Uplink Reference Signal Coordination for Cooperative Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in effectively coordinating and assigning uplink reference signals across multiple base stations, particularly in cooperative communication scenarios where neighboring base stations need to measure and manage uplink channels without access to the reference signals used by wireless communication devices.

Innovation Solution

The method involves receiving data about assigned uplink reference signal sequences at non-serving base stations, determining uplink reference signal estimates, and using these estimates for coherent demodulation or channel estimation. This includes partitioning reference signal sequences, assigning indexes, and sharing information via direct wired, wireless, or backbone network connections to ensure coordinated reception and minimize data size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If uplink reference signal sequences are shared across multiple base stations, then channel estimation accuracy is improved, but system complexity and coordination overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidcoordination system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reference signal sequences are divided into multiple groups, with each group assigned to specific base stations. This segmentation allows base stations to have access to relevant reference signals without requiring all base stations to share all sequences, thereby reducing coordination complexity while maintaining channel estimation accuracy for cooperative communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A coordination mechanism is introduced that acts as an intermediary to manage reference signal sequence assignment. This intermediary system coordinates between base stations and wireless communication devices, allocating reference signal groups efficiently and enabling accurate channel estimation without requiring direct complex interactions between all system components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If reference signal sequence information is transmitted between base stations, then cooperative communication capability is improved, but communication overhead and data transmission requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooperative communication capabilityVSAvoidcommunication overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Only the essential reference signal sequence group information is extracted and transmitted between base stations, rather than transmitting complete reference signal data. This extraction approach enables cooperative communication capability while minimizing the amount of information that needs to be communicated over the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Base stations receive and process only the partial information needed for their specific cooperative communication tasks - specifically, reference signal sequence group assignments relevant to their coverage area. This partial action approach avoids the excessive overhead of transmitting complete reference signal information to all base stations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If uplink reference signals are coordinated for multi-base station reception, then signal demodulation quality is improved, but processing requirements and computational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal demodulation qualityVSAvoidprocessing power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

Reference signal sequence groups are pre-assigned and configured before actual data transmission occurs. This preliminary action allows base stations to have reference signal information ready in advance, enabling more efficient signal processing and demodulation during actual communication without requiring intensive real-time computation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8588833B2Assigning and coordinating uplink reference signals for cooperative communication

Publication Date: 2013.11.19 SHARP KK

AI summary

A method for assigning and coordinating uplink reference signals for cooperative communication is disclosed. Data about an assigned uplink reference signal sequence used by a wireless communication device is received at a non-serving base station. An uplink reference signal estimate is determined based on the data. The uplink reference signal estimate is used to coherently demodulate a signal received from the wireless communication device or is used to estimate an uplink channel between the non-serving base station and the wireless communication device.