Synchronization method, mobile station apparatus and base station apparatus

• US 9,794,902 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2014
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Shen, Jiyun, Suyama, Satoshi, Okumura, Yukihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): PANWALKAR, VINEETA S
• Application Number:
  US14/916,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20160227501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others

Abstract

The present invention is designed to allow a communication system employing massive-MIMO to optimize its performance. A mobile station apparatus transmits a synchronization signal by controlling the transmission direction of the transmitting beam for the synchronization signal by means of beamforming using a plurality of antenna elements, and has a synchronization signal processing section (62) that generates the synchronization signal including identification information of the mobile station apparatus, and changes the beamforming weight for the synchronization signal at predetermined time intervals, and a transmitting section (63) that transmits the synchronization signals generated in accordance with each beamforming weight on the uplink.

Claims

1. A synchronization method for transmitting a synchronization signal by controlling a transmission direction of a transmitting beam for the synchronization signal by means of beamforming using a plurality of antenna elements provided in a mobile station apparatus, the synchronization method comprising:

a synchronization signal processing step of generating the synchronization signal including identification information of the mobile station apparatus, and changing a beamforming weight for the synchronization signal at predetermined time intervals; and

a transmitting step of transmitting the synchronization signal generated in accordance with each beamforming weight on uplink.

2. The synchronization method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connection request step of transmitting, from the mobile station apparatus, a connection request signal for requesting a communication apparatus that manages control information, including whether or not there is a base station apparatus located around the mobile station apparatus, to connect with the base station apparatus; and

a control information receiving step of receiving in the mobile station apparatus the control information from the communication apparatus,

wherein, in the synchronization signal processing step, when information to indicate the presence of the base station apparatus has been included in the control information received from the communication apparatus, the synchronization signal is generated, and the beamforming weight for the synchronization signal is changed at predetermined time intervals.

3. The synchronization method according to claim 2, wherein, when the information to indicate the presence of the base station apparatus is not included in the control information received from the communication apparatus, the connection request step and the control information receiving step are repeated.

4. The synchronization method according to claim 2, wherein, in the synchronization signal processing step, when location information of the base station apparatus has been included in the control information received from the communication apparatus, the transmission direction of the synchronization signal is controlled by using a beamforming weight to match the location information of the base station apparatus.

5. The synchronization method according to claim 2, wherein, in the synchronization signal processing step, when priority information regarding the transmission direction of the synchronization signal has been included in the control information received from the communication apparatus, the transmission direction of the synchronization signal is controlled by using a beamforming weight to match the priority information.

6. A mobile station apparatus that transmits a synchronization signal by controlling a transmission direction of a transmitting beam for the synchronization signal by means of beamforming using a plurality of antenna elements, the mobile station apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to generate the synchronization signal including identification information of the mobile station apparatus, and to change a beamforming weight for the synchronization signal at predetermined time intervals; and

a transmitter that transmits the synchronization signal generated in accordance with each beamforming weight on uplink.

7. The mobile station apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the transmitter further transmits a connection request signal for requesting a communication apparatus that manages control information, including whether or not there is a base station apparatus located around the mobile station apparatus, to connect with the base station apparatus;

and the mobile station apparatus further comprising;

a receiver that receives the control information from the communication apparatus,

wherein, when information to indicate the presence of the base station apparatus has been included in the control information received from the communication apparatus, the processor generates the synchronization signal, and changes the beamforming weight for the synchronization signal at predetermined time intervals.

8. The mobile station apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, when the information to indicate the presence of the base station apparatus is not included in the control information received from the communication apparatus, the transmission of the connection request signal by the transmitter and the receipt of the control information by the receiver are repeated.

9. A base station apparatus that transmits a transmitting signal by controlling a transmission direction of a transmitting beam by means of beamforming using a plurality of antenna elements, the base station apparatus comprising:

a receiver that receives a synchronization signal including identification information of a mobile station apparatus;

a processor configured to acquire terminal information, including the identification information of the mobile station apparatus, from the synchronization signal; and

a transmitter that controls the transmission direction of the transmitting signal by using a beamforming weight to match the terminal information.

10. The base station apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the receiver further receives control information from a communication apparatus that manages the control information, including location information of a mobile station apparatus that is located around the base station apparatus, and

wherein the receiver controls a receiving direction of the synchronization signal by using a receiving weight to match the location information of the mobile station apparatus included in the control information.