Reverse Link Pilot Transmission Using Scrambling Sequences

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for efficient pilot transmission on the reverse link in wireless communication systems to improve system capacity and reduce overhead, as existing methods do not effectively utilize time and frequency resources for pilot transmission.

Innovation Solution

The use of a CDMA segment to support pilot and signaling transmission on the reverse link, where terminals generate a scrambling sequence based on pilot information and map pilot symbols to a time-frequency block, allowing for efficient use of time and frequency resources, and base stations process received symbols to determine channel parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pilots are transmitted on the reverse link for terminal detection and channel estimation, then the base station can detect terminals and assign them to appropriate base stations, but the pilot transmission represents overhead that reduces system capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The reverse link pilot signal is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it enables terminal detection by base stations, provides channel estimation for both forward and reverse links through channel reciprocity, supports terminal mobility management during handovers, and facilitates quality of service measurements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated signals for each function, thereby minimizing overhead while maintaining comprehensive system operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If pilots are transmitted by all terminals, then each terminal can be detected and served appropriately, but the overhead increases with the number of terminals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal detection accuracyVSAvoidpilot overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements selective pilot transmission where only terminals that require base station detection or channel estimation transmit reverse link pilots. Terminals that are already detected and do not require channel estimation can omit pilot transmission. This local quality approach ensures that pilot transmission occurs only where and when needed, reducing overall overhead while maintaining detection accuracy for active terminals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the same Walsh code is used for multiple transmitters, then resource utilization improves, but interference between transmitters increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidinterference between terminals
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system resolves Walsh code interference by introducing temporal and spatial dimensions to code allocation. Instead of reusing Walsh codes simultaneously across all terminals, the system allocates different Walsh codes to different time slots (TDMA) and different spatial sectors (CDMA). This dimensional separation allows the same Walsh code to be reused across different dimensions without causing interference, thereby improving resource utilization while maintaining signal quality.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2039048B1Reverse link pilot transmission for a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2039048B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2039048B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2039048B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Techniques to transmit pilot on a CDMA segment on the reverse link in a wireless communication system are described. A terminal generates a scrambling sequence based on its pilot information. The pilot information may be used for the entire duration of a call by the terminal and for all sectors with which the terminal communicates during the call. The terminal generates pilot symbols based on the scrambling sequence, maps the pilot symbols to the CDMA segment, generates OFDM symbols with the mapped pilot symbols, and sends the OFDM symbols to one or more sectors. A base station processes received OFDM symbols to obtain received symbols for the CDMA segment. The base station generates the scrambling sequence based on the pilot information for the terminal and processes the received symbols with the scrambling sequence to obtain at least one parameter (e.g., received signal strength) for the terminal.