Uplink multi-user multiple input multiple output beamforming

• US 9,166,660 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Chu, Liwen, Zhang, Hongyuan, Lou, Hui-Ling
• Primary Examiner(s): PANWALKAR, VINEETA S
• Application Number:
  US14/554,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20150146812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 375/295, 375/316, 375/259, 370/395.4, 370/329
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0417 Feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0421 utilizing implicit feedback, e.g. steered pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0452 Multi-user MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0456 Selection of precoding matrices or codebooks, e.g. using matrices antenna weighting
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0619 using feedback from receiving side feedback signaling for adaptive modulation/coding H04L1/0001
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0634 Antenna weights or vector/matrix coefficients
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/005 compensating for timing error by adjustment in the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

As part of a beamforming training procedure, a first communication device transmits a beamforming training packet. The first device then receives a plurality of respective beamforming feedback packets from a plurality of second communication devices. The first device then uses the plurality of beamforming feedback packets to select a group of multiple communication devices from among the plurality of second communication devices, wherein the group is selected for simultaneous transmissions to the first communication device. The first device then transmits a synchronization signal to the group to prompt second communication devices in the group to simultaneously transmit to the first communication device at a particular time. The first device then receives simultaneous transmissions from the group responsive to the synchronization signal.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting, from a first communication device, a beamforming training packet as part of a beamforming training procedure for developing a transmit beamforming matrix for use by the first communication device;

receiving, at the first communication device, a plurality of respective beamforming feedback packets from a plurality of second communication devices, the plurality of beamforming feedback packets being part of the beamforming training procedure for developing the transmit beamforming matrix for use by the first communication device;

using, at the first communication device, the plurality of beamforming feedback packets to select a group of multiple communication devices from among the plurality of second communication devices, the group selected for simultaneous transmissions to the first communication device;

transmitting, with the first communication device, a synchronization signal to the group to prompt second communication devices in the group to simultaneously transmit to the first communication device at a particular time; and

receiving, with the first communication device, simultaneous transmissions from the group responsive to the synchronization signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the beamforming training packet is a null data packet (NDP).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first communication device is an access point; and

the plurality of second communication devices are stations associated with the access point.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the group is selected for multi-user (MU) multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) uplink transmissions.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, from the first communication device, one or more polling signals to prompt one or more second communication devices among the plurality of second communication devices to transmit the respective beamforming feedback packets.

6. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a first communication device, a beamforming training packet transmitted by a second communication device as part of a beamforming training procedure for developing a first transmit beamforming matrix for use by the second communication device;

generating, at the first communication device, a beamforming feedback packet based on reception of the beamforming training packet;

transmitting, from the first communication device, the beamforming feedback packet as part of the beamforming training procedure for developing the first transmit beamforming matrix for use by the second communication device;

generating, at the first communication device, a second beamforming matrix for use by the first communication device when transmitting to the second communication device, the transmitting using the second beamforming matrix being simultaneous with one or more third communication devices transmitting to the second communication device;

receiving, at the first communication device, a synchronization signal transmitted, by the second communication device, to a group of communication devices to prompt communication devices in the group to simultaneously transmit to the second communication device at a particular time, wherein the group comprises the first communication device and the one or more third communication devices; and

transmitting, with the first communication device, a data packet to the second communication device, the transmitting the data packet being simultaneous with transmissions by the one or more third communication devices to the second communication device, wherein transmission of the data packet and the transmissions by the one or more third communication devices are responsive to the synchronization signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the beamforming training packet is a null data packet (NDP).

8. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the second communication device is an access point; and

i) the first communication device and ii) the one or more third communication devices are stations associated with the access point.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the group is selected for multi-user (MU) multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) uplink transmissions; and

i) transmitting a data packet to the second communication device and ii) the transmissions by the one or more third communication devices are part of a MU MIMO uplink transmission.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, at the first communication device, a polling signal transmitted by the second communication device,

wherein transmitting the beamforming feedback packet is responsive to the polling signal.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a first communication device having one or more integrated circuit devices configured to perform the following operations;

transmitting, from the first communication device, a beamforming training packet as part of a beamforming training procedure for developing a transmit beamforming matrix for use by the first communication device;

receiving, at the first communication device, a plurality of respective beamforming feedback packets from the plurality of second communication devices, the plurality of beamforming feedback packets being part of the beamforming training procedure for developing the transmit beamforming matrix for use by the first communication device;

using, at the first communication device, the plurality of beamforming feedback packets to select a group of multiple communication devices from among the plurality of second communication devices, the group selected for simultaneous transmissions to the first communication device;

transmitting, with the first communication device, a synchronization signal to the group to prompt second communication devices in the group to simultaneously transmit to the first communication device at a particular time; and

receiving, with the first communication device, simultaneous transmissions from the group responsive to the synchronization signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the beamforming training packet is a null data packet (NDP).

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the first communication device is an access point; and

the plurality of second communication devices are stations associated with the access point.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the group is selected for multi-user (MU) multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) uplink transmissions.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are further configured to transmit, from the first communication device, one or more polling signals to prompt one or more second communication devices among the plurality of second communication devices to transmit the respective beamforming feedback packets.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a first communication device having one or more integrated circuit devices configured to perform the following operations;

receiving, at the first communication device, a beamforming training packet transmitted by a second communication device as part of a beamforming training procedure for developing a first transmit beamforming matrix for use by the second communication device;

generating, at the first communication device, a beamforming feedback packet based on reception of the beamforming training packet;

transmitting, from the first communication device, the beamforming feedback packet as part of the beamforming training procedure for developing the first transmit beamforming matrix for use by the second communication device;

generating, at the first communication device, a second beamforming matrix for use by the first communication device when transmitting to the second communication device, the transmitting using the second beamforming matrix being simultaneous with transmissions from one or more third communication devices to the second communication device;

receiving, at the first communication device, a synchronization signal transmitted, by the second communication device, to a group of communication devices to prompt communication devices in the group to simultaneously transmit to the second communication device at a particular time, wherein the group comprises the first communication device and the one or more third communication devices; and

transmitting, with the first communication device, a data packet to the second communication device, the transmitting the data packet being simultaneous with transmissions by the one or more third communication devices to the second communication device, wherein transmission of the data packet and the transmissions by the one or more third communication devices are responsive to the synchronization signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the beamforming training packet is a null data packet (NDP).

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the second communication device is an access point; and

i) the first communication device and ii) the one or more third communication devices are stations associated with the access point.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the group is selected for multi-user (MU) multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) uplink transmissions; and

i) transmitting a data packet to the second communication device and ii) the transmissions by the one or more third communication devices are part of a MU MIMO uplink transmission.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are further configured to perform the following operations:

receiving, at the first communication device, a polling signal transmitted by the second communication device,

wherein transmitting the beamforming feedback packet is responsive to the polling signal.