Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) with Relay Nodes

• US 20100158142A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Corporation (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: WOMACK, James Earl, YU, Yi, CAI, Zhijun
• Granted Patent: US 8,265,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/026 Co-operative diversity, e.g. using fixed or mobile stations as relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0632 Channel quality parameters, e.g. channel quality indicator [CQI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0639 Using selective indices, e.g. of a codebook, e.g. pre-distortion matrix index [PMI] or for beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0658 Feedback reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0027 Scheduling of signalling, e.g. occurrence thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0028 Formatting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2025/03808 Transmission of equaliser coefficients
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT

Abstract

A method for providing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) feedback information and configuration information. The method includes transporting the MIMO feedback information, configuration information, or both over an uplink relay link using higher layer signaling. Also included is a method for providing uplink data transmission over an access link. The method includes transporting the uplink data over an uplink access link using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing access (OFDMA). Also included is a relay node comprising a processor configured to promote transmitting MIMO feedback information, configuration information, or both over an uplink relay link using higher layer signaling. Also included is a user agent (UA) comprising a processor configured to promote transmitting uplink data over an uplink access link using OFDMA.

Claims

1. A method for providing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) feedback information and configuration information, comprising:

transporting the feedback information, configuration information, or both over an uplink relay link using higher layer signaling.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using higher order modulation to transmit the feedback information, configuration information, or both over the uplink relay link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback information comprises a preceding matrix indicator (PMI), a rank indication (RI), a channel quality indicator (CQI), or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the higher layer signaling is a radio resource control (RRC) protocol signaling, a layer 1/2 signaling, a layer 3 signaling, or a medium access control (MAC) based signaling.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback information, configuration information, or both are transported in a periodic manner or upon demand.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback information comprises more accurate channel estimation values or larger precoding matrices.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the feedback information comprises at least one index table that references more values associated with a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) or channel quality indictor (CQI).

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the feedback information comprises a plurality of values or preceding values associated with a preceding matrix indicator (PMI) or channel quality indicator (CQI).

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transporting MIMO configuration information over a downlink relay link using higher layer signaling.

10. A method for providing uplink data transmission over an access link, comprising:

transporting the uplink data over an uplink access link using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing access (OFDMA).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the distance and the path loss between the UA and the relay node is substantially less than the distance and the path loss between the relay node and an access node.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

obtaining a subset of assigned OFDMA resource that are used to transport the uplink data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the subset of assigned OFDMA resource is obtained over a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the subset of assigned OFDMA resource is indicated using a bitmap of assigned individual resource blocks.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the assigned resource blocks are discontinuous.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the subset of assigned OFDMA resource is indicated using the first and last resource block for each assigned subset of continuous resource blocks.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the subset of assigned OFDMA resource is indicated using at least one of a downlink control information (DCI) format 1, DCI format 1A, DCI format 2, and DCI format 2A.

18. A relay node comprising:

a processor configured to promote transmitting multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) feedback information, configuration information, or both over an uplink relay link using higher layer signaling.

19. The relay node of claim 18, further comprising:

using higher order modulation to transmit the data over the relay link.

20. The relay node of claim 18, wherein the feedback information comprises a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), a rank indication (RI), a channel quality indicator (CQI), or combinations thereof.

21. The relay node of claim 18, wherein the higher layer signaling is a radio resource control (RRC) protocol signaling, a layer 1/2 signaling, a layer 3 signaling, or a medium access control (MAC) based signaling.

22. The relay node of claim 18, wherein the uplink relay link is established with an access node.

24. The relay node of claim 18, wherein the feedback information comprises more accurate channel estimation or larger precoding matrices.

25. The relay node of claim 24, wherein the feedback information comprises at least one index table that references more values associated with a preceding matrix indicator (PMI) or channel quality indicator (CQI).

26. The relay node of claim 24, wherein the feedback information comprises a plurality of values or precoding values associated with a preceding matrix indicator (PMI) or channel quality indicator (CQI).

27. The relay node of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain MIMO configuration information over a downlink relay link using higher layer signaling.

23. The relay node of claim 181 wherein the feedback information, configuration information, or both are transported in a periodic manner or upon demand.

28. A user agent (UA) comprising:

a processor configured to promote transmitting uplink data over an uplink access link using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing access (OFDMA).

29. The UA of claim 28, wherein the distance and the path loss associated with the uplink access link is substantially less than the distance and the path loss associated with a direct link.

30. The UA of claim 28, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain a subset of assigned OFDMA resource that are used to transport the feedback information, configuration information, or both.

31. The UA of claim 30, wherein the subset of assigned OFDMA resource is obtained over a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

32. The UA of claim 30, wherein the subset of assigned OFDMA resource is indicated using a bitmap of assigned individual resource blocks.

33. The UA of claim 32, wherein the assigned resource blocks are discontinuous.

34. The UA of claim 30, wherein the subset of assigned OFDMA resource is indicated using the first and last resource block for each assigned subset of continuous resource blocks.

35. The UA of claim 30, wherein the subset of assigned OFDMA resource is indicated using at least one of a downlink control information (DCI) format 1, DCI format 1A, DCI format 2, and DCI format 2A.