Spatial spreading in a multi-antenna communication system

• US 8,204,149 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Walton, Jay Rodney, Zheng, Lizhong, Ketchum, John W., Wallace, Mark S., Howard, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bocure, Tesfaldet
• Application Number:
  US11/008,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20050175115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,749 Days
• Field of Search: 375/267, 375/260, 375/259, 375/295, 375/296, 375/299, 375/130, 370/203, 370/204, 455/99, 455/101
• US Class Current: 375/299
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/336 Signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0417 Feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0456 Selection of precoding matrices or codebooks, e.g. using matrices antenna weighting
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0669 using different channel coding between antennas space-time coding H04L1/0618
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 using space diversity

Abstract

Spatial spreading is performed in a multi-antenna system to randomize an “effective” channel observed by a receiving entity for each transmitted data symbol block. For a MIMO system, at a transmitting entity, data is processed (e.g., encoded, interleaved, and modulated) to obtain N_D data symbol blocks to be transmitted in N_M transmission spans, where N_D≧1 and N_M>1. The N_D blocks are partitioned into N_M data symbol subblocks, one subblock for each transmission span. A steering matrix is selected (e.g., in a deterministic or pseudo-random manner from among a set of L steering matrices, where L>1) for each subblock. Each data symbol subblock is spatially processed with the steering matrix selected for that subblock to obtain transmit symbols, which are further processed and transmitted via N_T transmit antennas in one transmission span. The N_D data symbol blocks are thus spatially processed with N_M steering matrices and observe an ensemble of channels.

Claims

1. A method of providing data for transmission in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols;

partitioning the at least one block of data symbols into a plurality of subblocks of data symbols; and

selecting a steering matrix for each subblock of data symbols, and

wherein the spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols comprises spatially processing each subblock of data symbols with a steering matrix of the plurality selected for that subblock.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein partitioning the at least one block of data symbols comprises

Partitioning at least two blocks of data symbols into a plurality of subblocks of data symbols such that each subblock includes data symbols from each of the at least two blocks.

3. A method of providing data for transmission in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

transmitting each sequence of spatially processed data symbols from the plurality of transmit antennas on a respective group of frequency subbands.

4. A method of providing data for transmission in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

selecting the plurality of steering matrices from among a set of L steering matrices, where L is an integer greater than one.

5. A method of providing data for transmission in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

selecting the plurality of steering matrices from among a set of L steering matrices in a deterministic manner, where L is an integer greater than one.

6. A method of providing data for transmission in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

selecting the plurality of steering matrices from among a set of L steering matrices by cycling through the L steering matrices in sequential order, where L is an integer greater than one.

7. A method of providing data for transmission in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

selecting the plurality of steering matrices from among a set of L steering matrices in a pseudo-random manner, where L is an integer greater than one.

8. A method of providing data for transmission in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit

antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

selecting a different order of L steering matrices for each sequence of L sequences among the plurality of sequences, where L is an integer greater than one.

9. A method of providing data for transmission in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols; and

providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols,

wherein the plurality of steering matrices are unitary matrices.

10. A method of providing data for transmission in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

generating the plurality of steering matrices with a base matrix and a plurality of scalars.

11. A method of providing data for transmission in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

generating the plurality of steering matrices based on an initial unitary matrix and a diagonal matrix of L-th roots of unity, where L is an integer greater than one.

12. A method of providing data for transmission in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

generating the plurality of steering matrices based on a set of independent isotropically distributed unitary matrices.

13. A method of providing data for transmission in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

partitioning the at least one block of data symbols into a plurality of subblocks of data symbols, each subblock of data symbols being designed for transmission on a respective group of at least one frequency subband and from the plurality of transmit antennas, and wherein the spatially processing comprises spatially processing the subblock of data symbols for each group of at least one frequency subband with a respective one of the plurality of steering matrices.

14. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a data processor configured to process data to obtain at least one block of data symbols; and

a spatial processor configured to spatially process the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols and to provide the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the least one block of data symbols,

wherein the spatial processor is configured to partition at least two blocks of data symbols into a plurality of subblocks of data symbols such that each subblock includes data symbols from each of the at least two blocks.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising

A transmit processor configured to transmit each sequence of spatially processed data symbols from the plurality of transmit antennas on a respective group of frequency subbands.

16. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a data processor configured to process data to obtain at least one block of data symbols; and

a spatial processor configured to spatially process the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols and to provide the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols,

wherein the spatial processor is configured to select the plurality of steering matrices from among a set of L steering matrices, where L is an integer greater than one.

17. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a data processor configured to process data to obtain at least one block of data symbols; and

a spatial processor configured to spatially process the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols and to provide the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols,

wherein the spatial processor is configured to select the plurality of steering matrices from among a set of L steering matrices in a deterministic manner, where L is an integer greater than one.

18. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a data processor configured to process data to obtain at least one block of data symbols; and

a spatial processor configured to spatially process the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols and to provide the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols,

wherein the spatial processor is configured to select the plurality of steering matrices from among a set of L steering matrices by cycling through the L steering matrices in sequential order, where L is an integer greater than one.

19. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a data processor configured to process data to obtain at least one block of data symbols; and

a spatial processor configured to spatially process the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols and to provide the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols,

wherein the spatial processor is configured to select the plurality of steering matrices from among a set of L steering matrices in a pseudo-random manner, where L is an integer greater than one.

20. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a data processor configured to process data to obtain at least one block of data symbols; and

a spatial processor configured to spatially process the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols and to provide the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols,

wherein the spatial processor is configured to select a different order of L steering matrices for each sequence of L sequences among the plurality of sequences, where L is an integer greater than one.

21. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a data processor configured to process data to obtain at least one block of data symbols; and

a spatial processor configured to spatially process the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols and to provide the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols,

wherein the plurality of steering matrices are unitary matrices.

22. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a data processor configured to process data to obtain at least one block of data symbols; and

a spatial processor configured to spatially process the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols and to provide the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols,

wherein the spatial processor is configured to generate the plurality of steering matrices with a base matrix and a plurality of scalars.

23. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a data processor configured to process data to obtain at least one block of data symbols; and

a spatial processor configured to spatially process the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols and to provide the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols,

wherein the spatial processor is configured to generate the plurality of steering matrices based on an initial unitary matrix and a diagonal matrix of L-th roots of unity, where L is an integer greater than one.

24. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a data processor configured to process data to obtain at least one block of data symbols; and

a spatial processor configured to spatially process the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols and to provide the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols,

wherein the spatial processor is configured to generate the plurality of steering matrices based on a set of independent isotropically distributed unitary matrices.

25. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a data processor configured to process data to obtain at least one block of data symbols; and

a spatial processor configured to spatially process the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols and to provide the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols,

wherein;

the data processor is configured to partition the at least one block of data symbols into a plurality of subblocks of data symbols, each subblock of data symbols being designated for transmission on a respective group of at least one frequency subband and from the plurality of transmit antennas, and

the spatial processor is configured to spatially process the subblock of data symbols for each group of at least one frequency subband with a respective one of the plurality of steering matrices.

26. An apparatus comprising:

means for processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

means for spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

means for providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

means for partitioning the at least one block of data symbols into a plurality of subblocks of data symbols; and

means for selecting a steering matrix for each subblock of data symbols, and

wherein the means for spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols comprises means for spatially processing each subblock of data symbols with a steering matrix of the plurality selected for that subblock.

27. An apparatus comprising:

means for processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

means for spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

means for providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

means for a transmitting each sequence of spatially processed data symbols from the plurality of transmit antennas on a respective group of frequency subbands.

28. An apparatus comprising:

means for processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

means for spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

means for providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

means for selecting the plurality of steering matrices from among a set of L steering matrices, where L is an integer greater than one.

29. An apparatus comprising:

means for processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

means for spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

means for providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

means for selecting the plurality of steering matrices from among a set of L steering matrices in a deterministic manner, where L is an integer greater than one.

30. An apparatus comprising:

means for processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

means for spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

means for providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

means for selecting the plurality of steering matrices from among a set of L steering matrices by cycling through the L steering matrices in sequential order, where L is an integer greater than one.

31. An apparatus comprising:

means for processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

means for spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

means for providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

means for a selecting the plurality of steering matrices from among a set of L steering matrices in a pseudo-random manner, where L is an integer greater than one.

32. An apparatus comprising:

means for processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

means for spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

means for providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

means for selecting a different order of L steering matrices for each sequence of L sequences among the plurality of sequences, where L is an integer greater than one.

33. An apparatus comprising:

means for processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

means for spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols; and

means for providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols,

wherein the plurality of steering matrices are unitary matrices.

34. An apparatus comprising:

means for processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

means for spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

means for providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

means for generating the plurality of steering matrices with a base matrix and a plurality of scalars.

35. An apparatus comprising:

means for processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

means for spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

means for providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

means for generating the plurality of steering matrices based on an initial unitary matrix and a diagonal matrix of L-th roots of unity, where L is an integer greater than one.

36. An apparatus comprising:

means for processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

means for spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

means for providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

means for generating the plurality of steering matrices based on a set of independent isotropically distributed unitary matrices.

37. An apparatus comprising:

means for processing data to obtain at least one block of data symbols;

means for spatially processing the at least one block of data symbols with a plurality of steering matrices to obtain a plurality of sequences of transmit symbols each corresponding to a different portion of the at least one block of data symbols;

means for providing the plurality of sequences of transmit symbols to a plurality of transmit antennas for transmission in a frame, wherein the plurality of steering matrices randomize an effective MIMO channel observed by a receiving entity for the at least one block of data symbols; and

means for partitioning the at least one block of data symbols into a plurality of subblocks of data symbols, each subblock of data symbols being designated for transmission on a respective group of at least one frequency subband and from the plurality of transmit antennas, and wherein the means for spatially processing comprises means for spatially processing the subblock of data symbols for each group of at least one frequency subband with a respective one of the plurality of steering matrices.