Method and apparatus for antenna diversity in a wireless communication system

• US 20020193146A1
• Filed: 06/06/2001
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Walton, Jay Rod, Wallace, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/875,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20020193146A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0417 Feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0604 with predefined switching scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0628 Diversity capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0643 Feedback on request
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0669 using different channel coding between antennas space-time coding H04L1/0618
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0678 using different spreading codes between antennas code allocation H04J13/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0689 using different transmission schemes, at least one of them being a diversity transmission scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0697 using spatial multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/082 selecting best antenna path
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0865 Independent weighting, i.e. weights based on own antenna reception parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0871 using different reception schemes, at least one of them being a diversity reception scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0028 Variable division signaling therefor H04L5/0092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/006 Quality of the received signal, e.g. BER, SNR, water filling

Abstract

Method and apparatus for negotiating a transmission scenario in a mixed mode spectrum wireless communication system capable of both MISO and SISO traffic. The transmitter determines an antenna diversity configuration for a given communication link and applies a transmission scenario. The base station queries the remote station for antenna diversity status. In response to the antenna diversity status information, the base station determines and applies a transmission scenario. In one embodiment, a base station generates composite MIMO transmissions to multiple SISO mobile stations.

Claims

1. A base station apparatus comprising:

an antenna array; and

a diversity controller coupled to the antenna array, operative for determining a transmission scenario based on the configuration of a given communication link.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the diversity controller is operative to query a mobile station for diversity capability of the mobile station to establish a first communication link with the mobile station.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the diversity controller is operative to determine the transmission scenario according to the antenna configuration of the mobile station and the antenna configuration of the base station.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein if the mobile station has a single antenna the diversity controller is operative to transmit to the mobile station on a single antenna.

5. An apparatus as in claim 3, further comprising:

a delay element coupled between a first antenna element and a second antenna element of the antenna array,

wherein if the mobile station has a single antenna the apparatus is operative to transmit to the mobile station using the first and second antenna elements.

6. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein:

the antenna array comprises a first antenna element and a second antenna element,

during a first time period the first antenna element transmits a first signal and the second antenna element transmits a second signal, and

during a second time period the first antenna transmits a third signal that is a function of the second signal and the second antenna transmits a fourth signal that is a function of the first sign.

7. An apparatus as in claim 3, further comprising:

a first coding unit; and

a switching means for coupling the first coding unit to the antenna array.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein for a multiple input multiple output capable receiver the transmission scenario is determined as a function of a channel quality metric.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the transmission scenario is determined as a function of receiver capability.

10. A base station apparatus comprising:

an antenna array;

a control processor for processing computer-readable instructions; and

a memory storage device coupled to the control processor, operative to store a plurality of computer-readable instructions, comprising;

a first set of instructions for requesting antenna diversity status of the first communication link;

a second set of instructions for determining a first transmission scenario of the first communication link in response to the antenna diversity status; and

a third set of instructions for applying the first transmission scenario to the first communication link.

11. An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein for a multiple input multiple output capable receiver the transmission scenario is determined as a function of the channel quality.

12. An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein antenna diversity status comprises the number of receive antennas at a receiver of the first communication link.

14. A method as in claim 13, further comprising:

receiving antenna diversity status information for a second communication link;

determining a second configuration of the second communication link in response to the antenna diversity status information; and

applying a second transmission scenario to the second communication links.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein if the first configuration is a single receive antenna configuration, and the second configuration is a multiple receive antenna configuration, the transmission scenario applies a delay to signals for the first communication link.

18. A mobile station apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the channel quality is a function of a ratio of carrier to interference of received signals.

19. A mobile station apparatus as in claim 17, further comprising:

a receiver coupled to channel quality measurement unit and the diversity controller,

wherein the mobile station apparatus configures the receiver consistent with the transmission scenario.

13. A method for communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving antenna diversity status information for a first communication link; and

determining a configuration of the first communication link in response to the antenna diversity status information; and

applying a transmission scenario to the first communication link.

16. A computer readable media embodying a method for determining a transmission scenario in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

querying multiple mobile users for antenna diversity status;

receiving antenna diversity status information from at least one of the mobile users; and

applying a transmission scenario consistent with the antenna diversity status information.

17. A mobile station apparatus comprising:

a channel quality measurement unit operative to determine a channel quality; and

a diversity controller coupled to the channel quality measurement unit, operative for determining a transmission scenario based on the channel quality.

20. A method for receiving communications in a wireless communication system, comprising:

receiving a communication signal;

measuring a channel quality based on the received communication signal; and

determining a transmission scenario based on the channel quality.

21. A wireless communication system, comprising:

transmit antenna means;

receive antenna means operative for receiving communications from the transmit antenna means; and

a diversity controller coupled to the transmit antenna means, operative for determining a transmission scenario based on the configuration of a given communication link.