UL DMRS Transmission Location Determination in LTE Short TTI

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing LTE system lacks a DMRS scheme for short TTI transmission, leading to excessive DMRS overhead and suboptimal demodulation performance due to the absence of dynamic determination of UL DMRS transmission locations.

Innovation Solution

The method dynamically determines the transmission locations of UL DMRS based on the DL control channel, allowing for reduced DMRS overhead and improved demodulation performance by scheduling DMRS in conjunction with sPUSCH and sPUCCH transmissions, using predefined timing offsets and patterns indicated by the DL control channel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If each short TTI includes the DMRS, then the demodulation performance is improved, but the DMRS overhead becomes too much

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedemodulation performanceVSAvoidDMRS overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple short TTIs into a single TTI for DMRS transmission. Specifically, multiple short TTIs (e.g., 2, 3, 4, or 7 symbols) are grouped together and share a common DMRS transmitted at the beginning of the combined TTI, rather than each short TTI having its own separate DMRS. This merging approach maintains demodulation capability while significantly reducing the total number of DMRS transmissions required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The DMRS transmitted for a combined TTI serves multiple short TTIs simultaneously. A single DMRS transmission provides reference signals for channel estimation across multiple short TTIs, making the DMRS multi-functional. This universal approach allows one DMRS to support demodulation for several short TTIs, reducing overall overhead while maintaining performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the DMRS scheme is defined in units of sub-frame, then the existing LTE structure is maintained, but it is incompatible with short TTI transmission requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveLTE frame structure compatibilityVSAvoidshort TTI transmission support
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sub-frame into multiple short TTIs, each consisting of a small number of symbols (2, 3, 4, or 7 symbols). Within each sub-frame, multiple short TTIs can be scheduled for different terminals or purposes. This segmentation allows the system to maintain the sub-frame structure while enabling flexible short TTI transmissions by defining DMRS at the short TTI level rather than requiring separate DMRS for each symbol or mini-slot.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic TTI length configuration where the length of short TTIs can be flexibly adjusted (2, 3, 4, or 7 symbols) based on transmission requirements. The DMRS positioning and combining strategy adapts dynamically to the configured short TTI lengths, allowing the system to optimize between latency, overhead, and performance depending on the specific short TTI configuration being used.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3496481B1Methods and devices for dynamically determining transmission locations of UL dmrs
Publication Date: 2021.10.27 DATANG MOBILE COMM EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP3496481B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3496481B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3496481B1 patent drawingFigure 8~10

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and devices for dynamically determining a transmission location of an UpLink (UL) DeModulation Reference Signal (DMRS), including: receiving, by a terminal, a DownLink (DL) control channel; and determining, by the terminal, the transmission location of the UL DMRS according to the DL control channel.