Uplink multi-user multiple input multiple output beamforming

• US 9,699,748 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2016
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Zhang, Hongyuan, Lou, Hui-Ling, Chu, Liwen
• Primary Examiner(s): Panwalkar, Vineeta
• Application Number:
  US15/225,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20160345278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• 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

A first communication device receives respective beamforming training packets as part of a procedure for developing respective transmit beamforming matrices for use by a plurality of second communication devices during a subsequent UL MU transmission. The first communication device generates respective beamforming feedback information based on reception of the respective beamforming training packets, and transmits the respective beamforming feedback information to the plurality of second communication devices. The first communication device transmits a synchronization signal to a group of multiple second communication devices to the group to simultaneously transmit to the first communication device at a particular time as part of the UL MU transmission, and receives simultaneous transmissions from the group responsive to the synchronization signal, the simultaneous transmissions having been beamformed by second communication devices in the group using transmit beamforming matrices.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

prompting, at a first communication device, a plurality of second communication devices to transmit, to the first communication device, respective beamforming training packets as part of a procedure for developing respective transmit beamforming matrices for use by the plurality of second communication devices during a subsequent uplink multi-user (UL MU) transmission to the first communication device;

receiving, at the first communication device, the respective beamforming training packets as part of the procedure for developing the respective transmit beamforming matrices for use by the plurality of second communication devices during the subsequent UL MU transmission, the respective beamforming training packets having been transmitted by the plurality of second communication devices in response to the prompting;

generating, at the first communication device, respective beamforming feedback information based on reception of the respective beamforming training packets;

transmitting, from the first communication device, the respective beamforming feedback information as part of the procedure for developing the respective transmit beamforming matrices for use by the plurality of second communication devices during the subsequent UL MU transmission;

transmitting, with the first communication device, a synchronization signal to a group of multiple second communication devices from among the plurality of second communication devices, the synchronization signal configured to prompt second communication devices in the group to simultaneously transmit to the first communication device at a particular time as part of the UL MU transmission; and

receiving, with the first communication device, simultaneous transmissions from the group responsive to the synchronization signal, the simultaneous transmissions having been beamformed by second communication devices in the group using transmit beamforming matrices developed by the second communication devices in the group as part of the procedure for developing respective transmit beamforming matrices for use by the plurality of second communication devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each 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 prompting the plurality of second communication devices to transmit respective beamforming training packets comprises transmitting respective packets to second communication devices in the plurality of second communication devices to individually prompt second communication devices in the plurality of second communication devices to transmit respective beamforming training packets.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting, at the first communication device, the group of multiple second communication devices from among the plurality of second communication devices for the subsequent UL MU transmission using channel information developed based on reception of the respective beamforming training packets.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a network interface device of a first communication device, the network interface device having one or more integrated circuit devices configured to;

prompt a plurality of second communication devices to transmit, to the first communication device, respective beamforming training packets as part of a procedure for developing respective transmit beamforming matrices for use by the plurality of second communication devices during a subsequent uplink multi-user (UL MU) transmission to the first communication device,

receive the respective beamforming training packets transmitted by the plurality of second communication devices as part of the procedure for developing the respective transmit beamforming matrices and in response to the prompt,

generate respective beamforming feedback packets based on reception of the respective beamforming training packets,

transmit the respective beamforming feedback packets as part of the procedure for developing the respective transmit beamforming matrices,

transmit a synchronization signal to a group of multiple second communication devices from among the plurality of second communication devices, the synchronization signal configured to prompt second communication devices in the group to simultaneously transmit to the first communication device at a particular time as part of the UL MU transmission, and

receive simultaneous transmissions from the group responsive to the synchronization signal, the simultaneous transmissions having been beamformed by second communication devices in the group using transmit beamforming matrices developed by the second communication devices in the group as part of the procedure for developing respective transmit beamforming matrices for use by the plurality of second communication devices.

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

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the first communication device is an access point; and

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

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are configured to prompt the plurality of second communication devices to transmit respective beamforming training packets by transmitting respective packets to second communication devices in the plurality of second communication devices to individually prompt second communication devices in the plurality of second communication devices to transmit respective beamforming training packets.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more integrated circuit devices are configured to:

select the group of multiple second communication devices from among the plurality of second communication devices for the subsequent uplink multi-user (UL MU) transmission using channel information developed based on reception of the respective beamforming training packets.

11. 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, beamforming feedback information based on reception of the beamforming training packet;

transmitting, with the first communication device, the beamforming feedback information 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 simultaneously with one or more third communication devices transmitting to the second communication device as part of an uplink multi-user (UL MU transmission);

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 as part of the UL MU transmission, wherein the group comprises the first communication device and the one or more third communication devices; and

transmitting, with the first communication device, data to the second communication device simultaneous with transmissions by the one or more third communication devices to the second communication device as part of the UL MU transmission, wherein

transmission of the data is responsive to the synchronization signal, and

transmission of the data includes utilizing the second beamforming matrix when transmitting the data.

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

13. The method of claim 11, 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.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the UL MU transmission is an UL MU multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) uplink transmission.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

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

transmitting, with the first communication device, the beamforming feedback information in response to the polling signal.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a network interface device of a first communication device, the network interface device having one or more integrated circuit devices configured to;

receive 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,

generate beamforming feedback information based on reception of the beamforming training packet,

transmit the beamforming feedback information as part of the beamforming training procedure for developing the first transmit beamforming matrix for use by the second communication device,

generate a second beamforming matrix for use by the first communication device when transmitting to the second communication device simultaneously with one or more third communication devices transmitting to the second communication device as part of an uplink multi-user (UL MU transmission),

receive 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 as part of the UL MU transmission, wherein the group comprises the first communication device and the one or more third communication devices, and

transmit data to the second communication device simultaneous with transmissions by the one or more third communication devices to the second communication device as part of the UL MU transmission, wherein

transmission of the data is responsive to the synchronization signal, and

the network interface device utilizes the second beamforming matrix when transmitting the data.

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 UL MU transmission is an UL MU multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) uplink transmission.

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

receive a polling signal transmitted by the second communication device; and

transmit the beamforming feedback information in response to the polling signal.