RU2641714C1 - Method of measurement for channel condition information, user equipment and base station - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: radio engineering, communication.

SUBSTANCE: method of measuring the channel state information comprises selecting one or more coordinated transmission points for coordinated multipoint transmission by the base station for the user equipment; independent configuration of the measurement subset used for feedback on the channel state information for each base station and each coordinated transmission point so that the user equipment performs the measurement in accordance with the measurement subset.

EFFECT: using feedback information on the channel state information for multiple transmission points with multiple cells by configuring the feedback for each cell or transmission point involved in the coordination, thus, a unified structure for feedback information can be used.

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Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to the field of communication, in particular to a measurement method for channel state information, user equipment and a base station.

BACKGROUND

In the Advanced Long-Term Development System (LTE-A), low power transmission nodes based on a traditional homogeneous network are introduced in order to form a heterogeneous network, which includes a macro cell, a femto cell, a pico cell, a remote radio head (RRH) and a relay.

In order to improve cell coverage and user experience and increase LTE-A system throughput and user data rate, Coordinated Multiple Point (CoMP) technology has been introduced. This technology consists in coordinating with the user when transmitting data by using several geographically distributed transmission points, thereby improving productivity for the user at the edge of the cell and cell coverage, increasing throughput at the edge of the cell and system throughput, and improving user experience.

In CoMP technology, different transmission points in the same cell can be coordinated during transmission. FIG. 1 is a diagram of coordinating different transmission points in the same cell in a CoMP system. As shown in FIG. 1, the eNB 101 and RRH 102 in the same cell can be coordinated to serve the user equipment 104, and the eNB 101 and RRH 103 can be coordinated to serve the user equipment 105.

In addition, different transmission points in different cells can be coordinated during transmission. Figure 2 is a diagram of the coordination of different transmission points in different cells in a CoMP system. As shown in FIG. 2, eNB / RRH 201 and eNB / RRH 202 in different cells may be coordinated to serve user equipment 203.

In order to select the optimal transmission point, the base station side must obtain downlink information from each transmission point to the user equipment, which usually includes channel quality information (CQI), precoding matrix index (PMI), and rank in order to select one or more optimal transmission points in accordance with the optimization rule. In order to guarantee backward compatibility and more flexible scheduling, the base station side should be able to return to traditional cellular communication with a single point, which requires that the user, when transmitting channel feedback information, not only report downlink channel information when transmitting CoMP, but also transmitted downlink channel information in conventional single-point transmission.

Some nodes of heterogeneous networks that are different from a traditional cellular network are introduced into a heterogeneous network. Such heterogeneous network nodes, for example, a home eNodeB (HeNB) and a pico cell with a wireless access point, etc., use a relatively low transmit power to cover a given area or user with a relatively flexible way of forming a network. When deployed rationally, user experience will improve to a significant extent. Also in the scenario with macrocell and picocell, the standard introduced an almost empty subframe (ABS) for improved inter-cell coordination and interference suppression (eICIC).

However, when implementing embodiments of the present invention, the inventors found that only two measuring subsets of the reference resources are used with the existing feedback on the channel status information, and individual feedback on the channel status information is not configured for each cell or transmission point involved in coordination.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a relationship between an ABS and a measuring subset in a related field of technology. As shown in FIG. 3, one measuring subset (measuring subset 0) corresponds to ABS, and another measuring subset (measuring subset 1) corresponds to a conventional subframe. And in this case, the measuring subset represents some parts of the resources of the subframe (time domain) that were limited for channel / interference measurements.

Thus, the existing CoMP technologies do not use a unified structural design for feedback information, that is, channel feedback information for several transmission points or several cells cannot serve not only for transmission of one cell, but also for transmission of several cells.

It should be noted that the above description of the prior art is provided only for a clear and complete explanation of the present invention and for easy understanding by specialists in the field of technology. It should not be understood that the above technical solution is known to specialists in the field of technology, as it is described for the prior art of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a measurement method for channel state information, user equipment and a base station, and the objective is to use a unified structural design for feedback information to make the channel feedback information for several transmission points or several cells capable of serving not only single-cell transmissions, but also for multi-cell transmissions.

In accordance with one aspect of embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a measurement method for channel state information applicable to a base station in a coordinated multipoint system, the measurement method comprising:

a process for selecting coordinated points for selection by a base station for a user equipment of one or more coordinated transmission points for a coordinated multipoint transmission; and

a measurement subset configuration process for independently configuring a measurement subset used for feedback on channel status information for a base station and each coordinated transmission point so that user equipment performs a measurement in accordance with the measurement subset.

In accordance with another aspect of embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a measurement method for channel state information applicable to user equipment in a coordinated multipoint system, the method comprising:

a process of measuring information for individual measurement by user equipment of the channel state information of each base station or coordinated transmission point in accordance with a measuring subset of the base station or coordinated transmission point.

In accordance with a further aspect of embodiments of the present invention, a base station is provided comprising:

a coordinated point selection unit, configured to select one or more coordinated transmission points for coordinated multipoint transmission for user equipment; and

a measurement subset configuration unit configured to independently configure a measurement subset used for feedback on channel state information for the base station and each coordinated transmission point so that the user equipment performs measurement in accordance with the measurement subset.

In accordance with yet another aspect of embodiments of the present invention, there is provided user equipment comprising:

an information measuring unit, configured to individually measure channel state information of each base station or coordinated transmission point in accordance with a measuring subset of the base station or coordinated transmission point.

In accordance with another aspect of embodiments of the present invention, a computer-readable program is provided, wherein when the program is executed at the base station, the program enables the computer to execute the measurement method described above for channel status information in the base station.

In accordance with yet another aspect of embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium on which a computer-readable program is stored, the computer-readable program enabling the computer to perform the measurement method described above for channel status information in a base station.

In accordance with yet another aspect of embodiments of the present invention, a computer-readable program is provided, wherein when the program is executed on user equipment, the program enables the computer to perform the measurement method described above for channel status information on the user equipment.

In accordance with yet another aspect of embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium on which a computer-readable program is stored, the computer-readable program enabling the computer to perform the measurement method described above for channel status information on user equipment.

An advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that by individually configuring feedback on channel state information for each cell or transmission point involved in coordination, a unified structural design for feedback information can be used so that the channel feedback information for multiple transmission points or several cells could serve not only for transmission with one cell, but also for transmission with several cells.

With reference to the following description and drawings, specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail, and principles of the present invention and ways of use are indicated. It should be understood that the scope of embodiments of the present invention is not limited to this. Embodiments of the present invention contain many changes, modifications and equivalents within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Features that are described and / or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in a similar or similar manner to one or more other embodiments and / or in combination with or instead of features of other embodiments.

It should be emphasized that the term "includes / includes / contains / contains" used in this specification is taken to indicate the presence of established signs, numbers, steps or components, but does not prevent the presence or addition of one or more other signs, numbers , steps, components or groups thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the invention may be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings do not necessarily follow the scale; instead, the emphasis is on clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. To provide illustration and description of some parts of the invention, the corresponding sections of the drawings can be enlarged or reduced.

Elements and features depicted in one drawing or embodiment of the invention may be combined with elements and features depicted in one or more additional drawings or embodiments. In addition, similar symbols in the drawings are assigned to corresponding parts in several images and can be used to designate similar or similar parts in more than one embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of coordinating different transmission points in the same cell in a CoMP system;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of coordinating different transmission points in different cells in a CoMP system;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a relationship between an ABS and a measuring subset in a related technical field;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a measurement method of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is another flowchart of a measurement method of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of a base station of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is another structural diagram of a base station of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is another flowchart of a measurement method of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of user equipment of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

These and additional aspects and features of the present invention will be understood with reference to the following description and the attached drawings. In the description and drawings, specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail as indicating some of the ways in which the principles of the invention can be used, but it is understood that the invention is not limited in scope in accordance with them. On the contrary, the invention includes all changes, modifications, and equivalents consistent with the spirit and terms of the appended claims.

Currently, the CoMP transmission scheme includes collaborative processing (JP) and coordination planning / beamforming for coordination (CS / CB). The first means that a plurality of transmission points has data that must be transmitted to the user equipment at the same time, and one or more of the plurality of transmission points are dynamically selected to transmit data to the user equipment. And the latter indicates that there is only one transmission point transmitting data to user equipment; moreover, the transmission point may be a traditional macrocellular base station or RRH and may also be a heterogeneous network node, which may be a high power node and may also be a low power node.

The user feedback information in different CoMP technologies is not absolutely identical, but it should return CSI information in traditional single-point transmission (in non-CoMP technology) and CSI information in CoMP transmission. For JP transmission, the received signal may be expressed as follows:

(1)

(one)

- матрица предварительного кодирования, используемая точкой b скоординированной передачи при передаче JP,

- канал от точки b скоординированной передачи до пользователя,

- передаваемые данные, и

- шум.Where

- the precoding matrix used by the coordinated transmission point b in the transmission of JP,

- channel from point b of the coordinated transmission to the user,

- transmitted data, and

- noise.

предварительного кодирования каждой точки передачи и возвратить квантованное отношение сигнала к шуму, которому соответствует формула (1), то есть информацию CQI, которая основана на сообщенной матрице предварительного кодирования. И одновременно пользователю также необходимо возвратить информацию CSI только при передаче с одной точкой, то есть матрицу предварительного кодирования и квантованное отношение сигнала к шуму, которым соответствует формула (2).The user needs to return the matrix accordingly

pre-encoding each transmission point and return the quantized signal-to-noise ratio to which formula (1) corresponds, that is, CQI information that is based on the reported precoding matrix. And at the same time, the user also needs to return CSI information only when transmitting with a single point, that is, the precoding matrix and the quantized signal-to-noise ratio, to which formula (2) corresponds.

(2)

(2)

When CoMP technology is applied to a heterogeneous network, a possible scenario is the simultaneous operation of eICIC and CoMP. At this point, part of the macro base stations can be configured using ABS, and the following case may occur: when CoMP is implemented in ABS, that is, when several transmission points or cells perform coordinated transmission, at least one of the cells or transmission points is configured using ABS or when CoMP technology is not implemented in ABS, that is, when multiple transmission points or cells perform coordinated transmission, no cell or transmission point is configured using ABS. Regarding the cases mentioned above, in the CoMP system there is no processing scheme for the measuring reference resource of several cells.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a measurement method for channel status information. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a measurement method of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, on the base station side of a CoMP system, the method comprises:

step 401: selecting one or more coordinated transmission points for coordinated multipoint transmission by a base station for user equipment; and

step 402: independently configuring a measurement subset used for feedback on channel status information for each base station and each coordinated transmission point, whereby the user equipment performs measurement in accordance with the measurement subset (s).

In this embodiment, a base station should be understood as a network side base station in a broad sense, which may be a macro cell base station, a pico cell base station, or RRH. The coordinated transmission point may include an individual cell or base station, or RRH, or antenna port, etc. However, they are not limited to this, and a particular type can be determined by actual necessity.

In this embodiment, both the base station and each coordinated transmission point can be configured using a measurement subset. The measurement subset may indicate that reference symbols in which resources (including the time domain and frequency domain) can be used by user equipment to estimate the channel and measure the signal-to-noise ratio;

moreover, the measuring subset of the base station may include resource information corresponding to the ABS of one or more points of coordinated transmission; and the measurement subset of the coordinated transmission point may include resource information corresponding to the ABS of the other coordinated transmission points and the base station.

Thus, a unified structural design for feedback information can be used by individually configuring feedback on channel status information in each cell or transmission point involved in coordination. And a CSI measurement can be performed for a resource where interference is as low as possible, thereby increasing the accuracy and flexibility of the feedback, and lowering the downlink overhead.

FIG. 5 is another flowchart of a measurement method of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the method comprises:

step 501: selecting one or more coordinated transmission points for coordinated multipoint transmission by a base station for user equipment;

step 502: transmitting a scheduling pattern configured using the ABS to a coordinated transmission point and receiving a scheduling pattern configured using the ABS transmitted by the coordinated transmission point;

in this embodiment, both the base station and the coordinated transmission point can have a scheduling pattern configured with ABS (ABS pattern), and the base station and each transmission point can interact with the corresponding scheduling patterns configured with ABS, which can be implemented using the relevant technical field and will not be described here further;

step 503: configuring the measurement subset of the base station according to a scheduling pattern configured with ABS.

In this embodiment, the base station and each transmission point may be configured with a measurement subset in accordance with a scheduling pattern configured with ABS; moreover, the measuring subset of the base station may include resource information corresponding to the ABS of one or more coordinated transmission points; and the measurement subset of the coordinated transmission point may include resource information corresponding to the ABS of the other coordinated transmission points and the base station.

The configuration of the measurement subset will be described in detail below under the assumption that cell # 1 corresponds to a base station, and cell # 2, and cell # 3 correspond to coordinated transmission points as an example; moreover, the user equipment # 1 belongs to the cell # 1, and the cell # 2, the cell # 3 and the cell # 1 are coordinated simultaneously during transmission for the user equipment # 1. Cell # 1 is configured using the P # 1 ABS pattern, cell # 2 is configured using the P # 2 ABS pattern, and cell # 3 is configured using the P # 3 ABS pattern.

Then, the measuring subset of cell # 1 configured by cell # 1 for user equipment # 1 may be (P # 2 PP # 3), the measuring subset of cell # 2 configured by cell # 1 for user equipment # 1 may represent itself (P # 1∩P # 3), and the measuring subset of cell # 3 configured by cell # 1 for user equipment # 1 may be (P # 1∩P # 2).

For example, P # 1 may, in particular, be:

"10101010101010101010101010101010101010101010";

P # 2 may, in particular, be:

"1000100010001000100010001000100010001000";

and P # 3 may, in particular, be:

"1000000010000000100000001000000010000000";

where 0 denotes resource information corresponding to a conventional subframe, and 1 denotes resource information corresponding to ABS; therefore, the measuring subset (P # 2∩P # 3) of the cell # 1 configured for user equipment # 1 may be:

"1000000010000000100000001000000010000000";

the measuring subset (P # 1∩P # 3) of the cell # 2 configured for user equipment # 1 may be:

"1000000010000000100000001000000010000000";

and a measurement subset (P # 1∩P # 2) of the cell # 3 configured for user equipment # 1 may be:

"1000100010001000100010001000100010001000".

Using the method in this embodiment of the present invention can make the interference between the three cells as low as possible when the user equipment performs a channel measurement, and thereby reduce the channel measurement error. Also, more ABS cell patterns can be taken into account when configuring the individual pattern of each cell, and thereby a relatively optimized measurement reference resource is selected.

And if such a method is used, downlink noise reduction performed to prevent interference (such as interference for CSI-RS) can be reduced, thereby reducing inefficient use of the downlink.

It should be noted that the above examples illustratively describe only the embodiment of the configuration of the measuring subset. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the measuring subset of cell # 1 configured for user equipment # 1 can also be configured as P # 2, that is, contain only resource information corresponding to ABS of cell # 2 and not contain resource information corresponding to ABS of cell # 3.

In addition, in a particular implementation, the base station or transmission point may configure a corresponding native measurement subset. For example, cell # 1 configures user equipment # 1 with a measuring subset of cell # 1, cell # 2 configures user equipment # 1 with a measuring subset of cell # 2, and cell # 3 configures user equipment # 1 with a measuring subset of cell # 3 .

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, after step 503, the method may further comprise:

step 504: transmitting the configured measurement subset via the base station to the user equipment.

In a particular implementation, the base station may transmit the measurement subset to the user equipment through upper level signaling so that the user equipment performs measurements in accordance with the measurement subset and periodically reports.

Or, in a particular implementation, the base station can also transmit the measurement subset to the user equipment via downlink control information (DCI) so that the user equipment initiates the measurement in accordance with the measurement subset and reports aperiodically.

In addition, in a particular implementation, if the measurement subset is directly configured by the base station or coordinated transmission point in step 503, the base station or coordinated transmission point can transmit the corresponding measurement subset to the user equipment in itself in order to enable the user equipment to measure and periodically or aperiodically issue reports.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station with content identical to that of the measurement method for channel status information, and it is not described further here. It should be noted that the base station should be understood as the base station of the network side in a broad sense, which may be a macro cell base station, pico cell base station or RRH, etc.

FIG. 6 is a structure diagram of a base station of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the base station includes: a coordinated point selection unit 601 and a measurement subset configuration block 602;

moreover, the coordinated point selection unit 601 is configured to select one or more coordinated transmission points for a coordinated multipoint transmission for user equipment, and the measuring subset configuration block 602 is configured to configure the measuring subset used for feedback on channel state information for the base station and each coordinated transmission points so that the user equipment measures according to with a measuring subset;

wherein the measuring subset of the base station may include resource information corresponding to the ABS of the coordinated transmission point, and the measuring subset of the coordinated transmission point may include resource information corresponding to the ABS of other coordinated transmission points and the base station.

FIG. 7 is another structural diagram of a base station of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the base station includes: a coordinated point selection unit 701 and a measurement subset configuration unit 702, as described above.

As shown in FIG. 7, the base station may further include a pattern interaction unit 703, wherein the pattern interaction unit 703 is configured to transmit a scheduling pattern configured by the ABS to a coordinated transmission point and receive a scheduling pattern configured by the ABS transmitted by the coordinated transmission point;

and the measurement subset configuration unit 702 is further configured to configure the measurement subset in accordance with the scheduling pattern configured by the ABS.

As shown in FIG. 7, the base station may further include a configuration transmitting unit 704; moreover, the configuration transmitting unit 704 is configured to transmit the measurement subset to the user equipment via the upper level signaling, so that the user equipment performs a measurement in accordance with the measurement subset and periodically reports.

Or, the configuration transmitting unit 704 transmits the measurement subset to the user equipment via downlink control information so as to activate the user equipment to perform the measurement in accordance with the measurement subset and report aperiodically.

From the above embodiment, it can be seen that on the base station side, a unified structural design can be used for feedback information by individually configuring feedback on the channel status information on each cell or transmission point involved in coordination so that the channel feedback information for several transmission points or several cells could serve not only for transmission with one cell, but also for transmission with several cells. And a CSI measurement can be performed for a resource where interference is as low as possible, thereby increasing the accuracy and flexibility of the feedback, and reducing the inefficient use of the downlink.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a measurement method for channel state information applicable to a user equipment side in a coordinated multipoint system; moreover, the content is identical to the content of the side of the base station and will not be described here further.

FIG. 8 is another flowchart of a measurement method of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, on the user equipment side of a CoMP system, the method comprises:

step 801: individually measuring channel state information of each base station or coordinated transmission point by user equipment in accordance with a measuring subset of the base station or coordinated transmission point;

wherein the measurement subset of the base station may include resource information corresponding to the ABS subframe of the coordinated transmission point, and the measurement subset of the coordinated transmission point may include resource information corresponding to the ABS of the other coordinated transmission points and the base station.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, before performing information measurement in step 801, the measurement method may further comprise:

step 802: receiving a measurement subset transmitted by the base station.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, after performing information measurement in step 801, the measurement method may further comprise:

step 803: a report of the measured channel status information by the user equipment.

In a specific implementation, at 802, the user equipment may receive a measurement subset transmitted by the base station through the upper layer signaling. And at step 803, the user equipment periodically reports the measured channel status information.

Or, in a specific implementation, at 802, the user equipment may receive a measurement subset transmitted by the base station via downlink control information. And at step 803, the user equipment aperiodically reports the measured channel status information.

In this embodiment, a periodic or aperiodic report can be performed in the time sequence provided in the existing standard, which will not be described here further.

An embodiment of the present invention provides user equipment with content identical to the contents of the measurement method for channel status information, and it is not described further here.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a user equipment structure of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, user equipment includes an information measuring unit 901; moreover, the information measuring unit 901 is configured to individually measure channel state information of each base station or coordinated transmission point in accordance with a measuring subset of the base station or coordinated transmission point;

wherein the measuring subset of the base station may include resource information corresponding to the ABS of the coordinated transmission point, and the measuring subset of the coordinated transmission point may include resource information corresponding to the ABS of other coordinated transmission points and the base station.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, user equipment may include a configuration receiving unit 902; moreover, the configuration receiving unit 902 is configured to receive a measurement subset transmitted by the base station via the upper layer signaling, or to receive a measurement subset transmitted by the base station via the downlink control information.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, the user equipment may include an information report unit 903; moreover, the information report unit 903 is configured to periodically or aperiodically report the measured channel state information.

From the above embodiment, it can be seen that on the user equipment side, a unified structural design can be used for feedback information by individually measuring channel state information in each cell or transmission point involved in coordination so that the channel feedback information for several points transmission or several hundred could serve not only for transmission with one cell, but also for transmission with several cells. And a CSI measurement can be performed for a resource where interference is as low as possible, thereby increasing the accuracy and flexibility of the feedback, and reducing the inefficient use of the downlink.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable program, wherein when the program is executed at the base station, the program enables the computer to perform the measurement method described above for channel status information in the base station.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a storage medium on which a computer-readable program is stored, the computer-readable program enabling the computer to perform the measurement method described above for channel status information in the base station.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable program, wherein when the program is executed on user equipment, the program enables the computer to perform the measurement method described above for channel status information in the user equipment.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a storage medium on which a computer-readable program is stored, the computer-readable program enabling the computer to perform the measurement method described above for channel status information in user equipment.

The devices and methods of the present invention described above can be implemented in hardware or in hardware in combination with software. The present invention relates to a computer-readable program, wherein when the program is executed by a logical device, the logical device is provided with the ability to implement the device or components described above or to perform the methods or steps described above. The present invention also relates to a medium for storing the program described above, such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, a compact disc (CD), a universal digital disk (DVD), flash memory, etc.

The present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that such a description is illustrative only and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art in accordance with the spirit and principles of the present invention, and such changes and modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

A communication system comprising: base station and user equipment moreover, the base station contains: a coordinated point selection unit, configured to select one or more coordinated transmission points for coordinated multipoint transmission for user equipment; and a measurement subset configuration unit configured to independently configure an independent time domain constraint used for feedback on channel status information for each base station and each coordinated transmission point, and moreover, the user equipment contains: an information measuring unit configured to individually measure channel state information of each base station or coordinated transmission point in accordance with an independent time limit of the base station or coordinated transmission point when the user equipment is configured to return a plurality of channel state information reports for a plurality of transmission points to use coordinated multipoint transmission.

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