Method and system for communicating feedback information in a multiple user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) communication system

• US 8,412,275 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kim, Joonsuk, Ariyavisitakul, Sirikiat
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US12/720,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20110159866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0417 Feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0452 Multi-user MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0626 Channel coefficients, e.g. channel state information [CSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/023 Multiplexing of multicarrier modulation signals multicarrier modulation H04L27/2601

Abstract

A method and system for communicating feedback information in a multiple user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) communication system are presented. In one aspect of the method and system, a beamformer station may communicate a feedback information request to a plurality of beamformee stations. The feedback information request may request feedback data for a plurality of RF channel bands. The RF channel bands may form a multichannel. The beamformer may subsequently transmit a plurality of signals utilizing the RF channel bands within the multichannel. Each of the beamformees may receive the plurality of subsequently transmitted signals. A beamformee may generate the requested feedback data for each RF channel band within the multichannel. The beamformee may generate a beamforming report, which comprises the feedback data, which is generated across the plurality of RF channel bands in the multichannel. The beamformee may transmit the beamforming report to the beamformer.

Claims

1. A method for processing signals, the method comprising:

in a user equipment (UE) device;

generating a multiband feedback report, said multiband feedback report comprising feedback data for a plurality of radio frequency (RF) channel bands, wherein each of said plurality of RF channel bands comprises a plurality of frequency tones within a corresponding channel bandwidth and said multiband feedback report comprises a multiband control field;

identifying, in said multiband control field, each of said plurality of RF channel bands;

indicating, in said multiband feedback report, a coefficient size parameter for said each of said plurality of RF channel bands, wherein said coefficient size parameter comprises 3 bits; and

transmitting said multiband feedback report.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating said multiband feedback report in response to a feedback information request.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising receiving said feedback information request via a sounding frame.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating distinct single channel feedback data for each of said plurality of RF channel bands.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said distinct single channel feedback data comprises one or more of channel state information feedback data, non-compressed beamforming data and compressed beamforming data, based on a received feedback information request.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the method is performed within a wireless communication device.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a first signal from a remotely located wireless communication device; and

transmitting a second signal, that includes the multiband feedback report, to the remotely located wireless communication device.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising indicating, in said multiband feedback report, a channel bandwidth for said each of said plurality of RF channel bands.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the method is performed within a wireless communication device that includes a plurality of antennae to support multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) or multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MU-MIMO) communications.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein a maximum number of said plurality of RF channel bands is equal to 8.

11. A system for processing signals, the system comprising:

one or more circuits that enable generation of a multiband feedback report, said multiband feedback report comprising feedback data for a plurality of radio frequency (RF) channel bands, wherein each of said plurality of RF channel bands comprises a plurality of frequency tones within a corresponding channel bandwidth and said multiband feedback report comprises a multiband control field; and

wherein said one or more circuits enable identification, in said multiband control field, of each of said plurality of RF channel bands;

wherein said one or more circuits enable indication, in said multiband feedback report, of a coefficient size parameter for said each of said plurality of RF channel bands, wherein said coefficient size parameter comprises 3 bits; and

said one or more circuits enable transmission of said multiband feedback report.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits enable generation of said multiband feedback report in response to a feedback information request.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more circuits enable reception of said feedback information request via a sounding frame.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits enable generation of distinct single channel feedback data for each of said plurality of RF channel bands.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said distinct single channel feedback data comprises one or more of channel state information feedback data, non-compressed beamforming data and compressed beamforming data, based on a received feedback information request.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein:

the system includes a wireless communication device.

17. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

at least one communication interface to receive a first signal from a remotely located wireless communication device; and

wherein;

the at least one communication interface to transmit a second signal, that includes the multiband feedback report, to the remotely located wireless communication device.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits enable indication, in said multiband feedback report, of a channel bandwidth for said each of said plurality of RF channel bands.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein:

the system includes a wireless communication device that includes a plurality of antennae to support multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) or multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MU-MIMO) communications.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein a maximum number of said plurality of RF channel bands is equal to 8.