SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTED MULTIPLE-INPUT MULTIPLE-OUTPUT (MIMO) IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20100027471A1
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Agashe, Parag A., Bhushan, Naga, Palanki, Ravi
• Granted Patent: US 8,942,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/024 Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0005 Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/20 for optimising the interference level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described herein that facilitate distributed multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) or cooperative multipoint (CoMP) communication in a wireless communication system. As described herein, multiple cells, such as a serving cell and an auxiliary cell, can cooperate to conduct communication with one or more associated terminals. In one example described herein, an associated core network can exchange data and/or control signaling with a single cell communicating with a given terminal, which can then tunnel respective data and/or control signaling to other cell(s). By doing so, CoMP communication can be made transparent to the core network and can be achieved without requiring changes to the network. As further described herein, a terminal can exchange Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignments and/or other information exclusively with the serving cell in addition to or in place of other information exchanged with a serving cell and/or an auxiliary cell.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying a serving network cell and an auxiliary network cell;

exchanging control information with at least the serving network cell; and

exchanging data in at least one transmission cooperatively conducted by the serving network cell and the auxiliary network cell.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the exchanging data comprises exchanging data with the serving network cell and the auxiliary network cell in the at least one transmission.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one transmission corresponds to a set of modulation symbols.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the serving network cell and the auxiliary network cell apply respective beamforming weights to respective modulation symbols in the set of modulation symbols.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving information indicative of respective beamforming weights applied by the serving network cell and the auxiliary network cell from at least one of the serving network cell or the auxiliary network cell.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the exchanging data comprises exchanging data with one of the serving network cell or the auxiliary network cell based on coordinated beamforming performed between the serving network cell and the auxiliary network cell.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the exchanging control information comprises receiving Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information from the serving network cell.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the PDCCH assignment information comprises beam direction information.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising exchanging control information distinct from PDCCH assignment information with at least one of the serving network cell or the auxiliary network cell.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the exchanging control information comprises exchanging acknowledgement (ACK) information with at least one of the serving network cell or the auxiliary network cell.

11. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that stores data relating to a serving network cell and an auxiliary network cell; and

a processor configured to exchange control signaling with at least the serving network cell and to exchange data in at least one transmission cooperatively conducted by the serving network cell and the auxiliary network cell.

12. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to exchange data with the serving network cell and the auxiliary network cell in at least one joint transmission.

13. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to exchange data with one of the serving network cell or the auxiliary network cell based on coordinated beamforming performed between the serving network cell and the auxiliary network cell.

14. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to exchange Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information with the serving network cell.

15. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to exchange control information distinct from PDCCH assignment information with at least one of the serving network cell or the auxiliary network cell.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to exchange acknowledgement (ACK) information with at least one of the serving network cell or the auxiliary network cell.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

means for conducting one or more control communications with a serving cell; and

means for conducting one or more data communications, wherein respective data communications are cooperatively performed by the serving cell and at least an auxiliary cell.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for conducting one or more data communications comprises means for exchanging data in one or more transmissions jointly conducted by the serving cell and at least an auxiliary cell.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for conducting one or more data communications comprises means for conducting one or more data transmissions with one of the serving cell or an auxiliary cell based on coordinated beamforming performed between the serving cell and the auxiliary cell.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for conducting one or more control communications comprises means for receiving Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information from the serving cell.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for conducting one or more control communications comprises means for conducting one or more transmissions of control information distinct from PDCCH assignment information with at least one of the serving cell or an auxiliary cell.

22. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

code for causing a computer to conduct one or more control communications with a serving cell; and

code for causing a computer to conduct one or more data communications, wherein respective data communications are cooperatively performed by the serving cell and at least an auxiliary cell.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the code for causing a computer to conduct one or more data communications comprises code for causing a computer to exchange data in one or more transmissions jointly conducted by the serving cell and at least an auxiliary cell.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the code for causing a computer to conduct one or more data communications comprises code for causing a computer to conduct one or more data transmissions with one of the serving cell or an auxiliary cell based on coordinated beamforming performed between the serving cell and the auxiliary cell.

25. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the code for causing a computer to conduct one or more control communications comprises code for causing a computer to receive Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information from the serving cell.

26. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the code for causing a computer to conduct one or more control communications comprises code for causing a computer to conduct one or more transmissions of control information distinct from PDCCH assignment information with at least one of the serving cell or an auxiliary cell.

27. A method, comprising:

exchanging control information with at least one user equipment unit (UE); and

indicating the control information exchanged with the at least one UE to an auxiliary network cell.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the exchanging comprises transmitting Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information to the at least one UE.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

identifying data to be transmitted to the at least one UE; and

transmitting at least a portion of the identified data to the at least one UE in a cooperative transmission with the auxiliary network cell.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the transmitting comprises:

providing at least a portion of the identified data to the auxiliary network cell; and

transmitting respective data provided to the auxiliary network cell to the at least one UE in a joint transmission with the auxiliary network cell.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the providing comprises providing data to the auxiliary network cell over an X2 interface.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising receiving control information corresponding to the at least one UE from the auxiliary network cell via a backhaul interface.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the backhaul interface is an X2 interface.

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving acknowledgement (ACK) information relating to the at least one UE from the auxiliary network cell;

generating a transmission schedule for the at least one of data or control information based at least in part on the received ACK information; and

transmitting designated information based on the transmission schedule, wherein the designated information comprises at least one of data or control information.

35. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that stores data relating to at least one terminal and an auxiliary network cell; and

a processor configured to exchange control information with the at least one terminal and to indicate exchanged control information to the auxiliary network cell.

36. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 35, wherein the control information exchanged with the at least one terminal comprises Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information.

37. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 35, wherein the processor is further configured to identify data to be transmitted to the at least one terminal and to transmit at least a portion of the identified data to the at least one terminal in a cooperative transmission with the auxiliary network cell.

38. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured to provide at least a portion of the identified data to the auxiliary network cell and to transmitting respective data provided to the auxiliary network cell in a joint transmission with the auxiliary network cell.

39. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 38, wherein the processor is further configured to provide data to the auxiliary network cell over an X2 interface.

40. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 35, wherein the processor is further configured to receive control information corresponding to the at least one terminal from the auxiliary network cell via a backhaul interface.

41. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 40, wherein the backhaul interface is an X2 interface.

42. An apparatus, comprising:

means for conducting one or more control communications with at least one terminal; and

means for indicating the one or more control communications to an auxiliary cell.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the means for conducting one or more control communications comprises means for transmitting Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information to the at least one terminal.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising:

means for identifying data to be communicated to the at least one terminal; and

means for communicating the data to the at least one terminal in at least one cooperative transmission with the auxiliary cell.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for communicating the data comprises:

means for providing at least a portion of the identified data to the auxiliary cell; and

means for communicating respective data provided to the auxiliary cell in at least one joint transmission with the auxiliary cell.

46. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising means for exchanging at least one of data or control signaling with the auxiliary cell using a backhaul link.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the backhaul link is an X2 interface.

48. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

code for causing a computer to conduct one or more control communications with at least one user equipment unit (UE); and

code for causing a computer to indicate the one or more control communications to an auxiliary network cell.

49. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the code for causing a computer to conduct one or more control communications comprises code for causing a computer to transmit Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information to the at least one UE.

50. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises:

code for causing a computer to identify data to be communicated to the at least one UE; and

code for causing a computer to communicate the data to the at least one UE in at least one cooperative transmission with the auxiliary network cell.

51. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein the code for causing a computer to communicate the data comprises:

code for causing a computer to provide at least a portion of the identified data to the auxiliary network cell; and

code for causing a computer to communicate respective data provided to the auxiliary network cell in at least one joint transmission with the auxiliary network cell.

52. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises code for causing a computer to exchange at least one of data or control signaling with the auxiliary network cell using a backhaul link.

53. A method, comprising:

exchanging control information relating to at least one user equipment unit (UE) with a serving network cell for the at least one UE; and

communicating according to the exchanged control information.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the exchanging comprises receiving Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information relating to the at least one UE.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the communicating comprises exchanging control information distinct from the PDCCH assignment information with the at least one UE according to the PDCCH assignment information.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the communicating further comprises:

identifying data to be transmitted to the at least one UE; and

transmitting at least a portion of the identified data to the at least one UE according to the exchanged control information.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the identifying comprises receiving at least a portion of the data to be transmitted to the at least one UE from the serving network cell for the at least one UE.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the identifying further comprises receiving data from the serving network cell over an X2 interface.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting respective data to the at least one UE in a cooperative transmission with the serving network cell for the at least one UE.

60. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

generating control information relating to the at least one UE; and

tunneling the generated control information to the serving network cell for the at least one UE via a backhaul interface to the serving network cell.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the backhaul interface is an X2 interface.

62. The method of claim 53, wherein

the exchanging comprises exchanging control information relating to interference observed at the at least one UE;

and

the communicating comprises;

selecting one or more transmission parameters such that the interference observed at the least one UE is substantially minimized; and

communicating according to the one or more selected transmission parameters.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the one or more transmission parameters comprise at least one of a transmit power parameter or a beam direction parameter.

64. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that stores data relating to at least one user equipment unit (UE) and a serving cell for the at least one UE; and

a processor configured to exchange control information relating to the at least one UE with the serving cell and to communicate according to the exchanged control information.

65. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 64, wherein the exchanged control information comprises Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information relating to the at least one UE.

66. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 64, wherein the processor is further configured to identify data to be transmitted to the at least one UE and to transmit at least a portion of the identified data to the at least one UE in a cooperative transmission with the serving cell according to the exchanged control information.

67. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 64, wherein the processor is further configured to exchange at least one of data or control information with the serving cell over a backhaul interface.

68. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 67, wherein the backhaul interface is an X2 interface.

69. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 64, wherein the processor is further configured to exchange control information relating to interference observed at the at least one UE with the serving cell, to select one or more transmission parameters such that the interference observed at the least one UE is substantially minimized, and to communicate according to the one or more selected transmission parameters.

70. An apparatus, comprising:

means for conducting one or more communications of control information relating to at least one terminal with a serving cell for the at least one terminal; and

means for managing respective subsequent communications based at least in part on the one or more control communications.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the means for conducting one or more communications of control information comprises means for conducting one or more communications of Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information relating to the at least one terminal.

72. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the means for managing respective subsequent communications comprises:

means for identifying data to be transmitted to the at least one terminal; and

means for transmitting at least a portion of the identified data to the at least one terminal in a cooperative transmission with the serving cell according to one or more transmissions of control information.

73. The apparatus of claim 70, further comprising means for exchanging at least one of data or control information with the serving cell over a backhaul interface.

74. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein:

the means for conducting one or more communications of control information comprises means for exchanging control information relating to interference observed at the at least one terminal; and

the means for managing respective subsequent communications comprises;

means for selecting one or more transmission parameters such that the interference observed at the least one terminal is substantially minimized; and

means for conducting the respective subsequent communications according to the one or more selected transmission parameters.

75. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

code for causing a computer to conduct one or more communications of control information relating to at least one user equipment unit (UE) with a serving network cell for the at least one UE; and

code for causing a computer to manage respective subsequent communications based at least in part on the one or more control communications.

76. The computer program product of claim 75, wherein the code for causing a computer to conduct one or more communications of control information comprises code for causing a computer to conduct one or more communications of Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information relating to the at least one UE.

77. The computer program product of claim 75, wherein the code for causing a computer to manage respective subsequent communications further comprises:

code for causing a computer to identify data to be transmitted to the at least one UE; and

code for causing a computer to transmit at least a portion of the identified data to the at least one UE in a cooperative transmission with the serving network cell.

78. The computer program product of claim 75, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises code for causing a computer to exchange at least one of data or control information with the serving network cell over a backhaul interface.

79. The computer program product of claim 75, wherein:

code for causing a computer to conduct one or more communications of control information comprises code for causing a computer to exchange control information relating to interference observed at the at least one UE; and

the code for causing a computer to manage respective subsequent communications comprises;

code for causing a computer to select one or more transmission parameters such that the interference observed at the least one UE is substantially minimized; and

code for causing a computer to conduct the respective subsequent communications according to the one or more selected transmission parameters.

80. A method, comprising:

exchanging a first set of information with at least one user equipment unit (UE), the first set of information comprising at least one of control signaling or data;

exchanging a second set of information with a core network entity, the second set of information comprising at least one of control signaling or data; and

indicating at least one of the first set of information or the second set of information to an auxiliary network cell.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the exchanging a second set of information comprises receiving data to be transmitted to the at least one UE from the core network entity.

82. The method of claim 81, further comprising communicating data to be transmitted to the at least one UE in a cooperative transmission with the auxiliary network cell.

83. The method of claim 80, wherein the exchanging a second set of information comprises exchanging at least a portion of the first set of information with the core network entity.

84. The method of claim 80, wherein the exchanging a second set of information comprises exchanging the second set of information with the core network entity over a S1-U interface.

85. The method of claim 80, wherein at least one of the first set of information or the second set of information comprises Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information.

86. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that stores data relating to at least one user equipment unit (UE), an associated core network, and an auxiliary network cell; and

a processor configured to exchange a first set of control signaling or data with the at least one UE, to exchange a second set of control signaling or data with the associated core network, and to indicate at least a portion of the first set of control signaling or data or the second set of control signaling or data to the auxiliary network cell.

87. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 86, wherein the processor is further configured to exchange data to be transmitted to the at least one UE with the associated core network.

88. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 87, wherein the processor is further configured to communicate data to be transmitted to the at least one UE in a cooperative transmission with the auxiliary network cell.

89. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 86, wherein the processor is further configured to communicate at least a portion of the control signaling or data exchanged with the at least one UE to the associated core network.

90. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 86, wherein the processor is further configured to exchange control signaling or data with the associated core network using a S1-U interface.

91. An apparatus, comprising:

means for exchanging a first set of information with at least one user equipment unit (UE), the first set of information comprising at least one of control signaling or data;

means for exchanging a second set of information with a core network entity, the second set of information comprising at least one of control signaling or data; and

means for indicating at least one of the first set of information or the second set of information to an auxiliary network cell.

92. The apparatus of claim 91, wherein the means for exchanging a second set of information comprises means for receiving data to be transmitted to the at least one UE from the core network entity.

93. The apparatus of claim 91, wherein the means for exchanging a second set of information comprises means for exchanging at least a portion of the first set of information with the core network entity.

94. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

code for causing a computer to exchange a first set of information with at least one user equipment unit (UE), the first set of information comprising at least one of control signaling or data;

code for causing a computer to exchange a second set of information with a core network, the second set of information comprising at least one of control signaling or data; and

code for causing a computer to indicate at least one of the first set of information or the second set of information to an auxiliary network cell.

95. The computer program product of claim 94, wherein the code for causing a computer to exchange a second set of information comprises code for causing a computer to receive data to be transmitted to the at least one UE from the core network.

96. The computer program product of claim 94, wherein the code for causing a computer to exchange a second set of information comprises code for causing a computer to exchange at least a portion of the first set of information with the core network.

97. A method, comprising:

exchanging a first set of control signaling or data with at least one user equipment unit (UE);

exchanging a second set of control signaling or data with a core network entity; and

communicating at least one indication of exchanged control signaling or data to a serving network cell for the at least one UE.

98. The method of claim 97, wherein the exchanging a second set of control signaling or data comprises receiving data to be transmitted to the at least one UE from the core network entity.

99. The method of claim 98, further comprising transmitting data to the at least one UE in a cooperative transmission with the serving network cell for the at least one UE.

100. The method of claim 97, wherein the exchanging a second set of control signaling or data comprises relaying at least a portion of the first set of control signaling or data to the core network entity.

101. The method of claim 97, wherein the exchanging a second set of control signaling or data comprises exchanging the second set of control signaling or data with the core network entity over a S1-U interface.

102. The method of claim 97, wherein the first set of control signaling or data comprises control signaling distinct from Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) assignment information.

103. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that stores data relating to at least one user equipment unit (UE), an associated core network, and a serving network cell; and

a processor configured to exchange control signaling or data with the at least one UE, to exchange control signaling or data with the associated core network, and to indicate at least a portion of the control signaling or data exchanged with the at least one UE or the associated core network to the serving network cell.

104. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 103, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain data to be transmitted to the at least one UE from the associated core network.

105. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 104, wherein the processor is further configured to communicate data to be transmitted to the at least one UE in a cooperative transmission with the serving network cell.

106. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 103, wherein the processor is further configured to communicate at least a portion of control signaling or data exchanged with the at least one UE to the associated core network.

107. An apparatus, comprising:

means for exchanging a first set of control signaling or data with at least one user equipment unit (UE);

means for exchanging a second set of control signaling or data with a core network; and

means for communicating at least one indication of exchanged control signaling or data to a serving network cell for the at least one UE.

108. The apparatus of claim 107, wherein the means for exchanging a second set of control signaling or data comprises means for receiving data to be transmitted to the at least one UE from the core network.

109. The apparatus of claim 108, further comprising means for transmitting data to the at least one UE in a cooperative transmission with the serving network cell for the at least one UE.

110. The apparatus of claim 107, wherein the means for exchanging a second set of control signaling or data comprises means for relaying at least a portion of the first set of control signaling or data to the core network.

111. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

code for causing a computer to exchange a first set of information with at least one user equipment unit (UE), the first set of information comprising at least one of control signaling or data;

code for causing a computer to exchange a second set of information with a core network, the second set of information comprising at least one of control signaling or data; and

code for causing a computer to indicate at least a portion of the first set of information or the second set of information to a serving network cell.

112. The computer program product of claim 111, wherein:

the code for causing a computer to exchange a second set of information comprises code for causing a computer to receive data to be transmitted to the at least one UE from the core network; and

the code for causing a computer to exchange a first set of information comprises code for causing a computer to communicate at least a portion of the data to be transmitted to the at least one UE in a cooperative transmission with the serving network cell.

113. The computer program product of claim 111, wherein the code for causing a computer to exchange a second set of information comprises code for causing a computer to exchange at least a portion of the first set of information with the core network.