SRS Transmission Switching for Collision Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication technologies face challenges in efficiently managing SRS transmission to avoid collisions with other transmissions, such as SSBs, which can impact channel quality information and beamforming performance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an SRS transmission switching procedure that allows switching from one carrier or antenna port to another, enabling SRS transmission on a different carrier or antenna port while temporarily suspending UL transmissions on the original carrier, thereby minimizing collisions and optimizing channel reciprocity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If SRS transmission is performed on a carrier, then channel quality information can be obtained, but collisions with other transmissions (such as SSBs) may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel quality informationVSAvoidtransmission collision
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic SRS transmission switching by allowing the electronic device to switch between different carriers and antenna ports based on real-time transmission conditions. The switching is triggered when collisions are detected between SRS transmissions and other signals (such as SSBs), enabling the system to adaptively adjust transmission parameters to avoid collisions while maintaining channel quality measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the SRS transmission across multiple carriers and antenna ports. Instead of being confined to a single carrier, the SRS transmission can be divided and switched between different carriers (first carrier, second carrier) and antenna ports (first antenna port, second antenna port). This segmentation allows the system to distribute transmission resources and avoid collisions by switching to alternative segments when conflicts occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If SRS transmission switching is implemented to avoid collisions, then transmission reliability improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission collision avoidanceVSAvoidswitching procedure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the electronic device monitors transmission conditions and detects collisions between SRS transmissions and other signals. Based on this feedback, the device automatically triggers switching procedures between carriers and antenna ports. This feedback-driven approach enables reliable collision avoidance while keeping the switching logic relatively simple, as switching is only activated when actually needed based on detected conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If SRS transmission is suspended on original carrier to switch to another carrier, then collision avoidance is achieved, but transmission time is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidSRS interruption duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary switching actions where the electronic device switches to an alternative carrier or antenna port before the collision actually occurs. By detecting potential collision conditions in advance and performing switching proactively, the system minimizes the interruption duration. The switching is triggered by detected conditions (such as upcoming SSB transmissions) rather than waiting for actual collisions, thereby reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3915320B1Electronic devices and methods for sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission switching
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 MEDIATEK SINGAPORE PTE LTD
  • EP3915320B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3915320B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3915320B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Aspects of the disclosure provide an electronic device including processing circuitry and a method. The processing circuitry can determine whether a collision is scheduled in one of a set of carriers at a same time with an SRS transmission switching process including an SRS transmission scheduled in a current carrier in the set of carriers. The set of carriers is activated for the electronic device. When no collision is determined to be scheduled in the set of carriers at the same time with the SRS transmission switching process, the processing circuitry can determine a SRS interruption duration for a victim carrier to be interrupted by the SRS transmission switching process based on a SRS transmission switching duration, a timing between the SRS transmission switching process and the victim carrier, a numerology of the current carrier, and a numerology of the victim carrier and transmit the SRS transmission.