, thereby eliminating the source of decoding errors while keeping the UE design simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the lead base station determine and communicate the muting pattern to other base stations before the actual coordinated transmission occurs. This advance preparation ensures that all base stations are synchronized and will mute their transmissions in the correct resource elements, preventing decoding errors before they can occur.
2Productivity
If data is mapped to all available resource elements without muting, then resource utilization is maximized, but decoding errors and data loss occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of different resource elements. Instead of uniformly muting all resource elements or using a single mapping strategy, the system identifies specific resource elements designated for CRS and applies muting only to those localized regions. This allows data to be mapped to all non-CRS resource elements, maximizing resource utilization while maintaining data integrity in critical reference signal regions.
3Reliability
If control information is increased to inform UEs about all transmission points, then decoding accuracy improves, but control overhead increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the need for extensive control information by removing the source of the problem through RE muting. Instead of informing UEs about all transmission points and their respective CRS locations (which would require excessive control overhead), the system proactively mutes transmissions in CRS resource elements, eliminating the need for such detailed control information while maintaining decoding accuracy.
4Power
If multiple base stations transmit simultaneously in all resource elements, then transmission power is maximized, but interference and decoding errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling full-power transmission in most resource elements while applying localized muting only in specific resource elements designated for CRS. This allows the system to maximize transmission power and maintain high transmission quality in data-bearing resource elements while preventing interference and decoding errors in the critical reference signal regions.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of signal transmission in a wireless communications network is disclosed. A coordinated transmission is transmitted from a plurality of base stations, each including a transmission point. Each transmission point is configured to transmit a cell specific reference signal in a particular set of resource elements. Additionally, a determination is made regarding which of the plurality of base stations will serve as a lead base station in the coordinated transmission and data is mapped to all available resource elements in a physical resource block, except the resource elements in which the lead base station is configured to transmit a cell-specific reference signal. Further, each remaining base station is instructed to mute transmissions in the particular set of resource elements in which the corresponding transmission point is configured to transmit a cell specific reference signal.