Multi-User Precoding by Spatial-Correlation-Based Mode Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pre-coding methods for multi-user, multi-antenna transmitters face performance degradation with increasing user correlation and high computational complexity, particularly in non-linear pre-coding scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A method involving determining spatial correlation values between users, reducing the user plurality by discarding users with high correlation, and applying tailored pre-coding (linear for low correlation and non-linear for high correlation) to optimize performance and complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If non-linear pre-coding is applied to address user correlation, then pre-coding performance is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepre-coding performanceVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments users into different groups based on their correlation characteristics. Users are divided into a first group (high correlation) and a second group (low correlation), allowing different pre-coding strategies to be applied to each segment. This segmentation enables the system to achieve good performance for high-correlation users without applying complex non-linear pre-coding to all users, thus reducing overall computational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different pre-coding qualities to different user groups: linear pre-coding is applied to the first group (high correlation) to reduce complexity, while non-linear pre-coding is applied to the second group (low correlation) to optimize performance. This local differentiation of pre-coding quality allows the system to balance performance and complexity based on actual user correlation characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If linear pre-coding is used, then computational complexity is reduced, but performance deteriorates with increasing user correlation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational complexityVSAvoidpre-coding performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments users based on correlation thresholds, creating a first group for high-correlation users and a second group for low-correlation users. This segmentation allows the system to apply appropriate pre-coding methods to each segment, ensuring that linear pre-coding is only used where it is effective (low correlation) while non-linear pre-coding is applied where needed (high correlation).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the pre-coding method parameter based on user correlation characteristics. By monitoring correlation values and dynamically selecting between linear and non-linear pre-coding methods, the system adapts to different correlation scenarios, optimizing performance while managing computational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If user plurality is maintained without reduction, then system capacity is preserved, but complexity of handling high correlation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of usersVSAvoidcomplexity of handling correlation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts high-correlation users from the general user pool and places them in a separate first group. This extraction allows the system to handle high-correlation users with simplified linear pre-coding, removing the complexity burden from the main processing path while still maintaining support for all users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the user plurality into distinct groups based on correlation characteristics. This segmentation reduces the complexity of handling correlation by isolating high-correlation users into a separate category that can be processed with simpler methods, while the majority of low-correlation users continue to benefit from efficient linear pre-coding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4128558B1Multi-user pre-coding
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP4128558B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4128558B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP4128558B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

A pre-coding method is disclosed of a multi-user, multi-antenna transmitter configured for transmission of respective signals to a plurality of users. The method comprises determining (for each pair of users of the plurality) a spatial correlation value for the pair of users, sorting the plurality of users into a first group and a second group based on the spatial correlation values, generating the respective signals for transmission to the users of the first group by application of linear pre-coding, and generating the respective signals for transmission to the users of the second group by application of non-linear precoding. For example, a particular user may be sorted into the first group when all pairs comprising the particular user have a spatial correlation value that falls below a first correlation threshold value, and the particular user may be sorted into the second group when at least one pair comprising the particular user has a spatial correlation value that falls on or above the first correlation threshold value. Corresponding apparatus, transmitter, base station and computer program product are also disclosed.