Method and apparatus for enabling channel and interference estimations in macro/RRH system

• US 9,357,557 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Geirhofer, Stefan, Chen, Wanshi, Luo, Tao, Gaal, Peter, Xu, Hao
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Jianye
• Application Number:
  US14/612,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20150146673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/024 Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0626 Channel coefficients, e.g. channel state information [CSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0053 using co-ordinated multipoint transmission/reception co-ordinated antenna or beam-forming aspects H04B7/022
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0226 sounding signals per se
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0228 with direct estimation from sounding signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0032 Distributed allocation, i.e. involving a plurality of allocating devices, each making partial allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/006 Quality of the received signal, e.g. BER, SNR, water filling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0092 Indication of how the channel is divided
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality

Abstract

Aspects disclosed herein relate to channel and interference estimations in a coordinated multi-point (CoMP) environment. In the disclosed aspects, an eNB may be equipped to signal an identifier indicating a plurality of resource patterns, each associated with a resource pattern group, and each including a first resource element pattern for channel estimation and a second resource element pattern for interference estimation. The UE may be equipped to receive the signaling and perform channel estimation based at least in part on the first resource element pattern, and interference estimation based at least in part on the second resource pattern generate at least one channel state report based on the channel and interference estimations, and transmit at least one channel state report to an eNB. The eNB may determine one or more resources for use by the UE based on the at least one received channel state report.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communications, comprising:

signaling, to a user equipment (UE), a plurality of resource patterns for a plurality of resource pattern groups to measure channel state conditions, wherein each resource pattern group includes a first set of resources corresponding to a first reference signal pattern for channel estimation on which a first transmission point in a serving cell transmits channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) and a second set of resources corresponding to a second reference signal pattern for interference estimation on which a second transmission point in the serving cell transmits the CSI-RSs and on which the first transmission point in the serving cell does not transit the CSI-RSs;

receiving at least one channel state condition report from the UE based, at least in part, on one or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups; and

scheduling one or more resources for use by the UE based on the at least one received channel state condition report.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling the plurality of resource patterns comprises using at least one of radio resource control (RRC) or dynamic signaling.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resource patterns are indicated, at least in part, based on a subframe on which the signaling is performed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of resource pattern groups the second reference signal pattern for interference estimation is identified through a mapping between the first reference signal pattern used for channel estimation and the second reference signal pattern.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the mapping between the first reference signal pattern and the second reference signal pattern depends on a subframe in which the signaling is performed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein two or more plurality of resource pattern groups from the plurality of resource pattern groups are associated with a same reference signal pattern.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of resource patterns are channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) patterns.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the channel state condition report further comprises receiving at least one of periodic channel state condition reports or aperiodic channel state condition reports.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the channel state condition report corresponds to one or more of the plurality of resource patterns based on a subframe in which the channel state condition report is received.

10. A method of wireless communications, comprising:

receiving, by a user equipment (UE), a plurality of resource patterns for a plurality of resource pattern groups, wherein each resource pattern group includes a first set of resources corresponding to a first reference signal pattern for channel estimation on which a first transmission point in a serving cell transmits channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) and a second set of resources corresponding to a second reference signal pattern for interference estimation on which a second transmission point in the serving cell transmits the CSI-RSs and on which the first transmission point in the serving cell does not transit the CSI-RSs;

performing channel estimation for two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups;

performing interference estimation for the two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups;

generating a channel state condition report for at least one of the two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups based on at least a portion of the interference and channel estimations; and

transmitting the channel state condition report.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups are associated with a same reference signal pattern.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein at least two of the plurality of resource patterns comprise CSI-RS patterns.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a resource pattern group with a best channel state condition by comparing channel and interference estimation values among the two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups; and

wherein the transmitting further comprises transmitting the channel state condition report associated with the resource pattern group with the best channel state condition.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of resource patterns are received using at least one of semi-static or dynamic signaling.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising selecting at least two of the plurality of resource patterns based on a subframe.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein for each of the plurality of resource pattern groups, the second reference signal pattern for interference estimation is identified through a mapping between the first reference signal pattern used for channel estimation and the second reference signal pattern.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the mapping between the first reference signal pattern and the second reference signal pattern depends on a subframe in which the plurality of resource pattern groups are received.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the channel state condition report corresponds to one or more of the plurality of resource patterns based on a subframe in which the channel state condition report is transmitted.

19. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for signaling, to a user equipment (UE), a plurality of resource patterns for a plurality of resource pattern groups to measure channel state conditions, wherein each resource pattern group includes a first set of resources corresponding to a first reference signal pattern for channel estimation on which a first transmission point in a serving cell transmits channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) and a second set of resources corresponding to a second reference signal pattern for interference estimation on which a second transmission point in the serving cell transmits the CSI-RSs and on which the first transmission point in the serving cell does not transit the CSI-RSs;

means for receiving at least one channel state condition report from the UE based, at least in part, on one or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups; and

means for scheduling one or more resources for use by the UE based on the at least one received channel state condition report.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the channel state condition report corresponds to one or more of the plurality of resource patterns based on a subframe in which the channel state condition report is received.

21. An apparatus of wireless communications, comprising:

means for receiving, by a user equipment (UE), a plurality of resource patterns for a plurality of resource pattern groups, wherein each resource pattern group includes a first set of resources corresponding to a first reference signal pattern for channel estimation on which a first transmission point in a serving cell transmits channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) and a second set of resources corresponding to a second reference signal pattern for interference estimation on which a second transmission point in the serving cell transmits the CSI-RSs and on which the first transmission point in the serving cell does not transit the CSI-RSs;

means for performing channel estimation for two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups;

means for performing interference estimation for the two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups;

means for generating a channel state condition report for at least one of the two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups based on at least a portion of the interference and channel estimations; and

means for transmitting the channel state condition report.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups are associated with a same reference signal pattern.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least two of the plurality of resource patterns comprise CSI-RS patterns.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for determining a resource pattern group with a best channel state condition by comparing channel and interference estimation values among the two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups; and

wherein the means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting the channel state condition report associated with the resource pattern group with the best channel state condition.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of resource patterns are received using at least one of semi-static or dynamic signaling.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for selecting at least two of the plurality of resource patterns based on a subframe.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein for each of the plurality of resource pattern groups the second reference signal pattern for interference estimation is identified through a mapping between the first reference signal pattern used for channel estimation and the second reference signal pattern.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the mapping between the first reference signal pattern and the second reference signal pattern depends on a subframe in which the plurality of resource pattern groups are received.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the channel state condition report corresponds to one or more of the plurality of resource patterns based on a subframe in which the channel state condition report is transmitted.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code, comprising code to:

signal, to a user equipment (UE), a plurality of resource patterns for a plurality of resource pattern groups to measure channel state conditions, wherein each resource pattern group includes a first set of resources corresponding to a first reference signal pattern for channel estimation on which a first transmission point in a serving cell transmits channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) and a second set of resources corresponding to a second reference signal pattern for interference estimation on which a second transmission point in the serving cell transmits the CSI-RSs and on which the first transmission point in the serving cell does not transit the CSI-RSs;

receive at least one channel state condition report from the UE based, at least in part, on one or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups; and

schedule one or more resources for use by the UE based on the at least one received channel state condition report.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code, comprising code to:

receive, by a user equipment (UE), a plurality of resource patterns for a plurality of resource pattern groups, wherein each resource pattern group includes a first set of resources corresponding to a first reference signal pattern for channel estimation on which a first transmission point in a serving cell transmits channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) and a second set of resources corresponding to a second reference signal pattern for interference estimation on which a second transmission point in the serving cell transmits the CSI-RSs and on which the first transmission point in the serving cell does not transit the CSI-RSs;

perform channel estimation for two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups;

perform interference estimation for the two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups;

generate a channel state condition report for at least one of the two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups based on at least a portion of the interference and channel estimations; and

transmit the channel state condition report.

32. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, and configured to;

signal, to a user equipment (UE), a plurality of resource patterns for a plurality of resource pattern groups to measure channel state conditions, wherein each resource pattern group includes a first set of resources corresponding to a first reference signal pattern for channel estimation on which a first transmission point in a serving cell transmits channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) and a second set of resources corresponding to a second reference signal pattern for interference estimation on which a second transmission point in the serving cell transmits the CSI-RSs and on which the first transmission point in the serving cell does not transit the CSI-RSs;

receive at least one channel state condition report from the UE based, at least in part, on one or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups; and

schedule one or more resources for use by the UE based on the at least one received channel state condition report.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein two or more plurality of resource pattern groups from the plurality of resource pattern groups are associated with a same reference signal pattern.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the at least on processor is further configured to receive at least one of periodic channel state condition reports or aperiodic channel state condition reports.

35. An apparatus of wireless communications, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, and configured to;

receive a plurality of resource patterns for a plurality of resource pattern groups, wherein each resource pattern group includes a first set of resources corresponding to a first reference signal pattern for channel estimation on which a first transmission point in a serving cell transmits channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) and a second set of resources corresponding to a second reference signal pattern for interference estimation on which a second transmission point in the serving cell transmits the CSI-RSs and on which the first transmission point in the serving cell does not transit the CSI-RSs;

perform channel estimation for two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups;

perform interference estimation for the two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups;

generate a channel state condition report for at least one of the two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups based on at least a portion of the interference and channel estimations; and

transmit the channel state condition report.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a resource pattern group with a best channel state condition by comparing channel and interference estimation values among the two or more of the plurality of resource pattern groups; and

transmit the channel state condition report associated with the resource pattern group with the best channel state condition.