Data transmission method and apparatus in network supporting coordinated transmission

Abstract

A data transmission method and an apparatus in a network supporting coordinated multipoint transmission are provided. The method includes transmitting candidate sets of initial state information used to generate Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) scrambling sequences for the transmission points to the UE, and transmitting an indication corresponding to at least one candidate set of initial state information respectively associated with at least one transmission point to the UE, wherein the initial state information is used by the UE to generate DMRS scrambling sequences.

Claims

1. A data transmission method for a base station (BS), the data transmission method comprising: transmitting a plurality of identifiers to generate a reference signal sequence to a user equipment (UE); transmitting an indication indicating one of the plurality of identifiers to the UE; generating a reference signal based on the indicated identifier; and transmitting data and the generated reference signal to the UE.

2. The data transmission method of claim 1, wherein the indication indicates at least one of a set of antenna ports, a scrambling identity (SCID), or a number of layers, and wherein the SCID indicates one of the plurality of identifiers.

3. The data transmission method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of identifiers are sent to the UE on higher layer signaling, and wherein the indication is sent to the UE on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or an enhanced-PDCCH (E-PDCCH).

4. The data transmission method of claim 1, wherein the indicated identifier is used for generating the reference signal by the UE.

5. The data transmission method of claim 1, wherein a length of the indication is 3 bits.

6. A data reception method for a user equipment (UE), the data reception method comprising: receiving, from a base station (BS), a plurality of cell identifiers used to generate a reference signal sequence; receiving, from the BS, an indication indicating one of the plurality of identifiers; generating a reference signal based on the indicated identifier; and decoding data using the generated reference signal.

7. The data reception method of claim 6, wherein the indication indicates at least one of a set of antenna ports, a scrambling identity (SCID), or a number of layers, and wherein the SCID indicates one of the plurality of identifiers.

8. The data reception method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of identifiers are sent to the UE on higher layer signaling, and wherein the indication is sent to the UE on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or an enhanced-PDCCH (E-PDCCH).

9. The data reception method of claim 6, wherein the indicated identifier is used for generating the reference signal by the UE.

10. The data reception method of claim 6, wherein a length of the indication is 3 bits.

11. The data reception method of claim 6, further comprising: receiving the data and a reference signal generated based on the indicated identifier by the BS.

12. A base station (BS) for data transmission, the BS comprising: a transceiver configured to transmit and receive a signal; and at least one processor configured to: control to transmit a plurality of identifiers to generate a reference signal sequence to a user equipment (UE), transmit an indication indicating one of the plurality of identifiers to the UE, generate a reference signal based on the indicated identifier, and transmit data and the generated reference signal to the UE.

13. The BS of claim 12, wherein the indication indicates at least one of a set of antenna ports, a scrambling identity (SCID), or a number of layers, and wherein the SCID indicates one of the plurality of identifiers.

14. The BS of claim 12, wherein the plurality of identifiers are sent to the UE on higher layer signaling, and wherein the indication is sent to the UE on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or an enhanced-PDCCH (E-PDCCH).

15. The BS of claim 12, wherein the indicated identifier is used for generating the reference signal by the UE.

16. The BS of claim 12, wherein the indication includes 3 bits information.

17. A user equipment (UE) for data reception, the UE comprising: a transceiver configured to transmit and receive a signal; and at least one processor configured to: receive, from a base station (BS), a plurality of cell identifiers used to generate a reference signal sequence, receive, from the BS, an indication indicating one of the plurality of identifiers, generate a reference signal based on the indicated identifier, and decode data using the generated reference signal.

18. The UE of claim 17, wherein the indication indicates at least one of a set of antenna ports, a scrambling identity (SCID), or a number of layers, and wherein the SCID indicates one of the plurality of identifiers.

19. The UE of claim 17, wherein the plurality of identifiers are sent to the UE on higher layer signaling, and wherein the indication is sent to the UE on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or an enhanced-PDCCH (E-PDCCH).

20. The UE of claim 17, wherein the indicated identifier is used for generating the reference signal by the UE.

21. The UE of claim 17, wherein a length of the indication is 3 bits.

22. The UE of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive the data and a reference signal generated based on the indicated identifier by the BS.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a cellular system having multiple cells according to the related art;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a Long Term Evolution (LTE) and/or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) multi-cell system supporting Dynamic Point Selection (DPS) in which a User Equipment (UE) receives a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) and a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) from one of at least three different cells according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate Multi User-Multi Input Multi Output (MU-MIMO) transmission in a multi-cell network supporting Coordinated Multi Point (CoMP) operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a procedure to determine an initial state for DMRS scrambling according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates an information field indicating a set of three pieces of information for scrambling sequences, which is notified by an enhanced Node B (eNB) to a UE through a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) or an Enhanced-PDCCH (E-PDCCH) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates an information field indicating a set of Cell Identification (ID) and subframe offset values and another information field indicating an n Scrambling Identification (n.sub.SCID) value, among three pieces of information for scrambling sequences, which are notified by an eNB to a UE through a PDCCH or an E-PDCCH according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an eNB procedure to determine an initial state for DMRS scrambling according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates an information field indicating a set of two pieces of information for scrambling sequences, which is notified by an eNB to a UE through a PDCCH or an E-PDCCH according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates an information field indicating a Cell ID and another information field indicating an n Scrambling Identification (n.sub.SCID) value, among two pieces of information for scrambling sequences, which are sent by an eNB to a UE through a PDCCH or an E-PDCCH according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(11) FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a UE procedure to generate DMRS scrambling sequences according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(12) FIG. 11 is a flowchart for determining a subframe offset using received Cell ID in the procedure of FIG. 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(13) FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a data transmission apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

(14) FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a data reception apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(15) Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts, components, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(16) The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

(17) The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

(18) It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

(19) The exemplary embodiments are described below with respect to a wireless communication system based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), in particular, with respect to the 3.sup.rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (EUTRA) standards. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and features described below with respect to the exemplary embodiments are applicable to other communication systems having similar technical backgrounds and channel structures without much modification.

(20) For interference randomization, a User Equipment (UE) determines an initial state for DMRS scrambling according to Equation 1.
c.sub.init=(└n.sub.s/2┘+1).Math.(2N.sub.ID.sup.cell+1).Math.2.sup.16+n.sub.SCID  [Equation 1]

(21) In Equation 1, n.sub.s is a slot number in a current radio frame, N.sub.cell.sup.ID is a Cell ID of a cell to which the UE is connected after handover or initial access, and n Scrambling Identification (n.sub.SCID) is a scrambling index. Here, information needed to determine the initial state for DMRS scrambling, such as a slot number, the Cell ID, and the scrambling index, is referred to as initial state information. The UE may identify the Cell ID N.sub.cell.sup.ID from a synchronization signal from the current cell. Alternatively, a Base Station (BS) may notify the Cell ID to the UE through higher layer signaling. In the present exemplary embodiment, the Cell ID that is notified through higher layer signaling is a virtual cell ID other than a physical Cell ID. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a physical cell ID or a virtual cell ID may be the Cell ID. The value of n.sub.SCID may be 0 or 1, and n.sub.SCID is notified by the network to the UE through a control channel PDCCH or E-PDCCH.

(22) In addition, n.sub.s refers to a slot number in the current radio frame. In the LTE and/or LTE-A system, a time domain may be subdivided into radio frames, and each radio frame may have an interval of 10 ms. One radio frame is composed of ten subframes, and each subframe may have an interval of 1 ms. One subframe is split into two slots, and each slot has an interval of 0.5 ms. That is, one radio frame is composed of 20 slots, and the slot number identifies a specific slot, from among the 20 slots, in the radio frame. The UE may identify the beginning of a radio frame through time and frequency synchronization using a synchronization signal and may determine the slot number of a particular slot.

(23) In order to avoid collision between synchronization signals, different cells may apply time differences. In the present exemplary embodiment, different cells may be associated with different slot numbers in the same time interval. This time difference may be referred to as subframe offset, and subframe offsets may be assigned to different cells in units of 1 ms.

(24) In LTE and/or LTE-A Release 10, as described before, n.sub.SCID is notified to the UE through a PDCCH or an E-PDCCH. Table 1 illustrates 3-bit control information that may be transmitted from the base station to the UE to notify n.sub.SCID.

(25) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 One Codeword: Two Codewords: Codeword 0 enabled, Codeword 0 enabled, Codeword 1 disabled Codeword 1 enabled Value Message Value Message 0 1 layer, port 7, n.sub.SCID = 0 0 2 layers, ports 7-8, n.sub.SCID = 0 1 1 layer, port 7, n.sub.SCID = 1 1 2 layers, ports 7-8, n.sub.SCID = 1 2 1 layer, port 8, n.sub.SCID = 0 2 3 layers, ports 7-9 3 1 layer, port 8, n.sub.SCID = 1 3 4 layers, ports 7-10 4 2 layers, ports 7-8 4 5 layers, ports 7-11 5 3 layers, ports 7-9 5 6 layers, ports 7-12 6 4 layers, ports 7-10 6 7 layers, ports 7-13 7 Reserved 7 8 layers, ports 7-14

(26) In the LTE and/or LTE-A system supporting Coordinated Multi Point (CoMP) transmission, Dynamic Point Selection (DPS) may be used for CoMP operations. When DPS is used, transmission points, which perform downlink transmission to a given UE, may be actively changed in consideration of radio channel states, the amount of downlink radio traffic and a presence of other UEs, and a transmission point may correspond to a cell with unique Cell ID.

(27) In the LTE and/or LTE-A system, a DMRS and a PDSCH are transmitted using a same Resource Block (RB) in a same subframe. The UE performs channel estimation using the received DMRS and performs channel decoding for the PDSCH. In other words, the UE has to perform channel estimation using the received DMRS to decode data carried by the PDSCH. In a network supporting CoMP transmission based on DSP, individual transmission points may have different Cell IDs and ns values. In this case, a UE generates scrambling sequences by applying Cell IDs and ns values corresponding to the cells transmitting to the UE.

(28) FIG. 2 illustrates an LTE and/or LTE-A multi-cell system supporting DPS, in which a UE receives a PDSCH and a DMRS from one of at least three different cells.

(29) Referring to FIG. 2, Cell 0 210 has Cell ID of X and n.sub.s of P, Cell 1 220 has Cell ID of Y and n.sub.s of Q, and Cell 2 230 has Cell ID of Z and n.sub.s of R. When different transmission points, i.e., cells, have different Cell IDs and subframe offsets as in the case of the present exemplary embodiment, then the UE 200 may be unable to determine an initial state for the DMRS scrambling sequences using Equation 1 only.

(30) That is, in order to determine the initial state for DMRS scrambling sequences, the UE needs to identify the Cell ID and the n.sub.s value applied to the initial state. For example, in FIG. 2, in order to receive the PDSCH from Cell 0, the UE 200 determines the initial state on the basis of the Cell ID and the subframe offset used by Cell 0. Furthermore, in order to receive the PDSCH from Cell 1, the UE 200 determines the initial state on the basis of the Cell ID and the subframe offset used by Cell 1, and, in order to receive the PDSCH from Cell 2, the UE 200 determines the initial state on the basis of the Cell ID and the subframe offset used by Cell 2.

(31) In a system supporting CoMP operation, an optimal combination of cells participating in actual downlink transmission may be instantly changed according to traffic and wireless channel conditions. That is, in a mobile communication system such as the LTE-A system, which performs scheduling every 1 ms, cells participating in a CoMP transmission may change every 1 ms. As such, a network supporting CoMP operation notifies a UE of the Cell IDs and the subframe offsets of cells currently participating in downlink transmission. This notification may be performed by a central controller that is managing radio resources of multiple transmission points on a scheduling unit basis.

(32) Notification of the Cell IDs and the subframe offsets of cells participating in downlink transmission provides sufficient randomization of interference between transmission points and, thus, supports MU-MIMO operation. In MU-MIMO, one transmission point may send spatially separated radio signals using a same time-frequency resource to multiple UEs. As an example of MU-MIMO, a transmission point may send different pieces of data to two mobile terminals using the same time-frequency resource on spatially separated radio signals. When MU-MIMO is used to simultaneously send to multiple UEs, it is important to send DMRSs preserving orthogonality to the UEs. When DMRSs preserve orthogonality in MU-MIMO transmission, a UE is free from DMRS interference with other UEs.

(33) For MU-MIMO operation, the LTE and/or LTE-A system provides DMRSs based on two orthogonal codes. That is, in LTE and/or LTE-A Release 10, DMRS port 7 and DMRS port 8 are sent using the same radio resource but different orthogonal codes. When a BS respectively performs a downlink transmission of rank 1 to two UEs, the BS may preserve orthogonality between DMRSs assigned to the UEs by means of DMRS port 7 and DMRS port 8. In order to preserve orthogonality between DMRS ports using the same radio resources, the same scrambling to corresponding DMRSs should be applied. For example, when Cell 1 performs MU-MIMO operation, in order to preserve orthogonality between DMRS ports assigned to different UEs, Cell 1 should scramble the DMRS ports in the same way.

(34) FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate MU-MIMO transmission in a multi-cell network supporting CoMP operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(35) Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, UE 1 310, UE 2 320 and UE 3 330 receive signals from two cells, Cell 0 340 and Cell 1 350. Herein, UE 2 320 may receive a PDSCH from Cell 0 340 or Cell 1 350. That is, the network supports DPS.

(36) In FIG. 3A, UE 2 320 receives a PDSCH from Cell 0 340. Also, UE 2 320 configures an initial state in accordance with a Cell ID and a subframe offset of Cell 0 340, and generates scrambling sequences based on the initial state. The reason UE 2 320 configures the initial state according to Cell 0 340 is to preserve orthogonality between the DMRS ports respectively assigned to UE 1 310 and UE 2 320 when Cell 0 340 transmits the PDSCH to UE 1 310 and UE 2 320 through MU-MIMO.

(37) In FIG. 3B, in order to receive the PDSCH from Cell 1 350, UE 2 320 configures the initial state according to the Cell ID and the subframe offset of Cell 1 350. Similar to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3A, UE 2 320 configures the initial state according to Cell 1 350 in order to preserve orthogonality between the DMRS ports respectively assigned to UE 2 320 and UE 3 330 when Cell 1 350 transmits the PDSCH to UE 2 320 and UE 3 330 through MU-MIMO.

(38) As described above, in order to support DPS, a UE may configure the initial state in accordance with the Cell ID and the subframe offset of one of multiple cells and may generate DMRS scrambling sequences based on the initial state. Accordingly, the present exemplary embodiments show a scheme that notifies a UE of a Cell ID and a subframe offset through PDCCH or E-PDCCH.

(39) According to an exemplary embodiment for notifying information on the DMRS scrambling sequences to a UE, the BS may notify the UE in advance of candidate sets of the Cell ID, the ns and the nSCID values through higher layer signaling and may send the UE an indication specifying one of the candidate sets to be used in order to configure the initial state for DMRS scrambling through PDCCH or E-PDCCH.

(40) FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a procedure to determine an initial state for DMRS scrambling according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(41) Referring to FIG. 4, a BS determines transmission points to be assigned to a UE within a coverage area thereof in step 410. That is, for CoMP operation, the BS may determine a set of transmission points whose radio resources are to be utilized for the UE. For example, in order to support DPS, the BS may determine a set of cells capable of sending a PDSCH to the UE. Then, the BS notifies the UE of candidate sets of the Cell ID, the n.sub.s and the n.sub.SCID values through higher layer signaling in step 420.

(42) The BS sends the UE an indication specifying one of the candidate sets to be used to configure the initial state for DMRS scrambling through the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH in step 430. Upon reception of the indication, the UE determines an initial state for DMRS scrambling using the indicated Cell ID, n.sub.s and n.sub.SCID values.

(43) Table 2 illustrates candidate sets of Cell ID, subframe offset and n.sub.SCID values notified to the UE at step 420.

(44) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Cell ID Subframe offset n.sub.SCID Candidate Set 1 X A 0 Candidate Set 2 Y B 1

(45) After notification of candidate sets of Cell ID, subframe offset and n.sub.SCID values, as illustrated in Table 2, the BS sends an indication to the candidate set to be used at step 430, and the UE configures the initial state for DMRS scrambling using the indicated candidate set. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the Cell ID, subframe offset and n.sub.SCID values may be notified as a group of information, as illustrated in Table 2. However the present invention is not limited thereto, and the BS may provide the Cell ID, subframe offset and n.sub.SCID values individually to the UE.

(46) FIG. 5 illustrates an information field indicating a set of three pieces of information for scrambling sequences, which is notified by eNB to UE through the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH.

(47) Referring to FIG. 5, the BS may send an information field of one or more bits indicating a candidate set of the Cell ID, subframe offset and n.sub.SCID values to the UE.

(48) FIG. 6 illustrates an information field indicating a set of Cell ID and subframe offset values and another information field indicating n.sub.SCID value, among three pieces of information for scrambling sequences, which are notified by an eNB to a UE through a PDCCH or an E-PDCCH.

(49) Referring to FIG. 6, the BS may use the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH to send the UE an information field including one or more bits indicating a candidate set of the Cell ID and subframe offset values and another information field containing the n.sub.SCID value and other information, such as a DMRS antenna port allocation. In another exemplary embodiment for notifying the UE about information on the DMRS scrambling sequences, the BS may notify the UE about only the Cell ID and the n.sub.SCID information, and the UE may then determine the subframe offset using received Cell ID. That is, the UE receives the Cell ID and n.sub.SCID values from the BS through the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH, as is the case of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4. Then, the UE identifies the subframe offset using the received Cell ID, and determines the initial state for the DMRS scrambling.

(50) Hence, in present exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, the UE autonomously identifies, in advance, the Cell IDs and the subframe offsets of cells in the vicinity of the UE. As described before, a UE may identify the Cell ID and the subframe offset of a cell by receiving a synchronization signal from the cell. In the LTE and/or LTE-A system, a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) are transmitted every 10 ms as a synchronization signal and may provide information on the Cell ID and the radio frame start point to UEs.

(51) In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, the UE identifies candidate cells capable of sending the PDSCH thereto through the DPS and identifies the Cell IDs and the subframe offsets by receiving synchronization signals from the candidate cells. The candidate cells capable of participating in the DPS operation may be identified by the UE or the BS may notify the UE of such candidate cells. The UE may identify candidate cells by measuring intensity of signals from individual cells. The BS may notify the UE of candidate cells capable of participating in DPS operation through higher layer signaling.

(52) FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an eNB procedure to determine an initial state for DMRS scrambling according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(53) Referring to FIG. 7, the BS determines candidate transmission points or cells capable of participating in DPS operation for a UE in step 710. Next, the BS notifies the UE of the Cell IDs and n.sub.SCID values of the candidate transmission points or notifies the UE of the cells determined at step 710 through higher layer signaling in step 720.

(54) The BS notifies the UE of the Cell ID and the nSCID value to be used in order to determine the initial state for DMRS scrambling through the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH in step 730. Similar to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, for one candidate cell, the BS may notify the UE of the Cell ID and the n.sub.SCID value as a group of information or may notify the UE of the Cell ID and the n.sub.SCID value separately.

(55) FIG. 8 illustrates an information field indicating a set of two pieces of information for scrambling sequences, which is notified by the eNB to the UE through the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(56) Referring to FIG. 8, the BS, which may be the eNB, may send an information field, including one or more bits indicating a candidate set of the Cell ID and n.sub.SCID value, and other information to the UE.

(57) FIG. 9 illustrates an information field indicating the Cell ID and another information field indicating the n.sub.SCID value, among two pieces of information for scrambling sequences, which are sent by eNB to UE through the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(58) Referring to FIG. 9, the stations, which may be the eNB, may use the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH to send the UE an information field including one or more bits indicating the Cell ID and another information field containing the n.sub.SCID value and other information, such as DMRS antenna port allocation. After the reception of the Cell ID and the n.sub.SCID value, the UE may determine a subframe offset of a corresponding cell using the received Cell ID and n.sub.SCID value, and may generate the DMRS scrambling sequences using the subframe offset.

(59) FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a UE procedure to generate the DMRS scrambling sequences according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(60) Referring to FIG. 10, the UE receives candidate Cell IDs and n.sub.SCID values from a BS through higher layer signaling in step 1010. As described above, the candidate Cell ID and the n.sub.SCID value may be received as a candidate set, i.e. as a group, or may be separately received. The UE receives an indication of the Cell ID and the n.sub.SCID value to be used to generate the DMRS scrambling sequences from the BS through the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH in step 1020. The indication of the Cell ID and the n.sub.SCID value may be transmitted using an information field described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

(61) The UE determines a subframe offset in accordance with the indicated Cell ID in step 1030. As described before, the UE identifies, in advance, the Cell IDs and the subframe offsets of cells in the vicinity of the UE. The UE determines the initial state for the DMRS scrambling using the notified Cell ID and the n.sub.SCID value and using the determined subframe offset, and then generates the DMRS scrambling sequences in step 1040.

(62) FIG. 11 is a detailed flowchart for determining a subframe offset using a received Cell ID in the procedure of FIG. 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(63) Referring to FIG. 11, the UE determines whether the Cell ID received from the BS belongs to a set of candidate Cell IDs that have been reported to the BS as a result of a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurement in step 1110. If it is determine, in step 1110, that the received Cell ID belongs to the set of reported candidate Cell IDs, then the UE determines to use a subframe offset corresponding to the received Cell ID for the DMRS scrambling in step 1120. In contrast, when the received Cell ID does not belong to the set of reported candidate Cell IDs, the UE determines to use a subframe offset of the current serving cell for the DMRS scrambling in step 1130.

(64) The RSRP measurement performed by a UE refers to an intensity measurement of a cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS) sent by a cell. In the LTE and/or LTE-A system, the RSRP measurement reports are used by the BS to determine whether to hand over a UE to another cell. The RSRP measurement for a cell implies that the UE has received a synchronization signal from the cell and has identified the Cell ID and the subframe offset of the cell. Therefore, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, for a given cell, the UE may identify the subframe offset of the cell without separate signaling.

(65) As an example for the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6, in a case where the UE has sent the BS an RSRP measurement report for two cells having Cell ID X and Cell ID Y. In this case, the UE is aware of the subframe offsets of the cells with Cell ID X and Cell ID Y. Thereafter, when the BS notifies the UE of the Cell ID X through the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH, then the UE may use the subframe offset corresponding to Cell ID X, which is already known to the UE, in order to determine the initial state for the DMRS scrambling without additional signaling.

(66) Likewise, when the BS notifies the UE of Cell ID Y through the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH, then the UE may use the subframe offset corresponding to Cell ID Y to determine the initial state for the DMRS scrambling. On the other hand, when the BS notifies the UE of Cell ID Z through the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH, because an RSRP measurement report for a cell with Cell ID Z has not been sent, the UE uses a subframe offset of the current serving cell to determine the initial state for the DMRS scrambling.

(67) As described above, the BS provides information on the scrambling sequences to the UE, and generates the DMRS scrambling sequences according to the information and sends the same to the UE. The UE generates scrambling sequences based on the received information, performs channel estimation using the generated scrambling sequences and the received scrambling sequences, and receives data from the BS according to the channel estimation result.

(68) FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a data transmission apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(69) Referring to FIG. 12, the data transmission apparatus, which may be an eNB and/or a BS, may include a wireless communication unit 1210, a control unit 1220, and a storage unit 1230. The wireless communication unit 1210 may send and receive data and signals to and from UEs within the coverage area of the BS. In particular, the wireless communication unit 1210 may sends information for the DMRS scrambling to a UE under control of the control unit 1220.

(70) The control unit 1220 controls operations to transmit information on multiple candidate transmission points to a UE through higher layer signaling, and to send information used for determining the initial state for the DMRS scrambling to the UE through the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH. Furthermore, the control unit 1220 may control overall operations of the BS and components and elements included in the BS. The storage unit 1230 may store information necessary for performing the operations of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention as described above. For example, the storage unit 1230 may store information as illustrated in Table 1 and Table 2. Furthermore, the storage unit 1230 may store information, applications, and other information used for the operations of the BS.

(71) FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a data reception apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(72) Referring to FIG. 13, the data reception apparatus, which may be a UE, may include a wireless communication unit 1310, a control unit 1320, a sequence generation unit 1330, and a storage unit 1340. The wireless communication unit 1310 may receive data from a BS via multiple transmission points and may receive information used for data reception. For example, the wireless communication unit 1310 may receive multiple candidate values usable for DMRS scrambling and may receive an indication to or a notification of a candidate value to be used for determining the initial state from the BS under control of the control unit 1320.

(73) The control unit 1320 may control the wireless communication unit 1310 to receive information used for generating the DMRS scrambling sequences from a BS. For example, the control unit 1320 may control an operation to receive candidate sets of data through higher layer signaling and to receive an indication to or a notification of a candidate set to be used for determining the initial state through the PDCCH or the E-PDCCH. Furthermore, the control unit 1320 may control overall operations of the UE.

(74) The sequence generation unit 1330 may determine the initial state for the DMRS scrambling sequences using candidate values received from the BS. When a subframe offset is not received from the BS, the sequence generation unit 1330 determines a subframe offset according to the Cell ID and a set of candidate Cell IDs that have been reported to the BS as a result of an RSRP measurement.

(75) The storage unit 1340 may store information necessary for generating the DMRS scrambling sequences. For example, the storage unit 1340 may store information on candidate sets received from the BS and information on a set of candidate Cell IDs reported to the BS. Furthermore, the storage unit 1340 may store information on applications, user data, and other information used by or generated during operations of the UE.

(76) According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method and apparatus for data transmission in a network supporting CoMP transmission may effectively randomize signal interference when multiple cells send data to one UE through CoMP transmission by having the cells to perform different DMRS scrambling operations.

(77) The meaning of specific terms or words used in the specification and the claims should be construed in accordance with the spirit of the invention without limiting the subject matter thereof. The description of the various exemplary embodiments is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible instance of the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements of the invention.

(78) While the invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.