Adapting demodulation reference signal configuration in networks using massive MIMO

1. A method, comprising:

determining, by a network device comprising a processor, configuration data representative of a configuration for a first demodulation reference signal that is used to facilitate performing a first estimation of a transmission channel and a second estimation of a noise variance for transmissions between the network device and a user equipment, wherein the configuration relates to an amount of transmit power used by the user equipment;

facilitating, by the network device, transmitting the configuration data to the user equipment;

facilitating, by the network device, receiving a second reference signal from the user equipment;

evaluating, by the network device, the second reference signal to determine whether the configuration data is applicable to a condition of a transmission link between the network device and the user equipment; and

in response to a determination that the configuration is not applicable to the condition, modifying, by the network device, the configuration data resulting in modified configuration data representative of a modified configuration for the first demodulation reference signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising facilitating, by the network device, transmitting the modified configuration data to the user equipment.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the facilitating the transmitting of the modified configuration data comprises using a layer 3 protocol related to radio resource control signaling.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the facilitating the transmitting of the modified configuration data comprises using a layer 1 protocol related to information communicated via a physical control channel.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device comprises a remote radio unit device.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the remote radio unit device is coupled to a baseband unit device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device is operable to use antennas to communicate via a massive multiple in multiple out protocol.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determination is based on estimates of a signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio indicative of a propagation loss for information transmitted via the transmission link.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determination is based on an error rate related to errors in transmission experienced by the transmission link.

10. A network device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

determining a configuration for a first demodulation reference signal used to perform channel estimation and noise variance estimation for transmissions between the network device to a user equipment, wherein the configuration relates to an amount of transmit power used by the user equipment,

facilitating transmitting the configuration to the user equipment,

facilitating receiving a second reference signal from the user equipment, and

in response to a determination, based on an evaluation of the second reference signal received from the user equipment, that the configuration is not defined for use under a current condition related to a connection of the user equipment, signaling the user equipment to modify the configuration.

11. The network device of claim 10 , wherein the network device comprises a remote radio unit device.

12. The network device of claim 11 , wherein the remote radio unit device is coupled to a baseband unit device.

13. The network device of claim 10 , wherein the determination is based on estimates of a signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio indicative of a propagation loss for information transmitted on a transmission link between the network device and the user equipment.

14. The network device of claim 10 , wherein the determination is based on an error rate related to errors in transmission experienced on a transmission link between the network device and the user equipment.

15. The network device of claim 10 , further comprising antennas, and wherein the network device is operable to use the antennas to communicate via a massive multiple in multiple out protocol.

16. The network device of claim 10 , wherein the configuration relates to a density representative of an amount of a physical upstream control channel occupied by demodulation reference signal information.

17. A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a network node device, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

determining a configuration for a first demodulation reference signal used for performing channel estimation and noise variance estimation for a transmission between the network node device to a user equipment, wherein the configuration relates to an amount of transmit power used by the user equipment;

transmitting the configuration to the user equipment;

receiving a second reference signal from the user equipment; and

in response to a determination, based on an evaluation of the second reference signal received from the user equipment, that the configuration is not appropriate for a condition of a transmission link between the network node device and the user equipment, transmitting a signal to the user equipment to modify the configuration.

18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the network node device comprises a remote radio unit device.

19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the remote radio unit device is coupled to a baseband unit device.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the configuration relates to a density representative of an amount of a physical upstream control channel occupied by demodulation reference signal information.