Adaptive sectorization in cellular systems

• US 20060286974A1
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gore, Dhananjay Ashok, Gorokhov, Alexei, Sampath, Hemanth, Ji, Tingfang, Kadous, Tamer
• Granted Patent: US 9,179,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0695 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/00 Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality

Abstract

Apparatuses and methodologies are described that enhance performance in a wireless communication system using beamforming transmissions. According to one aspect, a set of transmit beams are defined that simultaneously provides for space division multiplexing, multiple-input multiple output (MIMO transmission and opportunistic beamforming. The addition of a wide beam guarantees a minimum acceptable performance for all user devices.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing performance for a wireless communication environment, comprising:

determining channel information for a user; and

assigning a user device to at least one of a predetermined at least one narrow beam or a wide beam.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning another user device to during a same time period to at least some overlapping frequencies and a different of the at least one predetermined at least one narrow beam and wide beam as the user device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined at least one narrow beam comprises a cluster of narrow beams and another cluster of narrow beams, wherein the cluster and the another cluster do not overlap.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the wide beam using a cyclic delay diversity scheme.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning broadcast control transmissions to one or more user devices to the wide beam.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the direction of the at least one predetermined at least one narrow beam based upon a pattern of communication of the user device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising reassigning the user device from the predetermined at least one narrow beam to the wide beam based upon channel quality information.

8. The method of claim 7, the channel quality information is the signal to interference and noise ratio.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning the user device to the wide beam based upon a determined velocity of the user device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the user device comprises assigning the user device based at least in part upon a selection by the user device of the at least one of the predetermined at least one narrow beam or the wide beam.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the user device comprises assigning the user device based at least in part upon a quality of service indicated for the user device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the user device comprises assigning the user device based at least in part upon a type of data to be transmitted to the user device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined at least one narrow beam comprises a cluster of narrow beams and another cluster of narrow beams, wherein at least some of the cluster and the another cluster overlap.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning another user device to during a same time period to non-overlapping frequencies without the at least one predetermined at least one narrow beam or wide beam.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to assigning, transmitting information indicative of the at least one of the predetermined at least one narrow beam and the wide beam.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the information comprises entries from a codebook.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising quantizing the information indicative prior to transmitting.

18. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a memory that stores information related to at least one predetermined at least one narrow beam and wide beam; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, that assigns a user device to at least one of the predetermined at least one narrow beam and the wide beam.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, the processor schedules communications for the user device based upon a spatial division multiplexing, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) or opportunistic beamforming scheduling technique.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a first cluster of antennas, a first cluster of narrow beams employs the first cluster of antennas; and

a second cluster of antennas, a second cluster of narrow beams utilizes the second cluster of antennas, the first and second cluster of narrow beams do not overlap.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, the processor generates the wide beam using a cyclic delay diversity scheme.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, the processor transmits broadcast control transmissions over the wide beam.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, the processor modifies the direction of the predetermined narrow beam based upon a pattern of communication of the user device.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, the processor reassigns the user device from the predetermined at least one narrow beam to the wide beam based upon a channel quality indicator.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, the channel quality indicator is the signal to interference and noise ratio.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, the processor assigns the user device to the wide beam based upon a velocity of the user device.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, the user device indicates a preference for at least one of the predetermined at least one narrow beam or the wide beam.

28. An apparatus for enhancing performance for a wireless communication environment, comprising:

means for generating at least one predetermined narrow beam;

means for generating a wide beam; and

means for assigning a user device to at least one of the at least one predetermined narrow beam and the wide beam.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising means for scheduling communications for the user device based upon a spatial division multiplexing, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) or opportunistic beamforming scheduling technique.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising means for modifying the direction of the at least one predetermined narrow beam based upon a pattern of communication of the user device.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising means for reassigning the user device from the at least one predetermined narrow beam to the wide beam based upon a channel quality indicator.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising means for assigning the user device to the wide beam based upon the velocity of the user device.

33. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising means for indicating a preference for at least one of the at least one predetermined narrow beam or the wide beam for the user device.

34. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for:

generating a at least one predetermined narrow beam;

generating a wide beam; and

assigning a user device to at least one of the at least one predetermined narrow beam and the wide beam.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions for scheduling communications for the user device based upon a spatial division multiplexing, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) or opportunistic beamforming scheduling technique.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions for generating the wide beam using a cyclic delay diversity scheme.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions for transmitting broadcast control transmissions over the wide beam.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions for modifying the direction of the predetermined narrow beam based upon a pattern of communication of the user device.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions for reassigning the user device from the predetermined narrow beam to the wide beam based upon a channel quality indicator.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions for assigning the user device to the wide beam based upon a velocity of the user device.

41. A processor that executes instructions for enhancing performance for a wireless communication environment, the instructions comprising:

generating a at least one predetermined narrow beam;

generating a wide beam; and

assigning a user device to at least one of the at least one predetermined narrow beam and the wide beam.

42. The processor of claim 41, the instructions further comprising scheduling communications for the user device based upon a spatial division multiplexing, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) or opportunistic beamforming scheduling technique.

43. A mobile device that facilitates communicating over a wireless network, comprising:

a component configured to request assignment of the mobile device to at least one of at least one predetermined narrow beam and the wide beam; and

a transmitter that transmits the request to a base station.

44. The mobile device of claim 43, the device is at least one of a cellular phone, a smartphone, a handheld communication device, a handheld computing device, a satellite radio, a global positioning system, a laptop, and a PDA.