APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING MULTIPLE BEAMFORMING TRANSCEIVER IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20130072247A1
• Filed: 09/18/2012
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: PARK, Jeong-Ho, JEONG, Su-Ryong, SEOL, Ji-Yun, YU, Hyun-Kyu
• Granted Patent: US 9,042,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/513
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/043 using best eigenmode, e.g. beam forming or beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0632 Channel quality parameters, e.g. channel quality indicator [CQI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0057 Physical resource allocation for CQI
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

A method for operating a base station in a wireless communication system in order to support a plurality of propagation characteristics is provided. The method includes allocating resource periods for respective propagation characteristics, transmitting system information including information on the propagation characteristics, transmitting a reference signal with the propagation characteristic corresponding to the relevant resource period through at least one of the resource periods, and receiving feedback information determining channel qualities for all of the propagation characteristics.

Claims

1. A method for operating a base station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

allocating resource periods for respective propagation characteristics;

transmitting system information including information on the propagation characteristics;

transmitting a reference signal with the propagation characteristic corresponding to the relevant resource period through at least one of the resource periods; and

receiving feedback information determining channel qualities for at least one of the propagation characteristics.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the system information includes at least one of information indicating the propagation characteristics to be operated, allocation information of the resource periods, information indicating a number of times of transmitting the reference signal, a transmission (TX) power value for each propagation characteristic, a maximum TX antenna gain for each propagation characteristic, information indicating a beam direction, and related information for determination of at least one of the listed items.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback information includes at least one of a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) for each of the propagation characteristics, a path loss for each propagation characteristic, a preferred propagation characteristic, a preferred beam direction, a CQI for each beam direction, and an interference amount.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the feedback information is transmitted periodically, and feedback periods for respective items included in the feedback information are different from each other.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback information includes at least one of a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) and an interference amount for one or more propagation characteristics among the propagation characteristics, an interference amount for the other propagation characteristics, a preferred propagation characteristic, and a preferred beam direction.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining the CQI for each of the propagation characteristics by using the CQI and the interference amount for the one or more propagation characteristics and the interference amount for the other propagation characteristics.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference signal is transmitted through each of the resource periods.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference signal is transmitted through at least one of the resource periods.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining propagation characteristics to be applied to different types of channels.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining of the propagation characteristics to be applied to different types of channels comprises determining to apply a wide-beamwidth beam pattern to a channel for transmission of a signal that is to be received by a plurality of terminals.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a propagation characteristic to be applied to at least one terminal by using the feedback information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining of the propagation characteristic to be applied to at least one terminal comprises determining, if a link quality of a terminal is equal to or higher than a threshold value, to apply a wide-beamwidth beam pattern to the terminal.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining of the propagation characteristic to be applied to the at least one terminal comprises determining, if a terminal is in a Line-of-Sight (LoS) environment, to apply a propagation characteristic different from a propagation characteristic of at least one different terminal to the terminal.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising changing the propagation characteristic applied to the at least one terminal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the changing of the propagation characteristic applied to the at least one terminal comprises changing, if a path loss of a terminal is lower than a threshold value, a beam pattern applied to the terminal into a beam pattern with a narrower beamwidth.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the changing of the propagation characteristic applied to the at least one terminal comprises changing, if a path loss of a terminal increases due to an obstacle, changing a beam direction of a beam pattern applied to the terminal.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the changing of the propagation characteristic applied to the at least one terminal comprises changing, if a path loss of a terminal increases due to an obstacle, changing a beam pattern applied to the terminal into a beam pattern with a wider beamwidth.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the changing of the propagation characteristic applied to the at least one terminal comprises changing, if a path loss of a terminal increases due to an increased distance from the base station, changing a beam pattern applied to the terminal into a beam pattern with a narrower beamwidth.

19. A method for operating a terminal in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving system information including information on propagation characteristics operated in a base station;

detecting an allocation of resource periods for the propagation characteristics through the system information;

detecting a reference signal with a propagation characteristic corresponding to a relevant resource period through at least one of the resource periods; and

transmitting feedback information determining channel qualities for at least one of the propagation characteristics.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the system information includes at least one of information indicating the propagation characteristics to be operated, allocation information of the resource periods, information indicating a number of times of transmitting the reference signal, a transmission (TX) power value for each propagation characteristic, a maximum TX antenna gain for each propagation characteristic, information indicating a beam direction, and related information for determination of at least one of the listed items.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

determining a TX power value for each propagation characteristic through the system information; and

estimating a path loss for each propagation characteristic by using the TX power value for each propagation characteristic,

wherein the feedback information includes the path loss for each propagation characteristic.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the feedback information includes at least one of a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) for each of the propagation characteristics, a path loss for each propagation characteristic, a preferred propagation characteristic, a preferred beam direction, a CQI for each beam direction, and an interference amount.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the feedback information is transmitted periodically, and feedback periods for respective items included in the feedback information are different from each other.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the feedback information includes at least one of a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) and an interference amount for one or more propagation characteristics among the propagation characteristics, an interference amount for the other propagation characteristics, a preferred propagation characteristic, and a preferred beam direction.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the reference signal is transmitted through each of the resource periods.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the reference signal is transmitted through at least one of the resource periods.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining a preferred beam direction by using a received signal strength of the reference signal, wherein the feedback information includes information indicating the preferred beam direction.

28. An apparatus of a base station in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a control unit configured to allocate resource periods for respective propagation characteristics; and

a modem configured to transmit system information including information on the propagation characteristics, transmitting a reference signal with the propagation characteristic corresponding to the relevant resource period through at least one of the resource periods, and configured to receive feedback information determining channel qualities for at least one of the propagation characteristics.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the system information includes at least one of information indicating the propagation characteristics to be operated, allocation information of the resource periods, information indicating a number of times of transmitting the reference signal, a transmission (TX) power value for each propagation characteristic, a maximum TX antenna gain for each propagation characteristic, information indicating a beam direction, and related information for determination of at least one of the listed items.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the feedback information includes at least one of a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) for each of the propagation characteristics, a path loss for each propagation characteristic, a preferred propagation characteristic, a preferred beam direction, a CQI for each beam direction, and an interference amount.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the feedback information is transmitted periodically, and feedback periods for respective items included in the feedback information are different from each other.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the feedback information includes at least one of a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) and an interference amount for one or more propagation characteristics among the propagation characteristics, an interference amount for the other propagation characteristics, a preferred propagation characteristic, and a preferred beam direction.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control unit determines the CQI for each of the propagation characteristics by using the CQI and the interference amount for the one or more propagation characteristics and the interference amount for the other propagation characteristics.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the reference signal is transmitted through each of the resource periods.

35. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the reference signal is transmitted through at least one of the resource periods.

36. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the control unit determines propagation characteristics to be applied to different types of channels.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the control unit determines to apply a wide-beamwidth beam pattern to a channel for transmission of a signal that is to be received by a plurality of terminals.

38. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the control unit determines a propagation characteristic to be applied to at least one terminal by using the feedback information.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein, if a link quality of a terminal is equal to or higher than a threshold value, the control unit determines to apply a wide-beamwidth beam pattern to the terminal.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein, if a terminal is in a Line-of-Sight (LoS) environment, the control unit determines to apply a propagation characteristic different from a propagation characteristic of at least one different terminal to the terminal.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the control unit changes the propagation characteristic applied to the at least one terminal.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein, if a path loss of a terminal is lower than a threshold value, the control unit changes a beam pattern applied to the terminal into a beam pattern with a narrower beamwidth.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein, if a path loss of a terminal increases due to an obstacle, the control unit changes a beam direction of a beam pattern applied to the terminal.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein, if a path loss of a terminal increases due to an obstacle, the control unit changes a beam pattern applied to the terminal into a beam pattern with a wider beamwidth.

45. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein, if a path loss of a terminal increases due to an increased distance from the base station, the control unit changes a beam pattern applied to the terminal into a beam pattern with a narrower beamwidth.

46. A terminal in a wireless communication system, the terminal comprising:

a modem configured to receive system information including information on propagation characteristics operated in a base station; and

a control unit configured to detect an allocation of resource periods for the propagation characteristics through the system information,

wherein the modem detects a reference signal with a propagation characteristic corresponding to a relevant resource period through at least one of the resource periods, and transmits feedback information determining channel qualities for at least one of the propagation characteristics.

47. The terminal of claim 46, wherein the system information includes at least one of information indicating the propagation characteristics to be operated, allocation information of the resource periods, information indicating a number of times of transmitting the reference signal, a transmission (TX) power value for each propagation characteristic, a maximum TX antenna gain for each propagation characteristic, information indicating a beam direction, and related information for determination of at least one of the listed items.

48. The terminal of claim 47, wherein the control unit determines a TX power value for each beam pattern through the system information and estimates a path loss for each beam pattern by using the TX power value for each beam pattern, wherein the feedback information includes the path loss for each beam pattern.

49. The terminal of claim 46, wherein the feedback information includes at least one of a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) for each of the propagation characteristics, a path loss for each propagation characteristic, a preferred propagation characteristic, a preferred beam direction, a CQI for each beam direction, and an interference amount.

50. The terminal of claim 49, wherein the feedback information is transmitted periodically, and feedback periods for respective items included in the feedback information are different from each other.

51. The terminal of claim 46, wherein the feedback information includes at least one of a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) and an interference amount for one or more propagation characteristics among the propagation characteristics, an interference amount for the other propagation characteristics, a preferred propagation characteristic, and a preferred beam direction.

52. The terminal of claim 46, wherein the reference signal is transmitted through each of the resource periods.

53. The terminal of claim 46, wherein the reference signal is transmitted through at least one of the resource periods.

54. The terminal of claim 46, wherein the control unit determines a preferred beam direction by using a received signal strength of the reference signal, wherein the feedback information includes information indicating the preferred beam direction.