Method and apparatus for reference signaling allocation and channel estimation in distributed antenna systems

• US 9,780,901 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cheng, Shan, Kim, Youn Sun, Lee, Ju Ho, Han, Jin Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): SWEET, LONNIE V
• Application Number:
  US13/311,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20130163499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,129 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0079 Acquisition of downlink reference signals, e.g. detection of cell-ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0032 Distributed allocation, i.e. involving a plurality of allocating devices, each making partial allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0069 Allocation based on distance or geographical location allocation based on terminal or device properties in general, H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/008 once only, on installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

An apparatus and method for transmitting reference signals in a communication system are provided. The method includes transmitting common reference signals of a first type from a transmitter to a plurality of receivers; transmitting receiver-specific reference signals of a second type from a plurality of distributed ports to a subset of the plurality of receivers; wherein the common reference signals of the first type and the receiver-specific reference signals of the second type are allocated to different resources from one another, and wherein the communication system includes the transmitter and the plurality of receivers and the transmitter uses a plurality of central ports and the plurality of distributed ports to transmit to the plurality of receivers.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting channel state information (CSI) reference signals by an apparatus in a communication system, the method comprising:

generating common reference signals for transmitting to a plurality of receivers and receiver-specific reference signals for transmitting to a subset of the plurality of receivers;

transmitting first information indicating resource elements on which the common reference signals are transmitted;

transmitting second information indicating resource elements on which the receiver-specific reference signals are transmitted;

transmitting, from a plurality of central ports, the common reference signals based on the first information to the plurality of receivers; and

transmitting, from a plurality of distributed ports, the receiver-specific reference signals based on the second information to the subset of the plurality of receivers,

wherein the common reference signals and the receiver-specific reference signals are allocated different resources from one another, and

wherein an interval between subcarriers that transmit the common reference signals is shorter than an interval between subcarriers that transmit the receiver-specific reference signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the common reference signals are transmitted on every resource block scheduled contiguously in a frequency domain.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the different resources are partitioned into multiple two-dimensional resource blocks in both frequency and time dimensions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver-specific reference signals are transmitted on a plurality of contiguous resource blocks within a sub-band of a system bandwidth in a frequency domain.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver-specific reference signals are transmitted intermittently on resource blocks scheduled within a sub-band of a system bandwidth in a frequency domain.

6. An apparatus in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter; and

a processor configured to;

generate common reference signals for transmitting to a plurality of receivers and receiver-specific reference signals for transmitting to a subset of the plurality of receivers;

control the transmitter to transmit first information indicating resource elements on which the common reference signals are transmitted;

control the transmitter to transmit second information indicating resource elements on which the receiver-specific reference signals are transmitted;

control the transmitter to transmit, from a plurality of central ports, the common reference signals based on the first information to the plurality of receivers; and

control the transmitter to transmit, from a plurality of distributed ports, the receiver-specific reference signals based on the second information to the subset of the plurality of receivers,

wherein the common reference signals and the receiver-specific reference signals are allocated different resources from one another, and

wherein an interval between subcarriers that transmit the common reference signals is shorter than an interval between subcarriers that transmit the receiver-specific reference signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the common reference signals are transmitted on every resource block scheduled in a frequency domain.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the different resources are partitioned into multiple two-dimensional resource blocks in both frequency and time dimensions.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the receiver-specific reference signals are transmitted on a plurality of contiguous resource blocks within a sub-band of a system bandwidth in a frequency domain.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the receiver-specific reference signals are transmitted intermittently on resource blocks within a sub-band of a system bandwidth in a frequency domain.