Multi-Base-Station Signal Combining for Soft Handover Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a mobile communications system, the macro diversity gain of soft handover in WCDMA systems is not fully utilized due to the RNC's inability to effectively combine signals from multiple base stations, leading to suboptimal signal processing and performance.
Innovation Solution
A signal processing method that involves receiving soft information and CRC check results from multiple base stations, performing selective combining, and if necessary, using soft combining techniques such as maximum ratio combining or hard decision to enhance the signal processing result, thereby fully utilizing the macro diversity gain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the RNC performs selective combining according to the CRC check results, then the device complexity is reduced, but the macro diversity gain cannot be fully utilized and signal gain is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the combining process into two distinct stages: first, selective combining based on CRC check results to quickly obtain a preliminary decoding result; second, soft combining of soft information from multiple base stations when the preliminary result fails CRC verification. This segmentation allows the system to use simple selective combining for obvious cases while applying more complex soft combining only when necessary, thus balancing device complexity and signal gain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary selective combining based on CRC check results before attempting soft combining. This preliminary action filters out cases where selective combining is sufficient, avoiding unnecessary soft combining operations and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining signal gain where it matters most.
2Reliability
If soft combining is always performed to fully utilize macro diversity gain, then signal processing performance is improved, but the processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies soft combining partially - only when selective combining fails to produce a valid result (CRC check fails). For cases where selective combining succeeds, the system stops there and does not perform additional soft combining. This partial application of the more time-consuming soft combining operation reduces overall processing time while maintaining signal processing performance where it is most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary selective combining as a fast first step before committing to the more time-consuming soft combining process. This preliminary action serves as a filter that eliminates many cases from requiring full soft combining, thus reducing average processing time while maintaining performance for the cases that do require it.
3Device complexity
If only selective combining is used to reduce processing complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates due to insufficient signal gain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the combining strategy into two paths: a simple selective combining path for cases where it suffices, and a more reliable soft combining path for cases where signal gain is critical. This segmentation allows the system to maintain low complexity for most operations while ensuring high reliability when needed, resolving the contradiction between complexity reduction and reliability maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses CRC check results as an intermediary decision mechanism that determines whether to proceed with simple selective combining or to escalate to more complex soft combining. This intermediary filter ensures that soft combining is applied only when necessary to maintain communication reliability, preventing unnecessary complexity while ensuring reliability when the intermediary indicator (CRC failure) suggests it is needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a signal processing method and device. The method includes: receiving soft information corresponding to encoded signals sent by at least two base stations and CRC check results of decoding results of first subflows in the encoded signals, where the soft information includes first soft information corresponding to the first subflows; obtaining a selective combining result of the first subflows by performing selective combining according to the at least two CRC check results of the decoding results of the first subflows; and if the selective combining result of the first subflows is that CRC check is incorrect, determining a soft combining result of the first subflows according to at least two pieces of the first soft information. The signal processing method and device provided in the embodiments can increase a signal gain.