UE-Specific Codebook Design for Non-Uniform Antenna Spacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current uplink codebook designs for 5G NR systems assume uniform antenna spacing, which is not feasible in practice, leading to poor uplink performance due to non-uniform antenna placement in user equipment (UE) implementations.

Innovation Solution

The design of user equipment (UE) specific precoders based on non-uniformly sampled Fourier matrices that account for variable antenna spacing, allowing for optimal emission patterns and improved MIMO performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If uniform antenna spacing is assumed in codebook design, then the design process is simplified, but uplink performance deteriorates due to non-uniform antenna placement in practice

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecodebook design complexityVSAvoiduplink performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter assumption from uniform to non-uniform antenna spacing. The codebook design is adapted to accommodate variable antenna element distances, transforming the design parameters to match actual UE antenna array configurations, thereby resolving the contradiction between design simplicity and performance reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by making the codebook design flexible to different antenna spacing configurations. Instead of a fixed uniform spacing assumption, the system dynamically adjusts precoder selection based on the actual non-uniform antenna geometry, enabling the codebook to adapt to various UE implementations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If non-uniform antenna spacing is accommodated in codebook design, then uplink MIMO performance is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink MIMO performanceVSAvoidcodebook design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by customizing the codebook design for specific UE antenna configurations. Each UE with unique antenna spacing receives a tailored precoder from the codebook, optimizing performance for that local configuration rather than using a generic uniform spacing design, thus improving MIMO performance without requiring complete system redesign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing precoders in the codebook that account for non-uniform antenna spacing. This upfront preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time calculations during transmission, as the appropriate precoder is already available in the pre-computed codebook for the specific antenna configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3609086B1Apparatuses and methods of user equipment specific codebook design
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3609086B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3609086B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3609086B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for a UE-specific codebook design are provided. One method may include determining, by a network node, variable spacing between antenna elements of a user equipment. The method may also include configuring user equipment specific precoders based on the variable spacing between the user equipment antenna elements.