Channel quality reporting for adaptive sectorization

• US 9,408,220 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gore, Dhananjay Ashok, Gorokhov, Alexei, Ji, Tingfang, Khandekar, Aamod, Kadous, Tamer
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, PHUOC HUU
• Application Number:
  US11/261,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20060233131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,932 Days
• Field of Search: 375/295, 375/340, 455/522, 455/9, 455/452.1, 455/422.1, 370/328, 370/252, 370/329, 370/312
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7143 Arrangements for generation of hop patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/043 using best eigenmode, e.g. beam forming or beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0632 Channel quality parameters, e.g. channel quality indicator [CQI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/065 Variable contents, e.g. long-term or short-short
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0689 using different transmission schemes, at least one of them being a diversity transmission scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0697 using spatial multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0027 Scheduling of signalling, e.g. occurrence thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0051 of dedicated pilots, i.e. pilots destined for a single user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0057 Physical resource allocation for CQI
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/006 Quality of the received signal, e.g. BER, SNR, water filling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria

Abstract

Apparatuses and methodologies are described that enhance performance in a wireless communication system using beamforming transmissions. According to one aspect, the channel quality is monitored. Channel quality indicators can be used to select a scheduling technique, such as space division multiplexing (SDM), multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) transmission and opportunistic beamforming for one or more user devices. In addition, the CQI can be used to determine the appropriate beam assignment or to update the beam pattern.

Claims

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

generating a first pilot;

transmitting the first pilot;

receiving first and second channel quality indicators (CQIs) based at least in part upon the first pilot;

scheduling a first user device based at least in part upon the first CQI, said scheduling being selected from a plurality of scheduling techniques including spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques to schedule the first user device; and

scheduling a second user device based at least in part upon the second CQI with a scheduling technique different than that selected to schedule the first user device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning a user device to a beam based upon the at least one of the CQIs.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a signal to interference to noise ratio (SINR) as one or more of the CQIs.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a supportable rate over the channel as one or more of the CQIs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pilot is transmitted on a first beam and further comprising:

generating a second pilot;

transmitting the second pilot on a second beam; and

receiving a third CQI based at least in part upon the second pilot.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pilot is transmitted over an area including a plurality of beams.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the CQIs is based at least in part upon a set of beam weights.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising utilizing the set of beam weights.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the CQIs is received every frame.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the CQIs is received based upon at least one of spatial division multiplexing (SDM), multiple input multiple output (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a control channel CQI.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first pilot is transmitted on an antenna.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying a beam based at least in part upon the at least one of the CQIs.

14. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to generate a first pilot, transmit the first pilot,

receive first and second channel quality indicators (CQIs) based at least in part upon the first pilot,

a first user device based at least in part upon the first CQI, said scheduling being selected from a plurality of scheduling techniques including spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques to schedule the first user device, and

schedule a second user device based at least in part upon the second CQI with a scheduling technique different than that selected to schedule the first user device; and

a memory coupled with the processor.

15. The wireless apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to assign assigns a user device to a beam based upon the at least one CQI.

16. The wireless apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least one of the CQIs is at least one of a signal to interference to noise ratio (SINR) and a supportable rate over the channel.

17. The wireless apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to generate a second pilot, transmit the second pilot and receive a third CQI based at least in part upon the second pilot.

18. The wireless apparatus of claim 14, the processor is configured to transmit the first pilot over an area including a plurality of beams.

19. The wireless apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least one of the CQIs is based at least in part upon a set of beam weights stored in the memory.

20. The wireless apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to utilize the set of beam weights.

21. The wireless apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to receive at least one of the CQIs in every frame.

22. The wireless apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to receive at least one of the CQIs based upon at least one of spatial division multiplexing (SDM), multiple input multiple output (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling.

23. The wireless apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to receive a control channel CQI.

24. The wireless apparatus of claim 23, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the first pilot through an antenna.

25. A wireless communication apparatus for enhancing performance for a wireless communication environment, comprising:

means for generating a first pilot;

means for transmitting the first pilot;

means for receiving first and second channel quality indicators (CQIs) based at least in part upon the first pilot;

means for scheduling a first user device based at least in part upon the first CQI, said scheduling being selected from a plurality of scheduling techniques including spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques to schedule the first user device; and

means for scheduling a second user device based at least in part upon the second CQI with a scheduling technique different than that selected to schedule the first user device.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

means for generating a second pilot;

means for transmitting the second pilot on a second beam; and

means for receiving a third CQI based at least in part upon the second pilot.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for receiving a control channel CQI.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for utilizing a set of beam weights, wherein at least one of the CQIs is based at least in part upon the set of beam weights.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for modifying a beam based at least in part upon the at least one of the CQIs.

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

generating a first pilot;

transmitting the first pilot;

receiving first and second channel quality indicators (CQIs) based at least in part upon the first pilot;

scheduling a first user device based at least in part upon the first CQI, said scheduling being selected from a plurality of scheduling techniques including spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques to schedule the first user device; and

scheduling a second user device based at least in part upon the second CQI with a scheduling technique different than that selected to schedule the first user device.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, further comprising instructions for assigning a user device to a beam based upon at least one of the CQIs.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, further comprising instructions for:

generating a second pilot;

transmitting the second pilot on a second beam; and

receiving a third CQI based at least in part upon the second pilot.

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

generating a first pilot;

transmitting the first pilot;

receiving first and second channel quality indicators (CQIs) based at least in part upon the first pilot;

scheduling a first a user device based at least in part upon the first CQI, said scheduling being selected from a plurality of scheduling techniques including spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques to schedule the first user device; and

scheduling a second user device based at least in part upon the second CQI with a scheduling technique different than that selected to schedule the first user device.

34. The processor of claim 33, further comprising:

generating a second pilot;

transmitting the second pilot on a second beam; and

receiving a third CQI based at least in part upon the second pilot.

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

a component that generates a first pilot;

a component that transmits the first pilot;

a component that receives first and second channel quality indicators (CQIs) based at least in part upon the first pilot; and

a component that schedules a first user device based at least in part upon the first CQI, said scheduling being selected from a plurality of scheduling techniques including spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques to schedule the first user device; and

a component that schedules a second user device based at least in part upon the second CQI with a scheduling technique different than that selected to schedule the first user device.

36. The mobile device of claim 35, 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.