Multiple-input multiple-output system performance using advanced receivers for 5g or other next generation networks

Abstract

Fast calculation of channel state information using demodulation reference signals (DM-RS) is provided herein. The channel state information can be calculated by estimating the signal to noise ratio of a communication link based on the DM-RS, and then estimating the channel quality indicator based on the SINR. The advanced receivers can use list-based detection methods which the estimated SINR can improve the performance thereof. Channel state information is traditionally calculated based on the channel state reference signals (CS-RS). Demodulation reference signals, which are used for channel estimation for a data channel, are transmitted at different times than CS-RS however, and so some portions of the channel state information including layer indicator (LI) and channel quality indicator (CQI) can be calculated based on the demodulation reference signals, allowing a network to adapt more quickly to changing channel conditions, without having to transmit a CS-RS.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 in response receiving a demodulation reference signal to facilitate channel estimation for a communication link, determining, by a user equipment comprising a processor, a signal power to noise covariance value for the communication link, comprising:
 determining soft symbols from an output of a receiver of the user equipment, and 
 determining a noise covariance based on respective probabilities of the soft symbols; and 
   employing, by the user equipment, the signal power to noise covariance value as an estimated signal to interference plus noise ratio for the communication link.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the soft symbols comprises determining the soft symbols using a maximum likelihood metric. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the soft symbols comprises determining the soft symbols using a maximum a posteriori probability metric. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the user equipment, a channel quality indicator value based on the signal power to noise covariance value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising sending, by the user equipment, the channel quality indicator value to network equipment. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising receiving, by the user equipment, from the network equipment, a scheduling parameter based on the channel quality indicator value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the scheduling parameter corresponds to a modulation and coding scheme. 
     
     
         8 . A user equipment, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 in response receiving a demodulation reference signal to facilitate channel estimation for a communication channel, determining a signal power to noise covariance value for the communication channel, comprising:
 determining soft symbols from an output of a receiver of the user equipment, and 
 determining a noise covariance based on respective probabilities of the soft symbols; and 
 
 utilizing the signal power to noise covariance value as part of estimating a signal to interference plus noise ratio for the communication channel. 
   
     
     
         9 . The user equipment of  claim 8 , wherein determining the soft symbols comprises determining the soft symbols using a maximum likelihood metric. 
     
     
         10 . The user equipment of  claim 8 , wherein determining the soft symbols comprises determining the soft symbols using a maximum a posteriori probability metric. 
     
     
         11 . The user equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a channel quality indicator value based on the signal power to noise covariance value. 
     
     
         12 . The user equipment of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise transmitting the channel quality indicator value to network equipment. 
     
     
         13 . The user equipment of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving, from the network equipment, a scheduling parameter based on the channel quality indicator value. 
     
     
         14 . The user equipment of  claim 13 , wherein the scheduling parameter corresponds to a modulation and coding scheme. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a mobile device, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 in response receiving a demodulation reference signal to facilitate channel estimation for a channel, determining a signal power to noise covariance value for the channel, comprising:
 determining soft symbols from an output of a receiver of the mobile device, and 
 determining a noise covariance based on respective probabilities of the soft symbols; and 
   utilizing the signal power to noise covariance value as an estimated signal to interference plus noise ratio for the channel.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein determining the soft symbols comprises determining the soft symbols using a maximum likelihood metric. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein determining the soft symbols comprises determining the soft symbols using a maximum a posteriori probability metric. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a channel quality indicator value based on the signal power to noise covariance value. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise communicating the channel quality indicator value to network equipment. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving, from the network equipment, a scheduling parameter based on the channel quality indicator value.