Adaptive sectorization in cellular systems

• US 9,179,319 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gore, Dhananjay Ashok, Gorokhov, Alexei, Sampath, Hemanth, Ji, Tingfang, Kadous, Tamer
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajayi, Joel
• Application Number:
  US11/260,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20060286974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,659 Days
• Field of Search: 455/63.4, 455/562.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0695 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/00 Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality

Abstract

Apparatuses and methodologies are described that enhance performance in a wireless communication system using beamforming transmissions. According to one aspect, a set of transmit beams are defined that simultaneously provides for space division multiplexing, multiple-input multiple output (MIMO transmission and opportunistic beamforming. The addition of a wide beam guarantees a minimum acceptable performance for all user devices.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing performance for a wireless communication environment, comprising:

determining channel information for user devices;

assigning the user devices to at least one beam from a predetermined set of beams, the set of beams comprising at least one narrow beam and a wide beam, wherein assigning the user devices to the at least one narrow beam comprises scheduling a first user device using a spatial division multiplexing (SDM) scheduling technique and scheduling a second user device using a multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) scheduling technique, and wherein the at least one narrow beam and the wide beam are separate beams,

reassigning at least one user device from a narrow beam to the wide beam if channel quality information is lower than a threshold value,

wherein the at least one narrow beam comprises a first cluster of narrow beams having a dominant direction and a second cluster of narrow beams having a dominant direction, wherein the dominant direction of the first cluster is different from the dominant direction of the second cluster; and

scheduling the first and second user devices simultaneously, using said SDM scheduling technique and said MIMO scheduling technique, by employing the first cluster of narrow beams and the second cluster of narrow beams.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning another user device during a same time period to at least some overlapping frequencies and a beam that is not part of the predetermined set of beams.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the wide beam using a cyclic delay diversity scheme.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning, to the wide beam, broadcast control transmissions for transmission to one or more of the user devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the direction of the at least one narrow beam based upon a pattern of communication of the user devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel quality information comprises a channel quality indicator.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel quality information is a signal to interference and noise ratio.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning a user device to the wide beam based upon a determined velocity of the user device, wherein the velocity is determined by an accelerometer in the user device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the user devices comprises assigning a user device based at least in part upon a request by the user device indicating at least one beam from the predetermined set of beams.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the user devices comprises assigning a user device based at least in part upon a quality of service indicated for the user device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the user devices comprises assigning a user device based at least in part upon a type of data to be transmitted to the user device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one narrow beam comprises a first cluster of narrow beams and a second cluster of narrow beams, wherein at least some of the first cluster and the second cluster overlap.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning another user device during a same time period to non-overlapping frequencies.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to assigning, transmitting a transmission containing information indicative of the at least one beam.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the information comprises entries from a codebook.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising quantizing the information indicative prior to transmitting.

43. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning a third user device to the wide beam while at least one of the first and second user devices is assigned to the narrow beam.

17. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a memory that stores information related to a predetermined set of beams, the set of beams comprising at least one narrow beam and a wide beam, wherein the at least one narrow beam and the wide beam are separate beams;

a processor, coupled to the memory, that assigns user devices to at least one beam from the predetermined set of beams, wherein assigning the user devices to the at least one narrow beam comprises scheduling a first user device using a spatial division multiplexing (SDM) scheduling technique and scheduling a second user device using a multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) scheduling technique,

wherein the processor reassigns at least one user device from a narrow beam to the wide beam if channel quality information is lower than a threshold value;

a first cluster of antennas, wherein a first cluster of narrow beams employs the first cluster of antennas; and

a second cluster of antennas, wherein a second cluster of narrow beams utilizes the second cluster of antennas, wherein a first dominant direction of the first cluster is different from a second dominant direction of the second cluster, and wherein the first and second user devices are scheduled simultaneously, using said SDM scheduling technique and said MIMO scheduling technique, by employing the first cluster of narrow beams and the second cluster of narrow beams.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor schedules communications for the user devices based upon a spatial division multiplexing, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) or opportunistic beamforming scheduling technique.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor generates the wide beam using a cyclic delay diversity scheme.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor transmits broadcast control transmissions over the wide beam.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor modifies the direction of the at least one narrow beam based upon a pattern of communication of the user devices.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the channel quality information comprises a channel quality indicator.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, the channel quality indicator is a signal to interference and noise ratio.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor assigns a user device to the wide beam based upon a velocity of the user device, wherein the velocity is determined by an accelerometer in the user device.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a user device indicates a preference for the at least one beam from the predetermined set of beams in a request.

26. An apparatus for enhancing performance for a wireless communication environment, comprising:

means for generating at least one narrow beam;

means for generating a wide beam, wherein the at least one narrow beam and the wide beam are separate beams;

means for assigning user devices to at least one beam from a predetermined set of beams, the set of beams comprising the at least one narrow beam and the wide beam, wherein assigning the user devices to the at least one narrow beam comprises scheduling a first user device using a spatial division multiplexing (SDM) scheduling technique and scheduling a second user device using a multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) scheduling technique,

means for reassigning at least one user device from a narrow beam to the wide beam if channel quality information is lower than a threshold value;

a first cluster of antennas, wherein a first cluster of narrow beams employs the first cluster of antennas; and

a second cluster of antennas, wherein a second cluster of narrow beams utilizes the second cluster of antennas, wherein a first dominant direction of the first cluster is different from a second dominant direction of the second cluster; and

wherein the first and second user devices are scheduled simultaneously, using said SDM scheduling technique and said MIMO scheduling technique, by employing the first cluster of narrow beams and the second cluster of narrow beams.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for scheduling communications for the user devices based upon a spatial division multiplexing, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) or opportunistic beamforming scheduling technique.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for modifying the direction of the at least one narrow beam based upon a pattern of communication of the user devices.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the channel quality information comprises a channel quality indicator.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for assigning a user device to the wide beam based upon a velocity of the user device, wherein the velocity is determined by an accelerometer in the user device.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for indicating a preference for the at least one beam from the predetermined set of beams for a user device in a request.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for:

generating at least one narrow beam;

generating a wide beam, wherein the at least one narrow beam and the wide beam are separate beams;

assigning user devices to at least one beam from a predetermined set of beams, the set of beams comprising the at least one narrow beam and the wide beam, wherein assigning the user devices to the at least one narrow beam comprises scheduling a first user device using a spatial division multiplexing (SDM) scheduling technique and scheduling a second user device using a multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) scheduling technique;

reassigning at least one user device from a narrow beam to the wide beam if channel quality information is lower than a threshold value;

wherein the at least one narrow beam comprises a first cluster of narrow beams and a second cluster of narrow beams, wherein a first dominant direction of the first cluster is different from a second dominant direction of the second cluster; and

scheduling the first and second user devices simultaneously, using said SDM scheduling technique and said MIMO scheduling technique, by employing the first cluster of narrow beams and the second cluster of narrow beams.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising instructions for scheduling communications for the user devices based upon a spatial division multiplexing, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) or opportunistic beamforming scheduling technique.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising instructions for generating the wide beam using a cyclic delay diversity scheme.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising instructions for transmitting broadcast control transmissions over the wide beam.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising instructions for modifying the direction of the at least one narrow beam based upon a pattern of communication of the user devices.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the channel quality information comprises a channel quality indicator.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising instructions for assigning a user device to the wide beam based upon a velocity of the user device, wherein the velocity is determined by an accelerometer in the user device.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising instructions for:

prior to assigning, transmitting a transmission containing information indicative of the at least one beam.

39. A processor that executes instructions for enhancing performance for a wireless communication environment, the instructions comprising:

generating at least one narrow beam;

generating a wide beam, wherein the at least one narrow beam and the wide beam are separate beams;

assigning user devices to at least one beam from a predetermined set of beams, the set of beams comprising the at least one narrow beam and the wide beam, wherein assigning the user devices to the at least one narrow beam comprises scheduling a first user device using a spatial division multiplexing (SDM) scheduling technique and scheduling a second user device using a multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) scheduling technique,

reassigning at least one user device from a narrow beam to the wide beam if channel quality information is lower than a threshold value,

wherein the at least one narrow beam comprises a first cluster of narrow beams and a second cluster of narrow beams, wherein a first dominant direction of the first cluster is different from a second dominant direction of the second cluster; and

scheduling the first and second user devices simultaneously, using said SDM scheduling technique and said MIMO scheduling technique, by employing the first cluster of narrow beams and the second cluster of narrow beams.

40. The processor of claim 39, further comprising instructions for scheduling communications for the user devices based upon a spatial division multiplexing, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) or opportunistic beamforming scheduling technique.

44. The processor of claim 39, the instructions further comprising:

prior to assigning, transmitting a transmission containing information indicative of the at least one beam.

41. A mobile device that facilitates communicating over a wireless network, comprising:

a component configured to request assignment of the user device to at least one beam from a predetermined set of beams, the set of beams comprising at least one narrow beam and a wide beam, wherein the component is also configured to request reassignment of the user device from the at least one narrow beam to the wide beam if channel quality information is lower than a threshold value, and wherein the at least one narrow beam and the wide beam are separate beams;

wherein requesting assignment comprises transmitting an indication of the at least one beam;

a transmitter that transmits the requests to a base station;

a first cluster of antennas, wherein a first cluster of narrow beams employs the first cluster of antennas; and

a second cluster of antennas, wherein a second cluster of narrow beams utilizes the second cluster of antennas, wherein a first dominant direction of the first cluster is different from a second dominant direction of the second cluster, and wherein the first and second user devices are scheduled simultaneously, using said SDM scheduling technique and said MIMO scheduling technique, by employing the first cluster of narrow beams and the second cluster of narrow beams.

42. The mobile device of claim 41, wherein the device is at least one of a cellular phone, a smartphone, a handheld communication device, a handheld computing device, a satellite radio, a global positioning system, a laptop, and a PDA.