The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present inventors have also reviewed a system employing a plurality of CQI information compressing methods of the frequency-direction averaging mode, the frequency-direction Best M mode and the time-direction averaging mode and simply changing the plurality of modes.
In this system, however, the transmitting side and the receiving side need to determine the CQI channel at every compression and a problem concerning the receiving performance degradation caused by delay occurs, since the compressed CQI channel sizes of the compression modes are different from each other. An embodiment of a radio communication system which also solves this problem is described below. An example of a cellular system employing OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) as the modulation scheme in a downlink in which the base station transmits signals to the base station, is cited in the descriptions.
In the OFDM modulation, high-speed data signals are converted into low-speed narrow-band data signals, which are transmitted in parallel with a plurality of sub-carriers in a frequency axis. In this embodiment, the OFDM is composed of six-hundred sub-carriers with a sub-carrier distance of 15 kHz. Twenty-four bands (resource blocks) are assigned to the dedicated control information channels and each band is composed of twenty-five sub-carriers, as shown in
A pilot channel generator 101 generates a bit string which is an original signal of a pilot signal to be transmitted over a pilot channel, processes the bit string with a scrambling code and outputs the bit string to a modulator 104. In accordance with an designation of a controller 100, a CQI channel generator 103 generates a bit string of CQI information to be transmitted over a CQI channel, on the basis of a channel variation amount and a measuring unit of a receiving signal quality measuring unit 113, and outputs the bit string to the modulator 104. The CQI channel generator 103 can also execute channel coding of the CQI information. A channel coding unit 102 executes channel coding of an uplink transmission data bit string at a channel coding rate designated by the controller 100 and outputs the channel codes to the modulator 104.
The modulator 104 generates a pilot signal, a CQI signal and a transmit data signal by subjecting the bit strings which are the original signals of the pilot signal, the CQI information and the channel-coded uplink transmit data signal, to digital modulation such as quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) in a modulation scheme designated by the controller 100.
The generated pilot signal and transmit data signal are assigned to respective sub-carriers designated by the controller 100, by a physical resource assigner 105. To “assign signals to sub-carriers” means to add a sub-carrier index representing positions in a time axis and a frequency axis, of the sub-carriers in the corresponding resource block, to signals represented by complex numbers.
An inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) unit 106 converts a signal of the frequency area output from the physical resource assigner 105 into a signal of the time area, which is converted into a radio (RF) signal by a transmission RF unit 107 comprising a digital-analog converter, an up-converter, a power amplifier, etc. The RF signal is emitted into space, toward the base station, via a duplexer 108 and an antenna.
A radio signal transmitted from the base station is received at the antenna, and output to a reception RF unit 109 via the duplexer 108. The received radio signal is converted into a base band digital signal by a reception RF unit 109 comprising a down-converter, an analog-digital converter, etc.
A fast Fourier transform (FFT) unit 110 executes fast Fourier transform of the base band digital signal and thereby divides the signal of the time area into signals of the frequency area, i.e. signals of the respective sub-carriers. The signals thus divided for the respective sub-carriers are output to a frequency channel separator 111.
The frequency channel separator 111 separates the signals divided for the respective sub-carriers into a pilot signal, a control channel signal and a data signal.
The pilot signal is descrambled by a pilot descrambling unit 112, in a descrambling pattern opposite to a scrambling pattern employed in the base station which transmits the signal to be received by the mobile station. The descrambling result is output to a control channel demodulator 114, a data channel demodulator 115 and a receiving signal quality measuring unit 113. On the basis of the pilot signal, the receiving signal quality measuring unit 113 measures the receiving signal quality of each resource block and also measures the channel variation amount. These measuring results are output to the CQI channel generator 103.
A control channel demodulator 114 processes the control channel signal output from the frequency channel separator 111, by channel equivalence using the pilot signal descrambled by the pilot descrambling unit 112 and then demodulates the signal. The control channel bit string thus demodulated is output to the controller 100.
The controller 100 controls all the units of the mobile station. On the basis of the information included in the control channel, the controller 100 discriminates whether or not the receive signal is a signal transmitted for the own mobile station, for each sub-frame. If the controller 100 discriminates that the receive signal is a signal transmitted for the own mobile station, the controller 100 extracts signaling information included in this signal, and detects information which is necessary for demodulation of the data channel signal and information which is necessary for decoding of the data channel signal, from the signaling information.
The information which is necessary for demodulation of the data channel signal is output to the data channel demodulator 115, while the information which is necessary for decoding of the data channel signal is output to the channel decoding unit 116. If the controller 100 discriminates that the receive signal is not a signal for the own mobile station, the demodulation or decoding of the data channel signal is terminated.
The data channel demodulator 115 processes each signal output from the frequency channel separator 111 by the channel equivalence using the pilot signal output from the pilot descrambling unit 112, and then demodulates the signal in the demodulation scheme designated by the controller 100, on the basis of the information output from the controller 100. The data bit string thus demodulated is decoded by the channel decoding unit 116, and the downlink data bit string for the own mobile station is thereby obtained. The information output from the controller 100 is used for the decoding.
A pilot channel generator 201 generates a bit string which is the origin of a pilot signal transmitted over a pilot channel, processes the bit string with a scrambling code, and outputs the bit string to a modulator 203. A channel coding unit 202 comprises channel coding modules 2021 to 202m. Each of the channel coding modules 2021 to 202m processes a downlink transmission data bit string by channel coding at a channel coding rate designated by a controller 200 and outputs the bit string to the modulator 203.
The modulator 203 comprises modulating modules 2031 to 203m that correspond to the channel coding modules 2021 to 202m, respectively. Each of the modulating modules 2031 to 203m processes the bit strings which are original signals of the pilot signal and the channel-coded downlink transmit data signal, by digital modulation such as the quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) in the modulation scheme designated by the controller 200, to generate the pilot signal and the transmit data signal.
The generated pilot signal and transmit data signal are assigned to the sub-carriers designated by the controller 200, by a physical resource assigner 204. To “assign the signals to the sub-carriers” means to add a sub-carrier index representing positions in a time axis and a frequency axis, of the sub-carriers in the corresponding resource block, to signals represented by complex numbers.
An inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) unit 205 converts a signal of the frequency area output from the physical resource assigner 204 into a signal of the time area, which is converted into a radio (RF) signal by a transmission RF unit 206 comprising a digital-analog converter, an up-converter, a power amplifier, etc. The RF signal is emitted into space, toward the base station, via a duplexer 207 and an antenna.
A radio signal transmitted from the mobile station is received at the antenna, and output to a reception RF unit 208 via the duplexer 207. The received radio signal is converted into a base band digital signal by a reception RF unit 208 comprising a down-converter, an analog-digital converter, etc.
A fast Fourier transform (FFT) unit 209 executes fast Fourier transform of the base band digital signal and thereby divides the signal of the time area into signals of the frequency area, i.e. signals of the respective sub-carriers. The signals thus divided for the respective sub-carriers are output to a frequency channel separator 210.
The frequency channel separator 210 separates the signals divided for the respective sub-carriers into a pilot signal, a control channel signal and a data signal.
The pilot signal is descrambled by a pilot descrambling unit 211, in a descrambling pattern opposite to a scrambling pattern employed in the mobile station which transmits the signal to be received by the base station. The descrambling result is output to a CQI demodulator 212 and a data channel demodulator 213.
The CQI demodulator 212 processes the CQI channel signal output from the frequency channel separator 210 by channel equivalence using the pilot signal descrambled by the pilot descrambling unit 211, and then demodulates the CQI channel signal. The CQI channel signal thus demodulated is further subjected to channel decoding by the CQI demodulator 212, and the CQI information transmitted from the mobile station is taken from the CQI channel signal and output to the controller 200.
The data channel demodulator 213 comprises a plurality of data channel demodulating modules 2131 to 213n. The data channel demodulating modules 2131 to 213n process the signals output from the frequency channel separator 210, respectively, by channel equivalence using the pilot signal output from the pilot descrambling unit 211, and then demodulate the signals in the demodulation scheme designated by the controller 200, on the basis of the information output from the controller 200. The data bit strings thus modulated are output to a channel decoding unit 214.
The channel decoding unit 214 comprises channel decoding modules 2141 to 214n which correspond to the data channel demodulating modules 2131 to 213n, respectively. The channel decoding units 2141 to 214n decode the data bit strings demodulated by the data channel demodulating modules 2131 to 213n, respectively, and obtain uplink data bit strings transmitted from the mobile station. The information output from the controller 200 is used for the decoding.
The controller 200 controls all the units of the mobile station. The controller 200 comprises scheduling means for controlling transmission of packers to the mobile stations for each frame, for example, on the basis of feedback information (Ack/Nack of reception response and CQI information), the data amount for each mobile station and the degree of priority. In accordance with the designation to the physical resource assigner 204, the controller 200 processes the data for a plurality of mobile stations by OFDM multiplexing in the same frame.
Next, operations of the radio communication system having the above configuration are described. Particularly, operations concerning the CQI transmission from the mobile station and the scheduling of the base station are focused.
(Step S1) A downlink traffic occurs at the base station or the base station executes the mobile station scheduling in association with occurrence of the downlink traffic. At this time, the base station starts the assignment of the downlink resource blocks.
(Step S2) The base station determines the CQI updating cycle of the default for each mobile station and the CQI channel size, by considering the number of mobile stations located in the cell, the system band, the service type, etc. In general, when there are a number of mobile stations located in the cell, the base station (controller 200) widens the assignment cycle of the downlink resource and extends the CQI updating cycle in association with the assignment cycle. When the system band becomes wide, the downlink resource blocks which can be assigned are increased. In this case, the base station (controller 200) makes the CQI channel size greater.
The above service is roughly separated into three types (service types 1-3). since they are different in updating frequency and accuracy required for the CQI information, the CQI compression and the updating frequency need to be set in association with the updating frequency and accuracy.
Service type 1, low-speed communication, band preservation type (VoIP, etc.): Due to a low rate, the CQI information having a low resolution in the time direction and a low accuracy (and a proportionally small signaling overhead based on the CQI) is obtained by extending the CQI updating cycle.
Service type 2, high-speed communication, best effort type (HTTP, etc.): If the receiving signal quality is poor or the channel variation of the mobile station in the time direction is great, the CQI information having a low resolution in the time direction is obtained by extending the CQI updating cycle since the possibility of assigning the resource blocks is considered small. If the receiving signal quality is high and the channel variation of the mobile station in the time direction is small, the CQI information having a high resolution in the time direction is obtained by shortening the CQI updating cycle.
Service type 3, high-speed communication, band preservation type (Video Streaming, etc.): The CQI information having a high resolution in the time direction is obtained by shortening the CQI updating cycle.
In addition, the base station (controller 200) must determine the CQI updating cycle and the CQI channel size within the range which satisfies the lowest system quality. The base station notifies the mobile station side of the CQI updating cycle and the CQI channel size thus determined, under transmission control of the controller 200.
At the mobile station, processings of step S3 and step S4 are cyclically repeated until the mobile station receives the notification of step S2 from the base station. A certain period of time needs to be spent for the measurement of the channel variation amount. If the measurement is started after the notification of step S2 is received, an exact amount of channel variation cannot be obtained. A method of executing these processings after receiving the notification, at penalty in accuracy in the measured value of the channel variation amount in the initial CQI transmission, to reduce the power consumption, can also be employed.
(Step S3) The mobile station (controller 100) controls each units of the receiving system shown in
(Step S4) The mobile station (controller 100) controls each units of the receiving system shown in
When the mobile station (controller 100) receives the CQI updating cycle and the CQI channel size from the base station in step S2, the mobile station (controller 100) executes the following step S5.
(Step S5) The mobile station (controller 100) selects the actually applied CQI updating cycle and CQI compression method, on the basis of the CQI updating cycle and the CQI channel size transmitted from the base station, the channel variation in the time direction measured in step S3, and the channel variation in the frequency direction measured in step S4.
As the CQI compression method selected by the mobile station (controller 100) in step S5, four modes shown in
First, in mode A (
M×(CQI bit number)+log2(CMN)+CQI bit number (1)
In Mode B (
In Mode C (
In these four Modes A-D, the number of CQI bits transmitted in each CQI updating cycle is substantially equal. However, an optimum mode of maximizing the downlink throughput is different in accordance with the ratio of the channel variation in the frequency direction to the channel variation in the time direction.
Selection of any one of these modes by the mobile station (controller 100) depends on cases shown in, for example,
Oppositely, the Mode D is advantageous in a case where the channel variation amount in the frequency direction is great and the channel variation amount in the time direction is small. The mobile station (controller 100) therefore selects the Mode D. If the Mode A is selected in this environment, the base station can obtain only number M of CQI values of all the resource blocks. Therefore, the degree of freedom of the scheduling is decreased, and the receiving performance is inferior to a case where the Mode D is selected.
In addition, the mobile station (controller 100) adjusts the CQI channel size by using the variable M of the above formula (1) as a parameter, to determine the actual CQI channel size in accordance with the CQI channel size which the base station notifies the mobile station. In this example, since there are four modes as the CQI compressing method, 2 bits are assigned to the CQI format information and the signals (CQI information) transmitted through a CQI channel shown in
(Step S6) The mobile station (controller 100) controls all the units of the transmitting system shown in
(Step S7) The base station (controller 200) controls all the units of the receiving system shown in
(Step S8) The mobile station (controller 200) controls all the units of the transmitting system shown in
In the radio communication system having the above-described configuration, the mobile station measures the channel variation in the time direction and the channel variation in the frequency direction, and selects the CQI compression method to be actually applied, on the basis of the channel variation in the frequency direction, the channel variation in the time direction, the CQI channel size and the CQI updating cycle which are transmitted from the base station. On the basis of the CQI format information, the base station analyzes in which compression mode the CQI value is compressed, and executes scheduling on the basis of the analysis result.
Therefore, since the mobile station can detect the channel variation and the moving speed more exactly than the base station, the mobile station can make the delay of the CQI information smaller and execute high-quality signal transmission by transmitting the CQI value in the CQI format selected on the basis of the detection result. In addition, since the mobile station side determines the CQI format and transmits the only information of the CQI format to the base station side, the signaling overhead caused by the communication concerning the CQI compression method between the mobile station and the base station can be made smaller.
In step S5, if the receiving signal quality at the mobile station side is lowered below the threshold value or the channel variation is adequately small and the mobile station (controller 100) therefore discriminates that the receiving signal quality can be maintained without updating the CQI, the mobile station may notify the base station that the CQI transmission is cancelled in a plurality of next and following CQI transmission cycles and may not execute the CQI transmission. On the basis of this notification, the base station may not receive the canceled CQI channel. If the CQI transmission is thus canceled, the base station can assign the cancelled radio resources to the other communications and, therefore, wasted signaling overhead can be decreased.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but the constituent elements of the invention can be modified in various manners without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Various aspects of the invention can also be extracted from any appropriate combination of a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments. Some constituent elements may be deleted in all of the constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments. The constituent elements described in different embodiments may be combined arbitrarily.
For example, in the above embodiment, four modes shown in
The CQI compression methods other than the CQI compression methods shown in
In Mode A shown in
In Mode B shown in
In Mode C shown in
In Mode D shown in
In these four modes, the number of CQI bits transmitted in each CQI updating cycle is equal. However, an optimum mode of maximizing the downlink throughput is different in accordance with the ratio of the channel variation in the frequency direction to the channel variation in the time direction. For this reason, the controller 100 selects the maximum mode under the conditions shown in
For example, if the channel variation amount in the time direction is great and the channel variation amount in the frequency direction is small, the controller 100 selects the Mode A. This is because the Mode A finds the resource blocks having a high CQI of all the resource blocks and the base station can execute downlink resource scheduling without delay. At this time, since the channel variation amount in the frequency direction is small, a dropout of the information caused by averaging the CQI of the resource blocks in the frequency direction is small. If the Mode D is selected in this environment, the base station refers to the CQI value before eight CQI assignment cycles to refer to the CQI values of all the resource blocks, and brings about the receiving signal quality degradation resulting from the great value of the channel variation amount in the time direction.
Oppositely, the Mode D is advantageous in a case where the channel variation amount in the frequency direction is great and the channel variation amount in the time direction is small. The mobile station (controller 100) therefore selects the Mode D. If the Mode A is selected in this environment, the channel variation amount in the frequency direction is great. Thus, a dropout of the information caused by averaging the CQI of the resource blocks in the frequency direction is great, and the receiving performance is inferior to a case where the Mode D is selected.
Needless to say, the present invention can also be variously modified within a scope which does not depart from the gist of the present invention.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2006-229255 | Aug 2006 | JP | national |