Beamforming signaling in a wireless network

• US 9,444,535 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2015
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Dinan, Esmael Hejazi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hanh N
• Application Number:
  US14/705,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20160080045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 370203-210, 370/468, 370/395.21, 370/329, 370/330, 370/331, 375259-262, 375/265, 375/267
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0417 Feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/043 using best eigenmode, e.g. beam forming or beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0456 Selection of precoding matrices or codebooks, e.g. using matrices antenna weighting
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/046 taking physical layer constraints into account
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0473 taking constraints in layer or codeword to antenna mapping into account
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0478 Special codebook structures directed to feedback optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0626 Channel coefficients, e.g. channel state information [CSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/063 Parameters other than those covered in groups H04B7/0623 - H04B7/0634, e.g. channel matrix rank or transmit mode selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0634 Antenna weights or vector/matrix coefficients
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0639 Using selective indices, e.g. of a codebook, e.g. pre-distortion matrix index [PMI] or for beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0056 Inter-base station aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03955 in combination with downlink estimations, e.g. downlink path losses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2646 using feedback from receiver for adjusting OFDM transmission parameters, e.g. transmission timing or guard interval length
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0073 Allocation arrangements that take into account other cell interferences for intercell interference mitigation or co-ordination in orthogonal multiplex systems H04J11/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0236 radio quality, e.g. interference, losses or delay
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0055 Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0058 : Transmission of hand-off measurement information, e.g. measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0072 : of resource information of target access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0094 : Definition of hand-off measurement parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 : Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/24 : Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 : by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 : based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 : the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/27 : between access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 : using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 : Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

A wireless receives at least one channel state input information element (IE) from a first base station. The wireless device computes a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) employing, at least in part, the at least one channel state input IE and measurement of signals received from a second base station. The wireless device transmits the PMI to the first base station.

Claims

1. A method for use in a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first base station, a measurement information message comprising at least one information element;

computing a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) based at least in part on the at least one information element and on first signals received from one or more antenna ports of the first base station and second signals received from one or more antenna ports of a second base station;

transmitting channel state information comprising the PMI to the first base station; and

receiving, from the first base station, at least one data packet beamformed according to a precoding matrix identified based on the PMI.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one information element is associated with at least one downlink resource block generated by the second base station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signals comprise reference signals received from the one or more antenna ports of the second base station, and wherein computing the PMI is based at least in part on measurement of the reference signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein computing the PMI comprises selecting the PMI from a plurality of predetermined PMIs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the PMI comprises a PMI for a sub-band of a downlink carrier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signals comprise reference signals received from the one or more antenna ports of the second base station, and wherein computing the PMI is based at least in part on measurement of the reference signals.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one information element indicates one or more resource blocks associated with the first signals.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one information element indicates one or more resource blocks associated with the second signals.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one information element received from the first base station is based on first information from the second base station and associated with the second signals.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein computing the PMI comprises selecting the PMI from a plurality of predetermined PMIs to reduce downlink inter-cell interference received from the second base station.

11. A wireless device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to;

receive, from a first base station, a measurement information message;

compute a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) based at least in part on at least one information element in the measurement information message and on first signals received from one or more antenna ports of the first base station and second signals received from one or more antenna ports of a second base station;

transmit channel state information comprising the PMI to the first base station; and

receive, from the first base station, at least one data packet beamformed according to a precoding matrix identified based on the PMI.

12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the first signals comprise first reference signals received from the one or more antenna ports of the first base station, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to compute the PMI based at least in part on measurement of the first reference signals.

13. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the second signals comprise second reference signals received from the one or more antenna ports of the second base station, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to compute the PMI based at least in part on measurement of the second reference signals.

14. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the at least one information element is based, at least in part, on one or more information elements received by the first base station from the second base station.

15. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the at least one information element is based, at least in part, on first information that is received by the first base station from the second base station and that is associated with the second signals.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the first information is associated with at least one downlink resource block.

17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the first information is associated with downlink signals transmitted by the second base station.

18. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the channel state information further comprises a rank indicator and a channel quality indicator.

19. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to compute the PMI by selecting the PMI from a subset of a precoding codebook indicated by a codebook subset restriction bitmap parameter.

20. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to compute the PMI to reduce downlink inter-cell interference received from the second base station based, at least in part, on measurement of the first signals and the second signals.

21. The first base station of claim 11, wherein the at least one information element indicates one or more resource blocks associated with the first signals.

22. The first base station of claim 11, wherein the at least one information element indicates one or more resource blocks associated with the second signals.

23. A first base station comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first base station to;

transmit, to a wireless device, a measurement information message;

receive, from the wireless device, channel state information comprising a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) computed based at least in part on at least one information element in the measurement information message and on first signals received from one or more antenna ports of the first base station and second signals received from one or more antenna ports of a second base station; and

transmit, to the wireless device, at least one data packet employing beamforming according to a precoding matrix identified based on the PMI.

24. The first base station of claim 23, wherein the PMI is computed to reduce downlink inter-cell interference received from the second base station based at least in part on measurement of the first signals and the second signals, and wherein the PMI is a PMI selected from a plurality of predetermined PMIs.

25. The first base station of claim 23, wherein the PMI is based at least in part on measurement of the second signals and on computation of inter-cell interference from the second base station.

26. The first base station of claim 23, wherein the PMI is a PMI selected from a subset of a precoding codebook indicated by a codebook subset restriction bitmap parameter.

27. The first base station of claim 23, wherein the channel state information further comprises a rank indicator and a channel quality indicator.

28. The first base station of claim 23, wherein the first signals comprise first reference signals transmitted from the one or more antenna ports of the first base station, and wherein the PMI is based, at least in part, on measurement of the first reference signals.

29. The first base station of claim 23, wherein the second signals comprise second reference signals transmitted from the one or more antenna ports of the second base station, and wherein the PMI is based, at least in part, on measurement of the second reference signals.

30. The first base station of claim 23, wherein the at least one information element indicates one or more resource blocks associated with the first signals.

31. The first base station of claim 23, wherein the at least one information element indicates one or more resource blocks associated with the second signals.

32. The first base station of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first base station to:

receive, from the second base station, first information associated with the second signals; and

generate the at least one information element based, at least in part, on the first information.

33. A method for use in a base station, the method comprising:

transmitting, by the base station and to a wireless device, a measurement information message;

receiving, by the base station and from the wireless device, channel state information comprising a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) computed based at least in part on at least one information element in the measurement information message and on first signals received by the wireless device from one or more antenna ports of the base station and second signals received by the wireless device from one or more antenna ports of a second base station; and

transmitting, by the base station, at least one data packet employing beamforming according to a precoding matrix identified based on the PMI.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the PMI is computed to reduce downlink inter-cell interference received from the second base station based at least in part on measurement of the first signals and the second signals, and wherein the PMI is a PMI selected from a plurality of predetermined PMIs.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the PMI is based at least in part on measurement of the second signals and computation of inter-cell interference from the second base station.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the PMI is a PMI selected from a subset of a precoding codebook indicated by a codebook subset restriction bitmap parameter.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the channel state information further comprises a rank indicator and a channel quality indicator.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the first signals comprise first reference signals transmitted from the one or more antenna ports of the base station, and wherein the PMI is based, at least in part, on measurement of the first reference signals.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the second signals comprise second reference signals transmitted from the one or more antenna ports of the second base station, and wherein the PMI is based, at least in part, on measurement of the second reference signals.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the at least one information element indicates one or more resource blocks associated with the first signals.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein the at least one information element indicates one or more resource blocks associated with the second signals.

42. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

receiving, by the base station and from the second base station, first information associated with the second signals; and

generating the at least one information element based, at least in part, on the first information.