Transmission antenna diversity

• US 20070072570A1
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Networks (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Networks (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Hottinen, Ari, Wichman, Risto
• Granted Patent: US 9,106,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/277.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/022 Site diversity; Macro-diversity using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/061 using feedback from receiving side
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0065 Serial concatenated codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0071 Use of interleaving interleaving per se H03M13/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 using space diversity

Abstract

In mobile communications systems transmission antenna diversity is used e.g. to compensate for fading caused to the signal on the radio path. It is known to make the choice of transmission antenna jointly for all subscriber connections, but it is not hereby possible to offer the optimum transmission antenna to simultaneous connections. The present invention aims at a method for implementing transmission antenna diversity on a data transmission connection, which is set up between a transmitting unit (BS), wherein there are several transmission antenna routes (ANT1, ANT2, ANT3), and a receiving unit (MS1, MS2). In the method, a broadcast signal is transmitted through all transmission antenna routes (ANT1, ANT2, ANT3) of the transmitting unit, with the aid of these signals a choice is made in the receiving unit (MS1, MS2) of the optimum transmission antenna route and a message of the choice is transmitted to the transmitting unit (BS), which transmits user data through the transmission antenna route connected for use. According to the invention, the method is characterised in that the broadcast signal of each transmission antenna route is shaped by an individual signal shaping method which is different from the others and a transmission antenna route is connected for use based on the received antenna choice message, individually for each receiving unit.

Claims

1. A receiver configured to receive diversity signals, comprising:

a receiver unit configured to receive diversity signals on a plurality of transmission routes from a transmitter;

a choosing unit configured to choose an optimum transmission route from the plurality of transmission routes based on received diversity signals;

a notifying unit configured to send to the transmitter a notification of the chosen optimum transmission route; and

a verification unit configured to verify based on transmission route identity information included in user data received from the transmitter that the user data is received on said chosen optimum transmission route.

2. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the transmission route identity information in a broadcast signal.

3. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the transmission route identity information on a connection specific channel.

4. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein the verification unit is configured to compare an identifier of a transmission route via which user data is received with an identifier of the chosen optimum transmission route.

5. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive transmission routes provided by transmission antenna branches.

6. The receiver according to claim 1, comprising a receiver for a mobile station.

7. A diversity transmitter, comprising at least one transmitter unit configured to transmit diversity signals on at least two transmission routes and to produce in the signals to be transmitted information identifying the transmission routes, to receive an antenna route choice notification from a receiver, to select for transmission of user data to the receiver a transmission route based on said received antenna route choice notification, to use the selected transmission route for transmission of user data to the receiver, and to form in the user data signal to be transmitted information identifying the selected transmission route selected.

8. The transmitter according to claim 7, wherein the transmitter comprises a plurality of transmission antenna branches.

9. The transmitter according to claim 7 comprising a base station transmitter.

10. A method for receiving signals, comprising:

receiving diversity signals via a plurality of transmission routes from a transmitter;

choosing an optimum transmission route based on the received diversity signals;

notifying the transmitter of the chosen optimum transmission route;

receiving user data from the transmitter; and

verifying based on transmission route identity information included in said user data that the user data is received on said chosen optimum transmission route.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising receiving the transmission route identity information in a broadcast signal.

12. The method according to claim 10, comprising receiving the transmission route identity information on a connection specific channel.

13. The method according to claim 10, comprising receiving the signals at a mobile station.

14. A method for transmitting signals, comprising:

transmitting diversity signals on at least two transmission routes, said diversity signals including information identifying the transmission routes;

receiving an antenna route choice notification from a receiver;

selecting for transmission of user data to the receiver a transmission route based on said received antenna route choice notification; and

transmitting user data on the selected transmission route to the receiver, said user data signal including information identifying the selected transmission route.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising providing the transmission routes by transmission antenna branches.

16. The method according to claim 14, comprising providing the transmission routes by transmission antenna beams.

17. The method according to claim 14, comprising sending of user data to a plurality of receivers, wherein the selecting comprises selecting a transmission antenna route individually for each receiver based on antenna route choice notifications.

18. The method according to claim 14, comprising transmitting signals at a base station.

19. Arrangement configured for providing transmission antenna diversity in a communication system, the arrangement comprising:

a mobile communications system including a receiver and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is configured to provide at least two transmission routes, and the receiver and the transmitter are adapted for a data transmission connection with one another over a radio path, wherein

the transmitter is configured to transmit diversity signals on at least two transmission routes and to produce in the signals to be transmitted information identifying the transmission routes, to receive a transmission route choice notification from the receiver, to select for transmission of user data a transmission route based on the received transmission route choice notification, to use a selected antenna route for transmission of user data, and to form in the user data signal to be transmitted information identifying the transmission antenna route selected for use; and

the receiver is configured to choose an optimum transmission route based on received signals having information identifying the transmission route, to notify the transmitter of the chosen optimum transmission route, and to verify the transmission route selected by the transmitter based on the information identifying the selected transmission route contained in the user data signal formed in the transmitter.

20. A mobile communications system comprising:

at least one transmitting unit and at least one receiving unit, wherein at least one of said at least one transmitting unit comprises;

a transmitter unit configured to transmit a signal, said transmitter unit being arranged to produce in the signals to be transmitted information identifying the transmission antenna route;

a receiver unit configured to receive an antenna route choice notification;

a selecting unit configured to select for transmission of user data, a transmission antenna route based on the received antenna route choice notification;

a utilization unit configured to use a selected antenna route for the transmission of user data; and

forming unit configured to form, in the user data signal to be transmitted, information identifying the transmission antenna route selected for use; and

wherein at least one of said at least one receiving unit comprises;

a choosing unit configured to choose an optimum transmission route based on received signals having information identifying the transmission antenna route;

a notification unit configured to notify at least one transmitting unit of the chosen optimum transmission antenna route; and

a verification unit configured to verify the transmission antenna route selected for use based on the information identifying the transmission antenna route selected for use, contained in the user data signal formed in a transmitting unit.

21. Arrangement for implementing transmission antenna diversity in a mobile communications system, the arrangement comprising:

a mobile communications system including a receiving unit and a transmitting unit, the transmitting unit includes at least two transmission antenna routes, and the receiving unit and the transmitting unit are adapted for a data transmission connection with one another over a radio path, wherein

the transmitting unit further comprises;

transmitting means for transmission of a signal, said transmitting means being arranged to produce in the signals to be transmitted information identifying the transmission antenna route;

means for receiving an antenna route choice notification;

means for selecting for transmission of user data a transmission antenna route based on the received antenna route choice notification;

means for using a selected antenna route for the transmission of user data, and

means for forming, in the user data signal to be transmitted, information identifying the transmission antenna route selected for use; and

the receiving unit further comprises;

choosing means for choosing an optimum transmission route based on received signals having information identifying the transmission antenna route;

means for notifying the transmission unit of the chosen optimum transmission antenna route; and

verification means for verifying the transmission antenna route selected for use based on the information identifying the transmission antenna route selected for use contained in the user data signal formed in the transmission unit.