Soft Signal Combining in WCDMA Soft Handover Decoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a mobile communications system, the macro diversity gain of soft handover in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system is not fully utilized due to the limitations of the current selective combining process performed by the Radio Network Controller (RNC), resulting in suboptimal signal processing and performance.
Innovation Solution
A signal processing method and device that receives soft information and CRC check results from multiple base stations, performs selective combining, and if the CRC check is incorrect, determines a soft combining result using accumulated soft information to enhance the decoding process, thereby maximizing the macro diversity gain of soft handover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If selective combining is performed according to CRC check results only, then the processing is simple and fast, but the macro diversity gain cannot be fully utilized and signal gain is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the combining process into two distinct stages: first, selective combining based on CRC check results to quickly identify potentially correct decoding results; second, soft combining based on soft information for final result determination. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both the simplicity of selective combining and the performance of soft combining, resolving the contradiction between processing complexity and diversity gain utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary selective combining based on CRC check results before performing the more complex soft combining operation. This preliminary action filters out obviously incorrect results, reducing the computational burden of subsequent soft combining operations while ensuring that the macro diversity gain is fully utilized in the final result determination.
2Reliability
If soft combining is always performed to maximize diversity gain, then signal processing performance is optimized, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial soft combining only when necessary - specifically when selective combining based on CRC check results does not yield a satisfactory result. This partial application of the more computationally intensive soft combining method optimizes processing time by avoiding unnecessary calculations while still achieving the performance benefits of soft combining when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the results of selective combining are evaluated, and based on this evaluation, the system decides whether to proceed with soft combining. This feedback-driven approach ensures that the additional processing time and computational load are incurred only when necessary to achieve the desired signal processing performance.
3Reliability
If only decoding results are combined without using soft information, then the processing is simpler, but the maximum signal gain cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two different combining approaches - selective combining based on hard CRC check results and soft combining based on soft information - into a unified processing framework. This merging allows the system to leverage the advantages of both methods: the simplicity and speed of selective combining and the performance optimization of soft combining, thereby achieving maximum signal gain without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite signal processing approach that combines hard decision-making (selective combining) and soft decision-making (soft combining) techniques. This composite method utilizes both CRC check results and soft information in a coordinated manner, analogous to how composite materials combine different material properties to achieve superior overall performance, thereby obtaining maximum signal gain while managing processing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a signal processing method and device. The method includes: receiving soft information corresponding to encoded signals sent by at least two base stations and CRC check results of decoding results of first subflows in the encoded signals, where the soft information includes first soft information corresponding to the first subflows; obtaining a selective combining result of the first subflows by performing selective combining according to the at least two CRC check results of the decoding results of the first subflows; and if the selective combining result of the first subflows is that CRC check is incorrect, determining a soft combining result of the first subflows according to at least two pieces of the first soft information. The signal processing method and device provided in the embodiments can increase a signal gain.