Uplink Precoding in 5G Dual Connectivity Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G communication systems, the base station's increased load and resource wastage due to signaling for precoding and beamforming in multi-user environments, particularly in dual connectivity scenarios, lead to inefficiencies in data transmission, as terminals need to waste time and frequency resources for control information and may not utilize antennas effectively for both LTE and 5G networks.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device equipped with a communication processor and RFIC that identifies the uplink channel and precoder based on reference signals and association information, allowing it to precode data and demodulation reference signals independently, reducing the need for base station-determined precoding and minimizing signaling overhead by using antennas efficiently for both network types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the base station determines precoding for all terminals, then precoding accuracy is improved, but the base station load increases and signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal performs self-precoding by autonomously determining the precoder based on downlink channel quality information and association information, without requiring the base station to determine and signal precoding parameters for each terminal. This transfers the precoding determination function from the base station to the terminal, reducing base station load while maintaining precoding accuracy through the terminal's own channel state information
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the precoding determination function from the base station and assigns it to individual terminals. Each terminal independently determines its own precoder based on its specific channel conditions, allowing parallel precoding determination across multiple terminals without concentrating processing load at the base station
2Measurement precision
If signaling is used for precoding and beamforming operations, then precoding accuracy is improved, but time and frequency resources are wasted on control information
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal autonomously determines precoding parameters using downlink reference signals and association information already available in the system, eliminating the need for separate uplink sounding reference signals and base station precoding feedback signaling. This self-determination approach maintains precoding accuracy while removing the signaling overhead that consumes time and frequency resources
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal uses downlink channel quality information obtained from reference signals to pre-determine the precoder before uplink transmission, eliminating the need for real-time signaling exchange for precoder identification. This preliminary determination using available channel state information reduces signaling overhead while ensuring accurate precoding
3Adaptability or versatility
If antennas are split for LTE and 5G communication, then dual connectivity is enabled, but antenna utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The association information mechanism enables antennas to serve multiple purposes: they transmit both LTE and 5G signals while the downlink channel quality measurements from 5G reference signals are used to determine precoders for uplink transmissions. This multi-functional use of antennas improves utilization efficiency while maintaining dual connectivity capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the precoding determination for both LTE and 5G uplink transmissions by using association information that links downlink channel quality to uplink precoder selection. This unified approach allows antennas to be efficiently utilized across both network types rather than being strictly separated
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a RFIC to convert data transmitted from the a communication processor into a RF signal and output the RF signal, and an antenna configured to receive the RF signal and radiate an electromagnetic field, the communication processor is configured to receive, from a BS, a reference signal for identifying a state of a downlink channel between the electronic device and the BS through the antenna and the RFIC, based on the reference signal and association information between the downlink channel and an uplink channel and between the electronic device and the BS, identify the uplink channel, based on the identified uplink channel, identify a precoder for the uplink channel, based on the identified precoder, precode uplink data and a DMRS, and transmit a signal based on the precoded data to the BS using at least some of the RFIC and the antenna.