UE SRS Precoding via PRB Bundles for Channel Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems face inefficiencies in channel estimation due to the need for User Equipment (UE) to receive Precoding Matrix Indicators (PMI) and SRS configuration information before transmitting Sounding Reference Signals (SRS), leading to lower channel estimation performance.

Innovation Solution

The UE determines and applies the same precoding across PRB bundles, allowing the base station to perform channel estimation using PRB bundles as units, thereby improving channel estimation performance and reducing signaling overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the UE receives PMI and SRS configuration information from the base station before transmitting SRS, then the channel estimation can be performed, but the signaling overhead increases and channel estimation performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation performanceVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the PMI reception step from the traditional SRS transmission process. The UE no longer needs to receive PMI from the base station before transmitting SRS, eliminating the signaling overhead associated with PMI transmission while maintaining channel estimation capability through direct SRS transmission on bundled PRBs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple PRBs into PRB bundles for SRS transmission. By bundling multiple PRBs and transmitting SRS across them with the same precoding, the system improves channel estimation performance through aggregated measurements while reducing the number of separate configuration signals needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If the base station performs channel estimation in a PRB by PRB manner, then the channel estimation can be performed, but the channel estimation performance is lower

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation performanceVSAvoidchannel estimation unit granularity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frequency spectrum into PRB bundles rather than treating each PRB independently. This segmentation into larger bundled units allows the base station to perform channel estimation across multiple PRBs simultaneously, improving measurement precision while simplifying the estimation process compared to individual PRB analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the granularity parameter of channel estimation from PRB-level to PRB-bundle-level. By adjusting this parameter, the system achieves better channel estimation performance through aggregated measurements across multiple PRBs while reducing computational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the UE uses different precoding for different PRBs, then the uplink transmission flexibility is improved, but the channel estimation performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink transmission diversityVSAvoidchannel estimation performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using the same precoding across all PRBs within a bundle. This localized uniformity in precoding application within each bundle enables coherent channel estimation across the bundled PRBs, improving measurement precision while maintaining overall system flexibility through bundle-level precoding selection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3684019B1SRS sending method and receiving method, and related device
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP3684019B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3684019B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3684019B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure are methods for transmitting and receiving an SRS, and related devices. The method includes: receiving indication information transmitted by a base station and used to indicate a PRB bundling size; and transmitting, within at least one PRB bundle, the SRS to the base station, wherein the number of PRBs included in the at least one PRB bundle is equal to the PRB bundling size, and a same precoding is used by PRBs belonging to a same PRB bundle, and the precoding is determined by the UE itself.