Uplink Scheduling via Reference Signal Multiplexing Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional uplink scheduling methods in wireless communication systems face challenges such as transmit power limitations for user equipment devices, especially near cell boundaries, and high overhead in channel quality indicator estimation, which hinders accurate scheduling and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system partitions the operating bandwidth into non-overlapping reference signal multiplexing blocks (RSMBs) to improve channel quality indicator estimation accuracy and facilitate efficient frequency-domain scheduling, allowing for adaptive allocation of RSMB sizes based on channel conditions and device distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional uplink scheduling methods are used, then system operation is simplified, but channel quality estimation accuracy deteriorates and overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system partitions the uplink frequency spectrum into multiple Reference Signal Multiplexing Blocks (RSMBs), where each block can be independently configured and measured. This segmentation allows the Node B to perform channel quality estimation on a per-block basis rather than across the entire bandwidth, improving estimation accuracy while managing complexity through modular processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension to scheduling by adding the RSMB partitioning layer between traditional time-domain and frequency-domain scheduling. This creates a three-dimensional scheduling framework (time × frequency × RSMB blocks) that enables more precise channel quality measurement and scheduling decisions without proportionally increasing system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If channel quality indicator estimation is performed across the entire bandwidth, then comprehensive channel information is obtained, but overhead increases and estimation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts channel quality measurements from the entire bandwidth and confines them to specific RSMB partitions. By taking out only the necessary frequency portions for measurement and scheduling, the system reduces the overhead associated with transmitting and processing channel quality indicators while maintaining or improving estimation accuracy through focused measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing channel quality estimation across the complete bandwidth, the system applies partial action by measuring only within the relevant RSMBs. This partial measurement approach reduces overhead and improves accuracy by concentrating measurement resources on the specific frequency blocks that are actually being scheduled, rather than uniformly processing the entire spectrum.
3Productivity
If frequency-domain scheduling is implemented, then spectral efficiency improves, but system complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency domain into discrete RSMB blocks, which serves as the foundation for frequency-domain scheduling. This segmentation enables the Node B to allocate and schedule different RSMBs to different user equipment based on channel conditions, achieving frequency-domain scheduling gains while managing complexity through the structured block-based approach rather than continuous frequency allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to schedule uplink transmissions in wireless communication systems, such as cellular communication systems, are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises measuring channel conditions for a plurality of equipment devices at a base transceiver station of a wireless communication system, dividing an operating bandwidth of the base transceiver station into two or more non-overlapping portions, and instructing a first of the plurality of user equipment devices to transmit a sounding reference signal in a first non-overlapping portion during a sounding reference signal transmission interval.