U.S. patent application number 14/679869 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-30 for multi-rank precoding matrix indicator (pmi) feedback in a multiple-input multiple-output (mimo) system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Texas Instruments Incorporated. Invention is credited to Runhua Chen, Eko N. Onggosanusi.
Application Number | 20150215015 14/679869 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44142881 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150215015 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Runhua ; et
al. |
July 30, 2015 |
MULTI-RANK PRECODING MATRIX INDICATOR (PMI) FEEDBACK IN A
MULTIPLE-INPUT MULTIPLE-OUTPUT (MIMO) SYSTEM
Abstract
In at least some embodiments, a system includes a multiple-input
multiple-output (MIMO) base station and a plurality of MIMO user
equipment (UE) devices in communication with the MIMO base station.
The MIMO base station is configured to switch between a single-user
(SU)-MIMO mode and a multiple-user (MU)-MIMO mode during
communications with the plurality of MIMO UE devices based on
multi-rank precoding matrix indicator (PMI) feedback received from
at least one of the MIMO UE devices.
Inventors: |
Chen; Runhua; (Dallas,
TX) ; Onggosanusi; Eko N.; (Allen, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Texas Instruments Incorporated |
Dallas |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
44142881 |
Appl. No.: |
14/679869 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14016882 |
Sep 3, 2013 |
9001907 |
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14679869 |
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12967739 |
Dec 14, 2010 |
8526519 |
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14016882 |
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61088177 |
Aug 12, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
375/267 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 7/0486 20130101;
H04L 25/03343 20130101; H04W 24/10 20130101; H04B 7/0417 20130101;
H04W 88/08 20130101; H04B 7/0452 20130101; H04B 7/0456
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04B 7/04 20060101
H04B007/04; H04W 24/10 20060101 H04W024/10 |
Claims
1. A system comprising: a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)
base station for use with a plurality of MIMO user equipment (UE)
devices in communication with the MIMO base station; wherein the
MIMO base station includes single-user/multiple-user switching
logic configured to switch between a single-user (SU)-MIMO mode and
a multiple-user (MU)-MIMO mode during communications with the
plurality of MIMO UE devices based on multi-rank precoding matrix
indicator (PMI) feedback received from at least one of the MIMO UE
devices; wherein the multi-rank PMI feedback comprises: a first PMI
corresponding to a recommended precoding matrix for SU-MIMO
communications between the MIMO base station and the plurality of
MIMO UE devices, and a rank indicator (RI) corresponding to the
rank value of the first PMI, and a second PMI corresponding to a
precoding matrix of a pre-defined restricted rank value applicable
for MU-MIMO communications between the base station and the
plurality of MIMO UE devices.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the MIMO base station sends
configuration information to at least one MIMO UE device that
indicate that the MIMO UE device should report said first and
second PMIs periodically, wherein the reporting periodicity of said
second PMI is equal to the reporting periodicity of said first
PMI.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the MIMO base station sends
configuration information to at least one MIMO UE device that
indicate that the MIMO UE device should report said first and
second PMIs periodically, wherein the reporting periodicity of said
second PMI is not equal to the reporting periodicity of said first
PMI.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the said pre-defined restricted
rank value is configured by a higher layer control signal.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the MIMO base station encodes the
reporting configuration for said first PMI and said second PMI in a
UE-specific higher-layer control signal transmitted from the MIMO
base station to the MIMO UE devices.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the MIMO base station is
configured to switch between the SU-MIMO mode and the MU-MIMO mode
based on a schedule derived from said multi-rank PMI feedback
received from different MIMO UE devices.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the MIMO base station transmits a
control signal to the UE devices to configure at least one MIMO UE
device to switch from one type of multi-rank PMI feedback reporting
to another type of multi-rank PMI feedback reporting.
8. The system of claim 5 wherein the higher layer control signal
comprises a Radio Resource Control (RRC) configuration signal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 14/016,882, filed Apr. 7, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 12/967,739, filed Dec. 14, 2010, now U.S. Pat.
No. 8,526,519, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/088,177, filed Dec. 14, 2010. These documents
are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if reproduced in
their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless systems are
those that have multiple antennas on the transmitter side and the
receiver side. One way to exploit the number of antennas in a MIMO
wireless system is referred to as "spatial multiplexing", where
different data streams are transmitted in parallel from different
transmit antennas and where multiple receive antennas are used to
separate the different data streams and the receiver. With spatial
multiplexing, a node (eNB) may send multiple data streams (or
layers) to user equipment (UEs) in downlink transmission using the
same frequency. The number of such layers or streams for a downlink
transmission is referred to as "the rank". In Long Term Evolution
(LTE) Release 8 standard, each UE estimates the downlink (DL)
channel and reports the recommended rank indicator (RI) to eNB.
Each UE also reports the channel quality indicator (CQI) and the
precoding matrix indicator (PMI) which is an index to the precoding
matrix in a codebook. These indicators provide a set of recommended
transmission properties to eNB. Upon receiving this feedback
(RI/PMI/CQI) from UEs, the eNB performs corresponding downlink MIMO
transmission scheduling.
[0003] Implicit CSI (CQI/PMI/RI) feedback is based on a pre-defined
set of codebooks, which are a set of matrices calculated offline
and known at the eNB and UEs. The codebook of rank-r consists of a
number of Nt.times.r matrices where Nt is the number of eNB
transmit antennas. The UE feedback includes the RI, PMI and CQI
mentioned above. RI refers to a preferred transmission rank (number
of data streams), ranging from 1 to min(Nt, Nr), where Nr is the
number of receive antennas. PMI refers to a UE recommended
precoding matrix index in the rank-r codebook. For evolved UMTS
Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) LTE Release 8, a single PMI is
reported for each frequency subband, corresponding to the RI
report. CQI refers to the quality of the channel (e.g., supportable
data rate and/or signal-to-noise ratio). The reported CQI is
associated with the reported PMI.
SUMMARY
[0004] In at least some embodiments, a system includes a
multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) base station and a plurality
of MIMO user equipment (UE) devices in communication with the MIMO
base station. The MIMO base station is configured to switch between
a single-user (SU)-MIMO mode and a multiple-user (MU)-MIMO mode
during communications with the plurality of MIMO UE devices based
on multi-rank precoding matrix indicator (PMI) feedback received
from at least one of the MIMO UE devices.
[0005] In accordance with at least some embodiments, an electronic
device includes MIMO transceiver logic and multi-rank precoding
matrix indicator (PMI) feedback reporting logic coupled to the MIMO
transceiver logic. The multi-rank PMI feedback reporting logic
enables the electronic device to selectively switch between a
single-user (SU)-MIMO mode and a multiple-user (MU)-MIMO mode.
[0006] In accordance with at least some embodiments, a method
includes receiving, by a MIMO base station, multi-rank precoding
matrix indicator (PMI) feedback from user equipment (UE) devices.
The method also includes switching, by the MIMO base station,
between a single-user (SU)-MIMO mode and a multiple-user (MU)-MIMO
mode for communications with the UE devices based on the received
multi-rank PMI feedback.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] For a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the
invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of a multiple-input
multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication system in accordance
with an embodiment of the disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows additional components of the MIMO base station
of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 3 shows additional components of the MIMO user
equipment (UE) device of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of
the disclosure;
[0011] FIGS. 4A-4C show time charts for multi-rank precoding matrix
indicator (PMI) feedback reporting in accordance with embodiments
of the disclosure; and
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a method in accordance with an embodiment of
the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Certain terms are used throughout the following description
and claims to refer to particular system components. As one skilled
in the art will appreciate, companies may refer to a component by
different names. This document does not intend to distinguish
between components that differ in name but not function. In the
following discussion and in the claims, the terms "including" and
"comprising" are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be
interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to . . . . " Also,
the term "couple" or "couples" is intended to mean either an
indirect or direct electrical connection. Thus, if a first device
couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct
electrical connection, or through an indirect electrical connection
via other devices and connections. The term "system" refers to a
collection of two or more hardware and/or software components, and
may be used to refer to an electronic device or devices or a
sub-system thereof. Further, the term "software" includes any
executable code capable of running on a processor, regardless of
the media used to store the software. Thus, code stored in
non-volatile memory, and sometimes referred to as "embedded
firmware," is included within the definition of software.
[0014] Embodiments of the invention are directed to the use of
multi-rank precoding matrix indicator (PMI) feedback reports in a
multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication system
(e.g., a system with a MIMO base station and a plurality of user
equipment (UE) devices). The multi-rank PMI feedback reports are
used, for example, to schedule switches between a single-user
(SU)-MIMO mode and a multi-user (MU)-MIMO mode for the wireless
communication system. In at least some embodiments, MIMO UE devices
generate the multi-rank PMI feedback reports and a MIMO base
station selectively switches between a SU-MIMO mode and a MU-MIMO
mode based on received multi-rank PMI feedback reports. The types
of multi-rank PMI feedback reports used with the wireless
communication system may vary and may be adjusted from time to
time.
[0015] Enhanced DL MU-MIMO with non-codebook-based precoding has
shown significant performance improvement in a highly loaded
scenario with full-buffer traffic. Disclosed embodiments expand on
LTE Release 8 CQI/PMI feedback techniques. More specifically, PMI
information can be expanded to include multiple PMis (e.g.,
addition of best companion and/or worst companion) and/or
additional information (e.g., long-term transmit covariance).
Further, codebook enhancements such as adaptive/downloadable
codebooks (based on antenna configuration, propagation environment,
or other parameters) and/or differential codebook structures may be
implemented. Further, sounding-reference signal (SRS) enhancements
may be implemented. Further, CQI definitions may be modified.
[0016] In accordance with some embodiments, switching between
SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO transmissions is possible without RRC
configuration. SU-MIMO refers to a communication technique where a
frequency resource block (RB) is occupied by a single UE
exclusively at a particular time instant. On the other hand,
MU-MIMO refers to a communication technique where an RB can be
occupied by two or more UEs simultaneously at a given time.
[0017] In LTE Release 8, a UE is semi-statically configured in
either a SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO mode by higher-layer RRC signaling.
Further, switching between SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO mode occurs at a low
rate and CSI report by the UE is only required to target the
specific MIMO mode. In at least some embodiments, dynamic MIMO mode
switching is used as part of an advanced wireless communication
system. With dynamic mode switching, switching between SU-MIMO and
MU-MIMO mode can occur more frequently (e.g., every subframe).
Because the UE does not know a priori which MIMO mode is being
used, UE feedback is implemented to facilitate downlink MIMO
transmission. The UE feedback disclosed herein takes into account
both SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO aspects in order to facilitate the dynamic
switching and UE scheduling/pairing. This is in contrast to
semi-static mode switching where UE feedback assumes either an SU
or MU hypothesis.
[0018] To support dynamic SU/MU switching, implicit RI/PMI/CQI
feedback can be implemented with minor modifications to LTE Release
8. With spatial multiplexing, the eNB may send multiple data
streams (or layers) to UEs in downlink transmission using the same
frequency. The number of such layers or streams is defined as the
rank. For LTE Release 8, each UE needs to estimate the DL channel
and report the recommended rank indicator (RI) to the eNB. Each UE
also reports the channel quality indicator (CQI) and the precoding
matrix indicator (PMI) which is an index to the precoding matrix in
a codebook. These indicators form a set of recommended transmission
properties (RI/PMI/CQI) to the eNB. Upon receiving this feedback
from UE, the eNB performs corresponding downlink MIMO transmission
scheduling.
[0019] In contrast, to support dynamic SU/MU switching, each UE can
report implicit CSI for SU-MIMO and implicit CSI for MU-MIMO
transmission simultaneously. This corresponds to at least two
separate PMis of different ranks. The rank-r PMI/CQI includes the
preferred RI (rank-r) and PMI/CQI information under a SU-MIMO
hypothesis. The rank-r PMI/CQI is used for the purpose of SU-MIMO
scheduling, and is readily supported with LTE Release 8 feedback
scheme. In addition, a further PMI belonging to a certain
pre-defined I restricted rank value is reported which is applicable
for MU-MIMO transmission. For example, when the restricted rank
value is rank-1 (or rank-2), multi-rank PMI feedback may configure
a UE to report additional rank-1 or rank-2 PMI for MU-MIMO
beamforming and scheduling. Note the baseline PMI report (rank-r)
without rank restriction is used for SU-MIMO transmission.
Meanwhile, the rank-1 PMI/CQI and/or rank-2 PMI/CQI includes
PMI/CQI information for a specified rank which the eNB will use to
perform MU-MIMO transmission.
[0020] For instance, the UE may report rank-1 SU-MIMO PMI/CQI
without any MU-MIMO hypothesis. Upon receiving the rank-1 SU-MIMO
PMI/CQI from multiple users, the eNB performs MU-MIMO scheduling
with regularized zero-forcing beamforming (ZFBF). In this example,
the report is essentially a SU-MIMO PMI/CQI under a specific
pre-defined rank, but is for the purpose of MU-MIMO scheduling.
Although other ranks may be possible, 1-layer or 2-layer per UE is
may be sufficient for most applications. For example, if MU-MIMO is
to be confined to rank-1 per UE only, the multi-rank feedback
reporting includes a rank-r PMI/CQI and a rank-1 PMI/CQI (depicted
in FIG. 4A). Alternatively, if rank-2 transmission is also to be
supported in MU-MIMO, a rank-2 PMI/CQI is reported together with
the rank-1 PMI/CQI (depicted in FIG. 4B). Note the rank-1 PMI/CQI
and rank-2 PMI/CQI can be reported in the same subframe or in
different subframes. Yet as another embodiment, it is also possible
that MU-MIMO transmission is confined to rank-2 transmission only.
In this case two PMI/CQI will be reported: a rank-r SU-MIMO
RI/PMI/CQI for SU-MIMO scheduling (as if there is no MU-MIMO), and
a rank-2 PMI/CQI for MU-MIMO scheduling (depicted in FIG. 4C).
[0021] The disclosed scheme for multi-rank PMI feedback reporting
enables the eNB to perform link adaptation and rate prediction when
a UE is scheduled in SU-MIMO transmission. Further, the implicit
CSI for MU-MIMO (rank-1) enables the eNB to schedule a UE in
MU-MIMO transmission. Because the UE reports are essentially
SU-MIMO PMI/CQI, very minimum standardization effort is needed for
implementing multi-rank PMI feedback reporting. As an example, for
2TX (2 transmit antennas) and 4TX (4 transmit antennas), the LTE
Release 8 feedback technique can be utilized without any extra
standardization work. Further, all the PUSCH and PUCCH feedback
modes in LTE Release 8 can be re-used. For 8TX, the 8TX codebook
may be utilized. Further, the eNB may configure periodic or
aperiodic report of rank-r and rank-1 PMI/CQI for SU/MU separately.
Since MU-MIMO is more suitable for low-mobility UE with favorable
channel condition (e.g., medium to high geometry), it is possible
to configure the rank-1 PMI report (for MU-MIMO transmission) less
frequently than the rank-r PMI report. For example, different
reporting periodicities can be configured given the cell load and
user traffic types. Alternatively, aperiodic feedback of MU-MIMO
CSI can be triggered by UL grant when necessary.
[0022] In at least some embodiments, dynamic SU/MU switching can be
turned off when not needed. For example, the eNB may "turn off" the
rank-r (or rank-1 PMI) report by configuring the reporting
periodicity to be lengthy (approaching infinity). By doing so, a UE
can be configured to report PMI/CQI for a specific MIMO mode, and
hence fall-back to a semi-static MU-MIMO or SU-MIMO transmission.
Further, a UE can re-use any existing PMI/CQI feedback module
without additional computational cost or complexity.
[0023] The configuration of multi-rank PMI/CQI feedback is
semi-statically signaled by higher-layer signaling (e.g., by an RRC
parameter referred to herein as "multirank-pmicqi-configuration")
as given in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 RRC configuration of multi-rank PMI/CQI
Feedback Reporting multirank- PMI/CQI configuration pmicqi- Rank-r
Rank-1 Rank-2 configuration RI/PMI/CQI PMI/CQI PMI/CQI Notation 0
ON OFF OFF SU only 1 ON ON OFF SU + rank-1 MU 2 ON OFF ON SU +
rank-2 MU 3 ON ON ON SU + rank-1 MU + rank-2 MU 4 OFF OFF OFF No
Feedback 5 OFF ON OFF Rank-1 MU 6 OFF OFF ON Rank-2 MU 7 OFF ON ON
rank-1 MU + rank-2 MU 8 Reserved
[0024] In case the preferred SU-MIMO rank r=1 or 2, the SU-MIMO
PMI/CQI may be combined with the rank-1/2 PMI/CQI for MU-MIMO. As
an example, if multirank-pmicqi-configuration=1, the UE reports the
recommended RI=r for SU, and rank-1 for MU. If r is not 1, the UE
reports 2 CQI/PMI pairs: rank r+rank-1 PMI/CQI. If r-1, UE reports
only the rank-1 CQI/PMI pair.
[0025] As another example, if multirank-pmicqi-configuration=2, the
UE reports the recommended RI=r for SU, and rank-2 for MU. If r is
not 2, the UE reports 2 CQI/PMI pairs: rank-r+rank-2 PMI/CQI. If r
is 2, the UE reports only rank-2 CQI/PMI pair. As yet another
example, if multirank-pmicqi-configuration=3, the UE reports the
recommended RI=r for SU, and rank-1/2 for MU. If r is not 1 or 2,
the UE reports 3 CQI/PMI pairs rank-r+rank-1+rank-2 PMI/CQI. If r
is either 1 or 2, the UE reports only 2 CQI/PMI pairs:
rank-1+rank-2 PMI/CQI. It is also possible to jointly configure
rank-1 and rank-2 PMI/CQI reporting (for MU) by higher layer
signaling (e.g., rank-1 and rank-2 PMI/CQI reporting is always ON
or OFF simultaneously) in which case the RRC parameter
multirank-pmicqi-configuration is provided in Table 2.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 RRC configuration of multi-rank PMI/CQI
Feedback Reporting multirank- PMI/CQI configuration pmicqi- Rank-r
Rank-1/2 configuration RI/PMI/CQI PMI/CQI Notation 0 ON OFF SU only
1 ON ON SU + rank-1/2 MU 2 OFF OFF No Feedback 3 OFF ON rank-1/2 MU
4 reserved
[0026] If multirank-pmicqi-configuration=1 and Table 2 is used, the
UE reports the recommended RI=r for SU, and rank-1 PMI/CQI+rank-2
PMI/CQI for MU. If r is not 1 or 2, the UE reports 3 PMI/CQI pairs:
rank-r+rank-1+rank-2 PMI/CQI. If r is either 1 or 2, UE reports
only 2 CQI/PMI pairs: rank-1+rank-2 PMI/CQI. If
multirank-pmicqi-configuration=3 and Table 2 is used, the UE
reports rank-1 PMI/CQI+rank-2 PMI/CQI for MU. Alternatively, if
MU-MIMO is to be confined to rank-1 transmission, the RRC
configuration of multirank-pmicqi-configuration is given in Table
3.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 RRC configuration of multi-rank PMI/CQI
Feedback Reporting multirank- PMI/CQI configuration pmicqi- Rank-r
Rank-1 configuration RI/PMI/CQI PMI/CQI Notation 0 ON OFF SU only 1
ON ON SU + rank-1 MU 2 OFF OFF No Feedback 3 OFF ON rank-1 MU 4
Reserved
[0027] If multirank-pmicqi-configuration=1 and Table 3 is used, the
UE reports the recommended RI=r for SU, and rank-1 PMI/CQI MU. If r
is not 1, the UE reports 2 CQI/PMI pairs rank-r+rank-1 PMI/CQI. If
r-1, the UE reports only 2 CQI/PMI pairs: rank-1 PMI/CQI. If
multirank-pmicqi-configuration=3 and Table 3 is used, the UE
reports rank-1 PMI/CQI for MU.
[0028] In yet another embodiment, if MU-MIMO is to be confined to
rank-2 transmission only, the RRC configuration of
multirank-pmicqi-configuration is given in Table 4.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 RRC configuration of multi-rank PMI/CQI
Feedback Reporting Multirank- PMI/CQI configuration pmicqi- Rank-r
Rank-2 configuration RI/PMI/CQI PMI/CQI Notation 0 ON OFF SU only 1
ON ON SU + rank-2 MU 2 OFF OFF No Feedback 3 OFF ON rank-2 MU 4
Reserved
[0029] If multirank-pmicqi-configuration=1 and Table 4 is used, the
UE reports the recommended RI=r for SU, and rank-2 PMI/CQI for MU.
If r is not 2, the UE reports rank-r PMI/CQI+rank-2 PMI/CQI. If
r=2, the UE reports rank-2 PMI/CQI. If
multirank-pmicqi-configuration=3 and Table 4 is used, the UE
reports rank-2 PMI/CQI for MU. Regardless of the Table being used,
the rank-value r is always reported together with the rank-r
PMI/CQI for SU-MIMO transmission, except when r is equal to one of
the configured rank values for PMI/CQI report for MU-MIMO (e.g.,
r=1 or r=2).
[0030] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of a multiple-input
multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication system 100 in
accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown, the
wireless communication system 100 comprises a MIMO base station
(eNB) 102 having a plurality of antennas 108 in communication with
a MIMO UE device 114 having a plurality of antennas 112. The
communication between the MIMO base station 102 and the MIMO UE
device occurs via a communication channel 110. The number of
antennas (108 and 112) used for communications between the MIMO
base station 102 and the MIMO UE device 114 may vary over time. If
one antenna is used by the transmitting device, one antenna is used
by the receiving device. If two antennas are used by the
transmitting device, two antennas are used by the receiving device,
and so on. Although only one MIMO UE device 114 and one channel 110
is shown in FIG. 1, it should be understood that the wireless
communication system 100 may include a plurality of MIMO UE devices
and corresponding channels. Regardless of the number of UE devices
in the MIMO wireless communication system 100, each UE device is
configured to generate multi-rank PMI feedback reports as described
herein.
[0031] In FIG. 1, the MIMO UE device 114 comprises multi-rank
feedback report generation logic 116 that is able to generate the
multi-rank PMI feedback reports described herein. Other MIMO UE
devices of the wireless communication system 100 would likewise
comprise multi-rank feedback report generation logic. In accordance
with at least some embodiments, the multi-rank PMI feedback report
generation logic 116 may be implemented as part of the UE device
PHY layer and comprises hardware, or a combination of hardware and
software. The report generated by the multi-rank PMI feedback
report generation logic 116 may vary. For example, the MIMO UE
device 114 may periodically or randomly receive a control signal
that causes the multi-rank PMI feedback report generation logic 116
to vary one or more features of reports generated by the multi-rank
PMI feedback report generation logic 116. The control signal may
be, for example, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) configuration
signal.
[0032] In at least some embodiments, the multi-rank PMI feedback
report generated by the PMI feedback report generation logic 116
comprises a rank-r rank indicator (RI) and at least one other
pre-defined/restricted RI (e.g., rank-1 and/or rank-2).
Additionally, the multi-rank PMI feedback report comprises rank-r
PMI information and rank-1 and/or rank-2 PMI information. The
rank-r PMI information is used to schedule SU-MIMO transmissions,
where r is the preferred SU-MIMO rank. Meanwhile, the rank-1 and/or
rank-2 PMI information is used to schedule MU-MIMO transmissions.
In at least some embodiments, Zero Forcing Beamforming (ZFBF) is
used for MU-MIMO transmissions. The multi-rank PMI feedback report
also may comprise channel quality indication (CQI) information as
described herein.
[0033] The multi-rank PMI or the rank-restricted PMI (e.g. rank-1
PMI) for MU-MIMO transmission may be reported periodically, wherein
the reporting periodicity of the multi-rank/rank-restricted PMI may
be larger than that of the regular rank-r PMI/CQI. In at least some
embodiments, the multi-rank PMI feedback report generation logic
116 enables the UE device 114 to send a multi-rank PMI feedback
report to the MIMO base station 102, where the multi-rank PMI
feedback report includes multiple RIs in the same report.
Alternatively, the UE device 114 sends multiple single-rank PMI
feedback reports to the MIMO base station 102, where multi-rank
reporting is accomplished by sending a series of single-rank PMI
feedback reports. In one embodiment of multi-rank PMI feedback
reporting, a series of single-rank PMI feedback reports includes
two or more rank-r PMI feedback reports followed by a rank-1 PMI
and/or rank-2 PMI feedback report. In other words, for multi-rank
PMI feedback reporting where a series of single-rank PMI feedback
reports are sent, rank-r PMI feedback reports may be sent more
often than rank-1 and/or rank-2 feedback reports. Each UE device
may repeat the process of sending a multi-rank PMI feedback report
and/or sending a series of single-rank PMI feedback reports as
needed.
[0034] In FIG. 1, the MIMO base station 102 comprises multi-rank
feedback report decoder logic 104 that is able to decode multi-rank
PMI feedback reports and/or a series of single-rank PMI feedback
reports. With the decoded information, SU/MU mode control logic 107
is able to schedule when an SU-MIMO mode and an MU-MIMO mode is
used for communications with UE devices of the wireless
communication system 100. As needed (in accordance with the
schedule derived from multi-rank PMI feedback reporting), the SU/MU
mode control logic 107 enables dynamic switching between the
SU-MIMO mode and the MU-MIMO mode.
[0035] The MIMO base station 102 also comprises multi-rank feedback
report selection logic 106 that enables selection and adjustment of
the type of multi-rank PMI feedback reporting to be used. For
example, the multi-rank feedback report selection logic 106 may
generate control signals (e.g., RRC configuration signals) to cause
each UE device of the wireless communication system 100 to perform
one of multiple types of multi-rank PMI feedback reporting. The
types of multi-rank PMI feedback reporting are based on different
multi-rank PMI feedback reports and/or a series of single-rank PMI
feedback reports generated by UE devices in accordance with a
control signal. The multi-rank feedback report selection logic 106
also may communicate with the multi-rank feedback report decoder
logic 104 to ensure decoding compatibility when the type of
multi-rank PMI feedback reporting is adjusted.
[0036] FIG. 2 shows additional components of the MIMO base station
102 of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
As shown in FIG. 2, the multi-rank feedback report decoder logic
104 comprises a receive module 210 that receives multi-rank PMI
feedback reports 250 from multiple UEs (e.g., UE_1 to UE_k), where
the multi-rank PMI feedback reports 250 include CQis estimated by
the multiple UEs. The multi-rank feedback report decoder logic 104
also comprises a decoding module 214 that extracts RI/PMI/CQI
information from the multi-rank PMI feedback reports 250. The
extracted RI/PMI/CQI information is forwarded to SU/MU mode control
logic 107, which comprises SU scheduling logic 222 and MU
scheduling/pairing logic 224. The SU scheduling logic 222 operates
to schedule SU communications using rank-r RI information extracted
from the multi-rank PMI feedback reports 250. Meanwhile, the MU
scheduling/pairing logic 224 operates to schedule MU communications
using rank-1 and/or rank-2 RI information extracted from the
multi-rank PMI feedback reports 250. The SU/MU switching logic 226
determines when to switch between an SU-MIMO mode and an MU-MIMO
mode based on SU and MU schedule information received from the SU
scheduling logic 222 and MU scheduling/pairing logic 224.
[0037] The MIMO base station 102 also comprises transmit logic 230
coupled to the SU/MU mode control logic 107 and the multi-rank
feedback report selection logic 106. The transmit logic 230
operates to prepare data transmissions and/or control signal
transmissions to MIMO UEs. In at least some embodiments, the
transmit logic 230 operates in SU-MIMO mode or MU-MIMO mode
according to a SU/MU mode control signal received from the SU/MU
mode control logic 107. The transmit logic also may receive
information from the multi-rank feedback report selection logic 106
regarding which type of multi-rank feedback reporting is to be used
and may transmit a corresponding control signal to the MIMO
UEs.
[0038] As shown, the transmit logic 230 comprises a plurality of
modulation-coding scheme (MCS) components 232A-232M corresponding
to SU-MIMO mode operations, MU-MIMO mode operations and/or other
operations common to SU-MIMO mode and MU-MIMO mode. Each MCS
component 232A-232M is operable to receive input data and to output
modulated data or codewords. The modulated data or codewords are
provided to a codeword/MCS to layer mapping component 234 that maps
the received data onto one more layers (each layer corresponding to
the number of antennas that will be used to transmit the data). The
layers may be understood to be virtual antennas.
[0039] In at least some embodiments, the output of the codeword/MCS
to layer mapping component 234 is provided to pre-coder 236 which
converts virtual antenna signals to physical antennas signals
(e.g., 1 to 4 antennas may be selected for use). In accordance with
at least some embodiments, the signal on each of the physical
antennas 240A-240P correspond to some combination of the signals on
the virtual antennas. This mapping can be specified by a precoding
matrix implemented by pre-coder 236. The output of the pre-coder
236 is assembled in the frequency domain and converted to the time
domain using the OFDMA modulators 238A-238P, which may add a cyclic
prefix to guard against channel distortion. The output from the
OFDMA modulators 238A-238P is provided to antennas 240A-240P for
transmission. For MU-MIMO the output of pre-coder 236 will be
summed up for every UE device, and the summation will be fed into
OFDMA modulators 238A-238P.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows additional components of the MIMO UE device 114
of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As
shown, the MIMO UE device 114 may comprise a channel estimation
component 302 that operates to estimate how the communication
channel affects transmitted signals. The output of the channel
estimation component 302 is provided to multi-rank feedback report
generation logic 116. In FIG. 3, the multi-rank feedback report
generation logic 116 comprises report parameter selection logic 304
configured to select parameters for reports that are generated. As
an example, the report parameter selection logic 304 comprises RI
selector logic 306 for selecting at least one RI for a report, PMI
selector logic 308 for selecting at least one PMI for a report, and
CQI selector logic 310 for selecting at least one CQI for a report.
In at least some embodiments, rank-r RI/PMI/CQI information 312 is
output from the report parameter selection logic 304. Additionally
or alternatively, rank-1 or rank-2 RI/PMI/CQI information 314 is
output from the report parameter selection logic 304. The rank-r
RI/PMI/CQI information 312 and/or the rank-1 or rank-2 RI/PMI/CQI
information 314 is combined in a report 316, which provides RI/CQI
feedback according to the periodicity/offset and multi-rank PMI
configuration. The report 316 is transmitted to the MIMO base
station 102 for use in scheduling and switching between SU-MIMO
mode and MU-MIMO mode as described herein. As shown in FIG. 3, the
MIMO UE device 114 also comprises MIMO demodulation logic 320 that
demodulates data received from the base station 102. The
demodulation logic 302 operates, in part, based on a configurable
number of antennas used for MIMO communications between the base
station 102 and the MIMO UE device 114.
[0041] FIGS. 4A-4C show time charts 400, 410 and 420 for multi-rank
PMI feedback reporting in accordance with embodiments of the
disclosure. In the time chart 400 of FIG. 4A, three rank-r
RI/PMI/CQI reports 402 are transmitted followed by a single rank-1
PMI/CQI report 404. In other words, the multi-rank/rank-restricted
PMI report (rank-1 and/or rank-2) periodicity is three times that
of the regular non-restricted PMI/CQI feedback (rank-r) for SU-MIMO
transmission. In the time chart 410 of FIG. 48, three rank-r
RI/PMI/CQI reports 402 are transmitted followed by a single rank-1
PMI/CQI report 404 and a single rank-2 PMI/CQI report 406. Hence,
the multi-rank (rank-1 and/or 2) and regular rank-r reports have
the same reporting periodicities. In the time chart 420 of FIG. 4C,
three rank-r RI/PMI/CQI reports 402 are transmitted followed by a
single rank-2 PMI/CQI report 406. The time charts 400, 410 and 420
of FIGS. 4A-4C are examples only. Accordingly, multi-rank PMI
feedback reporting embodiments are not intended to be limited to
these examples of FIGS. 4A-4C. In alternative embodiments of
multi-rank PMI feedback reporting, the order and quantity of
different reports may vary. Further, some reports may combine
rank-r RI/PMI/CQI information as well as rank-1 and/or rank-2
PMI/CQI information.
[0042] FIG. 5 shows a method 500 in accordance with an embodiment
of the disclosure. In at least some embodiments, the method 500 is
performed by a MIMO base station. As shown, the method 500
comprises receiving multi-rank PMI feedback reports from UE devices
(block 502). Receiving multi-rank PMI feedback reports as in block
502 may comprise, for example, receiving a multi-rank PMI feedback
report with a rank-r PMI more often than receiving a multi-rank PMI
feedback report with a rank-1 PMI or rank-2 PMI. Additionally or
alternatively, receiving multi-rank PMI feedback reports as in
block 502 may comprise receiving a multi-rank PMI feedback report
with rank-r RI/PMI/CQI information as well as rank-1 and/or rank-2
PMI/CQI information. The method 500 also comprises switching
between an SU-MIMO mode and an MU-MIMO mode for communications with
the UE devices based on the received multi-rank PMI feedback
reports (block 504).
[0043] In at least some embodiments, the method 500 may
additionally comprise selecting one type among a plurality of types
of multi-rank PMI feedback reports to receive from the UE devices.
The method 500 may additionally comprise transmitting a control
signal to the UE devices to notify the UE devices regarding the
selected type of multi-rank PMI feedback reports.
[0044] In this disclosed embodiments, a multi-rank PMI/CQI feedback
scheme is implemented, where PMI/CQI of different ranks are jointly
reported to enable dynamic SU/MU switching. More specifically, a
rank-r PMI/CQI may be reported to enable SU-MIMO transmissions
where r is the preferred SU-MIMO rank. Further, a rank-1 (or rank
1/2 combination) PMI/CQI is reported to enable MU-MIMO transmission
with ZFBF. The rank-1 PMI/CQI is essentially a LTE Release 8
SU-MIMO type of PMI/CQI (restricted within rank-1 codebook) without
any MU-MIMO hypothesis. This is already supported with codebook
subset restriction in LTE Release 8. Further, the rank-1 PMI/CQI
can be reported less frequently than the rank-r PMI/CQI due to the
typical local-area setup of MU-MIMO. The proposed method provides a
very low-complexity and straightforward extension of the existing
LTE Release 8 implicit CSI feedback framework to enable dynamic
SU/MU switching. The disclosed multi-rank PMI/CQI feedback scheme
can be implemented while maintaining a very low feedback overhead
with the benefits of minimal standardization impact and marginal
cost of UE complexity.
[0045] The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the
principles and various embodiments of the present invention. Many
modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to
mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains
having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing
descriptions, and the associated drawings. For example, the
Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the specific embodiments disclosed. Although specific
terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and
descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
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