Channel quality reporting for adaptive sectorization

Abstract

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

Description

BACKGROUND

Reference to Co-pending Applications for Patent

The present Application for Patent is related to the following co-pending U.S. Patent Applications:

“ADAPTIVE SECTORIZATION IN CELLULAR SYSTEMS”, filed concurrently herewith, assigned to the assignee hereof, and expressly incorporated by reference herein; and

“Beam-Space Precoding For Sdma Wireless Communication Systems”, filed concurrently herewith, assigned to the assignee hereof, and expressly incorporated by reference herein. “SDMA Resource Management”, filed concurrently herewith, assigned to the assignee hereof, and expressly incorporated by reference herein; and

“Mobile Wireless Access System”, filed concurrently herewith, assigned to the assignee hereof, and expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

I. Field

The following description relates generally to wireless communications, and, amongst other things, to communication schemes for wireless communication systems.

II. Background

Wireless networking systems have become a prevalent means by which a majority of people worldwide has come to communicate. Wireless communication devices have become smaller and more powerful in order to meet consumer needs and to improve portability and convenience. Consumers have found many uses for wireless communication devices such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and the like, demanding reliable service and expanded areas of coverage.

A typical wireless communication network (e.g., employing frequency, time, and code division techniques) includes one or more base stations that provide a coverage area and one or more mobile (e.g., wireless) user devices that can transmit and receive data within the coverage area. A typical base station can simultaneously transmit multiple data streams for broadcast, multicast, and/or unicast services, wherein a data stream is a stream of data that can be of independent reception interest to a user device. A user device within the coverage area of that base station can be interested in receiving one, more than one or all the data streams carried by the composite stream. Likewise, a user device can transmit data to the base station or another user device. Such communication between base station and user device or between user devices can be degraded due to channel variations and/or interference power variations. For example, the aforementioned variations can affect base station scheduling, power control and/or rate prediction for one or more user devices.

Performance for a wireless communication system may be enhanced by using beamformed transmissions to communicate from the base station to the mobile devices. Multiple transmit antennas located at a base station can be used to form beamformed transmissions. Beamformed transmissions, also referred to as beams, typically cover a narrower area than transmissions using a single transmit antenna. A beam can be considered a virtual sector allowing a virtual six-sector system to be generated from a conventional three-sector system. However, the signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) is enhanced within the area covered by the beams. The communication system can utilize a fixed or predetermined set of beams. Although the fixed beam pattern can be updated or adapted, in contrast to a beam steering system, the beams in a fixed beam system are not dynamically updated based on individual user devices.

Typically, user devices should be assigned to appropriate beams to optimize channel performance. In addition, the beamforming system can utilize a variety of scheduling techniques based upon spatial, frequency or time divisions. The system should select the technique or combination of techniques to optimize channel performance, and consequently system performance. Thus, there exists a need in the art for a system and/or methodology for monitoring channel quality to optimize selection of beams and transmission techniques.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

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

To that end, a method for enhancing performance for a wireless communication environment is described herein. The method can include generating a first pilot, transmitting the first pilot and receiving at least one channel quality indicator (CQI) based at least in part upon the first pilot. The method can also comprise scheduling at least one user device based at least in part upon the at least one CQI. Additionally, the method can comprise assigning a user device to a beam based upon the at least one CQI. The method can also comprise generating a second pilot, transmitting the second pilot on a second beam and receiving a second CQI based at least in part upon the second pilot. Moreover, the method can comprise receiving a pilot, determining a CQI based at least in part upon the pilot and transmitting the CQI to a base station.

According to yet another aspect, an apparatus for wireless communication can comprise a processor configured to generate a first pilot, transmit the first pilot and receive at least one CQI based at least in part upon the first pilot and a memory coupled with the processor. The processor can also be configured to schedule at least one user device based at least in part upon the at least one CQI. Additionally, an apparatus can comprise a processor configured to receive a pilot, determine at least one CQI based at least in part upon the pilot and transmit the CQI to a base station.

According to another aspect, an apparatus for enhancing performance for a wireless communication environment can comprise a means for generating a first pilot, a means for transmitting the first pilot and a means for receiving at least one channel quality indicator (CQI) based at least in part upon the first pilot. The apparatus can also comprise a means for generating a second pilot, a means for transmitting the second pilot on a second beam and means for receiving a second CQI based at least in part upon the second pilot.

Yet another aspect relates to a computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for generating a first pilot, transmitting the first pilot, receiving at least one channel quality indicator (CQI) based at least in part upon the first pilot and scheduling at least one user device based at least in part upon the at least one CQI. In addition, the instructions can comprise generating a second pilot, transmitting the second pilot on a second beam and receiving a second CQI based at least in part upon the second pilot.

Yet another aspect relates to a processor that executes instructions for enhancing performance for a wireless communication environment, the instructions can comprise generating a first pilot, transmitting the first pilot, receiving at least one channel quality indicator (CQI) based at least in part upon the first pilot and scheduling at least one user device based at least in part upon the at least one CQI. Additionally, the instructions can comprise generating a second pilot, transmitting the second pilot on a second beam and receiving a second CQI based at least in part upon the second pilot.

A further aspect sets forth a mobile device that can comprise a component that generates a first pilot, a component that transmits the first pilot and a component that receives at least one channel quality indicator (CQI) based at least in part upon the first pilot. Moreover, the mobile device is at least one of a cellular phone, a smartphone, a handheld communication device, a handheld computing device, a satellite radio, a global positioning system, a laptop, and a PDA.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or more embodiments comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the one or more embodiments. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of various embodiments may be employed and the described embodiments are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects presented herein.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a wireless communication system according to one or more aspects presented herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a beam pattern for a wireless communication system in accordance with various aspects presented herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates a methodology for monitoring channel quality in accordance with one or more aspects presented herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a methodology using a dedicated pilot to monitor channel quality in accordance with one or more aspects presented herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates a methodology for monitoring channel quality using a long term CQI in accordance with one or more aspects presented herein.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a system that monitors channel quality to improve performance in a wireless communication environment in accordance with various aspects presented herein.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a system that monitors channel quality to improve performance in a wireless communication environment in accordance with various aspects presented herein.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a wireless communication environment that can be employed in conjunction with the various systems and methods described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more embodiments. It may be evident, however, that such embodiment(s) may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing one or more embodiments.

Furthermore, various embodiments are described herein in connection with a user device. A user device can also be called a system, a subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile device, remote station, access point, base station, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, terminal, user agent, or user equipment (UE). A user device can be a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a PDA, a handheld communications or computing device having wireless connection capability, a smartphone, a satellite radio, a global position system, a laptop, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem.

Moreover, various aspects or features described herein may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. For example, computer readable media can include but are not limited to magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips . . . ), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD) . . . ), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, key drive . . . ).

While the disclosure discusses beamforming as a mode of operation, the disclosure and its contents may substantially be applied to precoded or beam-steered transmissions. This may be performed by, for example, utilizing fixed or predetermined matrices or vectors for which a user is scheduled.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a wireless communication system 100 in accordance with various embodiments presented herein is illustrated. System 100 can comprise one or more base stations 102 in one or more sectors that receive, transmit, repeat, etc., wireless communication signals to each other and/or to one or more mobile devices 104. Each base station 102 can comprise multiple transmitter chains and receiver chains, e.g. one for each transmit and receive antenna, each of which can in turn comprise a plurality of components associated with signal transmission and reception (e.g., processors, modulators, multiplexers, demodulators, demultiplexers, antennas, etc.). Mobile devices 104 can be, for example, cellular phones, smart phones, laptops, handheld communication devices, handheld computing devices, satellite radios, global positioning systems, PDAs, and/or any other suitable device for communicating over wireless system 100. In addition, each mobile device 104 can comprise one or more transmitter chains and a receiver chains, such as used for a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system. Each transmitter and receiver chain can comprise a plurality of components associated with signal transmission and reception (e.g., processors, modulators, multiplexers, demodulators, demultiplexers, antennas, etc.), as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a multiple access wireless communication system 200 according to one or more embodiments is illustrated. A 3-sector base station 202 includes multiple antenna groups, one including antennas 204 and 206, another including antennas 208 and 210, and a third including antennas 212 and 214. According to the figure, only two antennas are shown for each antenna group, however, more or fewer antennas may be utilized for each antenna group. Typically, beamforming techniques require multiple transmit antennas to transmit beams. Mobile device 216 is in communication with antennas 212 and 214, where antennas 212 and 214 transmit information to mobile device 216 over forward link 220 and receive information from mobile device 216 over reverse link 218. Forward link (or downlink) refers to the communication link from the base stations to mobile devices, and the reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communication link from mobile devices to the base stations. Mobile device 222 is in communication with antennas 204 and 206, where antennas 204 and 206 transmit information to mobile device 222 over forward link 226 and receive information from mobile device 222 over reverse link 224.

Each group of antennas and/or the area in which they are designated to communicate may be referred to as a sector of base station 202. In one or more embodiments, antenna groups each are designed to communicate to mobile devices in a sector or the areas covered by base station 202. A base station may be a fixed station used for communicating with the terminals and may also be referred to as an access point, a Node B, or some other terminology.

A wireless communication system can include one or more base stations in contact with one or more user devices. Each base station provides coverage for a plurality of sectors. In communication with a user device, the transmitting antennas of a base station can utilize beam-forming techniques in order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of forward links for the different mobile devices. Additionally, a base station using beamforming to transmit to mobile devices scattered randomly through its coverage area can cause less interference to mobile devices in neighboring cells/sectors than a base station transmitting through a single antenna to all mobile devices in its coverage area. Generally, beams generated by multiple transmit antennas are narrower than the coverage area of a single antenna. While user devices in the areas covered by beams experience an enhanced SINR, user devices within the null region experience a low SINR, possibly leading to loss of data. In general, user devices in the null region are worse off than if a single transmit antenna had been utilized to transmit data. In addition, if a user device located within a beam selects the wrong beam for communications, the user device will experience the same decrease in performance as user devices located in the null region.

FIG. 3 illustrates a beam pattern 300 for use in a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more embodiments presented herein. Base station transmit antennas can generate beams covering predetermined areas, resulting in a fixed beam pattern. The beam pattern can be adjusted periodically or adjustment of the pattern can be event driven. For example, the beam pattern can be modified based upon patterns of communication between the user devices and the base station. In the beam pattern illustrated in FIG. 3, multiple antennas at a base station 302 emit a first fixed beam 304 and a second fixed beam 306 for a sector 308. The number of beams shown has been limited to two for the sake of simplicity; however, multiple, additional fixed beams may be generated. Beams may be generally orthogonal as shown in FIG. 3 or the coverage area of the beams may overlap. Users U1 and U2 are located within the coverage area of beams 306 and 304, respectively. Consequently, Users U1 and U2 experience an enhanced SINR, similar to the benefits experienced by users in a beam-steering system. In contrast, Users U3 and U4 will experience an extremely low SNR since they are located within the null region of the beams 306 and 304. In fact, the performance for users U3 and U4 may be worse than if a single transmit antenna had been utilized. In addition, user devices may experience reduced SINR if the user device selects the wrong beam. For example, user device U1 is located within the coverage are of second beam 306. However, if user device U1 were to incorrectly elect transmissions over first beam 304 or if the user device U1 is assigned to first beam 304 by the base station, the user device will experience the same performance as if the user device was located in the null region.

Beamforming techniques can be used to provide fixed transmit directions in sectors or may be used in lieu of sectors. For example, beam patterns may provide multiple transmit directions in the sectors of a 3-sector base station, resulting in a virtual 6-sector base station. This ability to subdivide sectors when combined with various scheduling techniques results in increased system capacity.

Beamformed transmissions may be used with a number of different scheduling schemes, including space division multiplexing (SDM). SDM is a technique used in a multiple antenna communication system that utilizes the spatial dimensions to support additional user devices for data transmissions. In a space division multiple access system (SDMA) system, the base station can use the same frequencies to transmit to multiple user devices at the same time where the user devices are assigned to separate beams.

The multiple input multiple output (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques can be used with fixed beamforming patterns. In particular, user devices with well-conditioned matrix channels can be scheduled using MIMO. In a MIMO system, multiple data streams corresponding to a single user device are scheduled at the same time and frequency on multiple beams, thereby increasing the data rate. In contrast, in opportunistic beamforming, also referred to as beam selection, the base station transmits to a single user device over a given set of frequencies and time using a single beam. No other beams are used for transmission to any other user over those frequencies and at those times.

SDM, MIMO and opportunistic beamforming can be used with frequency division systems such as an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system. An OFDMA system partitions the overall system bandwidth into multiple orthogonal subbands. These subbands are also referred to as tones, carriers, subcarriers, bins, and/or frequency channels. Each subband is associated with a subcarrier that can be modulated with data. An OFDMA system may use time and/or frequency division multiplexing to achieve orthogonality among multiple data transmissions for multiple user devices. Groups of user devices can be allocated separate subbands, and the data transmission for each user device may be sent on the subband(s) allocated to this user device. SDMA, MIMO and opportunistic beamforming can be implemented for user device allocated to different frequency regions.

In a beamformed transmission system, beamforming techniques can be utilized to provide fixed transmit directions in sectors or may be used in lieu of sectors. For example, beam patterns may provide multiple transmit directions in the sectors of a 3-sector base station, resulting in a virtual 6-sector base station. This ability to subdivide sectors results in increased system capacity. User devices served by a base station sector can indicate a preference for a given beam. The base station may schedule transmission with the user device on the given beam using SDM, MIMO, opportunistic beamforming or any other scheduling method. In addition, beamforming with a fixed beam pattern allows a base station to utilize SDM, MIMO and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques simultaneously. For example, spatially orthogonal user devices may be scheduled using SDM, user devices with well-conditioned matrix channels could be scheduled using MIMO and additional users could be scheduled using opportunistic beamforming. It should be noted that in the case of precoding or beam steering, the directions shown may be one direction or the dominant direction of the beam.

Referring to FIGS. 4-7, methodologies relating to increasing performance and capacity in wireless communication systems are illustrated. For example, methodologies can relate to using beamforming and channel quality monitoring in an SDMA environment, in an FDMA environment, an OFDMA environment, a CDMA environment, a WCDMA environment, a TDMA environment or any other suitable wireless environment. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodologies are shown and described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, in accordance with one or more embodiments, occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology could alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be utilized to implement a methodology in accordance with one or more embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a methodology 400 for monitoring channel quality in accordance with one or more aspects is illustrated. At 402, a pilot can be transmitted to the user devices. A pilot, as used herein is a signal, generally transmitted over a communication system and can be used for control, synchronization or reference purposes. A channel quality indicator (CQI) can be determined or estimated based upon the received pilot at 404. Typically, a CQI can be a quantity such as the SINR for the channel or the supportable rate over the channel. After the CQI is determined, it can be communicated to the base station at 406. At 408, the CQI can be used to determine scheduling technique and/or the beam assignment for one or more user devices. Using CQI in scheduling and assignment determination can optimize individual channel and overall system performance.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a methodology 500 for transmitting a dedicated pilot in accordance with one or more aspects is illustrated. In a dedicated pilot system, the base station transmits a separate pilot for each beam in the sector. Use of dedicated beams allows the CQI for each beam to be determined. At 502, a pilot is generated for a particular beam. At 504, it is determined whether there are additional beams within the sector. If yes, the method returns to 502 to generate a pilot for the next beam. If no, all of the pilots can be transmitted on their respective beams at 506. Alternatively, all pilots can be calculated and transmitted one at a time. In one or more aspects, the pilots can be stored in a lookup table. The pilots can be read from the lookup table prior to transmission on the beams, as opposed to generating the pilots each time the pilots are to be transmitted. The pilots can be recalculated and the lookup table updated periodically or recalculation and update of the table can be event driven. For example, pilots can be updated based upon changes to the beam pattern.

Transmitting the pilot to the user devices provides the user devices with the data necessary to determine a CQI per beam or virtual sector. The pilots allow broadband channel measurements to be made. The pilot can also be used to reconstruct the channel when beams are used simultaneously. For example, when the SDMA scheduling technique is used, the pilot allows the channel to be reconstructed and the SDMA CQI to be computed. Using dedicated pilots can be particularly effective when the number of beams is less than the number of transmit antennas in the sector.

In one or more aspects, a common pilot can be used to determine CQIs. A common pilot is transmitted on every transmit antenna for the sector. The transmit antennas can be trained in several directions. The user devices can reconstruct the beams based upon a set of beam weights. Use of a common pilot is particularly useful when there are more beams in the beam pattern than available transmit antennas. For example, where there are three transmit antennas and eight beams in the sector, the antennas can be trained in three separate directions and the user devices can use a set of beam weights for each of the eight beams to reconstruct the beams. The user devices can receive the common pilot and estimate the broadband channel on each transmit antenna based upon the common pilot. The user devices can reconstruct the channels and interference and then calculate the CQI based upon the channel estimates and a set of beam weights for the appropriate beam. In one or more embodiments, beams are formed using a set of weights, that alter the phase, amplitude, or phase and amplitude of a particular transmission symbol or sample. These weights can be stored in a lookup table in memory. The beam pattern can be updated by modifying the weights stored in the lookup table. The beam weights can be stored in a lookup table for use in CQI calculations. The beams can be fixed or the base station can signal a set of beam weights to the user devices using the overhead channels. Use of the common pilot can be particularly effective when the beams either are fixed or change very slowly, such that the beam weights do not need to be updated frequently. If the beam pattern is updated, the base station should signal the user device and send/signal the updated set of beam weights. It should be understood that if the beam weights are known by the user device, they need not be transmitted to the user device.

User devices can utilize either common or dedicated pilot to estimate a beam selection, SDMA and/or MIMO CQI for the sector that services the user device. The beam selection, SDMA and MIMO CQIs can be compared to determine the optimal scheduling method for a user device. In addition, the user device can estimate the CQIs for beams from other sectors. The CQIs for beams from other sectors can be reported at a slower rate than the CQI for the sector that services the user device to reduce overhead. In addition, the user device can track the control channel CQI. In general, the control channel is transmitted on the beam with the largest area of coverage. The CQI for the control channel is particularly important for purposes such as power control.

In one or more aspects, the user device reports one or more CQIs to the base station. The base station can use the CQI feedback to determine the appropriate scheduling technique for the user devices. The user device can report CQIs within the signal, such that the base station receives CQIs continually. For example, the user device can report the CQI for all scheduling techniques within every frame or data packet transmitted to the base station. However, this may result in excessive overhead for the system. Alternatively, the user devices can send the CQI for the mode in which the user device is scheduled. For example, a user device scheduled using beam selection can transmit the beam selection CQI based upon the beam selection schedule; a user device using SDMA can transmit the SDMA CQI based on SDMA schedule and so forth. In addition, user devices can transmit using punctured coding. The control channel CQI can be punctured with some combination of the non-control channel CQIs.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a methodology 600 for monitoring channel quality using a long term CQI in accordance with one or more aspects is illustrated. In one or more aspects, the system can utilize a long term CQI to select scheduling techniques and/or beam assignments for user devices. Using a long term CQI rather than an instantaneous CQI can prevent a user device from being switched between beams or scheduling techniques due to temporary fluctuations in the instantaneous CQI. At 602, an instantaneous CQI is calculated. A long term CQI can be calculated based upon the instantaneous CQI, at 604. The long term CQI can be calculated by averaging the instantaneous CQI with prior CQIs values. A table of prior CQI values and/or average of prior values can be stored and the values or average used to calculate the long term CQI. In addition, weighted averaging can be used to calculate the long term CQI. At 606, it is determined whether the conditions have been met to report the long term CQI to the base station. If yes, the long term CQI is transmitted at 608. If no, the next instantaneous CQI is calculated at 602. The CQI can be reported periodically based upon a predetermined period of time or based upon the number of instantaneous CQIs calculated. Alternatively, transmission of the long term CQIs can be event driven. For example, the long term CQIs can be reported to the base station when the beam pattern changes, when a user device transitions from a region covered by one beam to a region covered by a second beam or when the CQI falls below a certain predetermined threshold. In addition, the user devices can report both long term and instantaneous CQIs to the base station.

User devices can be reassigned to beams or the entire beam pattern can be modified depending upon the CQI values. In general, user devices are capable of relocating or being relocated during voice or data transmission, and may move into or out of the coverage area provided by the beam to which they area assigned. User devices should be reassigned as they move through the sector from the coverage area of one beam to another. In addition, based upon the CQIs reported by multiple users, the base station can adjust the beam pattern to better service the group of user devices.

It will be appreciated that, in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein, inferences can be made regarding transmission formats, frequencies, etc. As used herein, the term to “infer” or “inference” refers generally to the process of reasoning about or inferring states of the system, environment, and/or user from a set of observations as captured through events and/or data. Inference can be employed to identify a specific context or action, or can generate a probability distribution over states, for example. The inference can be probabilistic—that is, the computation of a probability distribution over states of interest based on a consideration of data and events. Inference can also refer to techniques employed for composing higher-level events from a set of events and/or data. Such inference results in the construction of new events or actions from a set of observed events and/or stored event data, whether or not the events are correlated in close temporal proximity, and whether the events and data come from one or several event and data sources.

According to an example, one or methods presented above can include making inferences regarding the scheduling technique or beam assignment for one or more user devices. For example, it can be determined that the user device has left the region covered by a first beam and entered a region covered by a second beam and therefore, the user device should be reassigned to the second beam. In addition, it can be determined that the beam pattern is suboptimal for multiple user devices and the beam pattern can be modified.

According to another example, inferences can be made relating to the scheduling techniques to employ during various times of the day, week, etc., such as peak hours and the like. It will be appreciated that the foregoing examples are illustrative in nature and are not intended to limit the number of inferences that can be made or the manner in which such inferences are made in conjunction with the various embodiments and /or methods described herein.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a system 700 that facilitates beamforming in a wireless communication environment to increase system capacity limits in accordance with one or more embodiments set forth herein. System 700 can reside in a base station and/or in a user device, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art. System 700 comprises a receiver 702 that receives a signal and from, for instance one or more receive antennas, and performs typical actions thereon (e.g., filters, amplifies, downconverts, etc.) the received signal and digitizes the conditioned signal to obtain samples. A demodulator 704 can demodulate and provide received pilot symbols to a processor 706 for channel estimation.

Processor 706 can be a processor dedicated to analyzing information received by receiver component 702 and/or generating information for transmission by a transmitter 714. Processor 706 can be a processor that controls one or more components of user device 700, and/or a processor that analyzes information received by receiver 702, generates information for transmission by a transmitter 714, and controls one or more components of user device 700. Processor 806 can utilize any of the methodologies described herein, including those described with respect to FIGS. 4-6, to coordinate communications. In addition, user device 700 can include an optimization component 708 that coordinates beam assignments and/or selects scheduling techniques. Optimization component 708 may be incorporated into the processor 706. It is to be appreciated that optimization component 708 can include optimization code that performs utility based analysis in connection with assigning user devices to beams and/or scheduling techniques. The optimization code can utilize artificial intelligence based methods in connection with performing inference and/or probabilistic determinations and/or statistical-based determinations in connection with optimizing user device beam assignments.

User device 700 can additionally comprise memory 710 that is operatively coupled to processor 706 and that can store information related to beam pattern information, CQI data, lookup tables comprising information related thereto, and any other suitable information related to beamforming and channel monitoring as described herein. Memory 710 can additionally store protocols associated with generating lookup tables, etc., such that user device 700 can employ stored protocols and/or algorithms to increase system capacity and performance. It will be appreciated that the data store (e.g., memories) components described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). The memory 710 of the subject systems and methods is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory. The processor 706 is connected to a symbol modulator 712 and transmitter 714 that transmits the modulated signal.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a system 800 that facilitates increasing system capacity or performance in a communication environment in accordance with various embodiments. System 800 comprises a base station 802 with a receiver 810 that receives signal(s) from one or more user devices 804 through one or more receive antennas 806, and transmits to the one or more user devices 804 through a plurality of transmit antennas 808. In one or more embodiments, receive antennas 806 and transmit antennas 808 can be implemented using a single set of antennas. Receiver 810 can receive information from receive antennas 806 and is operatively associated with a demodulator 812 that demodulates received information. Receiver 810 can be, for example, a Rake receiver (e.g., a technique that individually processes multi-path signal components using a plurality of baseband correlators, . . . ), an MMSE-based receiver, or some other suitable receiver for separating out user devices assigned thereto, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art. According to various aspects, multiple receivers can be employed (e.g., one per receive antenna), and such receivers can communicate with each other to provide improved estimates of user data. Demodulated symbols are analyzed by a processor 814 that is similar to the processor described above with regard to FIG. 7, and is coupled to a memory 816 that stores information related to user device assignments, lookup tables related thereto and the like. Receiver output for each antenna can be jointly processed by receiver 810 and/or processor 814. A modulator 818 can multiplex the signal for transmission by a transmitter 820 through transmit antennas 808 to user devices 804.

Base station 802 further comprises an assignment component 822, which can be a processor distinct from or integral to processor 814, and which can evaluate a pool of all user devices in a sector served by base station 804 and can assign user devices to beams and/or scheduling techniques based at least in part upon the CQIs for the channel of the individual user devices.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary wireless communication system 900. The wireless communication system 900 depicts one base station and one user device for sake of brevity. However, it is to be appreciated that the system can include more than one base station and/or more than one user device, wherein additional base stations and/or user devices can be substantially similar or different from the exemplary base station and user device described below. In addition, it is to be appreciated that the base station and/or the user device can employ the systems (FIGS. 7-9) and/or methods (FIGS. 4-6) described herein to facilitate wireless communication there between.

Referring now to FIG. 9, on a downlink, at access point 905, a transmit (TX) data processor 910 receives, formats, codes, interleaves, and modulates (or symbol maps) traffic data and provides modulation symbols (“data symbols”). A symbol modulator 915 receives and processes the data symbols and pilot symbols and provides a stream of symbols. Symbol modulator 915 multiplexes data and pilot symbols and provides them to a transmitter unit (TMTR) 920. Each transmit symbol may be a data symbol, a pilot symbol, or a signal value of zero. The pilot symbols may be sent continuously in each symbol period. The pilot symbols can be frequency division multiplexed (FDM), orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM), time division multiplexed (TDM), frequency division multiplexed (FDM), or code division multiplexed (CDM).

TMTR 920 receives and converts the stream of symbols into one or more analog signals and further conditions (e.g., amplifies, filters, and frequency upconverts) the analog signals to generate a downlink signal suitable for transmission over the wireless channel. The downlink signal is then transmitted through an antenna 925 to the user devices. At user device 930, an antenna 935 receives the downlink signal and provides a received signal to a receiver unit (RCVR) 940. Receiver unit 940 conditions (e.g., filters, amplifies, and frequency downconverts) the received signal and digitizes the conditioned signal to obtain samples. A symbol demodulator 945 demodulates and provides received pilot symbols to a processor 950 for channel estimation and CQI calculations. Symbol demodulator 945 further receives a frequency response estimate for the downlink from processor 950, performs data demodulation on the received data symbols to obtain data symbol estimates (which are estimates of the transmitted data symbols), and provides the data symbol estimates to an RX data processor 955, which demodulates (i.e., symbol demaps), deinterleaves, and decodes the data symbol estimates to recover the transmitted traffic data. The processing by symbol demodulator 945 and RX data processor 955 is complementary to the processing by symbol modulator 915 and TX data processor 910, respectively, at access point 905.

On the uplink, a TX data processor 960 processes traffic data and provides data symbols. The data symbols can include CQI data based upon the received pilot. A symbol modulator 965 receives and multiplexes the data symbols with pilot symbols, performs modulation, and provides a stream of symbols. A transmitter unit 970 then receives and processes the stream of symbols to generate an uplink signal, which is transmitted by the antenna 935 to the access point 905.

At access point 905, the uplink signal from user device 930 is received by the antenna 925 and processed by a receiver unit 975 to obtain samples. A symbol demodulator 980 then processes the samples and provides received pilot symbols and data symbol estimates for the uplink. An RX data processor 985 processes the data symbol estimates to recover the traffic data transmitted by user device 930. A processor 990 performs channel estimation for each active user device transmitting on the uplink. Multiple user devices may transmit pilot concurrently on the uplink on their respective assigned sets of pilot subbands, where the pilot subband sets may be interlaced.

Processors 990 and 950 direct (e.g., control, coordinate, manage, etc.) operation at access point 905 and user device 930, respectively. Respective processors 990 and 950 can be associated with memory units (not shown) that store program codes and data. Processors 990 and 950 can utilize any of the methodologies described herein, including those illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 to select a scheduling technique or beam assignment for the user device 930. Respective Processors 990 and 950 can also perform computations to derive frequency and impulse response estimates for the uplink and downlink, respectively.

For a multiple-access system (e.g., FDMA, OFDMA, CDMA, TDMA, SDMA, etc.), multiple user devices can transmit concurrently on the uplink. For such a system, the pilot subbands may be shared among different user devices. The channel estimation techniques may be used in cases where the pilot subbands for each user device span the entire operating band (possibly except for the band edges). Such a pilot subband structure would be desirable to obtain frequency diversity for each user device. The techniques described herein may be implemented by various means. For example, these techniques may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For a hardware implementation, the processing units used for channel estimation may be implemented within one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof. With software, implementation can be through modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. The software codes may be stored in memory unit and executed by the processors 990 and 950.

For a software implementation, the techniques described herein may be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. The software codes may be stored in memory units and executed by processors. The memory unit may be implemented within the processor or external to the processor, in which case it can be communicatively coupled to the processor by various means as is known in the art.

What has been described above includes examples of one or more embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the aforementioned embodiments, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of various embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the described embodiments are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing performance for a wireless communication environment, comprising: generating a first pilot;transmitting the first pilot;receiving first and second channel quality indicators (CQIs) based at least in part upon the first pilot;scheduling a first user device based at least in part upon the first CQI, said scheduling being selected from a plurality of scheduling techniques including spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques to schedule the first user device; andscheduling a second user device based at least in part upon the second CQI with a scheduling technique different than that selected to schedule the first user device.

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

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

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

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pilot is transmitted on a first beam and further comprising: generating a second pilot; transmitting the second pilot on a second beam; and receiving a third CQI based at least in part upon the second pilot.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14. A wireless communication apparatus comprising: a processor configured to generate a first pilot, transmit the first pilot,receive first and second channel quality indicators (CQIs) based at least in part upon the first pilot,a first user device based at least in part upon the first CQI, said scheduling being selected from a plurality of scheduling techniques including spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques to schedule the first user device, andschedule a second user device based at least in part upon the second CQI with a scheduling technique different than that selected to schedule the first user device; anda memory coupled with the processor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

25. A wireless communication apparatus for enhancing performance for a wireless communication environment, comprising: means for generating a first pilot;means for transmitting the first pilot;means for receiving first and second channel quality indicators (CQIs) based at least in part upon the first pilot;means for scheduling a first user device based at least in part upon the first CQI, said scheduling being selected from a plurality of scheduling techniques including spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques to schedule the first user device; andmeans for scheduling a second user device based at least in part upon the second CQI with a scheduling technique different than that selected to schedule the first user device.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising: means for generating a second pilot;means for transmitting the second pilot on a second beam; andmeans for receiving a third CQI based at least in part upon the second pilot.

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

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

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

30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for: generating a first pilot;transmitting the first pilot;receiving first and second channel quality indicators (CQIs) based at least in part upon the first pilot;scheduling a first user device based at least in part upon the first CQI, said scheduling being selected from a plurality of scheduling techniques including spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques to schedule the first user device; andscheduling a second user device based at least in part upon the second CQI with a scheduling technique different than that selected to schedule the first user device.

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

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, further comprising instructions for: generating a second pilot;transmitting the second pilot on a second beam; andreceiving a third CQI based at least in part upon the second pilot.

33. A processor that executes instructions for enhancing performance for a wireless communication environment, the instructions comprising: generating a first pilot;transmitting the first pilot;receiving first and second channel quality indicators (CQIs) based at least in part upon the first pilot;scheduling a first a user device based at least in part upon the first CQI, said scheduling being selected from a plurality of scheduling techniques including spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques to schedule the first user device; andscheduling a second user device based at least in part upon the second CQI with a scheduling technique different than that selected to schedule the first user device.

34. The processor of claim 33, further comprising: generating a second pilot;transmitting the second pilot on a second beam; andreceiving a third CQI based at least in part upon the second pilot.

35. A mobile device that facilitates communicating over a wireless network, comprising: a component that generates a first pilot;a component that transmits the first pilot;a component that receives first and second channel quality indicators (CQIs) based at least in part upon the first pilot; anda component that schedules a first user device based at least in part upon the first CQI, said scheduling being selected from a plurality of scheduling techniques including spatial division multiplexing (SDM) and (MIMO) and opportunistic beamforming scheduling techniques to schedule the first user device; anda component that schedules a second user device based at least in part upon the second CQI with a scheduling technique different than that selected to schedule the first user device.

36. The mobile device of claim 35, wherein the device is at least one of a cellular phone, a smartphone, a handheld communication device, a handheld computing device, a satellite radio, a global positioning system, a laptop, and a PDA.