Mitigation of wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) to WTRU interference using multiple antennas or beams

• US 20050221861A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zeira, Eldad
• Granted Patent: US 7,630,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/562.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0695 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/088 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Multiple antenna elements of a WTRU are used to form an adaptive antenna beam pattern for receiving signals in the downlink direction. The WTRU utilizes the formed antenna beam to form a transmission antenna beam for transmitting signals in the uplink direction. In an alternate embodiment, the multiple antenna elements are used to form a plurality of fixed, predetermined antenna beams. The WTRU then selects and switches to the one of the predetermined beams that yields the best downlink reception signals. The WTRU utilizes the selected beam pattern to transmit signals in the uplink direction. In an alternate embodiment, the WTRU receives spectral arrangement information and utilizing this information to avoid transmitting in the direction of spectrally adjacent WTRUs.

Claims

1. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for mitigating WTRU to WTRU interference in a wireless communication system, the WTRU comprising:

means for measuring signal quality of received signals;

means for calculating antenna weights based on the quality measurements;

means for forming a directed antenna beam for receiving downlink (DL) signals based on the calculated antenna weights;

means for deriving transmission antenna weights from the calculated antenna weights; and

means for forming a directed antenna beam for transmitting uplink (UL) signals based on the derived transmission antenna weights.

2. The WTRU of claim 1 wherein the antenna weights derived for transmitting signals are the same as the antenna weights calculated for receiving signals.

3. The WTRU of claim 1 further comprising means for dynamically adapting the formed receiving and transmission antenna beams to current radio conditions.

4. The WTRU of claim 1 wherein the antenna weights calculated for receiving signals optimize signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or signal-to-noise plus interference ratio (SNIR).

5. The WTRU of claim 1 wherein the antenna weights calculated for receiving signals minimize received interference.

6. The WTRU of claim 1 wherein the antenna weights calculated for receiving signals minimize received interference while maintaining a constant received signal level.

7. The WTRU of claim 1 further comprising means for directing nulls in directions other than that of the beam formed for receiving signals.

8. A method for mitigating WTRU to WTRU interference in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

(a) measuring signal quality of received signals;

(b) calculating antenna weights based on the quality measurements;

(c) forming a directed antenna beam for receiving downlink (DL) signals based on the calculated antenna weights;

(d) deriving transmission antenna weights from the calculated antenna weights; and

(e) forming a directed antenna beam for transmitting uplink (UL) signals based on the derived transmission antenna weights.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the antenna weights derived in step (d) are equal to the antenna weights calculated in step (b).

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising dynamically adapting the formed receiving and transmission antenna beams to current radio conditions.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the antenna weights of step (b) are calculated to optimize signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or signal-to-noise plus interference ratio (SNIR).

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the antenna weights of step (b) are calculated to minimize received interference.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the antenna weights of step (b) are calculated to minimize received interference while maintaining a constant received signal level.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising directing nulls in directions other than that of the beam formed for receiving signals.

15. A WTRU for mitigating WTRU to WTRU interference in a wireless communication system, the WTRU comprising:

means for forming a plurality of fixed, predetermined antenna beam patterns;

means for selecting one of the predetermined beam patterns;

means for switching to the selected beam pattern;

means for receiving DL signals in the selected antenna beam pattern; and

means for transmitting UL signals utilizing a same pattern as the selected antenna beam pattern.

16. The WTRU of claim 15 wherein the plurality of predetermined beam patterns comprises at least two beam patterns, one of which is omni-directional.

17. The WTRU of claim 15 further comprising a means for adaptively switching between the plurality of beam patterns.

18. The WTRU of claim 15 wherein the selected beam pattern optimizes signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or signal-to-noise plus interference ration (SNIR).

19. The WTRU of claim 15 wherein the selected beam pattern minimizes energy received from nearby WTRUs.

20. The WTRU of claim 15 wherein the selected beam pattern minimizes energy received from nearby WTRUs while maintaining a predetermined signal level.

21. The WTRU of claim 15 further comprising a means for reducing antenna gain in directions other than that of the beam selected for receiving signals.

22. A method for mitigating WTRU to WTRU interference in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

(a) forming a plurality of fixed, predetermined antenna beam patterns;

(b) selecting one of the predetermined beam patterns;

(c) switching to the selected beam pattern;

(d) receiving DL signals in the selected antenna beam pattern; and

(e) transmitting UL signals utilizing a same antenna beam pattern as the selected antenna beam pattern.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein step (a) further comprises forming at least two predetermined beam patterns, one of which is omni-directional.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising adaptively switching between the plurality of beam patterns.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein step (b) further comprises selecting a beam pattern that optimizes signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or signal-to-noise plus interference ration (SNIR).

26. The method of claim 22 wherein step (b) further comprises selecting a beam pattern that minimizes energy received from nearby WTRUs.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein step (b) further comprises selecting a beam pattern that minimizes energy received from nearby WTRUs while maintaining a predetermined signal level.

28. The WTRU of claim 22 further comprising reducing antenna gain in directions other than that of the beam pattern selected for receiving signals.

29. A WTRU for mitigating interference in a wireless communication system, the WTRU comprising:

an antenna array;

means for receiving spectral arrangement information;

means for locating spectrally adjacent WTRUs; and

means transmitting on the antenna array so as to avoid spectrally adjacent WTRUs.

30. A WTRU for mitigating interference in a wireless communication system, the WTRU comprising:

an antenna array;

means for scanning transmission frequencies in search of high energy sources;

means for determining transmission directions of high energy sources; and

means transmitting on the antenna array so as to avoid transmitting in the direction of the high energy sources.

31. A method for mitigating interference in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

(a) providing a WTRU with an antenna array;

(b) receiving spectral arrangement information;

(c) locating spectrally adjacent WTRUs; and

(d) transmitting on one of the antennas so as to avoid spectrally adjacent WTRUs.

32. A method for mitigating interference in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

(a) providing a WTRU with an antenna array;

(b) scanning transmission frequencies in search of high energy sources;

(c) determining transmission directions of high energy sources; and

(d) transmitting on the antenna array so as to avoid transmitting in the direction of the high energy sources.