Method for transmitting reference signals in a downlink multiple input multiple output system

Abstract

A method for transmitting a reference signal for channel measurement (CSI-RS) to a user equipment; a base station therefore; a method for receiving a CSI-RS; and the user equipment therefore are discussed. The method for transmitting a CSI-RS according to one embodiment includes transmitting CSI-RS pattern information for indicating a pattern of time-frequency resource to be nulled, hereinafter referred to as null CSI-RS pattern, and CSI-RS subframe information for indicating in which subframe the null CSI-RS pattern occurs; and nulling a time-frequency resource corresponding to the null CSI-RS pattern in a subframe corresponding to the CSI-RS subframe information, hereinafter referred to as null CSI-RS subframe, based on the CSI-RS pattern information and the CSI-RS subframe information. The CSI-RS subframe information includes information indicating a periodic interval with which the null CSI-RS subframe occurs. The periodic interval corresponds to a plurality of subframes.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting, by a base station, a channel system information-reference signal (CSI-RS) for channel measurement to a user equipment, the method comprising: transmitting, by the base station, CSI-RS pattern information for indicating a pattern of time-frequency resource to be nulled (null CSI-RS pattern); and nulling, by the base station, a time-frequency resource corresponding to the null CSI-RS pattern in a subframe (null CSI-RS subframe), based on the CSI-RS pattern information, wherein the null CSI-RS subframe with the null CSI-RS pattern occurs every P subframes, wherein P is larger than 1, and wherein the null CSI-RS subframe is comprised of two slots, slot 0 and slot 1, each slot includes 7 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, OFDM symbols 0 to 6, for a normal cyclic prefix, the time-frequency resource corresponding to the null CSI-RS pattern is within two OFDM symbols in the null CSI-RS subframe of the normal cyclic prefix, and the two OFDM symbols are other than OFDM symbols 0, 1, 2 and 4 of the slot 0 of the normal cyclic prefix and OFDM symbols 0, 1 and 4 of the slot 1 of the normal cyclic prefix.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the null CSI-RS pattern is one of a plurality of time-frequency resource patterns defined for transmission of the CSI-RS.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting CSI-RS subframe information for indicating in which subframe the null CSI-RS pattern occurs, wherein the CSI-RS subframe information includes information indicating P and a subframe offset for the null CSI-RS pattern.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the null CSI-RS subframe is comprised of two slots, slot 0 and slot 1, each slot includes 6 OFDM symbols, OFDM symbols 0 to 5, for an extended cyclic prefix, the time-frequency resource corresponding to the null CSI-RS pattern is within two OFDM symbols in the null CSI-RS subframe of the extended cyclic prefix, and the two OFDM symbols are other than OFDM symbols 0, 1, 2 and 3 of the slot 0 of the extended cyclic prefix and OFDM symbols 0, 1 and 3 of the slot 1 of the extended cyclic prefix.

5. A method for receiving, by a user equipment, a channel system information-reference signal (CSI-RS) for channel measurement, the method comprising: receiving, by the user equipment, CSI-RS pattern information for indicating a pattern of time-frequency resource to be nulled (null CSI-RS pattern), wherein a time-frequency resource corresponding to the null CSI-RS pattern is nulled in a subframe (null CSI-RS subframe), based on the CSI-RS pattern information, wherein the null CSI-RS subframe with the null CSI-RS pattern occurs every P subframe, wherein P is larger than 1, and wherein the null CSI-RS subframe is comprised of two slots, slot 0 and slot 1, each slot includes 7 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, OFDM symbols 0 to 6, for a normal cyclic prefix, the time-frequency resource corresponding to the null CSI-RS pattern is within two OFDM symbols in the null CSI-RS subframe of the normal cyclic prefix, and the two OFDM symbols are other than OFDM symbols 0, 1, 2 and 4 of the slot 0 of the normal cyclic prefix and OFDM symbols 0, 1 and 4 of the slot 1 of the normal cyclic prefix.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the null CSI-RS pattern is one of a plurality of time-frequency resource patterns defined for transmission of the CSI-RS.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising: receiving CSI-RS subframe information for indicating in which subframe the null CSI-RS pattern occurs, wherein the CSI-RS subframe information includes information indicating P and a subframe offset for the null CSI-RS pattern.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the null CSI-RS subframe is comprised of two slots, slot 0 and slot 1, each slot includes 6 OFDM symbols, OFDM symbols 0 to 5, for an extended cyclic prefix, the time-frequency resource corresponding to the null CSI-RS pattern is within two OFDM symbols in the null CSI-RS subframe of the extended cyclic prefix, and the two OFDM symbols are other than OFDM symbols 0, 1, 2 and 3 of the slot 0 of the extended cyclic prefix and OFDM symbols 0, 1 and 3 of the slot 1 of the extended cyclic prefix.

9. A base station for transmitting a channel system information-reference signal (CSI-RS) for channel measurement to a user equipment, the base station comprising: a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and a processor electrically connected to the RF transceiver, and configured to: control the RF transceiver to transmit CSI-RS pattern information for indicating a pattern of time-frequency resource to be nulled (null CSI-RS pattern), and null a time-frequency resource corresponding to the null CSI-RS pattern in a subframe (null CSI-RS subframe), based on the CSI-RS pattern information wherein the null CSI-RS subframe with the null CSI-RS pattern occurs every P subframes, wherein P is larger than 1, and wherein the null CSI-RS subframe is comprised of two slots, slot 0 and slot 1, each slot includes 7 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, OFDM symbols 0 to 6, for a normal cyclic prefix, the time-frequency resource corresponding to the null CSI-RS pattern is within two OFDM symbols in the null CSI-RS subframe of the normal cyclic prefix, and the two OFDM symbols are other than OFDM symbols 0, 1, 2 and 4 of the slot 0 of the normal cyclic prefix and OFDM symbols 0, 1 and 4 of the slot 1 of the normal cyclic prefix.

10. The base station of claim 9, wherein the null CSI-RS pattern is one of a plurality of time-frequency resource patterns defined for transmission of the CSI-RS.

11. The base station of claim 9, wherein the processor unit is configured to control the RF transceiver to transmit CSI-RS subframe information for indicating in which subframe the null CSI-RS pattern occurs, and wherein the CSI-RS subframe information includes information indicating P and a subframe offset for the null CSI-RS pattern.

12. The base station of claim 9, wherein the null CSI-RS subframe is comprised of two slots, slot 0 and slot 1, each slot includes 6 OFDM symbols, OFDM symbols 0 to 5, for an extended cyclic prefix, the time-frequency resource corresponding to the null CSI-RS pattern is within two OFDM symbols in the null CSI-RS subframe of the extended cyclic prefix, and the two OFDM symbols are other than OFDM symbols 0, 1, 2 and 3 of the slot 0 of the extended cyclic prefix and OFDM symbols 0, 1 and 3 of the slot 1 of the extended cyclic prefix.

13. A user equipment for receiving a channel system information-reference signal (CSI-RS) for channel measurement, the user equipment comprising: a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and a processor electrically connected to the RF transceiver, and configured to receive CSI-RS pattern information for indicating a pattern of time-frequency resource to be nulled (null CSI-RS pattern), wherein a time-frequency resource corresponding to the null CSI-RS pattern is nulled in a subframe (null CSI-RS subframe), based on the CSI-RS pattern information, wherein the null CSI-RS subframe with the null CSI-RS pattern occurs every P subframes, wherein P is larger than 1, and wherein the null CSI-RS subframe is comprised of two slots, slot 0 and slot 1, each slot includes 7 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, OFDM symbols 0 to 6, for a normal cyclic prefix, the time-frequency resource corresponding to the null CSI-RS pattern is within two OFDM symbols in the null CSI-RS subframe of the normal cyclic prefix, and the two OFDM symbols are other than OFDM symbols 0, 1, 2 and 4 of the slot 0 of the normal cyclic prefix and OFDM symbols 0, 1 and 4 of the slot 1 of the normal cyclic prefix.

14. The user equipment of claim 13, wherein the null CSI-RS pattern is one of a plurality of time-frequency resource patterns defined for transmission of the CSI-RS.

15. The user equipment of claim 13, wherein the processor unit is configured to control the RF transceiver to receive CSI-RS subframe information for indicating in which subframe the null CSI-RS pattern occurs, and wherein the CSI-RS subframe information includes information indicating P and a subframe offset for the null CSI-RS pattern.

16. The user equipment of claim 13, wherein the null CSI-RS subframe is comprised of two slots, slot 0 and slot 1, each slot includes 6 OFDM symbols, OFDM symbols 0 to 5, for an extended cyclic prefix, the time-frequency resource corresponding to the null CSI-RS pattern is within two OFDM symbols in the null CSI-RS subframe of the extended cyclic prefix, and the two OFDM symbols are other than OFDM symbols 0, 1, 2 and 3 of the slot 0 of the extended cyclic prefix and OFDM symbols 0, 1 and 3 of the slot 1 of the extended cyclic prefix.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 illustrates a type-1 radio frame structure.

(4) FIG. 2 illustrates a type-2 radio frame structure.

(5) FIG. 3 illustrates a Long Term Evolution (LTE) downlink slot structure.

(6) FIG. 4 illustrates an LTE uplink slot structure.

(7) FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary downlink subframe structure.

(8) FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary uplink subframe structure.

(9) FIG. 7 illustrates the configuration of a typical MIMO communication system.

(10) FIG. 8 illustrates channels from N.sub.T Transmission (Tx) antennas to an i.sup.th Reception (Rx) antenna.

(11) FIG. 9 illustrates a downlink RS allocation structure in case of a normal Cyclic Prefix (CP) in a 3.sup.rd Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) system.

(12) FIG. 10 illustrates a downlink RS allocation structure in case of an extended CP in the 3GPP LTE system.

(13) FIG. 11 illustrates Common Reference Signal (CRS) allocation patterns for two cells in the 3GPP LTE system.

(14) FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate CRS allocation patterns for cells participating in a Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(15) FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate CRS allocation patterns for cells participating in a CoMP operation according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(16) FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate CRS allocation patterns for cells participating in a CoMP operation according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(17) FIG. 18 illustrates subframe structures for two cells capable of participating in a CoMP operation, when the cells have different cell-specific frequency shift values but support the same number of antennas.

(18) FIG. 19 illustrates subframe structures for two cells participating in a CoMP operation, when the cells have the same cell-specific frequency shift value, one of the cells supports four antennas, and the other cell supports two antennas.

(19) FIG. 20 illustrates subframe structures for two cells participating in a CoMP operation, when the cells have different cell-specific frequency shift values, one of the cells supports four antennas, and the other cell supports two antennas.

(20) FIG. 21 illustrates CRS and Dedicated Reference Signal (DRS) allocation patterns for two cells in case of a normal CP, when the cells have different cell-specific frequency shift values according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(21) FIG. 22 illustrates CRS and DRS allocation patterns for two cells in case of an extended CP, when the cells have different cell-specific frequency shift values according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(22) FIGS. 23, 24 and 25 illustrate CRS and DRS allocation patterns, when CoMP cells are from two groups Group A and Group B according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

(23) FIGS. 26 and 27 illustrate CRS and DRS allocation patterns, when CoMP cells are only from one group, Group A according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

(24) FIGS. 28 and 29 illustrate CRS and DRS allocation patterns, when CoMP cells are only from one group, Group B according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

(25) FIGS. 30 and 31 illustrate CRS and DRS allocation patterns, when CoMP cells are only from one group, Group C according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(26) FIG. 32 illustrates CSI-RS and DRS allocation patterns for CoMP cells according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(27) FIG. 33 illustrates shifting of DRSs of a serving cell to avoid collision between DRSs and Channel State Information-Reference Signals (CSI-RSs), when two cells perform a CoMP operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(28) FIGS. 34 and 35 illustrate shifting of CSI-RSs and DRSs of a non-serving cell to avoid collision between DRSs and CSI-RSs, when two cells perform a CoMP operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(29) FIG. 36 illustrates a radio frame structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(30) FIGS. 37 and 38 illustrate subframe structures according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

(31) FIGS. 39 to 50 illustrate CSI-RS allocation patterns when a predetermined number of Resource Element (RE) positions are preset for transmission of CSI-RSs according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

(32) FIG. 51 illustrates CSI-RS allocation patterns for two cells participating in a CoMP operation in Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(33) FIG. 52 is a block diagram of an apparatus which is applicable to an evolved Node B (eNB) and a User Equipment (UE), for implementing the methods according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(34) Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The detailed description, which will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings, is intended to explain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, rather than to show the only embodiments that can be implemented according to the invention. The following description includes specific details in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. The same reference numbers will be used throughout this specification to refer to the same or like parts.

(35) Techniques, apparatus, and system as set forth herein are applicable to a wide range of radio access technologies such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Single Carrier-Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA), etc.

(36) CDMA may be implemented into radio technologies like Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) or CDMA2000. TDMA may be implemented into radio technologies including Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution (EDGE). OFDMA may be implemented into radio technologies such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, and Evolved-UTRA or E-UTRA. UTRA is part of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). 3.sup.rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) is part of Evolved-UMTS or E-UMTS using E-UTRA. 3GPP LTE adopts OFDMA for the downlink and SC-FDMA for the uplink. LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) is an evolution of 3GPP LTE. While the present invention is described in the context of 3GPP LTE and LTE-A, it should be understood that the technical features of the present invention are not limited to 3GPP LTE and LTE-A.

(37) There are largely two types of Reference Signals (RSs), Dedicated RS (DRS) and Common RS (CRS). DRSs are known to a particular User Equipment (UE), whereas CRSs are known to all UEs. In general, DRSs are used for data demodulation and CRSs are used for channel measurement. In the drawings, reference character D denotes DRSs and reference numerals 0, 1, 2 and 3 denote CRSs. In addition, channel measurement-RSs for antennas added to a system will be referred to as Channel State Information-RSs (CSI-RSs).

(38) A plurality of cells may support one UE in cooperation in two methods. One is that a plurality of cells share a Radio Frequency (RF) carrier frequency in a CoMP operation, and the other is that a plurality of cells use different RF carrier frequencies in a CoMP operation.

(39) In the former cooperation method, for example, two cells each having a single antenna transmit data by transmit diversity such as Space Time Block Coding (STBC) or Space Frequency Block Coding (SFBC), thus decreasing error rate. The latter cooperation method, for example, may be performed by allocating different frequency bands to a UE by different cells. In this manner, more data may be transmitted in the resulting wide frequency band.

(40) Hereinbelow, a description will be made of methods for designing CRS and DRS allocation patterns or CSI-RS and DRS allocation patterns to minimize ICI, for cells sharing the same RF carrier frequency as in the above first cooperation method.

(41) Embodiment 1

(42) Case 1: Each CoMP cell has one Transmission (Tx) antenna.

(43) FIG. 9 illustrates a CRS allocation structure in case of a normal CP in a 3GPP LTE system and FIG. 10 illustrates a CRS allocation structure in case of an extended CP in the 3GPP LTE system. In FIGS. 9 and 10, reference numerals 0, 1, 2 and 3 denote CRSs for antenna port 0 to antenna port 3.

(44) If CoMP cells have a single Tx antenna, it is assumed that they transmit RSs 0 in FIGS. 9 and 10. Notably, the CoMP cells transmit their RSs, RSs 0 at different positions. If RSs from some CoMP cells are at the same position, they interfere with each other, thus making channel estimation difficult. On the other hand, if one CoMP cell transmits an RS at a certain position and another CoMP cell transmits data at the same position, the channel estimation capability of the RS is decreased because the data acts as interference to the RS.

(45) Accordingly, this exemplary embodiment of the present invention proposes that when one CoMP cell transmits an RS in certain time-frequency resources, the other CoMP cells transmit null data in the time-frequency resources in a CoMP operation. To reduce the effects of interference from a Resource Element (RE) carrying data from another cell, another cell may null the RE. The nulling amounts to transmission of no data in the RE by puncturing or rate matching. Then the cell may signal to a UE that it has nulled the RE that may carry an RS from another cell. In closed-loop spatial multiplexing, data is multiplied by a precoding matrix prior to transmission. Since the other CoMP cells do not transmit data at the position of an RS transmitted by one CoMP cell, this results in the same effect that a single cell multiplies data by a precoding matrix, for transmission.

(46) Case 2: Each of CoMP Cells has two Tx antennas.

(47) The CoMP cells transmit RSs 0 and RSs 1 in FIGS. 9 and 10. Notably, the RSs 0 and the RSs 1 are transmitted at different positions. That is, all RSs for four antenna ports are transmitted at different positions. As described with reference to Case 1, if one CoMP cell transmits an RS at a certain position, the other CoMP cells transmit null data at the same position. In closed-loop spatial multiplexing, data is multiplied by a precoding matrix prior to transmission. Since the other CoMP cells do not transmit data at the position of an RS transmitted by one CoMP cell, this results in the same effect that a single cell multiplies data by a precoding matrix, for transmission.

(48) Case 3: One cell transmits an RS at a position and another cell transmits data at the same position.

(49) If different cells are allowed to transmit an RS and data respectively at the same position, this may be done to increase data rate at the expense of performance degradation of RS-based channel estimation.

(50) In the case where each of CoMP cells has a single Tx antenna and a CoMP cell is allowed to transmit data in REs occupied by RSs transmitted from another cell, this implies that precoding is not applied to time-space resources from the perspective of spatial multiplexing using a precoding matrix. If RSs common to all users are multiplied by a specific precoding matrix, other users may not use the RSs. For example, if two cells are participating in a CoMP operation and a precoding matrix of rank 1

(51) $\left[\begin{array}{c}1\\ j\end{array}\right]$
is used,

(52) $\left[\begin{array}{c}1\\ j\end{array}\right]s_1=\left[\begin{array}{c}{s}_1\\ j{s}_1\end{array}\right]$
is transmitted in time-space resources without RSs, whereas

(53) $\left[\begin{array}{c}1\\ 0\end{array}\right]s_1+\left[\begin{array}{c}0\\ R{S}_2\end{array}\right]=\left[\begin{array}{c}{s}_1\\ R{S}_2\end{array}\right]$
is transmitted in time-space resources carrying an RS from a cell. s.sub.1 denotes a data signal and RS.sub.2 denotes an RS.

(54) In the case where each of CoMP cells has two Tx antennas, they transmits RSs 0 and RSs 1 at different positions, as described with reference to Case 1. A cell transmits no signal through an antenna port at an RE where it transmits an RS through another antenna port. However, another cell transmits data at the RE irrespective of the RS transmission of the cell. For instance, if two cells are participating in a CoMP operation and a precoding matrix of rank 1

(55) $\frac{1}{2}\left[\begin{array}{c}1\\ j\\ -1\\ -j\end{array}\right]$
is used, a signal

(56) 0$\frac{1}{2}\left[\begin{array}{c}1\\ j\\ -1\\ -j\end{array}\right]s_1=\frac{1}{2}\left[\begin{array}{c}{s}_1\\ j{s}_1\\ -s_1\\ -j{s}_1\end{array}\right]$
is transmitted in time-space resources without an RS, while a signal

(57) $\frac{1}{2}\left[\begin{array}{c}1\\ j\\ 0\\ 0\end{array}\right]s_1+\left[\begin{array}{c}0\\ 0\\ 0\\ R{S}_2\end{array}\right]=\frac{1}{2}\left[\begin{array}{c}{s}_1\\ j{s}_1\\ 0\\ 2R{S}_2\end{array}\right]$
is transmitted in time-space resources carrying an RS from a cell. Here, s.sub.1 denotes a data signal and RS.sub.2 denotes an RS. That is, data is multiplied by a precoding matrix having 0 for a layer in which an RS is to be transmitted, and then transmitted along with the RS.

(58) Embodiment 2

(59) In another embodiment of the present invention, RS allocation patterns are designed based on the concept of nulling described before with reference to Case. 2 of Embodiment 1.

(60) FIG. 11 illustrates CRS allocation patterns for two cells in the 3GPP LTE system. Referring to FIG. 11, each subframe includes two consecutive slots. In case of a normal CP, a Physical Resource Block (PRB) has 14 consecutive OFDM symbols, whereas in case of an extended CP, a PRB has 12 consecutive OFDM symbols. To be more specific, when the normal CP is used, CRSs are transmitted in first, second and fifth symbols (1=0, 1 and 4) in each of two slots, that is, 6 symbols, and a synchronization signal is transmitted in the last two symbols (1=5 and 6) of the first slot, Slot 0 of each of every first and sixth subframes, subframe 0 and subframe 6. In every first subframe, subframe 0, first to fourth symbols (1=0, 1, 2, and 3) of a second slot, Slot 1 are used for a Physical Broadcast CHannel (PBCH).

(61) Similarly when the extended CP is used, CRSs are transmitted in first, second and fourth symbols (1=0, 1 and 3) in each of two slots and a synchronization signal is transmitted in fifth and sixth symbols (1=6 and 7) of the first slot, Slot 0 of each of every first and sixth subframes, subframe 0 and subframe 5. In every first subframe, subframe 0, first to fourth symbols (1=0, 1, 2, and 3) of a second slot, Slot 1 are used for a PBCH.

(62) For channel measurement for up to 8 Tx antennas, CRSs are supported for antenna port 0 to antenna port 3 and Channel State Information-RSs (CSI-RSs) are supported for additional antennas ports, that is, antenna port 4 to antenna port 7, or CSI-RSs are supported for antenna port 0 to antenna port 7. In this exemplary embodiment, available CSI-RS positions are proposed, which enable efficient resource allocation and offer a performance gain.

(63) Method 1: One symbol is used for CSI-RSs every P subframes.

(64) One symbol is available to carry CSI-RSs every P subframes. That is, one symbol may be used for channel measurement every P subframes. In case of the normal CP, for example, CSI-RSs may be transmitted in one of 7 symbols including unused for CRSs for antenna port 0 to antenna port 3, that is, fourth to seventh symbols (1=3, 5 and 6) of Slot 0 and third to seventh symbols (1=2, 3, 5 and 6) of Slot 1. More preferably, considering that the fourth and seventh symbols (1=3 and 6) of Slot 0 and the third and sixth symbols (1=2 and 5) of Slot 1 are used for demodulation of a Physical Downlink Shared CHannel (PDSCH) transmitted through a single antenna port, one of the three symbols being the sixth symbol (1=5) of Slot 0 and the fourth and seventh symbols (1=3 and 6) of Slot 1 may be selected for CSI-RSs.

(65) Similarly in case of the extended CP, CSI-RSs may be transmitted in one of 5 symbols unused for CRSs for antenna port 0 to antenna port 3, that is, fifth and sixth symbols (1=4 and 5) of Slot 0 and third, fifth and sixth symbols (1=2, 4 and 5) of Slot 1. More preferably, considering that the fifth symbol (1=4) of Slot 0 and the second and fifth symbols (1=1 and 4) of Slot 1 are used for demodulation of a PDSCH transmitted through a single antenna port, one of the three symbols being the sixth symbol (1=5) of Slot 0 and the third and sixth symbols (1=2 and 5) of Slot 1 may be selected for CSI-RSs.

(66) CSI-RSs are not limited to antenna port 4 to antenna port 7, and 12 REs forming one symbol may be wholly or partially used for the CSI-RSs. In both cases of the normal CP and the extended CP, however, the last symbol is the only symbol spared from other LTE functions such as carrying a PBCH, DRSs, CRSs for antenna port 0 to antenna port 3, and a synchronization signal. Therefore, it is preferable to deliver the CSI-RSs in the last symbol, thereby minimizing the effects of the CSI-RSs on the performance of Release-8 UEs.

(67) FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate CRS allocation patterns for cells participating in a Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. If a CRS allocation pattern for antenna 0 to antenna 3 is reused for CoMP channel measurement, CRSs from different CoMP cells may collide in some REs. The collision means interfering between CRSs transmitted at the same RE position in a subframe from different CoMP cells. Then, two cells Cell 0 and Cell 1 may suffer from performance degradation due to their CRSs in the same REs. To avoid CRS collision between cells, it is proposed as illustrated in FIG. 12 that each cell transmits CSI-RSs at cell-specific positions. The same thing may be applied to DRSs as well as CSI-RSs. In FIG. 12, and represent REs carrying CSI-RSs from Cell 0 and Cell 1, respectively. One of methods for allocating CSI-RSs to REs without inter-cell collision is to separate CSI-RSs from each other according to cells in the time domain. As illustrated in FIG. 12, for example, the seventh symbol (1=6) of Slot 1 is available for CSI-RS transmission of Cell 0, whereas the fourth symbol (1=3) of Slot 1 is available for CSI-RS transmission of Cell 1.

(68) Although all CoMP cells cannot avoid CSI-RS collision, each cell may choose a CSI-RS allocation pattern that causes as minimal CSI-RS collision as possible. In this manner, efficient CSI-RS allocation patterns may be designed, which minimize system loss.

(69) More preferably, despite the existence of CRSs for antenna port 0 to antenna port 3, CSI-RSs may be designed for antenna port 0 to antenna port 7, particularly for a CoMP operation. Since CoMP cells may be grouped according to their cell-specific values (e.g. cell-specific frequency shift values v.sub.shift by which RSs of each cell are shifted along the frequency axis so that RSs of the cells reside at different positions), each cell group such as Cell group A and Cell group B may have a different symbol for CSI-RSs, as illustrated in FIG. 12. It is possible to transmit CSI-RSs in every predetermined period P (i.e. a CSI-RS transmission period) depending on a channel environment or an RS overhead-related system requirement. A set of symbols carrying CSI-RSs may be different for each cell group and signaled to UEs. Also, the set of symbols carrying CSI-RSs may be associated with cell IDs, determined by a specific function. Therefore, a UE may identify the set of symbols carrying CSI-RSs by the cell IDs.

(70) Meanwhile, if channel measurement is carried out using CSI-RSs transmitted in the patterns illustrated in FIG. 12, CSI-RSs of one cell in specific REs may be interfered by data of another cell in the specific REs. The interference from data from another cell may be reduced by nulling the data in the REs, as illustrated in FIG. 13. Nulling means transmission of no data in an RE by puncturing or rate matching. In FIG. 13, represents nulled REs. Thus Cell 1 may null data in REs where Cell 0 transmits CSI-RSs and also Cell 0 may null data in REs where Cell 1 transmits CSI-RSs.

(71) Method 2: Two symbols are used for CSI-RSs every P subframes.

(72) If a single symbol is used for transmission of CSI-RSs as in Method 1, the symbol is too crowded with the CSI-RSs to carry data or DRSs. In this context, this exemplary embodiment proposes that two symbols are allocated to CSI-RSs. For example, as 4 or 6 REs are allocated to CSI-RSs in each symbol, CSI-RSs may be less dense than in Method 1.

(73) In case of the normal CP, therefore, CSI-RSs may be delivered in two of 7 symbols including unused for CRSs for antenna port 0 to antenna port 3, that is, fourth to seventh symbols (1=3, 5 and 6) of Slot 0 and third to seventh symbols (1=2, 3, 5 and 6) of Slot 1. More preferably, considering that the fourth and seventh symbols (1=3 and 6) of Slot 0 and the third and sixth symbols (1=2 and 5) of Slot 1 are used for demodulation of a PDSCH transmitted through a single antenna port, two of the remaining three symbols being the sixth symbol (1=5) of Slot 0 and the fourth and seventh symbols (1=3 and 6) of Slot 1 may be selected for CSI-RSs.

(74) Similarly in case of the extended CP, CSI-RSs may be transmitted in two of 5 symbols unused for CRSs for antenna port 0 to antenna port 3, that is, fifth and sixth symbols (1=4 and 5) of Slot 0 and third, fifth and sixth symbols (1=2, 4 and 5) of Slot 1. More preferably, considering that the fifth symbol (1=4) of Slot 0 and the second and fifth symbols (1=1 and 4) of Slot 1 are used for demodulation of a PDSCH transmitted through a single antenna port, two of the remaining three symbols being the sixth symbol (1=5) of Slot 0 and the third and sixth symbols (1=2 and 5) of Slot 1 may be selected for CSI-RSs. Alternatively or additionally, one symbol per slot may be used for CSI-RSs to cover a channel delay spread.

(75) The use of two symbols for CSI-RSs in a CoMP operation is highly likely to result in simultaneous use of at least one same CSI-RS symbol between cells. Hence, cell-specific frequency shift values v.sub.shift or a similar factor may be taken into account in order to avoid CSI-RS collision.

(76) FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate CRS allocation patterns for cells participating in a CoMP operation according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(77) Referring to FIG. 14, for each cell or cell group, there is a probability of having one (1=5 in Slot 0) of two CSI-RS symbols overlapped with a CSI-RS symbol of its neighbor cell or cell group. To reduce interference from the neighbor cell or cell group, the cell-specific frequency shift value of the cell or cell group may be changed. As illustrated in FIG. 14, symbols carrying CSI-RSs have room for data or DRSs.

(78) Meanwhile, if channel measurement is carried out using CSI-RSs transmitted in the patterns illustrated in FIG. 14, CSI-RSs transmitted in specific REs by one CoMP cell may be interfered by data transmitted in the specific REs by another CoMP cell. The interference from data from another CoMP cell may be reduced by nulling the data in the REs, as illustrated in FIG. 15. In FIG. 15, represents nulled REs. Thus Cell 1 may null data in REs where Cell 0 transmits CSI-RSs and also Cell 0 may null data in REs where Cell 1 transmits CSI-RSs.

(79) Method 3: CSI-RSs are transmitted in the same symbols carrying CRSs for antenna port 0 to antenna port 3 every P subframes.

(80) FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate CRS allocation patterns for cells participating in a CoMP operation according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(81) As demodulation-DRSs (DM-DRSs) are also transmitted in time-frequency resources, there is a limited number of REs available to CSI-RSs. Assuming that CSI-RSs do not coexist with DRSs in the same symbol and high power boosting is not required for RSs, additional CSI-RSs may be transmitted in OFDM symbols carrying CRSs.

(82) Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, up to four symbols except for a PDCCH region are available to the additional CSI-RSs, and the remaining eight REs of each of the available symbols may be wholly or partially used for CSI-RSs.

(83) If the CSI-RSs are inserted only in OFDM symbols carrying CRSs, the CSI-RSs and the DRSs are positioned in different OFDM symbols. As a consequence, power boosting of the CSI-RSs for improved channel estimation does not affect the DRSs, thereby making it possible to design an efficient DRS allocation pattern.

(84) Embodiment 3

(85) Now a description will be made of CRS and DRS allocation patterns, when CoMP cells have the same number of Tx antennas or different numbers of Tx antennas. Embodiment 3 is about designing RS patterns based on the concept of nulling described before with reference to Case 2 of Embodiment 1.

(86) FIG. 18 illustrates subframe structures for two cells capable of participating in a CoMP operation, when the cells have different cell-specific frequency shift values but support the same number of antennas.

(87) Referring to FIG. 18, reference numerals 0, 1, 2 and 3 denote CRSs for antenna port 0 to antenna port 3, respectively and represents nulled REs. The nulling may be realized in two methods. One of the nulling methods is that encoded data are first inserted in REs and then punctured prior to transmission, thus virtually transmitting no information in the REs, and the other nulling method is that data is rate-matched so that no data are inserted in REs.

(88) In the LTE system, RSs are allocated to REs according to a cell-specific frequency shift value v.sub.shift. On the assumption that a UE has knowledge of the cell IDs of CoMP cells, the UE may find out REs available to the CoMP cells and RS allocation patterns of the CoMP cells and accordingly perform channel measurement and demodulation. However, as two cells with different cell IDs can participate in a CoMP operation as illustrated in FIG. 18, CRSs may collide with data between the cells.

(89) For instance, if one of two CoMP cells, Cell 1 is silenced, Cell 1 nulls data in REs carrying CRSs of Cell 2 in an RB allocated to Cell 2 because a UE should demodulate data transmitted by Cell 2. Even though Cell 1 is not silenced, Cell 1 cannot transmit data in REs that are not used by an anchor cell connected to the UE and carry CRSs of Cell 2 in an RB received by the UE. Silencing is a technique of transmitting only information and signals required for operating as a cell, not data in predetermined time-frequency areas by a certain CoMP cell among CoMP cells.

(90) While the description made so far is based on the premise that CoMP cells basically have the same number of Tx antennas, a system where CoMP cells have different numbers of Tx antennas may be implemented under circumstances. For the convenience' sake of description, it is assumed that Cell 1 supports four Tx antennas and Cell 2 supports two Tx antennas.

(91) FIG. 19 illustrates subframe structures for two cells Cell 1 and Cell 2 participating in a CoMP operation, when the cells have the same cell-specific frequency shift value v.sub.shift, one of the cells, Cell 1 supports four antennas, and the other cell, Cell 2 supports two antennas. The number of transmitted RSs varies with the number of supported Tx antennas. Hence, RSs for antenna port 2 and antenna port 3 transmitted in certain REs from Cell 1 collide with data transmitted in the REs from Cell 2. Then Cell 2 should null the data in the REs to avoid the RS-data collision.

(92) FIG. 20 illustrates subframe structures for two cells Cell 1 and Cell 2 participating in a CoMP operation, when the cells have different cell-specific frequency shift values v.sub.shift, one of the cells, Cell 1 supports four antennas, and the other cell, Cell 2 supports two antennas. The number of transmitted RSs varies with the number of supported Tx antennas and cell-specific frequency shift values v.sub.shift. Hence, RSs transmitted in certain REs from one cell collide with data transmitted in the REs from another cell. Then each of Cell 1 and Cell 2 should null data in REs carrying RSs of the other cell to avoid the RS-data collision.

(93) When a cell in a set of cells capable of participating in a CoMP operation transmits CRSs in the same REs carrying data from another cell, the data may be nulled in the REs in the following methods.

(94) A) If the cells capable of participating in the CoMP operation have different numbers of Tx antennas, a cell may null data in REs carrying CRSs from another cell, with respect to an anchor cell.

(95) B) Even though a cell is designated as capable of participating in the CoMP operation according to a transmission scheme at the moment data can be transmitted in a CoMP scheme, the cell may not transmit data actually.

(96) According to a CoMP transmission scheme, a CoMP cell may null REs which are supposed to be nulled by the anchor cell or may not null the REs by receiving additional signaling from an Evolved Node B (eNB) in the present invention.

(97) In the case where a CoMP cell has to null data in REs carrying RSs from another CoMP cell, the data nulling may be indicated to the UE by signaling from a higher layer or by signaling on a PDCCH.

(98) FIG. 21 illustrates CRS and DRS allocation patterns for two cells, Cell 1 and Cell 2 in case of a normal CP, when the cells have different cell-specific frequency shift values according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. On the assumption that a UE has knowledge of the cell IDs of CoMP cells, the UE may find out REs available to the CoMP cells and RS allocation patterns of the CoMP cells and accordingly perform channel measurement and demodulation. More specifically, when two cells with different cell IDs participate in a CoMP operation, they have different cell-specific frequency shift values v.sub.shift according to [Equation 12] and [Equation 14] and thus different RS allocation patterns.

(99) As noted from FIG. 21, in case of the normal CP, neither CRSs nor DRSs occupy the same REs between Cell 1 and Cell 2 in a PRB irrespective of the cell-specific frequency shift values v.sub.shift of the CRSs and DRSs.

(100) FIG. 22 illustrates CRS and DRS allocation patterns for two cells, Cell 1 and Cell 2 in case of an extended CP, when the cells have different cell-specific frequency shift values according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(101) Referring to FIG. 22, CRSs and DRSs exist in the same symbol (1=1 in a second slot, Slot 2) in case of the extended CP. As a result, it may occur that CRSs may collide with DRSs between Cell 1 and Cell 2, thus interfering between them. Thus, system performance is degraded.

(102) Basically, this problem can be overcame by puncturing either the CRSs or the DRSs. Puncturing the CRSs decreases the accuracy of channel measurement, whereas puncturing the DRSs decreases the accuracy of channel estimation.

(103) Considering that channel estimation for demodulation is usually more significant than channel measurement, the CRSs may be punctured. Yet, the present invention proposes that a rule is set to avoid allocation of CRSs and DRSs to the same REs between different cells rather than either the CRSs or the DRSs are punctured.

(104) As stated before, the cell-specific frequency shift values v.sub.shift of CRSs and DRSs are determined by [Equation 13], [Equation 14] and [Equation 15] in the LTE system. Thus to avoid collision between CRSs and DRSs of different cells, cells capable of participating in a CoMP operation needs to be grouped. Because the cell-specific frequency shift value v.sub.shift of DRSs is one of 0, 1 and 2 according to [Equation 15], entire CoMP cells may be grouped into three cell groups.

(105) In this exemplary embodiment, cells are grouped into Group A, Group B and Group C according to their cell-specific frequency shift values v.sub.shift of CRSs, 0, 1 and 2. Yet, this specific number of groups is a mere exemplary application and thus many other numbers of groups may be produced according to values v.sub.shift in other systems.

(106) Implementation of a CoMP operation with the above three groups may lead to collision between CRSs and DRSs of different CoMP cells. Therefore, it is proposed that cells from two of the three groups serve as CoMP cells. In this case, it is also proposed that DRSs of each of the two groups are allocated to REs based on a frequency shift value v.sub.shift corresponding to REs unused for CRSs (or CSI-RSs) in the two groups. The following examples are about configuring CoMP cells from two of the three groups.

(107) Case 1: Cells from Group A and Group B serve as CoMP cells.

(108) FIG. 23 illustrates CRS and DRS allocation patterns, when CoMP cells are from two groups Group A and Group B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(109) CoMP cells from Group A and Group B have CRS frequency shift values v.sub.shift of 0 and 1, respectively. Thus CRSs of the CoMP cells are shifted along the frequency axis as illustrated in FIG. 23. One thing to note herein is that DRS frequency shift values of the CoMP cells should be determined based on a frequency shift value v.sub.shift corresponding to REs unused for the two groups in order to avoid collision between CRSs and DRSs. For example, based on DRS allocation patterns defined in the current LTE system, a DRS frequency shift value v.sub.shift may be calculated by [Equation 16].
DRS v.sub.shift=(CRS v.sub.shift of Group C+1)% Number of Groups[Equation 16]

(110) Case. 2: Cells from Group A and Group C serve as CoMP cells.

(111) FIG. 24 illustrates CRS and DRS allocation patterns, when CoMP cells are from two groups Group A and Group C according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. CoMP cells from Group A and Group C have CRS frequency shift values v.sub.shift of 0 and 2, respectively. Thus CRSs of the CoMP cells are shifted along the frequency axis as illustrated in FIG. 24. In order to avoid collision between CRSs and DRSs, DRS frequency shift values of the CoMP cells should be determined based on a frequency shift value v.sub.shift corresponding to REs unused for the two groups. For example, based on the DRS allocation patterns defined in the current LTE system, a DRS frequency shift value v.sub.shift may be calculated by [Equation 17].
DRS v.sub.shift=(CRS v.sub.shift of Group B+1)% Number of Groups[Equation 17]

(112) Case. 3: Cells from Group B and Group C serve as CoMP cells.

(113) FIG. 25 illustrates CRS and DRS allocation patterns, when CoMP cells are from two groups Group B and Group C according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. CoMP cells from Group B and Group C have CRS frequency shift values v.sub.shift of 1 and 2, respectively. Thus CRSs of the CoMP cells are shifted along the frequency axis as illustrated in FIG. 25. In order to avoid collision between CRSs and DRSs, DRS frequency shift values of the CoMP cells should be determined based on a frequency shift value v.sub.shift corresponding to REs unused for the two groups. For example, based on the DRS allocation patterns defined in the current LTE system, a DRS frequency shift value v.sub.shift may be calculated by [Equation 18].
DRS v.sub.shift =(CRS v.sub.shift of Group A+1)% Number of Groups[Equation 18]

(114) CoMP cells are configured from two of three groups in the above description. On the other hand, CoMP cells may be configured from one of the three cells, which will be described below.

(115) When cells from one of three groups categorized according to CRS frequency shift values v.sub.shift serves as CoMP cells, DRSs of the CoMP cells are allocated to REs based on a frequency shift value v.sub.shift corresponding to REs unused by the CoMP cells. In the following examples, cells from each of the three groups perform a CoMP operation as CoMP cells and have the same CRS frequency shift value v.sub.shift. Hence, more REs are available for DRSs than in the foregoing examples. Now a description will be made of CRS and DRS allocation patterns when CoMP cells are from one group.

(116) Case. 1: Cells only from Group A serve as CoMP cells.

(117) FIGS. 26 and 27 illustrate CRS and DRS allocation patterns, when CoMP cells are from Group A according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

(118) Referring to FIGS. 26 and 27, CoMP cells only from Group A have a CRS frequency shift value v.sub.shift of 0. Thus CRSs of the CoMP cells are shifted along the frequency axis as illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27. For example, based on the DRS allocation patterns defined in the current LTE system, a DRS frequency shift value v.sub.shift may be calculated by [Equation 19] or [Equation 20]. Then the DRS frequency shift values v.sub.shift =0 and 2, respectively by [Equation 19] and [Equation 20].
DRS v.sub.shift =CRS v.sub.shift of Group A[Equation 19]
DRS v.sub.shift =(CRS v.sub.shift of Group A+2)% Number of Groups[Equation 20]

(119) Case. 2: Cells only from Group B serve as CoMP cells.

(120) FIGS. 28 and 29 illustrate CRS and DRS allocation patterns, when CoMP cells are only from Group B according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

(121) Referring to FIGS. 28 and 29, CoMP cells only from Group B have a CRS frequency shift value v.sub.shift of 1. Thus CRSs of the CoMP cells are shifted along the frequency axis as illustrated in FIGS. 28 and 29. For example, based on the DRS allocation patterns defined in the current LTE system, a DRS frequency shift value v.sub.shift may be calculated by [Equation 21] or [Equation 22]. Then the DRS frequency shift values v.sub.shift =1 and 0, respectively by [Equation 21] and [Equation 22].
DRS v.sub.shift =CRS v.sub.shift of Group B[Equation 21]
DRS v.sub.shift =(CRS v.sub.shift of Group B+2)% Number of Groups[Equation 22]

(122) Case. 3: Cells only from Group C serve as CoMP cells.

(123) FIGS. 30 and 31 illustrate CRS and DRS allocation patterns, when CoMP cells are from Group C according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

(124) Referring to FIGS. 30 and 31, CoMP cells only from Group C have a CRS frequency shift value v.sub.shift of 2. Thus CRSs of the CoMP cells are shifted along the frequency axis as illustrated in FIGS. 30 and 31. For example, based on the DRS allocation patterns defined in the current LTE system, a DRS frequency shift value v.sub.shift may be calculated by [Equation 23] or [Equation 24]. Then the DRS frequency shift values v.sub.shift =2 and 1, respectively by [Equation 23] and [Equation 24].
DRS v.sub.shift =CRS v.sub.shift of Group C[Equation 23]
DRS v.sub.shift =(CRS v.sub.shift of Group C+2)% Number of Groups[Equation 24]

(125) In the LTE system, each cell has a different cell-specific frequency shift value v.sub.shift for RSs. A UE receives cell IDs of cells capable of participating in a CoMP and then a UE can figure out data transmission or information about a CRS allocation pattern of each of the cells from an eNB. Based on the received information, the UE may know REs available to each of the cells and an RS allocation pattern of each of the cells and thus may perform channel measurement and demodulated. However, since cells with different cell IDs from two groups, Group 1 and Group 2 may participate in a CoMP operation, data and CRSs may be position at the same REs between the cells. Therefore, each of the cells should null data in REs carrying CRSs of the other cell. However, the cells may determine whether to null the data in the REs by receiving signaling.

(126) Meanwhile, when CoMP information is signaled to the UE from a higher layer or on a PDCCH, the CoMP information may indicate REs in which data has been nulled or cells or cell groups that have participated in a CoMP operation. The UE may determine the positions or frequency shift value of DRSs v.sub.shift using the received CoMP information.

(127) In summary, the above-proposed DRS frequency shift value (DRS v.sub.shift ) indication methods are 1) using DRS frequency shift values derived according to CoMP cells as fixed values, 2) receiving DRS frequency shift values or equivalent information such as information about cell groups that have participated in a CoMP operation by signaling from a higher layer, and 3) receiving DRS frequency shift values or equivalent information such as information about cell groups that have participated in a CoMP operation on a PDCCH.

(128) How CRS and DRS allocation patterns are designed has been described above. However, the CRS and DRS allocation pattern designing methods are not limited to CRSs and DRSs and are applicable to designing CSI-RS and DRS allocation patterns in the same manner.

(129) If CSI-RSs and DRSs of each of CoMP cells are allocated to the same symbol, it may occur that DRSs and CSI-RSs of the CoMP cells are at the same positions, thus causing collision between them. Thus, methods for preventing the DRS-CSI-RS collision will be described below. When joint processing is considered for a CoMP operation, DRSs of different CoMP cells may be shifted so that they share the same resources in exemplary embodiments described below. Accordingly, it is useful that the DRS frequency shift value is UE-specific.

(130) FIG. 32 illustrates CSI-RS and DRS allocation patterns for CoMP cells according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 32, if a CSI-RS frequency shift value v.sub.shift is tied to a cell-specific value, that is, a cell ID, DRSs may collide with CSI-RSs in the same REs.

(131) FIG. 33 illustrates shifting of DRSs of a serving cell to avoid collision between DRSs and CSI-RSs, when two cells perform a CoMP operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. To avoid the DRS-CSI-RS collision, the following operation may be performed. If Cell 0 is a serving cell, DRSs of the serving cell may be shifted to share the same resources with DRSs of another CoMP cell. When needed, Cell 0 may null REs carrying data.

(132) On the other hand, for the DRS shift of the non-serving cell, CSI-RSs of the non-serving cell may also be shifted. For this purpose, it is proposed that a cell-specific CSI-RS frequency shift value v.sub.shift is signaled from a higher layer. That is, CSI-RSs may be shifted for the DRS shift. From the perspective of the higher layer signaling, the CSI-RS frequency shift value v.sub.shift may be different from a DRS frequency shift value v.sub.shift . Also, the frequency shift values v.sub.shift of CSI-RS may be signaled in a UE-specific manner. The signaling may be implemented as Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling or dynamic PDCCH signaling.

(133) FIGS. 34 and 35 illustrate shifting of CSI-RSs and DRSs of a non-serving cell to avoid collision between DRSs and CSI-RSs, when two cells perform a CoMP operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. When needed, the non-serving cell may null REs carrying data.

(134) Embodiment 4

(135) FIG. 36 illustrates a radio frame structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, channel information about cells or cell groups participating in a CoMP operation is measured in different subframes. It is assumed in FIG. 36 that second, fifth and eighth subframes, subframe 1, subframe 4 and subframe 7 carry CSI-RSs of Cell 0 (Cell group A), Cell 1 (Cell group B) and Cell 2 (Cell group C), respectively. Due to different subframes carry CSI-RSs of different cells or cell groups, for channel measurement, a problem encountered with measurement of CSI-RSs transmitted in one subframe from different cells, that is, collision between CSI-RSs of different cells that are allocated to the same REs based on cell-specific frequency shift values. Accordingly, there is no need for modifying a CSI-RS format as stated before, in order to support MIMO and CoMP simultaneously. It is known that a smaller number of CSI-RSs suffice for channel measurement. Hence, CSI-RSs may be transmitted every 10 ms.

(136) FIGS. 37 and 38 illustrate subframe structures according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

(137) Referring to FIGS. 37 and 38, a UE measures CSI-RSs of Cell 0 (Cell group A) in Subframe 1 and CSI-RSs of Cell 1 (Cell group B) in Subframe 4. If data is punctured in specific REs to reduce interference with another cell, the total number of punctured data REs per subframe is smaller than in a CoMP operation where a plurality of cells transmits RSs for channel measurement in the same subframe. This is because Cell 1 (Cell group B) does not need transmit its channel information in a subframe allocated to Cell 0 (Cell group A). To configure a appropriate subframe for each cell or cell group, an offset, a period, and information may be used. In addition, information indicating whether data nulling is applied or not may be signaled according to channel environment because interference from data REs of a cell may be too weak to affect measurement of CSI-RSs transmitted from another cell. For nulling, a period and an offset may also be used.

(138) Embodiment 5

(139) In this embodiment, a predetermined number of RE positions are preset for dedicated allocation to CSI-RSs. If CSI-RSs are not transmitted in some of the preset REs, the REs are kept vacant. First of all, a common network determines entire RE positions for CSI-RS transmission. Then detailed information about antenna ports, symbol positions, a period, etc. may be configured by higher layer signaling under circumstances. In the absence of signaling, the predetermined number of preset RE positions may be kept vacant.

(140) FIGS. 39 to 50 illustrate CSI-RS allocation patterns when a predetermined number of RE positions are preset for transmission of CSI-RSs according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In FIGS. 39 to 50, represents the preset REs for CSI-RSs. Antenna multiplexing may be performed by CDM, FDM, TDM or a hybrid technique. Preferably, a CDM scheme using 12 preset REs may support 12 antenna ports for a UE without puncturing data in the REs.

(141) FIG. 51 illustrates CSI-RS allocation patterns for two cells participating in a CoMP operation in FDM according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. If two cells participate in an FDM-CoMP operation, the CSI-RS patterns illustrated in FIG. 51 may be configured by higher layer signaling. CSI-RSs for antenna port 0 and antenna port 1 may be configured based on a cell. Without signaling about additional puncturing of data REs, a cell may avoid interference from another cell. Especially in FDM, the cell-specific frequency shift value v.sub.shift of a CoMP cell may be signaled according to preset RE positions. Or preset RE positions for a CoMP cell may be signaled according to the cell-specific frequency shift value v.sub.shift of the CoMP cell. Or only limited cells may participate in a CoMP operation without any signaling for allocating preset RE positions. Cell 0 supports antenna port 0 and antenna port 1 for a CoMP operation, as illustrated in FIG. 51. When Cell 0 needs to operate in 4Tx Single User-MIMO (SU-MIMO) by additionally supporting antenna port 2 and antenna port 3, it may transmit CSI-RSs for antenna port 2 and antenna port 3 in a different subframe from a subframe carrying CSI-RSs for antenna port 0 and antenna port 1. Information about the subframe carrying the CSI-RSs for antenna port 2 and antenna port 3 may be indicated by an offset.

(142) The foregoing embodiments have been described above in the context of CoMP, they are also applicable to a relay DwPTS, etc.

(143) FIG. 52 is a block diagram of an apparatus which is applicable to an eNB and a UE, for implementing the methods according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

(144) Referring to FIG. 52, an apparatus 60 includes a processor unit 61, a memory unit 62, a Radio Frequency (RF) unit 63, a display unit 64, and a User Interface (UI) unit 65. The processor unit 61 takes charge of physical interface protocol layers and provides a control plane and a user plane. The processor unit 61 may also perform the functionalities of each layer. The memory unit 62 is electrically connected to the processor unit 61 and stores an operating system, application programs, and general files. If the apparatus 60 is a UE, the display unit 64 may display a variety of information and may be implemented with a known Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED), or the like. The UI unit 65 may be configured in combination with a known UI like a keypad, a touch screen, etc. The RF unit 63 is electrically connected to the processor unit 61, for transmitting and receiving RF signals.

(145) Various embodiments have been described in the best mode for carrying out the invention.

(146) The present invention is applicable to a UE, an eNB, or other devices in a wireless communication system.

(147) Exemplary embodiments described above are combinations of elements and features of the present invention. The elements or features may be considered selective unless otherwise mentioned. Each element or feature may be practiced without being combined with other elements or features. Further, an embodiment of the present invention may be constructed by combining parts of the elements and/or features. Operation orders described in embodiments of the present invention may be rearranged. Some constructions of any one embodiment may be included in another embodiment and may be replaced with corresponding constructions of another embodiment. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that claims that are not explicitly cited in each other in the appended claims may be presented in combination as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention or included as a new claim by a subsequent amendment after the application is filed.

(148) The term UE may be replaced with the term Mobile Station (MS), Subscriber Station (SS), Mobile Subscriber Station (MSS), mobile terminal, etc.

(149) The UE may be any of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a Personal Communication Service (PCS) phone, a Global System for Mobile (GSM) phone, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) phone, a Mobile Broadband System (MBS) phone, etc.

(150) The exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be achieved by various means, for example, hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

(151) In a hardware configuration, the methods according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be achieved by one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Digital Signal Processing Devices (DSPDs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, etc.

(152) In a firmware or software configuration, the methods according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in the form of a module, a procedure, a function, etc. For example, software code may be stored in a memory unit and executed by a processor. The memory unit is located at the interior or exterior of the processor and may transmit and receive data to and from the processor via various known means.

(153) Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those set forth herein without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the present invention. The above embodiments are therefore to be construed in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, not by the above description, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.