MIMO WLAN system

• US 8,320,301 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Walton, J. Rodney, Wallace, Mark S., Ketchum, John W., Howard, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, MARCUS
• Application Number:
  US10/693,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20040082356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,323 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/022 Site diversity; Macro-diversity using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0421 utilizing implicit feedback, e.g. steered pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/043 using best eigenmode, e.g. beam forming or beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0443 utilizing "waterfilling" technique
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0669 using different channel coding between antennas space-time coding H04L1/0618
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0689 using different transmission schemes, at least one of them being a diversity transmission scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0697 using spatial multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0854 using error minimizing algorithms, e.g. minimum mean squared error [MMSE], "cross-correlation" or matrix inversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0871 using different reception schemes, at least one of them being a diversity reception scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0009 by adapting the channel coding H04L1/1812 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0017 where the mode-switching is based on Quality of Service requirement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0059 Convolutional codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0069 Puncturing patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0071 Use of interleaving interleaving per se H03M13/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0606 Space-frequency coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0625 Transmitter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0656 Cyclotomic systems, e.g. Bell Labs Layered Space-Time [BLAST]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 : by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/16 : in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 : Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2025/03414 : Multicarrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2025/03426 : transmission using multiple-input and multiple-output channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0204 : of multiple channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0226 : sounding signals per se
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0228 : with direct estimation from sounding signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0248 : Eigen-space methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03343 : Arrangements at the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2602 : Signal structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2607 : Cyclic extensions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2647 : Arrangements specific to the receiver only equalisation H04L27/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 : Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 : Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 : Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 : Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/42 : in systems with time, space, frequency or polarisation diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 : at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 : Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A multiple-access MIMO WLAN system that employs MIMO, OFDM, and TDD. The system (1) uses a channel structure with a number of configurable transport channels, (2) supports multiple rates and transmission modes, which are configurable based on channel conditions and user terminal capabilities, (3) employs a pilot structure with several types of pilot (e.g., beacon, MIMO, steered reference, and carrier pilots) for different functions, (4) implements rate, timing, and power control loops for proper system operation, and (5) employs random access for system access by the user terminals, fast acknowledgment, and quick resource assignments. Calibration may be performed to account for differences in the frequency responses of transmit/receive chains at the access point and user terminals. The spatial processing may then be simplified by taking advantage of the reciprocal nature of the downlink and uplink and the calibration.

Claims

1. An apparatus in a wireless communication system, comprising:

a transmit data processor operative to

process system parameters and a pilot for transmission via a broadcast channel, wherein the pilot is used for channel estimation of a downlink,

process scheduling information for transmission via a forward control channel, wherein the scheduling information is for data transmission on the downlink and an uplink, and

process traffic data for transmission via a forward channel; and

a receive data processor operative to

process user requests for system access received via a random access channel, and

process traffic data received via a reverse channel, and

wherein at least one channel among the broadcast channel, the forward control channel, the forward channel, the random access channel, and the reverse channel is configurable, wherein the system parameters indicate configuration of the at least one configurable channel, and wherein the random access channel supports a single-input multiple-output (SIMO) mode and a beam-steering mode, the SIMO mode supporting data transmission from a single transmit antenna to multiple receive antennas, and the beam-steering mode supporting data transmission on a single spatial channel associated with a highest rate among a plurality of spatial channels.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the broadcast channel, the forward control channel, the forward channel, the random access channel, and the reverse channel are time division multiplexed within a frame having a predetermined time duration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the broadcast channel and the forward control channel are transmitted using a diversity mode supporting data transmission with redundancy from a plurality of transmit antennas.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the forward channel and the reverse channel support a diversity mode and a spatial multiplexing mode, the diversity mode supporting data transmission with redundancy from a plurality of transmit antennas, and the spatial multiplexing mode supporting data transmission on a plurality of spatial channels.

5. An apparatus in a wireless communication system, comprising:

means for processing system parameters and a pilot for transmission via a broadcast channel, wherein the pilot is used for channel estimation of a downlink;

means for processing scheduling information for transmission via a forward control channel, wherein the scheduling information is for data transmission on the downlink and an uplink;

means for processing traffic data for transmission via a forward channel;

means for processing user requests for system access received via a random access channel; and

means for processing traffic data received via a reverse channel, and

wherein at least one channel among the broadcast channel, the forward control channel, the forward channel, the random access channel, and the reverse channel is configurable, wherein the system parameters indicate configuration of the at least one configurable channel, and wherein the random access channel supports a single-input multiple-output (SIMO) mode and a beam-steering mode, the SIMO mode supporting data transmission from a single transmit antenna to multiple receive antennas, and the beam-steering mode supporting data transmission on a single spatial channel associated with a highest rate among a plurality of spatial channels.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the broadcast channel, the forward control channel, the forward channel, the random access channel, and the reverse channel are time division multiplexed within a frame having a predetermined time duration.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the broadcast channel and the forward control channel are transmitted using a diversity mode supporting data transmission with redundancy from a plurality of transmit antennas.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the forward channel and the reverse channel support a diversity mode and a spatial multiplexing mode, the diversity mode supporting data transmission with redundancy from a plurality of transmit antennas, and the spatial multiplexing mode supporting data transmission on a plurality of spatial channels.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

means for processing a beacon pilot for transmission via the broadcast channel, wherein the beacon pilot is used for frequency and system acquisition.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the system parameters comprise at least one parameter for the forward control channel.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the system parameters comprise at least one parameter for the random access channel.

12. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the forward channel has a configurable duration, and wherein the system parameters indicate the duration of the forward channel.

13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the reverse channel has a configurable duration, and wherein the system parameters indicate the duration of the reverse channel.

14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the random access channel has a configurable duration, and wherein the system parameters indicate the duration of the random access channel.

15. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein scheduling information for a user terminal indicates one of multiple transmission modes comprising a diversity mode, or a spatial multiplexing mode, or a beam-steering mode, or a combination thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein scheduling information for a user terminal comprises timing adjustment information, or power control information, or rate information, or a combination thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

means for receiving each user request for system access at one of multiple data rates supported for the random access channel.

18. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

means for determining a data rate of each user request for system access based on a data rate indicator sent with the user request.

19. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

means for receiving each user request for system access starting at one of multiple slots available for the random access channel.

20. An apparatus in a wireless communication system, comprising:

means for processing system parameters and a pilot for transmission via a broadcast channel, wherein the pilot is used for channel estimation of a downlink;

means for processing scheduling information for transmission via a forward control channel, wherein the scheduling information is for data transmission on the downlink and an uplink;

means for processing traffic data for transmission via a forward channel;

means for processing user requests for system access received via a random access channel; and

means for processing traffic data received via a reverse channel, and

wherein at least one channel among the broadcast channel, the forward control channel, the forward channel, the random access channel, and the reverse channel is configurable, wherein the system parameters indicate configuration of the at least one configurable channel, and wherein the system parameters indicate whether designated overhead messages are sent on the forward channel.

21. A method implemented in an apparatus in a wireless communication system, comprising:

processing system parameters and a pilot for transmission via a broadcast channel, wherein the pilot is used for channel estimation of a downlink;

processing scheduling information for transmission via a forward control channel, wherein the scheduling information is for data transmission on the downlink and an uplink;

processing traffic data for transmission via a forward channel;

processing user requests for system access received via a random access channel; and

processing traffic data received via a reverse channel, and

wherein at least one channel among the broadcast channel, the forward control channel, the forward channel, the random access channel, and the reverse channel is configurable, wherein the system parameters indicate configuration of the at least one configurable channel, and wherein the random access channel supports a single-input multiple-output (SIMO) mode and a beam-steering mode, the SIMO mode supporting data transmission from a single transmit antenna to multiple receive antennas, and the beam-steering mode supporting data transmission on a single spatial channel associated with a highest rate among a plurality of spatial channels.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the broadcast channel, the forward control channel, the forward channel, the random access channel, and the reverse channel are time division multiplexed within a frame having a predetermined time duration.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the broadcast channel and the forward control channel are transmitted using a diversity mode supporting data transmission with redundancy from a plurality of transmit antennas.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the forward channel and the reverse channel support a diversity mode and a spatial multiplexing mode, the diversity mode supporting data transmission with redundancy from a plurality of transmit antennas, and the spatial multiplexing mode supporting data transmission on a plurality of spatial channels.

25. A method implemented in an apparatus in a wireless communication system, comprising:

processing system parameters and a pilot for transmission via a broadcast channel, wherein the pilot is used for channel estimation of a downlink;

processing scheduling information for transmission via a forward control channel, wherein the scheduling information is for data transmission on the downlink and an uplink;

processing traffic data for transmission via a forward channel;

processing user requests for system access received via a random access channel; and

processing traffic data received via a reverse channel, and

wherein at least one channel among the broadcast channel, the forward control channel, the forward channel, the random access channel, and the reverse channel is configurable, wherein the system parameters indicate configuration of the at least one configurable channel, and wherein a plurality of transmission modes are supported for the broadcast channel, the forward control channel, the forward channel, the random access channel, and the reverse channel, each transmission mode being associated with different spatial processing.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the plurality of transmission modes include at least one transmission mode supporting transmission from a plurality of transmit antennas.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the plurality of transmission modes include at least one transmission mode supporting transmission from a single transmit antenna.

28. An apparatus in a wireless communication system, comprising:

means for processing system parameters and a pilot for transmission via a broadcast channel, wherein the pilot is used for channel estimation of a downlink;

means for processing scheduling information for transmission via a forward control channel, wherein the scheduling information is for data transmission on the downlink and an uplink;

means for processing traffic data for transmission via a forward channel;

means for processing user requests for system access received via a random access channel; and

means for processing traffic data received via a reverse channel, and

wherein at least one channel among the broadcast channel, the forward control channel, the forward channel, the random access channel, and the reverse channel is configurable, wherein the system parameters indicate configuration of the at least one configurable channel, and wherein a plurality of transmission modes are supported for the broadcast channel, the forward control channel, the forward channel, the random access channel, and the reverse channel, each transmission mode being associated with different spatial processing.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the plurality of transmission modes include at least one transmission mode supporting transmission from a plurality of transmit antennas.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the plurality of transmission modes include at least one transmission mode supporting transmission from a single transmit antenna.