Uplink SRS Precoding with Downlink Interference Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently utilizing uplink resources for transmitting sounding reference signals (SRS) and downlink channel quality information, particularly due to the high computational complexity involved in pre-whitening SRS with interference covariance matrices (Rnn) across the entire bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a multi-stage Rnn feedback mechanism where the user equipment (UE) computes the Rnn matrix over only a portion of the frequency band used for SRS transmission, reducing computational complexity and enabling precoding of SRS with downlink channel quality estimates without requiring additional uplink resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the UE computes the Rnn matrix over the entire bandwidth for SRS precoding, then the channel quality estimation accuracy is improved, but the computational complexity and time required increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel quality estimation accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the entire bandwidth into multiple frequency subbands and computes the Rnn interference covariance matrix separately for each subband instead of the entire bandwidth. This segmentation reduces the computational complexity from O(N²) for full bandwidth to O(k×M²) where k is the number of subbands and M is the subband size (M < N), while still providing accurate channel quality estimation for each subband where SRS is transmitted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If the UE computes the Rnn matrix over the entire bandwidth for SRS precoding, then the channel quality estimation accuracy is improved, but the time required for processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel quality estimation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bandwidth computation task into smaller parallel subband computations. The UE computes Rnn matrices for multiple subbands simultaneously or in a pipelined manner, reducing the total processing time from T_full to T_subband × k where T_subband < T_full due to smaller matrix operations and potential parallelization across k subbands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If additional uplink resources are allocated for transmitting channel quality information, then the feedback accuracy is improved, but the uplink resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback accuracyVSAvoiduplink resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the channel quality feedback information into the SRS transmission by precoding the SRS with the computed Rnn matrix. Instead of transmitting separate CSI feedback resources, the precoded SRS itself carries the channel quality information implicitly through its transmission characteristics, eliminating the need for additional dedicated uplink feedback resources while maintaining feedback accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3665784B1Precoding reference signals for uplink transmission with downlink interference information
Publication Date: 2023.09.13 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3665784B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3665784B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3665784B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus relating to precoding reference signals for uplink transmissions with downlink interference information. In certain aspects, a method, performed by a user equipment (UE) comprises receiving, from a base station, one or more signals for use in estimating channel quality for a downlink between the base station and the UE. The method also includes determining a first frequency resource and a second frequency resource from a frequency band allocated for transmitting a reference signal (RS). The method further includes computing a first downlink channel quality estimate for the first frequency resource using the one or more signals, transmitting a first RS precoded using the first downlink channel quality estimate, computing a second downlink channel quality estimate for the second frequency resource using the one or more signals and transmitting a second RS precoded using the second downlink channel quality estimate.