This application is related to UK patent application no. GB 130408.2, filed on 7 Mar. 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of this invention relate generally to wireless communication systems, methods, devices and computer programs and, more specifically, relate to codebooks used for wireless multi-path communications such as multi-input/multi-output (MIMO) and cooperative multipoint (CoMP) communications.
Multi-path communications are known in the wireless arts and are used to boost spectral efficiency. For example, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access system (E-UTRA, alternatively known as long term evolution of UTRA or LTE) supports both single-user (SU-) and multi-user (MU-) MIMO schemes. The performance of these MIMO schemes is highly dependent on the quality of channel state information (CSI) feedback obtained from the user equipment (UE). In LTE this CSI feedback comprises a precoding matrix indication (PMI), a channel quality indication (CQI) and a rank indication (RI). The PMIs are selected by the UE from a known codebook; one that is known in advance to both the network access node (eNB) and the UE. The codebook is typically specified in a published wireless protocol, and where there is a choice of codebooks the operative one can be made known to the UE via signaling. These codebooks have generally remained the same throughout earlier development of LTE: the codebooks for two and four transmit antennas have been specified already in Release 8 and the codebook for eight transmit antennas was specified in Release 10.
As part of development towards the Release 12 LTE specification, 3GPP is studying further enhancements to CSI feedback, in particular targeting deployments with four transmit antennas at the transmitter side. Specifically, it was agreed in the Radio Access Network Working Group 1 (RAN WG1) meeting #73 to select the Release 12 codebook from two proposals 2a and 2b that are set forth in document R1-132738 entitled Way Forward of 4Tx Rank 1 and 2 Codebook Design for Downlink MIMO Enhancement in Rel-12 (3GPP TSG RAN WGC #73; Fukuoka, Japan; 20-24 May 2013]. Document R1-132738 is hereby incorporated by reference. Both of these proposals concern a dual codebook (DCB), sometimes referred to as a double structured codebook. DCBs are known in the art and in fact are standardized already in 3GPP Release 10 for 8-Tx antennas: see section 7.2.4 of 3GPP TS 36.213 v11.1.0 (2012-02). DCBs are characterized in having a wideband codebook portion C(W1) and a frequency-selective codebook portion C(W2).
Both proposed DCBs in document R1-132738 utilize the same wide-band/long-term part C(W1) and rank 1 sub-band/short-term part C(W2) design; these two proposals differ only in the design of the rank-2 sub-band/short-term part C(W2). While evaluating these two proposed dual codebooks the inventors have found they are sub-optimal. These teachings provide an improved dual codebook.
Dual codebooks are useful in radio communications, particularly wireless multi-path (multi-beam) communications such as MIMO and CoMP communications and hybrids thereof in which the individual wireless messages are transmitted and received across different beams. Optimized codebooks provide for improved CSI accuracy, which as noted above leads to improved throughput in communication systems using MIMO, CoMP and/or other types of multi-path transmission (Tx) and reception (Rx) techniques.
In a first exemplary aspect of the invention there is a method for controlling a wireless radio device to provide feedback about channel conditions. In this aspect the method comprises: storing in a computer readable memory of the wireless radio device a multi-structured codebook comprising a wideband codebook portion C(W1) and a frequency-selective codebook portion C(W2), wherein the wideband codebook portion C(W1) is characterized by a shifted set of indices for at least rank 1 such that the set of indices centers different groups of neighboring beams around a center beam in front of an antenna array, and wherein the frequency-selective codebook portion C(W2) is characterized by having a non-equal number of entries for beams in a corresponding W1 codeword from the wideband codebook portion C(W1). In this aspect the method further comprises constructing a precoder W from a codeword W2, selected from the frequency-selective codebook portion C(W2) and from another codeword W1 selected from the wideband codebook portion C(W1) for signaling channel conditions.
In a second exemplary aspect of the invention there is an apparatus for controlling a wireless radio device to provide feedback about channel conditions. In this aspect the apparatus comprises a processing system, and the processing system comprises at least one processor and a memory storing a set of computer instructions. Stored in the memory of the wireless radio device is a multi-structured codebook comprising a wideband codebook portion C(W1) and a frequency-selective codebook portion C(W2), wherein the wideband codebook portion C(W1) is characterized by a shifted set of indices for at least rank 1 such that the set of indices centers different groups of neighboring beams around a center beam in front of an antenna array, and wherein the frequency-selective codebook portion C(W2) is characterized by having a non-equal number of entries for beams in a corresponding W1 codeword from the wideband codebook portion C(W1). In this aspect the processing system further causes the apparatus to construct a precoder W from a codeword W2 selected from the frequency-selective codebook portion C(W2) and from another codeword W1 selected from the wideband codebook portion C(W1) for signaling channel conditions.
In a third exemplary aspect of the invention there is a computer readable memory tangibly storing a set of computer executable instructions for controlling a wireless radio device to provide feedback about channel conditions. In this aspect the set of computer executable instructions comprises: code for storing in a computer readable memory of the wireless radio device a multi-structured codebook comprising a wideband codebook portion C(W1) and a frequency-selective codebook portion C(W2), wherein the wideband codebook portion C(W1) is characterized by a shifted set of indices for at least rank 1 such that the set of indices centers different groups of neighboring beams around a center beam in front of an antenna array, and wherein the frequency-selective codebook portion C(W2) is characterized by having a non-equal number of entries for beams in a corresponding W1 codeword from the wideband codebook portion C(W1). The computer executable instructions further comprises code for constructing a precoder W from a codeword W2 selected from the frequency-selective codebook portion C(W2) and from another codeword W1 selected from the wideband codebook portion C(W1) for signaling channel conditions.
These and other aspects are detailed below with more particularity.
The examples below are in the context of the E-UTRA system, including future releases such as what is now being contemplated as LTE-Advanced (LIE-A), but these radio access technology contexts are not limiting to the broader teachings herein. In other deployments these teachings for reporting channel conditions may be utilized with other types of radio access technologies (RATs) as may be developed for 4-Tx MIMO/CoMP, including but not limited to Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) and other wireless radio technologies now established or yet to be developed.
These teachings are best appreciated in comparison to current practices for codeword structure and selection. As noted above, the more comprehensive CSI feedback comprises PMI, CQI and RI. Conventional LTE allows wideband or per sub-band reporting of CQI and PMI, where one reporting sub-band consists of some integer number of physical resource blocks (PRBs) where the number of the PRBs depends on the system bandwidth and the UE's feedback mode. For example, assuming a 10 MHz bandwidth and feedback modes other than mode 2-2, the sub-band size is 6 PRBs and the RI is always reported wideband.
3GPP TS 36.213 mentioned in the background section defines different feedback modes as combinations of wideband and sub-band reporting of CQI and PMI. For example, feedback mode 3-1 means wideband PMI reporting and sub-band CQI reporting; feedback mode 2-2 means PMI and CQI are reported for the best M sub-bands which are selected by the LIE. Conventional LTE defines a further feedback mode 1-2 with sub-band PMI and wideband CQI.
In general, a double structured codebook has both a wideband component (W1) which is long term and a frequency-selective (sub-band) component (W2) which is short term, so a double structured 4-Tx codebook W can be defined as W=W1W2, where
The term
represent beam quantization step, which allows to create L base vectors and M represents the number of neighboring base beams indexed by m. Each of these columns in X, represents a beam when applied as an antenna weight on an antenna array or sub-array. A given sub-array may for example correspond to antennas having the same polarization, or to a sub-group of antennas of a uniform linear array of antennas. Index n determines an index of the W1 codeword. Index t denotes separation between neighboring beams.
It is not unusual for wideband portion of the codebook C(W1) to be the same for both rank-1 and rank-2. This structure stems from the existing 8-Tx double codebook that has been specified in Release 10 at TS 36.213 v11.1.1.
For the frequency-selective portion of the codebook C(W2) there are several indices i, j, k and l, depending on the rank index where i, k and l are each ε{1 . . . M} in which M is the total number of neighboring base beams that are included in the corresponding W1 codeword. Indices i, k and l represent different layers such that there is one layer for RI=1, two layers for RI=2, three layers for RI=3, and so forth. The UE uses different beam selection vectors sj, sk and sl to select a given codeword from the frequency-selective portion of the codebook C(W2) for a given rank.
In rank-1, according to conventional practice the frequency-selective W2 codewords are formed as:
where iε{1 . . . M} as above; ei is the beam selection vector for the RI=1 layer which has all zeros and one at the i-th position; t is the imaginary unit; and θj is an arbitrarily chosen cross-polarization co-phasing term, for example from the M-PSK alphabet. So conventionally the UE selects the W2 codeword for RI=1 using one beam selection vector and a co-phasing term.
In rank-2, according to conventional practice (Table 7.2.4-2 of TS36.213) the frequency-selective W2 codewords are formed as:
where iε{1 . . . M} and kε{1 . . . M} as above. Conventionally the UE selects the W2 codeword for RI=2 using two beam selection vectors and a co-phasing term. More generally, the UE uses one beam selection vector per layer and a co-phasing term for its selection of the W2 codeword. It is important to recognize that when i=k, the term etθ
In general, the conventional (3GPP TS 36.213) rank-2 structure above allows for only a limited number of codewords that are optimized for cross-polarized antenna arrays, and so the rank-2 performance of this structure is not providing full flexibility for cross-polarized antenna setups. Specifically, for the case of 8-Tx codebooks half of the rank-2 codewords (i=k) are fitting better co-polarized antenna setups (uniform linear array, ULA). However, cross-polarized antennas are typically considered more relevant for practical deployments.
Now consider the dual codebook proposals set forth in document R1-132738 which is referenced in the background section above. The inventors' analysis of these has found them to be sub-optimal due to their use of wide-spaced beams in the W1 part, which results in some ambiguity of the W1 codewords. These teachings resolve that ambiguity issue and provide a double codebook structure for 4Tx antennas. Certain particular embodiments provide for novel rank-1 W1 and W2 codewords that are included in a double codebook.
It has been agreed in the RAN1#73 3GPP meeting (mentioned in the background section above) that the wide-beams in the W1 codebook part are to cover the whole beam space. Namely, a total of thirty two (32) base beams are used and four beams with wide (eight beam) separation between neighboring beams are used in one codeword of the W1 codebook portion. In this case, the outer beams in each W1 codeword are also neighboring beams. The codebook of proposal 2a set forth in document RI-132738 is reproduced at
The table at
One solution to this problem, consistent with the non-limiting examples set forth herein, is to avoid wide-spaced beams. However wide-spaced beams are particularly important for good rank-2 performance in wide-antenna spacing or in the presence of timing advance errors (TAE).
The inventors' analysis has revealed that the
Designing a rank-1 W2 codebook to be asymmetric resolves the issue with ambiguity of W1 codewords due to codewords permutation. Asymmetric means that one beam at least in any W1 codeword has a different number of entries in the W2 codebook portion, as will be detailed below by example.
In the
The three beam example embodiment with the indexing shown at
The inventors have implemented and tested the prior art codebook shown at
Where Xn represents DFT vectors and Y1, Y2 are formed by beam selection vectors ek. The number of base beams is L=32 and neighboring beams in W1 codeword are eight beams apart, t=8.
Exemplary statistics of the number of entries in the W2 codebook portion per each beam in a W1 codeword for the improved codebook described by the above equations using the indexing shown at
Note that the implementation immediately above represents an extreme case, where one beam (beam #3) has no entries at all. This could be understood as there being only 3 beams in the W1 codeword. But more generally, any kind of codebook that has a non-equal number of entries in the narrow or sub-band/short-term W2 codebook portion falls within these teachings.
As a more likely example for a 4-antenna implementation in which each W1 codeword has beams is shown below.
These six figures demonstrate that the new codebook according to these teachings increases system average and coverage gain and is extremely robust to small as well as large timing advance errors as compared to the two other alternatives. Timing advance errors typically arise in multi-path communications from mis-calibration of the transmitting antenna array.
Block 802 outlines that the wireless radio device stores in its local computer readable memory a double structured codebook comprising a wideband codebook portion C(W1) and a frequency-selective codebook portion C(W2). The wideband codebook portion C(W1) is characterized by a shifted set of indices for at rank 1 such that the set of indices centers different groups of neighboring beams around a center beam in front of an antenna array. And the frequency-selective codebook portion C(W2) is characterized by having a non-equal number of entries for beams in a corresponding W1 codeword. Then at block 804 the device is controlled to use the stored double structured codebook to select a codeword W2 from the frequency-selective codebook portion C(W2), and to select another codeword W1 from the wideband codebook portion C(W1). The device may then construct a precoder W from those selected codewords W2 and W1, but regardless those selected codewords are for signaling conditions of a channel on which a wireless multi-path communication was received. Precoder construction from codewords selected from a double structured codebook is known in the art and is not further detailed herein.
While
In one non-limiting embodiment the indices n defining Xn are shifted, to be centered around integer nc, where nc is an index defining a centering set of beams [−t 0 t] or their permutation. With reference to
In one example shown above for a four-antenna, four rank solution there are four different groups of neighboring beams as follows:
This can be stated more generally in that for any given rank 1 beam in the wideband codebook portion C(W1) there are:
The logic diagram of
Such blocks and the functions they represent are non-limiting examples, and may be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit chips and modules, and that the exemplary embodiments of this invention may be realized in an apparatus that is embodied as an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit, or circuits, may comprise circuitry (as well as possibly firmware) for embodying at least one or more of a data processor or data processors, a digital signal processor or processors, baseband circuitry and radio frequency circuitry that are configurable so as to operate in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of this invention.
Such circuit/circuitry embodiments include any of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and (b) combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as: (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions of processor(s)/software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a user equipment/mobile terminal or an access node/eNB, to perform the various functions summarized at
Reference is now made to
The UE 20 includes processing means such as at least one data processor (DP) 20A, storing means such as at least one computer-readable memory (MEM) 208 storing at least one computer program (PROG) 20C, communicating means such as a transmitter TX 20D and a receiver RX 20E for bidirectional wireless communications with the eNB 22 via one or more antennas 20F (an array of four antennas is shown per the above examples). Also stored in the MEM 20B at reference number 20G is the codebook portion C(W1) with shifted indices and the asymmetric codebook portion C(W1) as detailed in any of the various teachings above detailed above. Such a codebook may be implemented in the memory as an algorithm or look-up table for example without departing from these teachings.
The eNB 22 also includes processing means such as at least one data processor (DP) 22A, storing means such as at least one computer-readable memory (MEM) 22B storing at least one computer program (PROG) 22C, and communicating means such as a transmitter TX 22D and a receiver RX 22E for bidirectional wireless communications with the UE 20 via one or more antennas 22F (an array of four antennas is shown). The eNB 22 stores at block 22G a similar codebook portion C(W1) with shifted indices and an asymmetric codebook portion C(W1) as detailed above.
While not particularly illustrated for the UE 20 or eNB 22, those devices are also assumed to include as part of their wireless communicating means a modem and/or a chipset which may or may not be inbuilt onto an RF front end chip within those devices 20, 22 and which also operates utilizing rules for the coarse and fine CQI measurement and reporting as set forth in detail above.
At least one of the PROGs 20C in the UE 20 is assumed to include a set of program instructions that, when executed by the associated DP 20A, enable the device to operate in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of this invention, as detailed above of which some are summarized at
In general, the various embodiments of the UE 20 can include, but are not limited to personal portable digital devices having wireless communication capabilities, including but not limited to cellular and other types of mobile telephones, mobile terminals, navigation devices, laptop/palmtop/tablet computers, digital cameras and music devices, and Internet appliances.
Various embodiments of the computer readable MEMs 20B, 22B include any data storage technology type which is suitable to the local technical environment, including but not limited to semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, removable memory, disc memory, flash memory, DRAM, SRAM, EEPROM and the like.
Various embodiments of the DPs 20A, 22A include but are not limited to general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and multi-core processors.
Various modifications and adaptations to the foregoing exemplary embodiments of this invention may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description. While the exemplary embodiments have been described above in the context of the LTE and LTE-Advanced systems, as noted above the exemplary embodiments of this invention are not limited for use with only this particular type of wireless communication system.
Further, some of the various features of the above non-limiting embodiments may be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other described features. The foregoing description should therefore be considered as merely illustrative of the principles, teachings and exemplary embodiments of this invention, and not in limitation thereof.