Apparatus and method for selecting beam in wireless communication system

• US 9,294,163 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Yung-Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Xavier S.
• Application Number:
  US13/590,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20130051302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for selecting a beam in a wireless communication system capable of forming a plurality of antenna beams are provided. The method for transmitting signals includes transmitting a training signal by using a plurality of first beams and a plurality of second beams, and transmitting at least one of user control information and data by using at least one fourth beam among a plurality of third beams.

Claims

1. A method for operating a transmitter in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

transmitting training signals with beamforming using a first set of beams and a second set of beams; and

transmitting data signals with beamforming using at least one beam among a third set of beams,

wherein the first set of beams comprises a plurality of beams where a horizontal beam width is narrower than a vertical beam width,

wherein the second set of beams comprises a plurality of beams where a horizontal beam width is wider than a vertical beam width, and

wherein the at least one beam comprises a beam having a direction which overlaps a first beam among the first set of beams and a second beam among the second set of beams.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting at least one of a synchronization signal and a control signal with beamforming using the first set of beams, before transmitting the training signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of beams and the third set of beams are equal in horizontal beam width, and wherein the second set of beams and the third set of beams are equal in vertical beam width.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information for beam selection from a receiver; and

determining a selected beam based on the information received from the receiver.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information for beam selection from a receiver;

determining the first beam among the first set of beams and the second beam among the second set of beams based on the information received from the receiver; and

determining a selected beam based on the first beam and the second beam.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one other beam for transmitting data signals among beams having a vertically-different beam direction from the at least one beam; and

transmitting the data signals with beamforming using the at least one other beam.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the data signals comprises,

transmitting, to a plurality of receivers, data signals with beamforming using a plurality of beams having vertically-different beam directions.

8. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first beam and the second beam are selected by a receiver.

9. An apparatus of a transmitter in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitting unit configured to;

transmit a training signal with beamforming using a first set of beams and a second set of beams, and

transmit data signals with beamforming using at least one beam among a third set of beams,

wherein the first set of beams comprises a plurality of beams where a horizontal beam width is narrower than a vertical beam width,

wherein the second set of beams comprises a plurality of beams where a horizontal beam width is wider than a vertical beam width, and

wherein the at least one beam comprises a beam having a direction which overlaps a first beam among the first set of beams and a second beam among the second set of beams.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transmitting unit is further configured to transmit at least one of a synchronization signal and a control signal with beamforming using the first set of beams before transmitting the training signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 9,

wherein the first set of beams and the third set of beams are equal in horizontal beam width, and

wherein the second set of beams and the third set of beams are equal in vertical beam width.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a control unit configured to activate at least one antenna among a plurality of antennas according to a beam pattern for signal transmission.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive information for beam selection from a receiver; and

a control unit configured to determine at least one selected beam based on the information received at the receiving unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive information for beam selection from a receiver; and

a control unit configured to;

determine the first beam among the first set of beams and the second beam among the second set of beams based on the information, and

determine at least one selected beam based on the first beam and the second beam.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a control unit configured to;

determine at least one other beam for transmitting data signals among beams having a vertically-different beam direction from the at least one beam, and

control to transmit the data signals with beamforming using the at least one other beam.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transmitting unit is further configured to transmit, to a plurality of receivers, data signals with beamforming using a plurality of beams having vertically-different beam directions.

17. The apparatus of claim 9,

wherein the first beam and the second beam are selected by a receiver.