Channel characterization and training within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

• US 8,526,351 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fischer, Matthew James, Kim, Joonsuk, Amini, Peiman, Lauer, Joseph Paul, Erceg, Vinko
• Primary Examiner(s): Elliott, IV, Benjamin H
• Application Number:
  US12/796,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20100309834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 370/221, 370/312, 370/338, 370/448, 370/445, 370/447, 370/334, 370/336, 455/434, 455/450, 455/453
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0452 Multi-user MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0619 using feedback from receiving side feedback signaling for adaptive modulation/coding H04L1/0001
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0041 Arrangements at the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0065 Serial concatenated codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0071 Use of interleaving interleaving per se H03M13/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0625 Transmitter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2025/03802 Signalling on the reverse channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0224 using sounding signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03343 Arrangements at the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/006 Quality of the received signal, e.g. BER, SNR, water filling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0064 Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

Channel characterization and training within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Within such communication systems, there can be a number of devices (e.g., STAs) that communicate with a single device (e.g., AP). A multi-cast sounding frame may be transmitted from a transmitting device to a number of receiving devices. Appropriate scheduling or ordering of feedback signals from some or all of the receiving devices may be performed explicitly (e.g., sounding frame sent from the transmitting device to a receiving device) or implicitly (e.g., control information sent from the transmitting device to the receiving device, sounding frame sent to the transmitting device from the receiving device). Such characterization and training is with respect to a channel or path in which data will subsequently follow. Such characterization and training can be performed in accordance with group membership (e.g., with respect to only some of the receiving devices).

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a baseband processing module for generating a multi-cast sounding frame, the multi-cast sounding frame includes a sounding feedback instruction; and

a plurality of antennae for transmitting the multi-cast sounding frame to a plurality of wireless communication devices; and

wherein;

in response to the multi-cast sounding frame, the plurality of antennae receiving a plurality of sounding feedback signals from the plurality of wireless communication devices or from a first subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices based upon an order according to the sounding feedback instruction by which the plurality of sounding feedback signals are provided, the order configured to accommodate a feedback exchange interruption;

based on the plurality of sounding feedback signals, the baseband processing module generating a multi-user packet; and

the plurality of antennae transmitting the multi-user packet to the plurality of wireless communication devices or to a second subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the multi-cast sounding frame being a multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) frame or an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame; and

the multi-user packet being a multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) packet or an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) packet.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the multi-cast sounding frame including a plurality of feedback instructions corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the plurality of sounding feedback instructions directing the order by which the plurality of wireless communication devices or the first subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices providing the plurality of sounding feedback signals.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the order providing for a first of the plurality of wireless communication devices providing a first of the plurality of sounding feedback signals during a first time; and

the order providing for a second of the plurality of wireless communication devices providing a second of the plurality of sounding feedback signals during a second time.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices being the first subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of antennae receiving the plurality of sounding feedback signals from the first subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices;

the plurality of antennae transmitting the multi-user packet to the second subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices;

in response to the multi-cast sounding frame and after the plurality of antennae transmitting the multi-user packet, the plurality of antennae receiving at least one additional plurality of sounding feedback signals from a third subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices;

based on the at least one additional plurality of sounding feedback signals, the baseband processing module generating at least one additional multi-user packet; and

the plurality of antennae transmitting the at least one additional multi-user packet to the third subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of antennae transmitting the multi-cast sounding frame to the plurality of wireless communication devices on each of a plurality of clusters.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the plurality of antennae receiving the plurality of sounding feedback signals respectively via the plurality of clusters such that each of the plurality of sounding feedback signals being received on a respective one of the plurality of clusters.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

a first of the plurality of clusters being composed of at least one channel within a first band; and

a second of the plurality of clusters being composed of at least one channel within a second band.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

a first of the plurality of clusters being composed of a first plurality of channels among a first band and a second band; and

a second of the plurality of clusters being composed of a second plurality of channels among a third band and a fourth band.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the third band being the first band; and

the fourth band being the second band.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of antennae transmitting at least one additional multi-cast sounding frame to at least one additional plurality of wireless communication devices; and

in response to the at least one additional multi-cast sounding frame, the plurality of antennae receiving at least one additional plurality of sounding feedback signals from the at least one additional plurality of wireless communication devices or from a subset of the at least one additional plurality of wireless communication devices.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the plurality of wireless communication devices having a first capability; and

the at least one additional plurality of wireless communication devices having a second capability.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the multi-user packet including a plurality of acknowledgement instructions corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices or each of the second subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the plurality of acknowledgement instructions indicating a plurality of clusters for use, respectively, by the plurality of wireless communication devices for providing the plurality of acknowledgements.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus being an access point (AP); and

the plurality of wireless communication devices being a plurality of wireless stations (STAs).

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a baseband processing module for generating a multi-cast sounding frame; and

a plurality of antennae for transmitting the multi-cast sounding frame to a plurality of wireless communication devices; and

wherein;

the multi-cast sounding frame including a plurality of sounding feedback instructions corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices;

in response to the multi-cast sounding frame, the plurality of antennae receiving a plurality of sounding feedback signals from the plurality of wireless communication devices or from a first subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices based upon an order according to the plurality of sounding feedback instructions by which the plurality of sound feedback signals are provided, the order configured to accommodate a feedback exchange interruption;

based on the plurality of sounding feedback signals, the baseband processing module generating a multi-user packet;

the plurality of antennae transmitting the multi-user packet to the plurality of wireless communication devices or to a second subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices; and

the multi-user packet including a plurality of acknowledgement instructions corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices or each of the second subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the multi-cast sounding frame being a multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) frame or an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame; and

the multi-user packet being a multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) packet or an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) packet.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the plurality of sounding feedback instructions directing the order by which the plurality of wireless communication devices or the first subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices providing the plurality of sounding feedback signals;

the order providing for a first of the plurality of wireless communication devices providing a first of the plurality of sounding feedback signals during a first time; and

the order providing for a second of the plurality of wireless communication devices providing a second of the plurality of sounding feedback signals during a second time.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the second subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices being the first subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the plurality of antennae transmitting the multi-cast sounding frame to the plurality of wireless communication devices on each of a plurality of clusters.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

the plurality of antennae receiving the plurality of sounding feedback signals respectively via the plurality of clusters such that each of the plurality of sounding feedback signals being received on a respective one of the plurality of clusters.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

one of the plurality of clusters being composed of at least one channel within at least one band.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the apparatus being an access point (AP); and

the plurality of wireless communication devices being a plurality of wireless stations (STAs).

26. A method for operating a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

generating a multi-cast sounding frame, which includes a sounding feedback instruction;

operating a plurality of antennae for transmitting the multi-cast sounding frame to a plurality of wireless communication devices;

in response to the multi-cast sounding frame, receiving a plurality of sounding feedback signals from the plurality of wireless communication devices or from a first subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices based upon an order according to the sounding feedback instruction by which the plurality of sounding feedback signals are provided, the order configured to accommodate feedback exchange interruption;

based on the plurality of sounding feedback signals, generating a multi-user packet; and

operating the plurality of antennae for transmitting the multi-user packet to the plurality of wireless communication devices or to a second subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein:

the multi-cast sounding frame being a multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) frame or an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame; and

the multi-user packet being a multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) packet or an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) packet.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein:

the multi-cast sounding frame including a plurality of sounding feedback instructions corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein:

the plurality of sounding feedback instructions directing the order by which the plurality of wireless communication devices or the first subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices providing the plurality of sounding feedback signals;

the order providing for a first of the plurality of wireless communication devices providing a first of the plurality of sounding feedback signals during a first time; and

the order providing for a second of the plurality of wireless communication devices providing a second of the plurality of sounding feedback signals during a second time.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein:

the second subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices being the first subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein:

operating the plurality of antennae transmitting the multi-cast sounding frame to the plurality of wireless communication devices on each of a plurality of clusters.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein:

the plurality of antennae receiving the plurality of sounding feedback signals respectively via the plurality of clusters such that each of the plurality of sounding feedback signals being received on a respective one of the plurality of clusters.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein:

the multi-user packet including a plurality of acknowledgement instructions corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices or each of the second subset of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein:

the plurality of acknowledgement instructions indicating a plurality of clusters for use, respectively, by the plurality of wireless communication devices for providing the plurality of acknowledgements.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein:

the wireless communication device being an access point (AP); and

the plurality of wireless communication devices being a plurality of wireless stations (STAs).