U.S. patent application number 16/180869 was filed with the patent office on 2020-05-07 for user equipment assisted multiple-input multiple-output downlink configuration.
The applicant listed for this patent is XCOM Labs, Inc.. Invention is credited to Peter John Black, Michael Mingxi Fan, Matthew Stuart Grob, Tamer Adel Kadous.
Application Number | 20200145061 16/180869 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 70459257 |
Filed Date | 2020-05-07 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200145061 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Black; Peter John ; et
al. |
May 7, 2020 |
USER EQUIPMENT ASSISTED MULTIPLE-INPUT MULTIPLE-OUTPUT DOWNLINK
CONFIGURATION
Abstract
Aspects of this disclosure relate to user equipment assisted
multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) downlink configuration.
Features are described for a user equipment determination of a
desired transmission mode and/or active set of serving nodes for
wireless communication service(s). The user equipment may submit a
request for the desired mode and/or nodes to a network controller
such as a baseband unit. The user equipment may subsequently
receive a configuration for the requested wireless communication
service(s).
Inventors: |
Black; Peter John; (La
Jolla, CA) ; Grob; Matthew Stuart; (La Jolla, CA)
; Fan; Michael Mingxi; (San Diego, CA) ; Kadous;
Tamer Adel; (San Diego, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
XCOM Labs, Inc. |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
70459257 |
Appl. No.: |
16/180869 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 7/024 20130101;
H04B 7/0689 20130101; H04B 7/0413 20130101; H04B 17/318 20150115;
H04B 17/309 20150115 |
International
Class: |
H04B 7/0413 20060101
H04B007/0413; H04B 7/024 20060101 H04B007/024; H04B 17/309 20060101
H04B017/309 |
Claims
1. A user equipment comprising: antenna elements comprising a first
antenna element; and a processor configured to: receive, from a
base station, information identifying an active set of one or more
serving nodes to provide transmission service to the user
equipment; determine a selected mode of wirelessly receiving data
using the first antenna element, the selected mode being either a
coordinated multipoint mode or an alternate downlink data
transmission mode, wherein the processor is configured to determine
that the selected mode is the coordinated multipoint mode based on
a mobility measurement being less than a first threshold and
channel state information variation being less than a second
threshold; and cause transmission, via at least one of the antenna
elements, of a request to receive data at the first antenna element
in the selected mode.
2. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the processor is
configured to: determine a desired active set of one or more
serving nodes to provide the transmission service to the user
equipment; and cause transmission, via at least one of the antenna
elements, of data indicative of the desired active set.
3. The user equipment of claim 2, wherein the desired active set
includes at least one serving node from the active set.
4. The user equipment of claim 2, wherein the desired active set
identifies at least one serving node from a neighbor set.
5. The user equipment of claim 1 claim 13, wherein the processor is
configured to determine the selected mode based on data indicating
a mobility state of the user equipment.
6. The user equipment of claim 5, wherein the data indicating the
mobility state comprises at least one of Doppler estimation data or
channel state variation data.
7. The user equipment of claim 13, wherein the processor is
configured to determine the selected mode based on a spatial
channel condition of a channel associated with the user
equipment.
8. The user equipment of claim 7, wherein the processor is
configured to: detect a spatial parameter of the channel; and
generate a channel state estimate based at least in part on the
spatial parameter of the channel, wherein the channel state
estimate indicates the spatial channel condition.
9. The user equipment of claim 13, wherein the processor is
configured to determine that the selected mode is the coordinated
multipoint mode based on a mobility measurement being less than a
first threshold and channel state information variation being less
than a second threshold.
10. A user equipment comprising: antenna elements comprising a
first antenna element; and a processor configured to: receive, from
a base station, information identifying an active set of one or
more serving nodes to provide transmission service to the user
equipment determine a selected mode of wirelessly receiving data
using the first antenna element, the selected mode being either a
coordinated multipoint mode or an alternate downlink data
transmission mode, wherein the processor is configured to determine
that the selected mode is the alternate downlink data transmission
mode based on at least one of a mobility measurement being greater
than a first threshold or channel state information variation being
greater than a second threshold; and cause transmission, via at
least one of the antenna elements, of a request to receive data at
the first antenna element in the selected mode.
11. The user equipment of claim 10, wherein the process or is
configured to: detect a characteristic of the user equipment,
wherein the characteristic comprises at least one of: an
application type to utilize the transmission service, a protocol to
utilize over the transmission service, or a device type for the
user equipment; and generate the first threshold based at least in
part on the characteristic.
12. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the processor is
configured to maintain data identifying a neighbor set of one or
more neighbor serving nodes to provide transmission service to the
user equipment, and wherein the request identifies at least one
neighbor serving node from the neighbor set.
13. A user equipment comprising: antenna elements comprising a
first antenna element a processor configured to: receive, from a
base station, information identifying an active set of one or more
serving nodes to provide transmission service to the user equipment
determine a selected mode of wirelessly receiving data using the
first antenna element, the selected mode being either a coordinated
multipoint mode or an alternate downlink data transmission mode;
and cause transmission, via at least one of the antenna elements,
of a request to receive data at the first antenna element in the
selected mode; and signal processing circuitry configured to
combine data received at the antenna elements in the coordinated
multipoint mode and to separately process the data received by the
first antenna element in the downlink data transmission mode.
14. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the downlink data
transmission mode comprises at least one of: synchronized
transmission across multiple network nodes for coherent combining,
transmissions across multiple network nodes for non-coherent
combining, or individual transmission from a selected best serving
node.
15. The user equipment of claim 14, wherein the selected best
serving node is identified by at least one of the user equipment or
a network entity providing the transmission service.
16. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the transmission service
comprises at least one of: individual network node transmission,
synchronized transmission across multiple network nodes for
coherent combining, transmissions across multiple network nodes for
non-coherent combining, and multiple transmissions for the user
equipment to select.
17. A method of requesting a selected communication mode, the
method comprising: receiving, from a base station and with a
processor of a user equipment, an active set of one or more serving
nodes to provide transmission service to the user equipment;
determining, using the processor of the user equipment, a selected
mode of wirelessly receiving data using a first antenna element of
the user equipment, the selected mode being either a coordinated
multipoint mode or an alternate downlink data transmission mode,
wherein the determining is performed such that the selected mode is
the coordinated multipoint mode based on a mobility measurement
being less than a first threshold and channel state information
variation being less than a second threshold; and wirelessly
transmitting a request to receive data at the antenna element in
the selected mode.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: determining, via
the processor of the user equipment, a desired active set of one or
more serving nodes for wirelessly receiving the data; and
wirelessly transmitting data indicative of the desired active
set.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the desired active set includes
at least one serving node from the active set.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the desired active set includes
at least one serving node from a neighbor set.
21. The method of claim 25, further comprising determining the
selected mode based at least in part on data indicating a mobility
state of the user equipment, wherein the data indicating the
mobility state comprises at least one of Doppler estimation data or
channel state variation data.
22. The method of claim 25, further comprising determining the
selected mode based at least in part on a spatial channel condition
of a channel associated with the user equipment.
23. The method of claim 17, further comprising: detecting a
characteristic of the user equipment, wherein the characteristic
comprises at least one of: an application type to utilize the
transmission service, a protocol to utilize over the transmission
service, or a device type for the user equipment; and generating
the first threshold and the second threshold based at least in part
on the characteristic.
24. A method of requesting a selected communication mode, the
method comprising: receiving, from a base station and with a
processor of a user equipment, an active set of one or more serving
nodes to provide transmission service to the user equipment
detecting a characteristic of the user equipment, wherein the
characteristic comprises at least one of: an application type to
utilize the transmission service, a protocol to utilize over the
transmission service, or a device type for the user equipment;
generating a first threshold and a second threshold based at least
in part on the characteristic; and determining, using the processor
of the user equipment, a selected mode of wirelessly receiving data
using a first antenna element of the user equipment, the selected
mode being either a coordinated multipoint mode or an alternate
downlink data transmission mode, wherein the determining is
performed such that the selected mode is the alternate downlink
data transmission mode based on at least one of a mobility
measurement being greater than the first threshold or channel state
information variation being greater than the second threshold; and
wirelessly transmitting a request to receive data at the antenna
element in the selected mode.
25. A method of requesting a selected communication mode, the
method comprising: receiving, from a base station and with a
processor of a user equipment, an active set of one or more serving
nodes to provide transmission service to the user equipment
determining, using the processor of the user equipment, a selected
mode of wirelessly receiving data using a first antenna element of
the user equipment, the selected mode being either a coordinated
multipoint mode or an alternate downlink data transmission mode,
wherein the alternate downlink data transmission mode comprises at
least one of: synchronized transmission across multiple network
nodes for coherent combining, transmissions across multiple network
nodes for non-coherent combining, or individual transmission from a
selected best serving node that is identified by at least one of
the user equipment or a network entity providing the transmission
service; and wirelessly transmitting a request to receive data at
the antenna element in the selected mode.
26. The method claim 17, wherein the transmission service comprises
at least one of: individual network node transmission, synchronized
transmission across multiple network nodes for coherent combining,
transmissions across multiple network nodes for non-coherent
combining, and multiple transmissions for the user equipment to
select.
27. The method claim 17, wherein the determining is performed such
that the selected mode is the alternate downlink data transmission
mode based on at least one of the mobility measurement being
greater than the first threshold or the channel state information
variation being greater than the second threshold.
28. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the processor is
configured to determine that the selected mode is the alternate
downlink data transmission mode based on at least one of the
mobility measurement being greater than the first threshold or the
channel state information variation being greater than the second
threshold.
Description
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0001] Embodiments of this disclosure relate to wireless
communication systems such as heterogeneous multiple-input multiple
output wireless communication systems.
Description of Related Technology
[0002] The types of modern computing devices continues to increase
along with the differing and dynamic needs of each device. The
wireless communication systems providing services to such devices
are facing increasing constraints on resources and demands for
quality and quantities of service. Accordingly, improvements in
providing wireless communication services, such as in a
multiple-input multiple-output system, are desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] Embodiments of this disclosure will now be described, by way
of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0004] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a heterogeneous
multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) network in which user
equipment (UE) and a network system wirelessly communicate
according to an embodiment.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a logical diagram illustrating which types of
wireless communications can be provided in which modes of operation
in heterogeneous MIMO networks.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example environment for
coordinated multipoint communications for a UE.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example environment
including macro diversity communications for a UE.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a scheduler of a
network system in a heterogeneous MIMO wireless network according
to an embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a message flow diagram of an embodiment for
configuring downlink data transmission for a user equipment.
[0010] FIG. 7 is a message flow diagram of an embodiment for
updating downlink data transmission configuration for a user
equipment.
[0011] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating network system that
includes an example base band unit according to an embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method of
dynamically configuring downlink data traffic modes for a user
equipment in a network.
[0013] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method of
dynamically configuring downlink data traffic modes for a user
equipment in a network from the user equipment's perspective.
[0014] FIG. 11 is a diagram that illustrates representative
communications and events in a heterogeneous MIMO network
associated with a user equipment requesting to receive downlink
data in a desired mode according to an embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of an example UE
according to an embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of an example process of
requesting a selected communication mode in which to receive data
at an antenna of a UE according to an embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of an example process of
controlling a downlink data transmission mode to a UE based on a
request from the UE according to an embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating allocation of active sets
and transmission modes in a heterogeneous MIMO environment.
[0019] FIG. 16A is a diagram illustrating an active set and
transmission mode allocation in a heterogeneous MIMO
environment.
[0020] FIG. 16B is a diagram illustrating an updated active set and
transmission mode allocation for the heterogeneous MIMO network of
FIG. 16A with updated network demands.
SUMMARY OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE ASPECTS
[0021] The innovations described in the claims each have several
aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for its
desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the claims,
some prominent features of this disclosure will now be briefly
described.
[0022] One aspect of this disclosure is a network system that
includes antenna elements and a scheduler in communication with the
antenna elements. The scheduler is configured to receive, via at
least one antenna element included in the antenna elements, channel
state information for a user equipment. The channel state
information identifies a quality of a transmission from one or more
of the antenna elements to the user equipment. The scheduler is
configured to determine a downlink data transmission mode to the
user equipment based at least in part on the channel state
information and additional network system information. The
scheduler is configured to cause transmission of active set data to
the user equipment. The active set data identifies one or more
serving nodes to provide a wireless downlink transmission service
to the user equipment in the downlink data transmission mode.
[0023] Another aspect of this disclosure is a method controlling a
downlink data transmission mode for a user equipment. The method
includes receiving, via at least one antenna element included in
the antenna elements, channel state information for a user
equipment. The channel state information identifies a quality of a
transmission from one or more of the antenna elements to the user
equipment. The method includes determining a downlink data
transmission mode to the user equipment based at least in part on
the channel state information and additional network system
information. The method also includes causing transmission of
active set data to the user equipment. The active set data
identifies one or more serving nodes to provide a wireless downlink
transmission service to the user equipment in the downlink data
transmission mode.
[0024] Another aspect of this disclosure is a network system for
downlink data transmission in multiple-modes. The network system
includes a scheduler and a transmitter in communication with the
scheduler. The scheduler is configured to schedule a first downlink
data transmission to a user equipment in a coordinated multi-point
mode and to schedule a second downlink data transmission to the
user equipment in an alternative downlink data mode. The
transmitter is configured to output first data associated with the
first downlink data transmission for transmission to the user
equipment in the coordinated multi-point mode and to output second
data associated with the second downlink data transmission for
transmission to the user equipment in the alternative downlink data
mode.
[0025] Another aspect of this disclosure is a user equipment that
includes antenna elements, a receiver configured to process a
signal received by the antenna elements, and a processor. The
processor is configured to receive, from the receiver, first active
set data identifying one or more serving nodes to provide downlink
data transmission service to the user equipment in a coordinated
multipoint mode. The processor is configured to detect a
characteristic of the user equipment. The characteristic comprises
at least one of: an application type to utilize the downlink data
transmission service, a protocol to utilize over the downlink data
transmission service, or a device type for the user equipment. The
processor is configured to cause transmission, via at least one of
the antenna elements, of channel state information for the user
equipment and the characteristic. The channel state information
identifies a quality of a transmission from a network system to the
user equipment. The processor is configured to receive, from the
receiver via at least one of the antenna elements, updated active
set data identifying one or more serving nodes to provide
transmission service to the user equipment in an alternate downlink
data transmission mode. The alternate downlink data transmission
mode includes at least one of synchronized transmission across
multiple network nodes for coherent combining, transmissions across
multiple network nodes for non-coherent combining, or individual
transmission from a selected best serving node. The processor is
configured to cause the receiver to be adjusted for processing the
signal in the alternative downlink data transmission mode from the
one or more serving nodes identified by the updated active set
data
[0026] Another aspect of this disclosure is a method of downlink
transmission control for a user equipment. The method includes
receiving, from a receiver of a user equipment, a first active set
data identifying one or more serving nodes to provide downlink data
transmission service to the user equipment in a coordinated
multipoint mode. The method also includes detecting a
characteristic of the user equipment. The characteristic comprises
at least one of: an application type to utilize the downlink data
transmission service, a protocol to utilize over the downlink data
transmission service, or a device type for the user equipment. The
method includes causing transmission, via at least one of a
plurality of antenna elements of channel state information for the
user equipment and the characteristic of the user equipment. The
channel state information identifies a quality of a transmission
from a network system to the user equipment. The method further
includes receiving, from the receiver via at least one of the
antenna elements, updated active set data identifying one or more
serving nodes to provide the downlink data transmission service to
the user equipment in an alternate downlink data transmission mode.
The alternate downlink data transmission mode includes at least one
of synchronized transmission across multiple network nodes for
coherent combining, transmissions across multiple network nodes for
non-coherent combining, or individual transmission from a selected
best serving node.
[0027] Another aspect of this disclosure is a user equipment that
includes antenna elements and a processor. The antenna elements
include a first antenna element. The processor is configured to
receive, from a base station, information identifying an active set
of one or more serving nodes to provide transmission service to the
user equipment. The processor is configured to determine a selected
mode of wirelessly receiving data using the first antenna element.
The selected mode is either a coordinated multipoint mode or an
alternate downlink data transmission mode. The processor is
configured to cause transmission, via at least one of the antenna
elements, of a request to receive data at the first antenna element
in the selected mode.
[0028] Another aspect of this disclosure is a method of requesting
a selected communication mode. The method includes receiving, from
a base station and with a processor of a user equipment, an active
set of one or more serving nodes to provide transmission service to
the user equipment. The method includes determining, using the
processor of the user equipment, a selected mode of wirelessly
receiving data using a first antenna element of the user equipment.
The selected mode is either a coordinated multipoint mode or an
alternate downlink data transmission mode. The method also includes
wirelessly transmitting a request to receive data at the antenna
element in the selected mode.
[0029] Another aspect of this disclosure is a network system that
includes antenna elements and a scheduler in communication with the
antenna elements. The scheduler is configured to receive, via at
least one antenna element included in the antenna elements, a
request from a user equipment to wirelessly receive data in a
particular mode, in which the particular mode is either a
coordinated multipoint mode or an alternate downlink data
transmission mode. The scheduler is configured to determine a
downlink data transmission mode to the user equipment and active
set data based on the request and additional network system
information. The active set data identifies one or more serving
nodes to provide a wireless downlink transmission service to the
user equipment via the downlink data transmission mode. The
scheduler is configured to cause transmission of active set data to
the user equipment.
[0030] Yet another aspect of this disclosure is a method of
determining and implementing a downlink traffic mode to a user
equipment. The method includes receiving, via at least one antenna
element, a request from a user equipment to wirelessly receive data
in a particular mode, in which the particular mode is either a
coordinated multipoint mode or an alternate downlink data
transmission mode. The method includes determining a downlink data
transmission mode for wirelessly transmitting data to the user
equipment and active set data based on the request and additional
network system information. The active set data identifies one or
more serving nodes to provide a wireless downlink transmission
service to the user equipment via the downlink data transmission
mode. The method also includes transmitting active set data to the
user equipment.
[0031] The present disclosure relates to U.S. patent application
Ser. No. ______ [Attorney Docket XCOM.002A1], titled "COOPERATIVE
MULTIPLE-INPUT MULTIPLE-OUTPUT DOWNLINK SCHEDULING," U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ [Attorney Docket XCOM.002A2], titled
"VARIABLE MULTIPLE-INPUT MULTIPLE-OUTPUT DOWNLINK USER EQUIPMENT,"
and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ [Attorney Docket
XCOM.002A4], titled "DISTRIBUTED MULTIPLE-INPUT MULTIPLE-OUTPUT
DOWNLINK CONFIGURATION," each filed on even date herewith and the
disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference
in their entireties herein.
[0032] For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects,
advantages and novel features of the innovations have been
described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all
such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular
embodiment. Thus, the innovations may be embodied or carried out in
a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of
advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other
advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS
[0033] The following description of certain embodiments presents
various descriptions of specific embodiments. However, the
innovations described herein can be embodied in a multitude of
different ways, for example, as defined and covered by the claims.
In this description, reference is made to the drawings where like
reference numerals can indicate identical or functionally similar
elements. It will be understood that elements illustrated in the
figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Moreover, it will be
understood that certain embodiments can include more elements than
illustrated in a drawing and/or a subset of the elements
illustrated in a drawing. Further, some embodiments can incorporate
any suitable combination of features from two or more drawings. The
headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not
necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the claims.
[0034] A distributed coordinated multiple-input multiple-output
(MIMO) network that is designed to provide high uniform data rates
across the network can face a number of significant challenges.
Such challenges can include servicing devices in mobility and/or
providing reliable data service in the case of poor channel
conditioning, such as when most of the devices are clustered around
a few antenna nodes. Technology disclosed herein can enable high
data rate and high reliability for devices across Doppler and
different channel conditions in a distributed MIMO network, thereby
extending the benefits of distributed MIMO to larger set of devices
reliably across the network. Such a network can provide low latency
and high throughput with low jitter. Efficient quality of service
at high user density can also be achieved with such a network.
Highly robust connections can enable mobile edge computing.
[0035] In addition, there can be challenges with scalability across
a wide area network and/or complexity of implementing a distributed
MIMO network at scale. Technology disclosed herein can scale across
a wide area network without significantly adding to complexity at
scale.
[0036] Aspects of this disclosure relate to a unified coordinated
MIMO network across multiple transmit-receive points (TRPs) to
serve devices in different channel conditions. Available network
resources can be dynamically partitioned to be used between
coordinated multi-point (CoMP) operation and an alternative
downlink data transmission mode of operation (e.g.,
single-frequency network (SFN), non-coherent combining (soft
handoff), best server selection SIMO (single-input
multiple-output), best server selection single user MIMO (SU-MIMO),
best server selection multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO), etc.).
Accordingly, a unified framework for operating in CoMP or the
alternative downlink data transmission mode of operation is
provided. The network and UE (user equipment) can use a criterion
based on a set of metrics to determine the best operating regime to
serve a given antenna and/or device for downlink data transmission.
The metrics can include a device mobility state, a Doppler
estimate, a measure of the network-to-UE channel matrix condition
such as Eigen-value spread, a network congestion measure (e.g.,
network load), the like, or any suitable combination thereof. The
UEs in mobility or with an ill-conditioned channel matrix can
operate in the alternative downlink data transmission mode for
reliability, whereas other UEs can be served with CoMP to increase
and/or maximize overall system capacity.
[0037] The technology disclosed herein relates to a wireless
communication system with resources to operate in both CoMP mode
and at least one alternative downlink data transmission mode.
Moreover, the technology described herein provides a mechanism that
enables the network to select the best mode of operation from
between CoMP mode and at least one alternative downlink data
transmission mode. User equipment can request to receive data in
either CoMP mode or the alternative downlink data transmission
mode. The wireless systems disclosed herein can enable robust,
consistently high data rate, ultra-low latency wireless connection
within a dense network. The wireless systems disclosed herein are
applicable to user equipment with a variety of mobility and/or link
conditions.
[0038] The network and UEs may collect a set of monitoring metrics,
which can include one or more of a channel matrix condition for
each UE via measuring Eigen spread, UE mobility via Doppler
estimation, network load via scheduling metrics, and measure of UE
channel state information (CSI), or throughput over time. The
channel state information may identify a quality of a transmission
from one or more antenna elements (e.g., a MIMO antenna array) to
the user equipment. The network can make a determination of the
best downlink data transmission mode to a particular UE based on
the metrics. The network can serve a UE in CoMP mode when
conditions are suitable for CoMP mode. However, the network can
serve the UE in the alternative downlink data transmission mode in
response to detecting a condition indicating that CoMP mode is
undesirable. For example, for a UE with a Doppler estimation
exceeding a threshold or the channel Eigen spread larger than
another threshold, the network can serve the UE in the alternative
downlink data transmission mode. As another example, if the network
is overly congested in CoMP mode, UEs with less favorable channel
conditions can be served in the alternative downlink data
transmission mode.
[0039] Technology disclosed herein can use UE channel conditions to
significantly improve the robustness of a coordinated MIMO network
to ensure reliability in serving the users in adverse channel
conditions while achieving high data capacity across the network
for low mobility users. The technology disclosed herein provides a
comprehensive consideration of operation regimes and the
flexibility to choose the best one for a particular set of
conditions.
Heterogeneous MIMO Network
[0040] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a heterogeneous
multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) network in which user
equipment (UE) and a network system wirelessly communicate
according to an embodiment. The heterogeneous MIMO network can
implement a downlink coordinated joint transmission and/or
reception across distributed antennas in a coordinated multipoint
(CoMP) mode. The heterogeneous MIMO network can also implement a
macro diversity mode for wirelessly communicating between UEs and
the network system. The network system can partition system
resources between the different modes of operation. For example,
carriers in the frequency domain can be used to partition resources
between the different modes of operation. Alternatively or
additionally, time slots can be used to partition resources between
the different modes of operation in the time domain.
[0041] The heterogeneous MIMO network provides a unified approach
to serve low mobility and high mobility UEs. In addition, the
heterogeneous MIMO network can implement robust processing to
handle singularities. The heterogeneous MIMO network an address
diverse channel conditions to provide spectrally efficient service.
Network system spectral efficiency can be increased by dynamic load
balancing.
[0042] FIG. 1 shows an example environment for distributed MIMO
wireless communications. Various standards and protocols may be
included in the environment 100 to wirelessly communicate data
between a base station and a wireless communication device. Some
wireless devices may communicate using an orthogonal
frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) digital modulation scheme
via a physical layer. OFDM standards and protocols can include the
third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution
(LTE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
802.16 standard (e.g., 802.16e, 802.16m), which may be known as
WiMAX (Worldwide interoperability for Microwave Access), and the
IEEE 802.11 standard, which may be known as Wi-Fi. In some systems,
a radio access network (RAN) may include one or more base station
associated with one or more evolved Node Bs (also commonly denoted
as enhanced Node Bs, eNodeB s, or eNBs, gNBs, or any other suitable
Node Bs (xNBs)). In other embodiments, radio network controllers
(RNCs) may be provided as the base stations. A base station
provides a bridge between the wireless network and a core network
such as the Internet. The base station may be included to
facilitate exchange of data for the wireless communication devices
of the wireless network.
[0043] The wireless communication device may be referred to a user
equipment (UE). The UE may be a device used by a user such as a
smartphone, a laptop, a tablet computer, cellular telephone, a
wearable computing device such as smart glasses or a smart watch or
an ear piece, one or more networked appliances (e.g., consumer
networked appliances or industrial plant equipment), an industrial
robot with connectivity, or a vehicle. In some implementations, the
UE may include a sensor or other networked device configured to
collect data and wirelessly provide the data to a device (e.g.,
server) connected to a core network such as the Internet. Such
devices may be referred to as Internet of Things devices (IoT
devices). A downlink (DL) transmission generally refers to a
communication from the base transceiver station (BTS) or eNodeB to
the wireless communication device, and an uplink (UL) transmission
generally refers to a communication from the wireless communication
device to the BTS.
[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates a cooperative, or cloud radio access
network (C-RAN) environment 100. In the environment 100, the eNodeB
functionality is subdivided between a base band unit (BBU) 110 and
multiple remote radio units (RRUs) (e.g., RRU 125, RRU 135, and RRU
145). An RRU may include multiple antennas, and one or more of the
antennas may serve as a transmit-receive point (TRP). The RRU
and/or a TRP may be referred to as a serving node. The BBU 110 may
be physically connected to the RRUs such as via an optical fiber
connection. The BBU 110 may provide operational details to an RRU
to control transmission and reception of signals from the RRU along
with control data and payload data to transmit. The RRU may provide
data to the network received from UEs within a service area
associated with the RRU. As shown in FIG. 1, the RRU 125 provides
service to devices with a service area 120. The RRU 135 provides
service to devices within a service area 130. The RRU 145 provides
service to devices within a service area 140. For example, wireless
downlink transmission service may be provided to the service area
140 to communicate date to one or more devices within the service
area 140.
[0045] The RRUs may include multiple antennas to provide multiple
in multiple out (MIMO) communications. For example, an RRU may be
equipped with various numbers of transmit antennas (e.g., 1, 2, 4,
8, or more) that can be used simultaneously for transmission to one
or more receivers, such as a user equipment (UE). Receiving devices
may include more than one receive antenna (e.g., 2, 4, etc.). The
array of receive antennas may be configured to simultaneously
receive transmissions from the RRU. Each antenna included in an RRU
may be individually configured to transmit and/or receive according
to a specific time, frequency, power, and direction configuration.
Similarly, each antenna included in a UE may be individually
configured to transmit or receive according to a specific time,
frequency, power, and direction configuration. The configuration
may be provided by the BBU 110. The direction configuration may be
generated based on network estimate using channel reciprocity or
determined based on feedback from UE via selection of a beamforming
codebook index, or a hybrid of the two.
[0046] The service areas shown in FIG. 1 may provide communication
services to a heterogeneous population of user equipment. For
example, the service area 120 may include a cluster of UEs 160 such
as a group of devices associated with users attending a large
public event. A mobile user equipment 170 may move from the service
area 130 to the service area 140. Another example of a mobile user
equipment is a vehicle 156 which may include a transceiver for
wireless communications for real-time navigation, on-board data
services (e.g., streaming video or audio), or other data
applications. The environment 100 may include semi-mobile or
stationary devices such as robotic device 158 (e.g., robotic arm,
autonomous drive unit, or other industrial or commercial robot), or
a television 154 also configured for wireless communications.
[0047] A user equipment 152 may be located with an area with
overlapping service (e.g., the service area 120 and the service
area 130). Each device in the environment 100 may have different
performance needs which may, in some instances, conflict with the
needs of other devices.
[0048] FIG. 2 is a logical diagram illustrating which types of
wireless communications can be provided in which modes of operation
in heterogeneous MIMO networks. Macro diversity communications may
be allocated for messages related to acquiring service, requesting
access to the service, and control messages for the service. Data
traffic may be communicated using either macro diversity
communication mode or coordinated multipoint mode for data traffic.
Accordingly, the macro diversity mode is an alternative downlink
data transmission mode. The alternative downlink data mode can be
the mode in which acquisition, access, and control communications
are communicated. The macro diversity mode or the coordinated
multipoint mode can be selected based on any suitable criteria
disclosed herein.
[0049] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example environment for
coordinated multipoint communications for a UE. In the environment
300, the UE 152 may receive downlink data traffic from the RRU 125
and the RRU 135 with each RRU sending one or more spatial layers
via respective TRPs included in the RRU. Each spatial layer can
correspond to a beam. The spatial layers may be coordinated such as
by using a weighted combination for each layer to provide
transmissions to a specific UE. Different sets of weighted
combinations can be provided for different UEs. The transmissions
from the RRU 125 and the RRU 135 may be coordinated by the base
band unit 110. Coordination may include coordinating the timing of
transmissions and data included in transmissions for the UE 152.
The RRU 125 may use a first channel 310 to transmit data to the UE
152 while the RRU 135 may use a second channel 320 to transmit data
to the UE 152 where the first and second channel are the same for
CoMP.
[0050] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example environment
including macro diversity communications for a UE. In the
environment 400, a UE 410 may receive data traffic over a channel
420 from the RRU 125. The RRU 125 may be selected by the BBU 110 as
the best serving node for the UE 410. The evaluation may be based
on signal strength, channel state information (CSI) reports
received from the UE 410, mobility of the UE 410, spatial channel
condition of a channel for the UE 410, or other factors of the
environment 400 detectable by the BBU 110. In some implementations,
the UE 410 may request the serving node. The UE 410 may identify
the RRU 125 based on signal strength, anticipated data to be
transmitted to or from the UE 410, or a control message received
from the BBU 110. Another example of a macro diversity
communication mode is individual network node transmissions from a
selected node.
[0051] A further example of a macro diversity communication mode is
synchronized transmissions across multiple RRU that are coherently
combined by the UE 410. In this mode, each RRU may transmit
downlink data traffic and the UE 410 may decode portions of
different transmissions to assemble the data. The decoding may be
based on transmission information (e.g., coefficients) shared
between the transmitting RRU and the UE 410. Another example of a
macro diversity communication mode is non-coherent combination of
transmissions from multiple RRUs. In non-coherent systems, the UE
410 may decode received transmissions based on statistical
information (e.g., coefficients) derived from received signal
characteristics from one or more RRU's, not necessarily time
aligned, and combine the received data as part of the demodulation
process or combine post decode. In CoMP mode, different TRPs
transmit different spatial layers (e.g., different data) to one or
more UEs. In a macro diversity mode, the transmission may be sent
from either one TRP or the same data across multiple TRPs.
[0052] Existing systems are configured to use one communication
mode, system-wide, for the downlink data traffic. By using only one
downlink data traffic mode, systems may provide suboptimal service
to at least some of the devices served. For example, in cases where
a service area includes a high density of UEs concentrated near one
of the many RRUs in the area, the beamforming and other
transmission coordination needed to provide a high quality service
to all UEs in the dense area may cause a substantial downgrade in
the communication rate within a service area utilizing coordinated
multipoint methods. Similarly, in cases where a UE is moving
rapidly, CoMP methods may incur substantial overhead to provide
service to the moving UE.
[0053] To indicate the downlink data traffic mode, the BBU 110 may
communicate one or more identifiers to a UE. The identifiers
indicate the RRUs providing downlink data traffic to the UE. The
set of identifiers may be referred to as an active set for the UE.
In a macro diversity mode, the active set may include the
identifier of a single RRU or a group of RRUs transmitting the same
data to the UE for soft-combining (SFN) or non-coherent combining
(soft handoff). In a coordinated multipoint mode, the active set
may include the identifiers of the RRUs coordinating to provide one
or more spatial layers of downlink data traffic to the UE.
[0054] As described in further detail below, the BBU 110 may
dynamically assess characteristics of the network or the UE to
determine which mode to use for downlink data traffic for a UE.
This allows the BBU 110 to selectively communicate with UEs based
on network conditions or operational needs of the UE. This also
allows the BBU 110 to allocate transmission resources in
consideration of overall network impact rather than treating each
UE as an independent assignment that has no impact on the traffic
mode assigned for other devices.
[0055] The environment 100 shown in FIG. 1 may represent a portion
of a larger environment including additional or alternative base
band units coupled with additional or alternative remote radio
units.
Mode Determination
[0056] A downlink data transmission mode can be dynamically
determined in a heterogeneous MIMO network. As discussed above, the
downlink data transmission mode can be either a CoMP mode or an
alternative downlink data transmission mode. The alternative
downlink data transmission mode can be any of the macro diversity
modes disclosed herein. The alternative downlink data transmission
mode can be the mode in which acquisition, access, and control
communications are communicated. A network scheduler can determine
the downlink data transmission mode from a base station to a UE
and/or to one or more particular antennas of a UE. The downlink
data transmission mode can be selected based on a network centric
determination or a UE assisted determination. The network centric
determination can be based on a UE report and system load data. The
UE assisted determination can be based on a request to receive
downlink transmission data in a selected mode by a UE. More details
regarding technical features of network centric mode determination
and UE assisted mode determination are provided herein.
[0057] The desired mode of operation can be selected by a scheduler
based on any suitable information. One or more of the following
types of information can be used in determining a downlink data
transmission mode: UE link quality, UE mobility data, a network to
UE channel matrix condition, or network loading. Mobility data,
such as Doppler estimation and/or channel state information (CSI)
variation, can be used in determining the desired mode. With more
mobility, CoMP mode can be more difficult and/or less effective.
For instance, when a mobile phone is being used on a fast moving
train, CoMP can be difficult due to poor channel estimates as a
result of, for example, the fast changing channel conditions and an
alternative downlink data transmission mode can be selected. A
network to UE channel matrix condition, such as a CSI estimation,
can be used in determining the desired mode. The alternative
downlink data transmission mode can be used when a network to UE
channel matrix is undesirable and/or unsuitable for CoMP. Network
loading data can be used to generate interference data in a base
station. Such network loading data can be used by a scheduler to
determine the selected mode of operation. As an example, a
scheduler can select the alternative downlink data transmission
mode in response to the network data indicating a relatively high
load on CoMP resources.
[0058] The scheduler can select a mode of downlink data
transmission from one or more serving nodes to a user equipment.
The network scheduler can select CoMP as the selected mode in
response to determining that conditions are suitable for CoMP.
Otherwise, the network scheduler can select the alternative
downlink data transmission mode as the desired mode.
[0059] The scheduler can select CoMP as the selected mode in
response to determining that mobility is less than a threshold. The
mobility can be determined by a mobility measure of a UE, such as
CSI or a Doppler estimate. Alternatively or additionally, the
scheduler can select CoMP as the selected mode in response to
determining that the difference between maximum and mean
Eigen-values of a downlink channel matrix is less than a threshold.
For example, the scheduler can select CoMP as the selected mode in
response to determining that (1) mobility is less than a first
threshold, (2) the difference between maximum and mean Eigen-values
of a downlink channel matrix are less than a second threshold, (3)
an estimated relative spectral efficiency for serving CoMP mode to
the UE is higher than for the alternative downlink data
transmission mode, or (4) any suitable combination of (1) to (3).
For example, the CoMP mode can be selected by (1), (2) and (3). As
another example, CoMP mode can be selected by any two of (1), (2),
or (3). In some instances, CoMP mode can be selected by any one of
(1), (2), or (3). The first threshold and/or the second threshold
can be adjustable based on one or more characteristics associated
with a UE. The one or more characteristics of the UE can include a
device type, a software program running on a UE, a protocol, a use
case, the like, or any suitable combination thereof.
[0060] The scheduler can select the alternative downlink data
transmission mode as the selected mode in response to determining
that a condition indicates that CoMP mode is undesirable. Such a
condition can include one or more of mobility being sufficiently
high, a relatively low Eigen spread of a downlink channel matrix
for a UE, or a sufficiently high load is detected on CoMP
resources. Accordingly, the scheduler can select the alternative
downlink data transmission mode as the selected mode in response to
determining that (1) mobility is sufficiently high or (2) there is
a relatively low Eigen spread of a downlink channel matrix for a UE
or (3) there is a sufficiently high load is detected on CoMP
resources or (4) an estimated relative spectral efficiency for
serving the alternative downlink data mode to the UE is higher than
for the CoMP mode. Mobility can be sufficiently high when mobility
exceeds the first threshold. The load on CoMP resources can be
based on detecting interference and/or a relatively large number of
UEs in proximity to each other. A sufficiently high load on CoMP
resources can involve the number of UEs being significantly greater
than the number of distributed antennas of a heterogeneous MIMO
network.
[0061] The scheduler may be implemented as a discrete hardware
device. The scheduler may include one or more communication ports
to transmit and/or receive messages via a network. For example, the
scheduler may be communicatively coupled with a BBU to provide at
least a portion of the scheduling features described. In some
implementations, the scheduler may be integrated within a BBU. The
scheduler may be implemented using specifically configured
circuitry to provide at least a portion of the scheduling features
described. In some implementations, the scheduler may include a
processor configured by specific instructions stored in a
non-transitory data store. When the processor executes the specific
instructions, it may cause the scheduler to perform at least a
portion of the scheduling features described.
[0062] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a heterogeneous
MIMO wireless network 500 that includes a baseband unit 510
according to an embodiment. As illustrated, the baseband unit 510
includes a user data queue block 512, a scheduler control 514, a
time/frequency resource allocation block 516, an active set and
beam management block 518, a transceiver 520, a CSI computation
block 522, and an active set serving node update block 524. The
baseband unit 510 can include any suitable physical hardware to
implement the illustrated blocks. For example, the baseband unit
510 can include a processor and computer readable storage to
implement any suitable blocks shown in FIG. 5. The heterogeneous
MIMO wireless network 500 also includes user equipment 560 and 565
and serving nodes 570, 580, and 590.
[0063] The baseband unit 510 includes a scheduler that schedules
user data for wireless transmission from serving nodes 570, 580,
and 590 to user equipment 560 and 565. The scheduler can schedule
downlink data traffic in both the CoMP mode and the alternative
downlink data transmission mode. For example, the scheduler can
schedule downlink data traffic to one UE in the CoMP mode and to
another UE in the alternative downlink data. As another example,
the scheduler can schedule downlink data traffic to a UE in the
CoMP mode at a first time and to the UE in the alternative downlink
data at a second time. The serving nodes can alternatively be
referred to as transmission points for downlink data transmission.
The scheduler can schedule data from any suitable number of serving
nodes to any suitable number of user equipment. The scheduler can
include the user data queue block 512, the scheduler control 514,
the time/frequency resource allocation block 516, the active set
and beam management block 518, the CSI computation block 522, and
the active set serving node update block 524.
[0064] The transceiver 520 can provide a UE report from the user
equipment 560 and/or 565 to the scheduler. The UE report can
include CSI information and active set information. The UE report
can also include any other suitable information from a UE, such as
other information from which to determine a selected mode of
downlink data transmission. The CSI computation block 522 can
compute CSI data from data in the UE report. The active set serving
node update block 524 can determine an updated active set for one
or more UEs. In some instances, the active set serving node update
block 524 can determine an updated active set for a subset of one
or more antennas of a UE. The active set serving node update block
524 can use any suitable metrics disclosed herein to determine a
selected downlink data transmission mode and update an active set
associated with a UE.
[0065] The updated active set data is provided to the scheduler
control 514. The user data queue block 512 can provide user data to
the scheduler control 514. The schedule control 514 provides user
data to the transceiver 520 and also provides instructions to the
time/frequency resource allocation block 516. The time/frequency
resource allocation block 516 can schedule timing and frequency of
downlink data transmission from serving nodes 570, 580, and 590.
This can avoid timing conflicts and conflicts in the frequency
domain. The active set and beam management block 518 can identify
serving nodes 570, 580, and 590 for providing wireless transmission
services to UEs 560 and 565 from active set data. The active set
and beam management block 518 can group downlink data transmissions
and manage beamforming from the serving nodes 570, 580, and 590 to
UEs 560 and 565. The transceiver 520 provides data for transmission
by the serving nodes 570, 580, and 590 to UEs 560 and 565.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 5, the scheduler can cause a network system
of the heterogeneous MIMO wireless network 500 to wirelessly
transmit first user data to a first user equipment 565 in CoMP mode
and to wirelessly transmit second user data to a second user
equipment 560 in an alternative downlink data transmission mode.
Moreover, the scheduler can cause a network system of the
heterogeneous MIMO wireless network to wirelessly transmit user
data to any suitable number of UEs in CoMP mode and any suitable
number of UEs in the alternative downlink data transmission
mode.
Network Centric Communication Mode Determination
[0067] FIG. 6 is a message flow diagram of an embodiment for
configuring downlink data transmission for a user equipment. The
message flow 600 illustrates example messages that may be
transmitted between a user equipment 610, a remote radio unit 620,
and a base band unit 630. Additional or alternative entities may be
include to mediate one or more of the interactions shown such as
network routers, switches, security devices, or the like.
[0068] Via message 650, the UE 610 may request network services via
the RRU 620. The connection request may include an identifier for
the UE 610 such as a MEID or UUID of the UE 610. In some
implementations, the identifier may be associated with account
information indicating service levels and other network services
accessible by the UE 610. The message 650 may be received via a
wireless communication channel connecting the UE 610 with the RRU
620.
[0069] Via message 652, the RRU 620 may request connection for the
UE 610 from the BBU 630. The request may include the identifier for
the UE 610 along with an identifier of the RRU 620 receiving the
connection request from the UE 610. The message 652 may be
transmitted from the RRU 620 to the BBU 630 using a wired or a
wireless communication channel.
[0070] Via message 654, the BBU 630 may generate an active set of
one or more serving nodes (e.g., RRUs or TRPs) to provide the
requested service to the UE 610. The generation of the active set
may include generating scheduling information for the UE 610. The
scheduling information may identify one or more of transmission
mode, time, frequency, power, beamforming matrix, tone allocation,
or channel rank for downlink data transmissions to the UE 610. The
generation of the active set may include consideration of network
system information such as a network load. For example, if the
number of UEs serviced by the RRU 620 exceeds a threshold, it may
be desirable to assign an active set representing a macro diversity
transmission mode.
[0071] Via message 656, the BBU 630 may transmit the downlink
scheduling parameters to the RRU 620. The parameters may include
transmission mode, time, frequency, power, beamforming matrix, tone
allocation, or channel rank. The RRU 620 may transmit a message 658
to the UE 610 indicating the active set for the requested downlink
transmission service. The message 658 may include transmission
parameters the UE 610 may expect from the active set (e.g.,
transmission mode, time, frequency, power, beamforming matrix, tone
allocation or rank).
[0072] The UE 610 may, via message 660, adjust a transceiver or
other signal processing circuitry based on the parameters received
via message 658. The adjustment may include tuning one or more
antennas of the UE 610. The adjustment may include changing
demodulation and/or decoding pipeline for the UE 610 to properly
interpret downlink messages. For example, if the UE 610 is
initially assigned a CoMP mode, subsequent conditions may cause the
BBU 630 to change the UE 610 to a macro diversity mode. The manner
in which received messages are processed (e.g., decoded) may
require a change in the demodulation and/or decoding pipeline or
other element of the UE 610 to ensure continuity of a data
transaction as the mode changes.
[0073] Via message 662, the RRU 620 may adjust a transceiver or
other signal processing circuitry based on the downlink scheduling
parameters received via message 656. The adjustment of the RRU 620
may occur concurrently or at an overlapping time with the
adjustment of the UE 610.
[0074] Having configured both the RRU 620 and the UE 610 for the
downlink data transmission mode identified by the BBU 630,
messaging 664 may carry data between the UE 610 and the RRU 620.
Other RRUs (not shown) may be configured by the BBU 630 to provide
downlink data transmission services. For example, if the downlink
transmission mode is a coordinated multipoint mode, the RRU 620 and
at least one additional RRU may be configured to transmit data to
the UE 610. The uplink and downlink data transmissions can be in
different modes. Alternatively or additionally, the uplink and
downlink data transmissions can have different associated active
sets. For instance, there can be a downlink active set and an
uplink active set.
[0075] The messaging in FIG. 6 illustrates how an initial active
set and network tuning parameters for a first transmission mode may
be identified for a UE. As discussed, today's networks are dynamic
ecosystems with devices moving, powering on, powering off, and
such. These dynamic conditions may cause an initial assessment of a
downlink transmission mode to change based on changing network
and/or UE characteristics.
[0076] FIG. 7 is a message flow diagram of an embodiment for
updating downlink data transmission configuration for a user
equipment. The message flow 700 illustrates example messages that
may be transmitted between a user equipment 710, a remote radio
unit 720, and a base band unit 730. Additional or alternative
entities may be include to mediate one or more of the interactions
shown such as network routers, switches, security devices, or the
like.
[0077] Via message 750, the UE 710 may detect UE conditions. The UE
conditions that may be detected include channel conditions of the
connection with the RRU 720. Channel conditions may include signal
strength, signal-to-noise ratio, spatial characteristics, Doppler
information, UE capability changes such as active receive and/or
transmit antennas. The UE conditions may include an operational
characteristic of the UE 710 such as the application(s) executing
on the UE 710, communication protocols used by the application(s)
executing on the UE 710, or motion of the UE 710 (e.g., Doppler
estimation or channel state variation). The UE conditions may
include information about the UE 710 such as device type, operating
system, peripheral devices attached to the UE 710, or the like.
[0078] Via message 752, the UE 710 may provide at least a portion
of the UE conditions detected via message 750 to the RRU 720. The
message 752 may include a channel state information (CSI) report.
In some implementations, the message 752 may include multiple
messages, each message including different UE conditions.
[0079] Via message 754, the RRU 720 may transmit the condition
information to the BBU 730. The message 754 may include identifiers
for the UE 710 and the RRU 720 to allow the BBU 730 to associate
the condition information with a specific downlink channel (e.g.,
UE and RRU combination).
[0080] Based at least in part on the UE condition information along
with network condition information that may be detected by the BBU
730, via message 756, the BBU 730 may generate a downlink schedule
for the UE 710. The generation via message 756 may be similar to
the generation via message 654 shown in FIG. 6. However, in FIG. 7
the UE 710 may already have an initial active set and transmission
mode identified. This initial active set and/or transmission mode
may be changed due to changes in network conditions or UE condition
information.
[0081] The BBU 730 may provide downlink scheduling parameters to
the RRU 720. The parameters may include one or more of transmission
mode, time, frequency, power, beamforming matrix, tone allocation,
or channel rank. The RRU 720 may transmit a message 760 to the UE
710 indicating the active set and/or scheduling parameters for the
requested downlink transmission service. The message 760 may
include transmission parameters the UE 710 may expect from the
active set (e.g., transmission mode, time, frequency, power,
beamforming matrix, tone allocation, or channel rank). The message
760 may include an indication of the transmission mode identified
for the UE 710.
[0082] The UE 710 may, via message 762, adjust a transceiver, a
receiver (e.g., a receiver of a transceiver), or other signal
processing circuitry based on the parameters received via message
760. The adjustment may include tuning one or more antennas of the
UE 710. The adjustment may include changing demodulation and/or
decoding pipeline for the UE 710 to properly interpret downlink
messages. For example, if the UE 710 is initially assigned a CoMP
mode, subsequent conditions may cause the BBU 730 to change the UE
610 to a macro diversity mode. The manner in which received
messages are processed (e.g., decoded) may require a change in the
demodulation and/or decoding pipeline or other element of the UE
710 to ensure continuity of a data transaction as the mode
changes.
[0083] Via message 764, the RRU 720 may adjust a transceiver or
other signal processing circuitry based on the downlink scheduling
parameters received via message 758. The adjustment of the RRU 720
may occur concurrently or at an overlapping time with the
adjustment of the UE 710.
[0084] Having configured both the RRU 720 and the UE 710 for the
downlink data transmission mode identified by the BBU 730,
messaging 766 may carry data between the UE 710 and the RRU 720.
Other RRUs (not shown) may be configured by the BBU 730 to provide
downlink data transmission services. For example, if the downlink
transmission mode is a coordinated multipoint mode, the RRU 720 and
at least one additional RRU may be configured to transmit data to
the UE 710.
[0085] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example base band
unit and remote radio unit according to an embodiment. The base
band unit 820 may be coupled with at least one remote radio unit
890. The remote radio unit 890 may include at least a first antenna
896 and a second antenna 898 for MIMO wireless communications. Any
antenna disclosed herein, such as the antenna 896 or the antenna
898, can be referred to as antenna element. The first antenna 896
and the second antenna 898 may be coupled with a radio frequency
(RF) front end 894. The RF front end 894 may process signals
received via the first antenna 896 and the second antenna 898. Part
of processing a signal may include transmitting the signal to a
transceiver 820 included in the BBU 802.
[0086] A processor 805 may receive signals received by the
transceiver 820. The processor 805 may be configured to determine a
type of the signal. For example, if the signal includes a request
for connection services, the processor 805 may provide the signal
to an active set selector 835. The active set selector 835 may be
configured to identify an active set of serving nodes to provide
the requested downlink data transmission service. The active set
selector 835 can identify the active set for a UE based on
information associated with the UE. Alternatively or additionally,
the active set selector 835 can identify the active set for a UE
based on information associated with one or more other UEs. In some
instances, the active set selector 835 can determine a transmission
mode for the downlink data transmission service. The BBU 802 may
include a network monitor 825 to detect characteristics of the
network such as the number of UEs server by each RRU, network data
transmission load, or the like. The active set selector 835 may
receive the network characteristics from the network monitor 825 as
a factor considered when identifying an active set and/or
transmission mode for a UE request. A beamformer 815 may be
included in the BBU 802 to further identify parameters for the
serving nodes (e.g., RRUs) included in an active set. The
parameters may include one or more of transmission mode, time,
frequency, power, beamforming matrix, tone allocation, or channel
rank. The beamformer 815 may determine optimal parameters for RRUs
coupled with the BBU 802 that facilitate a network-wide
optimization of downlink data transmissions. In some
implementations, a UE may provide a requested active set. The BBU
802 may include an active set arbitrator 830 to reconcile a
requested active set with an active set selected by the active set
selector 835. The active set arbitrator 830 may compare a requested
set of serving nodes to the serving nodes identified by the active
set selector 835. The comparison may include ordering the serving
nodes according to the UE recommendation. In some implementations,
the active set arbitrator 830 may provide a message to the UE
indicating confirmation or other assessment for a requested active
set. For example, if the UE requested nodes A and B but the BBU 802
identified only B in the active set, the message may include a code
indicating a partial match for the active set. Other status codes
may be included to facilitate efficient communication and
assessment of requested active sets. The active set arbitrator 830
may additionally or alternatively compare a requested transmission
mode to the transmission mode identified by the active set selector
835 or other element of the BBU 802.
[0087] The BBU 802 may include a data store 810. The data store 810
may include instructions that can be executed by the processor 805
to implement the features described. In some implementations, the
data store 810 may retain active sets or other scheduling
information assigned to UEs served by the BBU 802. The data store
810 may be indexed by UE identifier and/or RRU identifier. This can
expedite identification of previously communicated scheduling
information for the UE and for monitoring network conditions (e.g.,
number of UEs allocated to an RRU or antenna element of an
RRU).
[0088] In addition to providing the scheduling information to the
UE, the scheduling information may be used to configure the RRU
890. The configuration may include adjusting the first antenna 896
such as by frequency modulation, time modulation, altering
transmission power from a power source 892, or adjusting direction,
tone allocation, or beamforming of the transmission.
[0089] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method of
dynamically configuring downlink data traffic modes for a user
equipment in a network. The method 900 may be performed in whole or
in part under control of a coordination device such as a base band
unit. The method 900 demonstrates features for identifying
coordinated multipoint communication or an alternate mode for
downlink data traffic to a UE. The identification includes
assessment of network conditions along with properties of the UE to
receive the service. A non-transitory computer readable storage
medium can store specific instructions that, when executed, cause
some or all of the method 900 and/or some or all of any other
suitable method disclosed herein to be executed.
[0090] The method 900 may begin at block 902. At block 904, the
coordination device may receive channel state information for a
user equipment. The channel state information may be received as
part of a CSI report transmitted by the user equipment. The channel
state information may include channel quality indicators for one or
more channels available to the UE. The channel state information
may include precoding information such as a preferred beamforming
matrix for pre-processing signals to be transmitted to the UE. The
channel state information may include channel rank information for
the channels available to the UE, the desired modulation and coding
selection (MCS), and associated active set. The channel rank may
indicate a number of spatial layers/channels available for
communications with the UE.
[0091] At block 906, the coordination device may detect additional
network system information. In some implementations, the additional
network system information may include a characteristic of the UE.
The characteristic of the UE may be received concurrently or
separately from the channel state information. Characteristics of
the UE which may be received include application(s) executing on
the UE which may require the downlink data traffic, communication
protocol or data protocol the UE intends to use for the downlink
data traffic (e.g., HTTPS, FTP, IMS, VoIP, MPEG-DASH, etc.),
mobility of the UE (e.g., Doppler data or other motion estimation),
device type, operating system, antenna capabilities (e.g., number
of receive antenna), power class or quality of service indicators
such as delay and throughput specification. The additional network
system information may include a characteristic of the RRU
currently serving the UE. For example, the number of UEs currently
being served by the RRU may be used to determine a load within the
service area of the RRU. The additional network system information
may include characteristics of other UEs. Characteristics of
multiple UEs or RRUs may be aggregated to generate a metric for the
network. For example, an average signal-to-noise ratio may be
generated for a sampling of UEs.
[0092] At block 908, the coordination device may determine whether
dynamic thresholds are used. The determination may be based on a
configuration value accessible by the coordination device. In some
implementations, the configuration value may indicate whether or
not dynamic thresholds should be generated. In some
implementations, the configuration value may be implemented as a
look up table identifying different threshold techniques based on,
for example, UE characteristics, channel state information, time,
date, network conditions, etc. If the determination at block 908 is
affirmative, at block 910, the coordination device may generate
selection thresholds for selecting downlink traffic mode for the
UE. The generation may be based on an average mobility of UEs
within the network or within a service area of the RRU. The
generation may be based on maximum or mean Eigen-value of channel
matrices of UEs within the network. The generation may be based on
a total number of antennas within the network. In MIMO systems, the
number of antennas available may be much greater than the number of
RRUs because each RRU may include multiple antennas.
[0093] Returning to block 908, if the coordination device
determines that thresholds will not be dynamically generated, at
block 912, static selection thresholds are obtained. The static
selection thresholds may be obtained from a memory or other
configuration data store accessible by the coordination device.
[0094] At block 914, using either the dynamic thresholds or static
thresholds, the coordination device may identify a downlink data
transmission mode for the UE. The assessment may compare one or
more of the thresholds to specific values for the UE or network to
identify a mode. The comparison may be specified in a memory or
other configuration data store accessible by the coordination
device. For example, the modes may be selected using a truth table
whereby satisfaction of certain conditions cause selection of a
specific mode. Table 1 provides an example of such a truth table.
The truth table may be organized in priority such that the mode
corresponding to the first set of conditions met will be used.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Option Condition Mode 1 UE Mobility <
mobility threshold --AND-- Coordinated UE DL Channel Matrix Eigen -
value Spread < multipoint matrix threshold 2 UE Mobility >
mobility threshold --OR-- Macro UE channel matrix diversity Eigen
spread < matrix threshold --OR-- UE count - TX Antenna Count
> density threshold 3 Macro diversity == TRUE --AND - Best
Server Best effort traffic Mode 4 True (default mode) Coordinated
multipoint
[0095] In some implementations, the truth table may be generated
using machine learning. For example, observed characteristics of
the network and/or UE may be provided as inputs to a neural network
trained using historical active set/mode decisions. The neural
network may provide an output vector of including one or more
values indicating a predicted active set, transmission mode, or
transmission parameters (e.g., time, frequency, power, beamforming
matrix, tone allocation, or channel rank.
[0096] At block 920, the coordination device may select the serving
nodes to provide transmission service according to the transmission
mode identified at block 914.
[0097] The coordination device may perform the selection at block
920 using the network system information detected at block 906. In
some implementations, the UE may identify a neighbor active set of
serving nodes. The neighbor active set of serving nodes may include
nodes which the UE can detect (e.g., receive transmissions from).
The selection may consider any serving nodes currently assigned to
the UE along with the neighboring nodes. The coordination device
may consider the load for the nodes, current and anticipated
location of the UE in comparison to the nodes, or other detectable
information. Serving nodes may be selected based on one or more of:
(1) the link quality to one or more TRPs in the current active set
deteriorates below a threshold; (2) there is one or more new TRPs
where the link quality exceed a threshold; or (3) a redirection
command is received from the network to redirect the UE such as to
distribute load to a more balanced allocation across the
network.
[0098] As part of the selection, the coordination device may also
identify scheduling information for the serving nodes. The
scheduling information may be selected to reduce interference
between downlink transmissions to the UE and other downlink
transmissions. The interference reduction may be achieved by
adjusting the one or more of transmission mode, time, frequency,
power, beamforming matrix, tone allocation, channel rank, or
direction of the transmission relative to other transmissions from
the serving node or other serving nodes in proximity to a selected
serving node.
[0099] At block 922, the coordination device may configure the
network for the selected downlink transmission mode. The
configuration of the network may include adjusting one or more
transceivers at the UE or the RRU. The configuration may also
include causing the UE to switch signal processing pipeline for
received data transmissions (e.g., enable coordinated multipoint
decoding and disable coherent/non-coherent combining). In some
implementations, the configuration may include transmitting a
physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) message including at
least a portion of the configuration information. The configuration
information (e.g., active set and/or transmission mode), may be
provided to the UE via another control channel message, radio
resource control signaling, mobility management protocol, appended
to identifiers of the RRUs/TRPs in the active set, or other
messaging from the coordination device to the UE.
[0100] Having achieved a configuration of the network suited to the
network conditions and UE conditions, the method 900 may end at
block 990. However, the UE may be configured to periodically or
aperiodically provide channel state information reports. The
coordination device may repeat the method 900 to assess updated
reports. In some implementations, the coordination device may
identify a difference between an updated report and a previous
report. If the difference does not meet a threshold, the method 900
may not expend the resources to re-assess the downlink traffic
configuration for the UE.
[0101] The method 900 describes how a network device (e.g., BBU)
may direct the downlink traffic configuration for a UE.
[0102] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method of
dynamically configuring downlink data traffic modes for a user
equipment in a network from the UE's perspective. The method 1000
may be performed in whole or in part under control of a
coordination device such as a UE. The method 1-00 demonstrates
features for identifying coordinated multipoint communication or an
alternate mode for downlink data traffic to a UE. The
identification includes providing accurate and updated reports of
characteristics of the UE to the BBU and adjusting the UE based on
an identified downlink traffic mode.
[0103] The method 1000 may begin at block 1002. At block 1004, the
coordination device may receive a first active set including one or
more serving nodes to provide downlink data transmission service in
a first mode to a UE. The first active set and identifier for the
first mode may be received from one or more TRPs serving the UE.
The first active set and/or the first mode may be identified by a
BBU controlling the RRU. The first active set and/or the first mode
may be identified by the BBU using the method 900.
[0104] At block 1006, the coordination device may detect a
characteristic of the UE. The characteristic of the UE may include
channel state information. The channel state information may
include channel quality indicators for one or more channels
available to the UE. The channel state information may include
precoding information such as a preferred channel matrix for
processing signals received from an antenna of the UE. The channel
state information may include a channel rank. Additional or
alternative characteristics of the UE which may be received include
application(s) executing on the UE which may require the downlink
data traffic, communication protocol or data protocol the UE
intends to use for the downlink data traffic (e.g., HTTPS, FTP,
IMS, VoIP, MPEG-DASH, etc.), mobility of the UE (e.g., Doppler data
or other motion estimation), device type, operating system, antenna
capabilities (e.g., number of receive antenna), power class, or
quality of service.
[0105] At block 1014, the coordination device may transmit the
channel state information and the characteristic to a BBU (e.g.,
base station). The channel state information may be provided using
a channel state information report. The additional
characteristic(s) may be provided as a part of the report or via a
separate message transmitted by the coordination device.
[0106] At block 1015, the coordination device may receive a second
active set of one or more serving nodes to provide the downlink
data transmission service in a second mode. At this point in the
method 1000, the UE is being asked to switch modes from the first
mode to a second mode. The coordination device may first determine
which mode is to be used for downlink data traffic based on the
received message and then adjust accordingly.
[0107] At block 1016, the coordination device may determine whether
the second transmission mode is CoMP. The determination at block
1016 may include comparing a transmission mode identifier included
in a message received from an RRU to a predetermined value
associated with CoMP. If the determination at block 1016 is
negative, at block 1018, the coordination device may configure
(e.g., adjust) the user equipment for macro diversity downlink data
transmissions. If the determination at block 1016 is affirmative,
at block 1010, the coordination device may configure (e.g., adjust)
the user equipment for coordinated multipoint downlink data
transmissions.
[0108] After configuring the UE for the selected downlink data
traffic mode, at block 1022, the coordination device may determine
whether the UE is still actively using the downlink channel. The
determination may be based on receipt or transmission a message to
or from the UE. The determination may be based on execution status
of an application or the operating system. For example, the
operating system of the UE may include an airplane mode or a mode
whereby all wireless communications are turned off. The
determination may be based on a power state for the UE (e.g.,
powering down). If the UE is no longer active, the method 1000 may
end at block 1090. If the UE is still active, the method 1000 may
return to block 1006 to detect and transmit updated characteristics
to thereby receive additional downlink transmission configuration
information selected based on the updated characteristics.
User Equipment Assisted Communication Mode Determination
[0109] User equipment can determine a desired mode in which to
receive a downlink data transmission. The desired mode can be
either CoMP mode or the alternative downlink data transmission
mode. Then the user equipment can send a request to a network
system, such as a base station, to provide the downlink data
transmission in the desired mode. The request can include desired
active set data that identifies a desired active set of one or more
serving nodes associated with the desired mode. The request can
include an identifier for a desired transmission mode. The
identifier may be a mode select bit included in the request, a
message transmitted by the UE, or a value appended to one or more
of the identifiers of the desired active set of one or more serving
nodes. The network system can determine a mode of downlink data
transmission to the user equipment based on the request and other
data. This can contribute to the operation of a high data rate and
high reliability wireless network.
[0110] The user equipment can determine the desired mode for all
antennas of the user equipment. In some instances, the desired mode
can be determined for a particular antenna or subset of antennas of
the user equipment. Accordingly, in certain instances, a subset of
antennas of a user equipment can receive first user data in CoMP
mode and a different subset of the antennas of the same user
equipment can receive second user data in the alternative downlink
data transmission mode.
[0111] The user equipment can determine the desired mode of
operation based on any suitable information available to the user
equipment, such as any suitable information disclosed herein
associated with mode determination. Such information can include,
for example, mobility data, a network to user equipment channel
matrix condition, inference data, metrics or other data associated
with serving nodes of a current active set, metrics or other data
associated with neighbor nodes, the like, or any suitable
combination thereof. Examples of metrics or other data associated
with nodes include received signal strength indicator,
signal-to-noise ratio estimate, or error rate statistics.
Accordingly, based on information available to the UE, a request
can be generated by the UE to receive data in a desired mode of
operation.
[0112] The request to operate in the desired mode can include
information to indicate that the user equipment would like to
change from one mode to another. For example, the request can
include information indicating to toggle between receiving data in
the CoMP mode and the alternative downlink data mode. In some
instances, active set data of the request can indicate to operate
in the same mode with a different set of serving node(s). As one
example, the request can indicate to continue receiving data in
CoMP mode from a different set of serving nodes than the current
active set. As another example, the request can indicate to
continue receiving data in the alternative downlink data mode from
a different set of serving node(s) than the current active set.
[0113] FIG. 11 illustrates representative communications and events
in a heterogeneous MIMO network 1100 associated with a user
equipment 1100 requesting to receive downlink data in a desired
mode. The communications and events of FIG. 11 are associated with
the user equipment 1110, a remote radio unit (RRU) 1120, and/or a
base band unit (BBU) 1130 of the heterogeneous MIMO network 1100.
In the communications and events of FIG. 11, the UE 1110 selects a
desired mode to receive a downlink data transmission and the BBU
1130 generates a downlink schedule to schedule downlink data
transmissions from one or more serving nodes to the UE 1110.
[0114] In event 1150 of FIG. 11, the UE 1110 detects conditions.
The UE 1110 can gather any suitable information from which to
determine a desired mode to receive a downlink data transmission.
The UE 1110 can detect any suitable information disclosed herein
for mode determination. The UE 1110 selects a desired mode of
receiving downlink data transmissions based on the gathered
information. This determination can be based on any suitable
principles and advantages disclosed herein.
[0115] The UE 1110 stores and updates an active set of one or more
serving nodes that provide wireless transmission services to the UE
1110. Active set data is provided by a network system that includes
the RRU 1120 and the BBU 1130. The UE 1110 also stores and updates
a neighbor set of one or more serving nodes that are available to
provide wireless transmission services to the UE 1110 and are not
included in the active set. The UE 1110 may also store scheduling
information such as the transmission mode or other parameters for
transmissions to or from the UE 1110.
[0116] The UE 1110 generates a requested downlink schedule at event
1152. The requested downlink schedule includes desired active set
data identifying one or more serving nodes from which the UE 1110
requests to receive downlink wireless transmission services. The
desired active set data can include one or more serving nodes from
the active set and/or one or more serving nodes from the neighbor
set. The desired active set data is based on the determination of
the desired mode by the UE 1110. The schedule may include
information identifying a desired transmission mode.
[0117] In event 1154, the UE 1110 and the RRU 1120 establish a
wireless connection. This can include providing a UE identifier and
a requested downlink schedule. The RRU 1120 and the BBU 1130
communicate at event 1156. The downlink schedule is provided from
the RRU 1120 to the BBU 1130. The RRU 1120 can also provide a UE
identifier and an RRU identifier to the BBU 1130.
[0118] The BBU 1130 includes a scheduler that generates a downlink
schedule at event 1158. BBU 1130 can receive information from a
plurality of UEs and take into account more information than
available to a single UE in determining the downlink data
transmission mode to the UE 1110. Accordingly, it can be
advantageous for a network system to determine the downlink data
transmission mode to the UE 1110 even if the UE 1110 requests to
receive downlink data in a particular mode. The network system may
additionally or alternatively identify an active set of service
nodes for data transmissions for the UE 1110.
[0119] The serving node schedule can be determined based on a
request from the UE 1110 to receive downlink data in a desired mode
and additional network system information. The additional network
system information can include, for example, one or more of system
load information such as load information for coordinated
multipoint resources, data indicating a mobility state of the UE
1110, a spatial channel condition of a channel associated with the
UE 1110, one or more characteristics of the UE 1110 (e.g., an
application type to utilize the transmission service, a protocol to
utilize over the transmission service, or a device type for the UE
1110), one or more characteristics of one or more UEs other than
the UE 1110, one or more conditions of one or more UEs other than
the UE 1110, one or more behaviors of one or more UEs other than
the UE 1110, the like, or any suitable combination thereof.
[0120] Based on the request and the additional network system
information, the scheduler of the BBU 1130 can (1) grant the
request, (2) continue to schedule downlink data transmission to the
UE 1110 without changing the mode of operation or the active set
for the UE 1110, or (3) cause the way the UE 1110 is being served
to change in a way that is different than requested by the UE
1110.
[0121] The request can be granted when the additional network
system information is consistent with providing downlink data
transmission to the UE 1110 in the desired mode. To grant the
request, the scheduler can update the active set for the UE 1110 to
match the desired active set in the request. Then the scheduler can
cause downlink data transmission to the UE 1110 in the desired mode
from the one or more serving nodes of the desired active set.
[0122] In some instances, the additional network system information
can indicate that the active set and current mode of operation can
provide better overall network services than granting the request.
Accordingly, in such instances, the scheduler can continue to route
downlink data to the UE 1110 without changing the mode of operation
or the active set for the UE 1110.
[0123] The scheduler can cause the way the UE 1110 is being served
to change differently than requested by the UE 1110 based on the
request and the additional network system information. For example,
the scheduler can determine to update the active set for the UE
1110 in a different way than requested by the UE based on the
request and the additional network system information. According to
some other instances, the scheduler can cause a power level of a
downlink data transmission to the UE 1110 to be adjusted based on
the request and the additional network information. Any other
parameter of the transmission from the network system, such as
frequency and/or time, can be similarly adjusted.
[0124] Referring back to FIG. 11, the BBU 1130 can provide downlink
scheduling parameters to the RRU 1120 in event 1160. This can
include providing updated active set data for the UE 1110. Any
other suitable scheduling information can be provided to the RRU
1120. In some instances where downlink scheduling parameters are
unchanged, a confirmation that the downlink scheduling parameters
are unchanged and be sent in place of the downlink scheduling
parameters. Although FIG. 11 illustrates the same RRU 1120
receiving a request downlink schedule from the UE 1110 and
providing a downlink schedule to the UE 1110, different RRUs can
facilitate communication between the UE 1110 and the BBU 1130 for
different communications as suitable.
[0125] As shown in FIG. 11, the RRU 1120 can provide downlink
parameters to the UE 1110 in event 1162. This can include providing
the UE 1110 with updated active set data and/or one or more other
parameters to configure the UE 1110 for receiving downlink data
from the network based on the downlink data transmission schedule
determined by the scheduler. In some instances where downlink UE
parameters are unchanged, a confirmation that the downlink UE
parameters are unchanged and be sent in place of the downlink UE
parameters.
[0126] The UE 1110 can adjust a receiver of the UE 1110 for
receiving data for the selected downlink transmission mode in event
1164. The receiver of the UE 1110 can be adjusted for processing
downlink data received in the selected mode from one or more
serving nodes in the active set provided by the network system. The
receiver of the UE 1110 can be adjusted for receiving signals
having a different power, direction, timing, frequency, or any
suitable combination thereof. This can involve adjusting any
suitable circuitry of the receiver. The receiver of the UE 1110 can
be included in a transceiver.
[0127] In event 1166, a transmitter of the RRU 1120 can be adjusted
for transmitting downlink data in the selected mode to the UE 1110.
This can involve adjusting one or more of a transmission power,
direction, timing, or frequency of a downlink data transmission
from the RRU 1120. Adjusting the transmitter can involve adjusting
any suitable circuitry of the transmitter. The transmitter can be
included in a transceiver of the RRU 1120.
[0128] The UE 1110 and the RRU 1120 wirelessly exchange downlink
data and uplink data in event 1168. During this exchange of data,
the UE 1110 can provide updated data to the BBU 1130 including an
updated requested downlink schedule request and additional data
associated with the UE from which to determine the selected mode of
downlink data transmission. Accordingly, the scheduler of the BBU
1130 can dynamically select the mode of downlink data traffic in
the heterogeneous MIMO network 1100.
[0129] As discussed above, a variety of different UEs can
wirelessly communicate with serving nodes in a heterogeneous MIMO
network. As example UE will be discussed with reference to FIG.
12.
[0130] FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of an example UE 1200
according to an embodiment. The UE 1200 is configured for
wirelessly communicating with a base station in a heterogeneous
MIMO network. As illustrated, the UE 1200 includes a processor
1240, a user interface 1245, a data store 1250, a beamformer 1255,
antennas 1262 and 1264, a transceiver 1265, a motion detector 1270,
a signal quality analyzer 1275, and an active set selector 1280.
Some other UEs can include additional elements and/or a subset of
the elements illustrated in FIG. 12.
[0131] The UE 1200 includes a plurality of antennas 1262 and 1264.
Any suitable number of antennas can be included for wireless
communication in CoMP mode and/or the alternative downlink data
transmission mode. The UE 1200 can include one or more arrays of
antennas. A radio frequency (RF) front end 1260 can process RF
signals received via the antennas 1262 and 1264. The RF front end
can also provide RF signals to the antennas 1262 and 1264 for
transmission. The transceiver 1265 includes a transmitter and a
receiver. The transceiver 1265 can provide processing for
transmitting and receiving RF signals associated with the antennas
1262 and 1264.
[0132] The processor 1240 is in communication with the transceiver
1265. The processor 1240 is implemented by physical hardware
arranged to perform specific operations to implement functionality
related to determining a desired mode and causing a request related
to the desired mode to be transmitted from the UE 1200. The
processor 1240 can determine a desired mode in which to receive
downlink data and generated a request to receive downlink data in
the desired mode in accordance with any suitable principles and
advantages disclosed herein. The processor 1240 can cause active
set and neighbor set data to be stored and updated. The processor
1240 can perform any other suitable processing for the UE 1200.
[0133] The processor 1240 can be in communication with the motion
detector 1270 and the signal quality analyzer 1275. Accordingly,
the processor 1240 can receive and process information associated
with conditions of the UE 1200. The motion detector 1270 can
include any suitable hardware arranged to detect mobility
information associated with the UE 1200. The signal quality
analyzer 1275 can analyze the quality of signals received and/or
transmitted by the antennas 1262 and 1264. This can provide
information associated with a spatial channel condition of the UE
1200. The information associated with conditions of the UE 1200 can
be provided to the processor 1240 for determining a desired mode in
which to receive downlink data. In some instances, some or all of
the functionality of the motion detector 1270 and/or the signal
quality analyzer can be implemented by the processor 1240.
[0134] The active set selector 1280 can identify a desired active
set of one or more serving nodes associated with the desired mode
determined by the processor 1240. The active set selector 1280 can
select the desired active set based on data associated with one or
more of: one or more serving nodes in the active set, one or more
serving nodes in the neighbor set, mobility data associated with
the UE 1200, a spatial channel condition associated with the UE
1200, or one or more characteristics of the UE 1200. Desired active
set data can be provided with the request to operate in the desired
mode. The active set selector 1280 can be implemented by dedicated
circuitry and/or circuitry of the processor 1240.
[0135] The beamformer 1255 can perform any suitable beamforming
functionality for the UE 1200. The beamformer 1255 can set and/or
adjust one or more parameters associated with receiving and/or
transmitting signals associated with the antennas 1262 and 1264 of
the UE 1200. The beamformer 1255 can be implemented by dedicated
circuitry and/or circuitry of the processor 1240.
[0136] The UE 1240 includes a data store 1250. The data store 1250
can store instructions that can be executed by the processor 1240
to implement the features described. The data store 1250 can store
active set data and neighbor set data for the UE 1200. The data
store 1250 can store any other suitable data for the UE 1200. The
data store 1250 can include any suitable memory elements arranged
to store data.
[0137] Several elements included in the UE 1200 may be coupled by a
bus 1290. The bus 1290 can be a data bus, communication bus, other
bus, or any suitable combination thereof to enable the various
components of the UE 1200 to exchange information.
[0138] As illustrated, the UE 1200 also includes a user interface
1245. The user interface 1245 can be any suitable user interface,
such as a display and/or an audio component. In some instances, the
user interface 1245 can include one or more of touch screen
capabilities, a button, a knob, a switch, or a slider.
[0139] FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of an example process 1300 of
requesting a selected communication mode in which to receive data
at an antenna of a UE according to an embodiment. The process 1300
can be performed by any suitable UE, such as any suitable UE
disclosed herein. The process 1300 illustrates aspects of a UE
generating and sending a request to receive downlink data in a
desired mode of operation. The process 1300 can be performed in
each of a plurality of UEs that are concurrently wirelessly
communicating with the same base station.
[0140] The process 1300 begins at block 1302. At block 1304, active
set data transmitted from a base station is received by a UE. The
active set data identifies a set of one or more serving nodes to
provide downlink data to the UE. The UE stores the active set data
and updates the active set data in response to receiving updated
active set data from the base station. The active set data can be
received by the processor 1240 and stored in the data store 1250 of
the UE 1200 of FIG. 12, for example.
[0141] The UE detects conditions at block 1306. Detecting
conditions associated with the UE can provide useful information
from which the UE generates a request to receive downlink data in a
selected mode. The detected conditions can include any suitable
conditions and/or metrics disclosed herein. For example, the UE can
detect a mobility state of the UE and/or a spatial channel
condition of the UE. One or more conditions can be detected using
the motion detector 1270 and/or the signal quality analyzer 1275 of
the UE 1200, for example.
[0142] The UE determines a selected mode of wirelessly receiving
data using an antenna element. The selected mode is either a
coordinated multipoint mode or an alternate downlink data
transmission mode. The selected mode can be determined in
accordance with any suitable principles and advantages disclosed
herein. A processor, such as the processor 1240 of the UE 1200, can
be used to determine the selected mode. The selected mode can be
for some or all of the antennas of the UE. At decision block 1308,
the UE can determine whether conditions are suitable for CoMP. If
conditions are suitable for CoMP mode, CoMP mode is selected as the
desired mode at block 1310. Alternatively, if one or more
conditions are unsuitable for CoMP mode, an alternative downlink
data transmission mode is selected as the desired mode at block
1312. The alternative downlink data transmission mode can be any
suitable alternative downlink data transmission mode disclosed
herein.
[0143] The determination of the selected mode can be based on the
conditions detected at block 1306. For instance, the selected mode
can be determined based on a mobility state of the UE and/or a
spatial channel condition of the UE. A threshold level of the
mobility state associated with operating in the CoMP mode can be
determined based on the conditions detected at block 1306.
Alternatively or additionally, a threshold level of the spatial
channel state condition associated with operating in the CoMP mode
can be determined based on the conditions detected at block
1306.
[0144] In some implementations, the UE may additionally or
alternatively identify a desired active set of serving nodes for
wirelessly receiving data. The desired serving nodes may be
identified based on the conditions detected at block 1306. For
example, the UE may detect a signal from a TRP and based on
received-signal-strength or other metric for one or more signals
from the TRP, determine the quality for transmissions received from
the TRP.
[0145] At block 1314, the UE can send a request via at least one
antenna to receive data in the selected mode. The processor of the
UE can cause the transmission via at least one antenna of the UE.
For instance, in the UE 1200, the processor 1240 can cause
transmission of the request using antenna 1262. The request can
include a desired active set. The request can include information
identifying the selected mode, such as one or more mode select
bits. The process ends at block 1316.
[0146] Some or all of the process 1300 can be performed repeatedly
while the UE is active. Accordingly, the UE can provide requests to
receive data in a desired mode based on up to date conditions
detected by the UE. The request can be updated periodically and/or
dynamically. As one example, a UE can be located in a crowded
football stadium and request to receive data in the CoMP data
transmission mode because of, for instance, a higher number of TRPs
that are likely available in the stadium. After the UE leaves the
football stadium and is located in a residential area, the UE can
request to receive data in an alternative downlink mode because the
TRPs may be more sparsely distributed in the residential area than
in the stadium. As another example, the UE can receive data in the
CoMP mode while the UE has relatively low mobility. In response to
a significant increase in mobility, such as being located in a
vehicle on a highway, the UE can request to receive data in the
alternative downlink data transmission mode.
[0147] FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of an example process 1400 of
controlling a downlink data transmission mode to a UE based on a
request from the UE according to an embodiment. The process 1400
can be performed by any suitable network system, such as any
suitable base station. For instance, some or all of the process
1400 can be performed by the baseband unit 510 of FIG. 5 and/or the
baseband unit 820 of FIG. 8. The process 1400 illustrates aspects
of a network system determining a downlink data transmission mode
based on a request from a UE to receive data in particular mode and
additional network system information.
[0148] The process 1400 begins at block 1402. At block 1404, a
scheduler of the network system receives network system
information. The network system information can be received via one
or more antennas of a base station. The network system information
can be received from a plurality of UEs. Accordingly, the scheduler
can have access to additional data that is unavailable to a UE
requesting to receive downlink date in the particular mode. The
network system information can include any suitable information
from which a network scheduler determines a mode of downlink data
transmission to a UE disclosed herein. The network system
information can include mobility state information for one or more
UEs, spatial channel state conditions for one or more UEs, system
load information, characteristics of one or more UEs, the like, or
any suitable combination thereof. The scheduler receives a request
from a UE to receive downlink data in a particular mode at block
1406. The request can include desired active set data and/or a one
or more mode select bits.
[0149] Based on the request and additional network system
information, the scheduler determines a downlink data transmission
mode for wirelessly transmitting data to a UE. The scheduler can
also determine the active set for a UE and/or a subset of antennas
of a UE. The determined downlink data transmission mode is either
CoMP mode or an alternative downlink data transmission mode. The
alternative downlink data transmission mode is a non-CoMP mode. The
alternative downlink data transmission mode can be, for example,
synchronized transmission across multiple network nodes for
coherent combining, transmissions across multiple network nodes for
non-coherent combining, or individual transmission from a selected
best serving node.
[0150] Referring to FIG. 14, at decision block 1408, the scheduler
determines whether to grant the request. The request can be granted
or denied based on any suitable information and/or methods
disclosed herein. If the request is granted at block 1408, the
particular mode identified in the request is set as the downlink
data transmission mode to the UE at block 1410. Alternatively, if
the request is denied at block 1408, the scheduler can determine
whether to adjust a downlink data transmission parameter based on
the request at decision block 1412. In response to determining to
adjust the downlink data parameter at block 1412, the scheduler can
cause a downlink data transmission parameter to be adjusted at
block 1414. One or more of the following downlink data transmission
parameters can be adjusted: power, time, frequency, or direction.
Alternatively or additionally, active set data can be adjusted
without granting the request.
[0151] At block 1416, active set data is transmitted to the UE. The
active set data can include any suitable data that identifies an
active set. The active set data can identify the active set for the
UE. In some instances, the active set data can identify changes to
the active set for the UE. According to certain instances, the
active set data can indicate that the active set for the UE is
unchanged. In response to the particular mode being set as the
downlink data transmission mode at block 1410, the active set data
transmitted at block 1416 can identify the desired active set
provided by the UE as the active set for the UE. In response to the
request being denied at block 1408 and the determination not to
adjust downlink data transmission at block 1412, the active set
data transmitted at block 1416 can indicate that the active set is
unchanged. In response to the request being denied at block 1408
and the determination to adjust downlink data transmission at block
1412, the active set data transmitted at block 1416 can indicate
that the active set is unchanged in some instances and a change to
the active set in some other instances.
[0152] At block 1418, downlink data is transmitted to the UE in the
downlink data transmission mode determined based on the request and
additional network system information. The UE receives the downlink
data from the one or more serving nodes in the active set.
[0153] Some or all of the process 1400 can be performed repeatedly.
Accordingly, the scheduler can set the downlink data transmission
mode to the UE based on an up to date request and up to date
network system data. The process 1400 can be performed for each UE
in communication with a network system. The process 1400 can be
performed for two or more different subsets of one or more antennas
of the same UE.
Further Embodiments
[0154] Additional embodiments are described with reference to FIGS.
15 to 16B. These figures illustrate examples of a heterogeneous
MIMO network serving UEs in different modes with active set
allocation.
[0155] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating allocation of active sets
and transmission modes in a heterogeneous MIMO environment 1500.
This figure illustrates that different UEs can be served in
different downlink data transmission modes. As illustrated, the
heterogeneous MIMO environment 1500 includes four RRUs 1502, 1504,
1506, and 1508 and three UEs 1512, 1514, and 1516.
[0156] The first UE 1512 is static. Thus, the first UE 1512 has low
mobility. The first UE 1512 is also near several RRUs 1502, 1504,
and 1506. Accordingly, a network system can schedule downlink data
transmissions to the first UE 1512 in CoMP mode. The network system
can identify RRUs 1502, 1504, and 1506 as the active set of serving
nodes for the first UE 1502 in the CoMP mode.
[0157] The second UE 1514 is near a single RRU 1508. Without
multiple serving nodes available, the network system can schedule
downlink data transmissions to the second UE 1514 in an alternative
downlink data transmission mode, such as best server mode (e.g.,
best server selection SIMO, best server selection SU-MIMO, best
server selection MU-MIMO). The network system can identify RRU 1508
as the active set for the second UE 1508 in the best server
mode.
[0158] The third UE 1516 is moving at 30 kilometers per hour. Thus,
the third UE 1516 has relatively high mobility. The first UE 1515
is also near RRUs 1502 and 1504. With relatively high mobility and
more than one serving node available, the network system can
schedule downlink data transmissions to the third UE 1516 in an
alternative downlink data transmission mode, such as SFN mode. The
network system can identify RRUs 1502 and 1504 as the active set of
serving nodes for the third UE 1506 in the SFN mode.
[0159] FIGS. 16A and 16B are diagrams illustrating different
allocations of active sets and transmission modes in a
heterogeneous MIMO environment 1600 with dynamic network demands.
These figures illustrate that the active set and/or downlink data
transmission mode can change due to changing network conditions in
a heterogeneous MIMO environment. For instance, the active set and
downlink data transmission mode can change as a function of active
UEs in the heterogeneous MIMO environment 1600. FIGS. 16A and 16B
provide an example in which an active set for a UE can be
determined based on network information associated with one or more
other UEs.
[0160] In FIG. 16A, there is a single UE 1612 in the heterogeneous
MIMO environment 1600. As illustrated, the network can schedule
downlink data to the UE 1612 in a best server mode with an active
set of RRU 1606. The RRUs 1602, 1604, and 1608 can be unused in
this case.
[0161] Additional UEs can enter the heterogeneous MIMO environment
1600. As shown in FIG. 16B, two additional active UEs 1614 and 1616
are present in the heterogeneous MIMO environment 1600 relative to
FIG. 16A. The UEs 1614 and 1616 are both relatively close to the UE
1612 and the RRU 1606. The network can schedule downlink data to
each of the UEs 1612, 1614, and 1616 in CoMP mode an active set of
RRUs 1602, 1604, and 1608. In FIG. 16A, the active set for the UE
1612 included RRU 1606. However, upon assessment of the changing
network conditions (e.g., the additional presence of UE 1614 and UE
1616 and associated wireless communication desires of these UEs),
the environment 1600 may be reconfigured to allocate the resources
to serve the UE 1612, the UE 1614, and the UE 1616. The
reconfiguration may include assigning a new active set of one or
more serving nodes such as for UE 1612. Alternatively or
additionally, the reconfiguration can include changing a downlink
data transmission mode such as for UE 1612 from BSM in FIG. 16A to
CoMP in FIG. 16B. The configuration in FIG. 16B can provide
improved spatial channel conditions relative to the case where RRU
1606 alone is used to separate beams for three concurrent UEs.
[0162] Although the embodiments discussed herein provide various
example of operating in the CoMP mode or an alternative downlink
data transmission mode, there are numerous use cases where one or
another is preferred. Some additional examples will briefly be
discussed.
[0163] CoMP mode can be preferred for high definition video
streaming. CoMP mode can be preferred for downlink data
transmission associated with virtual and/or augmented reality. CoMP
mode can be preferred for relatively large file transfers. When a
UE is in mobility, best server mode can be preferred for high
definition video streaming, virtual and/or augmented reality data,
and relatively large file transfers.
[0164] A soft combining mode can be preferred for relatively low
latency high quality audio. Soft combining mode can be preferred
for voice calling and video telephony.
[0165] A non-coherent combining mode can be preferred for
relatively low latency robotic control. For industrial automation
control, a non-coherent combining mode can be preferred. Advanced
driver assistance systems (ADAS) can prefer a non-coherent
combining mode.
Terminology, Applications, and Conclusion
[0166] Depending on the embodiment, certain acts, events, or
functions of any of the processes or algorithms described herein
can be performed in a different sequence, can be added, merged, or
left out altogether (e.g., not all described operations or events
are necessary for the practice of the algorithm). Moreover, in
certain embodiments, operations, or events can be performed
concurrently, e.g., through multi-threaded processing, interrupt
processing, or multiple processors or processor cores or on other
parallel architectures, rather than sequentially.
[0167] Conditional language used herein, such as, among others,
"can," "could," "might," "may," "e.g.," and the like, unless
specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the
context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain
embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include,
certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional
language is not generally intended to imply that features,
elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more
embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include
logic for deciding, with or without other input or prompting,
whether these features, elements, and/or steps are included or are
to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms
"comprising," "including," "having," and the like are synonymous
and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not
exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so
forth. Additionally, the words "herein," "above," "below," and
words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer
to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions
of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above
Detailed Description of Certain Embodiments using the singular or
plural may also include the plural or singular, respectively. Also,
the term "or" is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its
exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list
of elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the elements
in the list.
[0168] Disjunctive language such as the phrase "at least one of X,
Y, Z," unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise
understood with the context as used in general to present that an
item, term, etc., may be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination
thereof (e.g., X, Y, and/or Z). Thus, such disjunctive language is
not generally intended to, and should not, imply that certain
embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, or at
least one of Z to each be present.
[0169] Unless otherwise explicitly stated, articles such as "a" or
"an" should generally be interpreted to include one or more
described items. Accordingly, phrases such as "a device configured
to" are intended to include one or more recited devices. Such one
or more recited devices can also be collectively configured to
carry out the stated recitations. For example, "a processor
configured to carry out recitations A, B and C" can include a first
processor configured to carry out recitation A working in
conjunction with a second processor configured to carry out
recitations B and C.
[0170] The word "coupled," as generally used herein, refers to two
or more elements that may be either directly coupled to each other,
or coupled by way of one or more intermediate elements. Likewise,
the word "connected," as generally used herein, refers to two or
more elements that may be either directly connected, or connected
by way of one or more intermediate elements.
[0171] As used herein, the terms "determine" or "determining"
encompass a wide variety of actions. For example, "determining" may
include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, generating,
obtaining, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or
another data structure), ascertaining and the like via a hardware
element without user intervention. Also, "determining" may include
receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing
data in a memory) and the like via a hardware element without user
intervention. Also, "determining" may include resolving, selecting,
choosing, establishing, and the like via a hardware element without
user intervention.
[0172] As used herein, the terms "provide" or "providing" encompass
a wide variety of actions. For example, "providing" may include
storing a value in a location of a storage device for subsequent
retrieval, transmitting a value directly to the recipient via at
least one wired or wireless communication medium, transmitting or
storing a reference to a value, and the like. "Providing" may also
include encoding, decoding, encrypting, decrypting, validating,
verifying, and the like via a hardware element.
[0173] As used herein, the term "message" encompasses a wide
variety of formats for communicating (e.g., transmitting or
receiving) information. A message may include a machine readable
aggregation of information such as an XML document, fixed field
message, comma separated message, or the like. A message may, in
some implementations, include a signal utilized to transmit one or
more representations of the information. While recited in the
singular, it will be understood that a message may be composed,
transmitted, stored, received, etc. in multiple parts.
[0174] As used herein a "user interface" (also referred to as an
interactive user interface, a graphical user interface or a UI) may
refer to a network based interface including data fields and/or
other controls for receiving input signals or providing electronic
information and/or for providing information to the user in
response to any received input signals. A UI may be implemented in
whole or in part using technologies such as hyper-text mark-up
language (HTML), Flash, Java, .net, web services, and rich site
summary (RSS). In some implementations, a UI may be included in a
stand-alone client (for example, thick client, fat client)
configured to communicate (e.g., send or receive data) in
accordance with one or more of the aspects described.
[0175] As used herein a "transmit-receive point" (TRP) (which can
alternatively be referred to as a transmission reception point) may
refer to a transceiver device or one transceiver element included
in a device. When included as a transceiver element, the device may
include multiple TRPs. The TRP may include one or more antennas
which are coupled to signal processing circuitry. The signal
processing circuitry may be included in the device. The TRP may
include additional elements to facilitate transmission or receipt
of wireless signals for one or more UEs. Example of such elements
may include a power source, amplifier, digital-to-analog converter,
analog-to-digital converter, or the like. When a TRP is allocated,
such as by a BBU, to provide service to a UE, the TRP may be said
to be a "serving node" for the UE.
[0176] As used herein a "remote radio unit" (RRU) may refer to a
device for controlling and coordinating transmission and receipt of
wireless signals for one or more UEs. An RRU may include or be
coupled with one or more TRPs. The RRU may receive signals from the
TRP and include the signal processing circuitry. The signal
processing circuitry may be selectively operated to facilitate
processing of signals associated with different TRPs.
[0177] While the above detailed description has shown, described,
and pointed out novel features as applied to various embodiments,
it can be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and
changes in the form and details of the devices or algorithms
illustrated can be made without departing from the spirit of the
disclosure. For example, circuit blocks and/or method blocks
described herein may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided,
combined, arranged in a different order, and/or modified. Each of
these blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Any
portion of any of the methods disclosed herein can be performed in
association with specific instructions stored on a non-transitory
computer readable storage medium being executed by one or more
processors. As can be recognized, certain embodiments described
herein can be embodied within a form that does not provide all of
the features and benefits set forth herein, as some features can be
used or practiced separately from others. The scope of certain
embodiments disclosed herein is indicated by the appended claims
rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be
embraced within their scope.
* * * * *