Beamforming codebook management and beamforming control in wireless networks

Abstract

A wireless base station transmits communications to a plurality of communication devices via a first wireless beam in a beamforming codebook. In one embodiment, the wireless base station receives respective channel matrix information from each of the plurality of communication devices. The channel matrix information indicates weight coefficients that are applied to the respective receiver antenna hardware to receive communications. Alternatively, when reciprocity is established, the wireless base station can be configured to generate channel matrix information based on receiving an observation of communications from the one or more communication devices. A communication management resource associated with the wireless base station adjusts a beamforming setting of the first wireless beam via the channel matrix information to best support communication with the communication device over the first wireless beam. The communication management resource dynamically updates the beamforming codebook such that the corresponding wireless beam is angularly adjusted toward the centroid of the communication device.

Description

Background Art

[0001] Mobile operators use beamforming codebooks to manage radio beams. Beamforming is a signal processing technique that allows directional transmission or reception of data in wireless communication networks. Due to the directionality of the signal, it helps mitigate interference, improve the signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR), and increase coverage capacity in wireless network environments. Summary of the invention

[0002] The techniques herein are more useful than conventional techniques. For example, embodiments herein include unique ways to provide efficient use of wireless services via beamforming and dynamically updating one or more beamforming codebooks. Each set of beamforming settings in the codebook supports communication with a corresponding cluster of one or more communication devices. The beamforming settings for each cluster of communication devices in the codebook are updated over time based on the changing angle at which the communication device receives wireless communications from a wireless station. Alternatively, the beamforming settings for each cluster of communication devices in the codebook are updated over time based on the changing angle at which the wireless station receives wireless communications from the communication device.

[0003] More specifically, as discussed herein, a communication management resource receives a first input indicating angular directions associated with different wireless paths between a first wireless station and a plurality of communication devices. The communication management resource derives a first beamforming setting from the first input. The first beamforming setting supports wireless communication between the first wireless station and the plurality of communication devices. The communication management resource implements the first beamforming setting to provide wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the plurality of communication devices.

[0004] In one example, the first input is feedback received from a plurality of communication devices monitoring reception of a first wireless signal transmitted from a first wireless station. The angular direction of the first input captures (indicates) different angles of receiving the first wireless signal transmitted from the first wireless station by the communication devices.

[0005] Furthermore, in an example, the first input may be generated based on the first wireless station monitoring reception of wireless signals transmitted from a plurality of communication devices to the first wireless station via different wireless paths, the angular directions indicating different angles at which the first wireless station receives the wireless signals.

[0006] According to yet another example, the received input is channel matrix information indicating weight coefficients applied to respective antenna elements in transmitter antenna hardware of the plurality of communication devices. The channel matrix information captures corresponding angles at which the communication devices receive wireless communications transmitted from the first wireless station.

[0007] Still other examples herein include a communication management resource generating a beamforming codebook to include a first beamforming setting for a corresponding cluster of communication devices. The communication management resource, the first wireless station, or other suitable entity transmits the beamforming codebook and the first beamforming setting to the communication device for implementation by the plurality of communication devices to receive communications from the first wireless station.

[0008] According to another example, a communication management resource receives a first input as: i) first channel matrix information associated with a first portion of a different wireless path between a first wireless station and a first communication device among a plurality of communication devices, and ii) second channel matrix information associated with a second portion of a different wireless path between the first wireless station and a second communication device among the plurality of communication devices.

[0009] Furthermore, the first input may include first channel matrix information associated with a first portion of a different wireless path between the first wireless station and a first communication device among a plurality of communication devices; the first input may also include second channel matrix information associated with a second portion of a different wireless path between the first wireless station and a second communication device among a plurality of communication devices. The communication management resource derives a first wireless beam angle supporting a first wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the first communication device from the first channel matrix information; the communication management resource derives a second wireless beam angle supporting a second wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the first communication device from the second channel matrix information; and the communication management resource then derives a third beam angle based on the first wireless beam angle and the second wireless beam angle.

[0010] Implementing the first beamforming setting to provide wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the plurality of communication devices includes transmitting wireless signals from the first wireless station at a third wireless beam angle according to the first beamforming setting to communicate with the first communication device and the second communication device.

[0011] Still other examples herein include establishing pairing of a first wireless station with each of a plurality of communication devices. During a beamforming sweep test, the first wireless station transmits a first wireless signal through different wireless paths. The communication management resource receives a first input from the plurality of communication devices as feedback. The feedback may include any suitable information, such as a wireless power level value indicating a power level at which the plurality of communication devices receive the first wireless signal.

[0012] According to yet another example, the derivation of the first beamforming setting may include: deriving a first wireless beam angle based on a first communication device receiving wireless communication from a wireless station via a first portion of a different wireless path; deriving a second wireless beam angle based on a second communication device receiving wireless communication from a wireless station via a second portion of a different wireless path; and deriving a third beam angle based on the first wireless beam angle and the second wireless beam angle via quantization.

[0013] Furthermore, the communication management resource may be configured to establish a pairing of the first wireless station with each of the plurality of communication devices. During the beamforming sweep test, the first wireless station transmits a first wireless signal via different wireless paths from the first wireless station. The communication management resource receives a first input from the plurality of communication devices as feedback. The feedback includes wireless power level values ​​indicating power levels at which the plurality of communication devices receive the first wireless signal. The power level information provides an indication of the extent to which the respective wireless paths between the first wireless station and the corresponding communication devices support robust delivery of communications.

[0014] As further discussed herein, generating a beamforming setting from a first input can include a communication management resource adjusting a phase setting associated with the first beamforming setting based on a change in a reception angle at the communication device. The adjusted phase setting is distributed to control the phase of antenna elements in a multidimensional array deployed in the first wireless station.

[0015] Still other examples as discussed herein include, in response to transmitting a first wireless signal from a first wireless station, a communication management resource: i) receiving first channel matrix information from a first communication device among a plurality of communication devices, the first channel matrix information indicating an angular antenna setting of a first mobile communication device that receives the first wireless signal during channel estimation performed by the first communication device, and ii) receiving second channel matrix information from a second communication device among the plurality of communication devices, the second channel matrix information indicating an angular antenna setting of the second communication device that receives the first wireless signal during channel estimation performed by the second communication device.

[0016] In yet another example, implementation of the first beamforming setting includes transmitting the first beamforming setting in a beamforming codebook from the first wireless station to each of the plurality of communication devices. The first beamforming setting implemented by the communication device enables the communication device to receive subsequent communications from the first wireless station.

[0017] This article discusses these and additional examples.

[0018] It is also noted that any resource as discussed herein may include one or more computerized devices, communication management resources, mobile communication devices, servers, base stations, wireless communication equipment, communication management systems, controllers, workstations, user equipment, handheld or laptop computers, etc., to perform and / or support any or all method operations disclosed herein. In other words, one or more computerized devices or processors may be programmed and / or configured to operate in the manner described herein to perform the different embodiments as described herein.

[0019] Other embodiments herein include software programs for performing the steps and operations outlined above and disclosed in detail below. One such embodiment includes a computer program product including a non-transient computer-readable storage medium (such as any computer-readable hardware storage medium, computer-readable storage hardware, etc.) on which software instructions are encoded for subsequent execution. When the instruction is executed in a computerized device (hardware) with a processor, the processor (hardware) is programmed and / or caused to perform the operations disclosed herein. Such arrangements are generally provided as software, code, instructions and / or other data (e.g., data structures), which are arranged or encoded on non-transient computer-readable storage hardware media, such as optical media (e.g., CD-ROM), floppy disks, hard disks, memory sticks, memory devices, etc., or other media, such as firmware in one or more ROMs, RAMs, PROMs, etc., or provided as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc. Software or firmware or other such configurations can be installed on a computerized device to enable the computerized device to perform the techniques described herein.

[0020] Accordingly, embodiments herein are directed to methods, systems, computer program products, etc., that support operations as discussed herein.

[0021] One embodiment includes a computer-readable storage medium and / or system having stored thereon instructions for facilitating wireless communication management. When executed by computer processor hardware, the instructions cause the computer processor hardware (such as one or more co-located or distributed processor devices or hardware) to: receive a first input indicating angular directions associated with different wireless paths between a first wireless station and a plurality of communication devices; derive a first beamforming setting from the first input, the first beamforming setting supporting wireless communication between the first wireless station and the plurality of communication devices; and implement the first beamforming setting to provide wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the plurality of communication devices.

[0022] Note that the order of the above steps has been added for clarity. Note also that any process steps as discussed herein may be performed in any suitable order.

[0023] Other embodiments of the present disclosure include software programs and / or corresponding hardware to perform any method embodiment steps and operations summarized above and disclosed in detail below.

[0024] It should be understood that the systems, methods, apparatus, instructions on computer-readable storage media, etc., as discussed herein may also be strictly implemented as a software program, firmware, a mixture of software, hardware and / or firmware, or separate hardware such as within a processor (hardware or software), within an operating system, or within a software application.

[0025] As discussed herein, the techniques herein are well suited for use in the field of providing communication services. However, it should be noted that the embodiments herein are not limited to use in such applications, and the techniques discussed herein are also well suited for other applications.

[0026] In addition, it is noted that although each of the various features, techniques, configurations, etc. herein may be discussed at different locations in the present disclosure, it is intended that each concept may be optionally implemented independently of each other or in combination with each other where appropriate. Therefore, one or more of the present inventions as described herein may be implemented and viewed in a variety of different ways.

[0027] Furthermore, it is noted that the preliminary discussion of embodiments (Summary of the Invention) herein intentionally does not specifically describe every embodiment and / or incrementally novel aspect of the present disclosure or claimed invention(s). Instead, the Summary of the Invention only introduces general embodiments and corresponding points of novelty compared to conventional techniques. For additional details and / or possible viewpoints (permutations) of the invention(s), the reader is referred to the Detailed Description section (Overview of the Embodiments) and corresponding figures of the present disclosure as further discussed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 is an example diagram illustrating a communication network environment as discussed herein and a wireless base station in communication with a plurality of communication devices.

[0029] Figure 2 is an example diagram illustrating wireless beamforming control of a communication device in one or more dimensions as discussed herein.

[0030] Figure 3 is an example diagram illustrating receiving angle information from a first mobile communication device and updating wireless beamforming settings and a corresponding beamforming codebook as discussed herein.

[0031] Figure 4 is an example diagram illustrating receiving angle information from a second mobile communication device and updating wireless beamforming settings and a corresponding beamforming codebook as discussed herein.

[0032] Figure 5is an example diagram illustrating beamforming setting management and codebook updating as discussed herein.

[0033] Figure 6 is an example diagram illustrating the derivation of beamforming settings associated with feedback from multiple communication devices as discussed herein.

[0034] Figure 7 is an example diagram illustrating an implementation of a beamforming arrangement as discussed herein.

[0035] Figure 8 is an example diagram illustrating beamforming setting management and codebook updating as discussed herein.

[0036] Fig. 9 is an example diagram illustrating the derivation of beamforming settings associated with feedback from multiple communication devices as discussed herein.

[0037] Fig.10 is an example diagram illustrating an implementation of a beamforming arrangement as discussed herein.

[0038] Fig.11 is an example diagram illustrating beamforming setting management and codebook updating as discussed herein.

[0039] Fig.12 is an example diagram illustrating the derivation of beamforming settings associated with communications received from multiple communication devices as discussed herein.

[0040] Fig.13 is an example diagram illustrating an implementation of a beamforming arrangement for communicating between a wireless station and a plurality of mobile communication devices as discussed herein.

[0041] Fig.14 is an example diagram illustrating an example computer architecture operable to perform one or more operations according to embodiments herein.

[0042] Fig.15 is an example diagram illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Fig.16 is an example diagram illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Fig.17 is an example diagram illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Fig.18 is an example diagram illustrating the partitioning of angular directions in 3-D space into multiple clusters as discussed herein.

[0046] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiments herein, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but emphasis is placed on illustrating embodiments, principles, concepts, etc. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] As further discussed herein, the communication system includes a wireless station (such as a gNode B, a wireless base station, etc.) that supports beamforming. The communication device also supports beamforming for sending or receiving wireless signals. The wireless base station sends communications from the wireless base station to multiple communication devices. In one embodiment, the wireless base station receives corresponding channel matrix information (such as angle information) from each of the multiple communication devices. The channel matrix information indicates the weight coefficients applied to the corresponding receiver antenna hardware to receive communications in a specific angular direction. The channel matrix information associated with multiple communication devices and the corresponding weight coefficients indicate the angle at which the corresponding communication device receives the corresponding wireless signal from the wireless base station. Alternatively, when reciprocity is established, the wireless base station generates the channel matrix information itself based on observations of receiving communications from one or more communication devices.

[0048] Via the received or generated reception angle information, communication management resources associated with the wireless base station adjust beamforming settings associated with respective clusters of communication devices to optimally support communications with the communication devices via one or more wireless beams.

[0049] Codebook Enhancement

[0050] For antenna arrays, it is well known that the direction of the propagation path in 3-D space (relative to spherical coordinates) With the help of (one or more) array response vectors and With N r ×N t The spatial channel matrix H is related; here N r 、N t are the number of receive and transmit antennas, respectively—generally arranged as a planar antenna array (a 2-D antenna array allows beamforming directions with respect to both azimuth and elevation). The array response vector on the transmit side is

[0051]

[0052] And similarly on the receiving end;d i The vector representing the position of the antenna element in the corresponding array, is the wave vector. The direction angle will receive an additional subscript l which will indicate the path in the angle domain. is the complex-valued pattern of the antenna elements (assumed to be common between elements).

[0053] For simplicity, a single-polarized antenna will be assumed below.

[0054] The goal is to create an array response vector and send 1 The relationship between the eigenvectors of the correlation matrix on the side

[0055]

[0056] Spatial Channel Matrix and Array Response Vector

[0057] For the case with one receive antenna and L angular paths, the channel matrix is ​​a row vector expressed as Given by the following formula

[0058]

[0059] The paths are modeled in the angle domain; models the complex gain along the lth angular path due to interaction with scatterers in the propagation medium; it is possible to relate the coefficient h to the multipath delay, but this is not directly relevant to this discussion. Regardless of the orthogonality assumption, the optimal beamforming weights are proportional to

[0060]

[0061] This highlights the fact that the array response vector plays a key role.

[0062] Obviously, adding antennas on the receiver side will construct a receiver-side (2-D) antenna array and form an array response vector (Gain Mode of course included in the array response vector); it will also "build" new rows in the spatial channel matrix to The spatial filtering at the receiver is modeled at , with a pair of arrival angles for each of the L angular paths from the transmitter. The spatial MIMO matrix H is then neatly expressed as

[0063]

[0064] Autocorrelation matrix and array response vector

[0065] According to the tradition set by the NR specification, gNB and UE do not need to know each other's spatial filtering (precoding vector). In order to deal with the precoding on the transmitter side, it is hoped to remove , l=0,…,L-1. This can be achieved by relying on the sender side correlation matrix, because:

[0066]

[0067] where p t,i and is proportional to the magnitude of the channel coefficient. More importantly, it does not depend on the subcarrier index, which makes the transmit-side autocorrelation a large-scale parameter.

[0068] By inspection (e.g., referring to the expansion of the SVD in terms of singular values ​​and the outer products of the left and right singular vectors), this can be written as

[0069]

[0070] Now we can realize that if A t The columns of are at least approximately orthogonal, then the Hermitian becomes inverse, and R t is the eigenvalue decomposition, so A can be found efficiently through eigenvalue decomposition t This approximation really gets better and better as the number of antennas increases.

[0071] Based on the current state of the art, it can be assumed that the orthogonality approximation holds reasonably well, especially for a large number of antennas.

[0072] In the absence of a formal, self-contained proof (but only an overview), it is worth pointing out that A t With size N t - When the transmit antenna array is 2-D (uniform rectangular array), this size will be equal to the product of the number of antenna rows and columns. It has been shown (in one aspect) that a channel with a dominant angular path (specifically, rank one) can be expressed as a Kronecker product between two "DFT-like" vectors that can decouple azimuth from elevation and can be used as the basis for a DFT-based precoding codebook. Correlation results from conventional techniques lead to the conclusion that this Kronecker product is the eigenvector of the channel correlation matrix.

[0073] The basis of codebook enhancement

[0074] While DFT codebooks (in the form of the Kronecker product of two 1-D DFT codebooks) are attractive and have proven useful, they begin to fail as the angular spread of the channel increases; essentially, this is because the sum of many array response vectors (see MIMO channel spread above) is poorly approximated by a DFT vector. One remedy is to employ the SVD approach.

[0075] Codebook enhancement and quantization via self-organizing map (SOM)

[0076] One observation is that the SVD precoding vectors can be obtained as the (normalized) eigenvectors of the transmit-side correlation matrix - these eigenvectors in turn are directly related to the beam directivity on the transmit side. Alternatively, this can be understood from the perspective of an angular representation of the MIMO spatial channel on the transmitter side - i.e., based on a 2D plot of the resolvable transmit-side beamwidth versus elevation and azimuth; of course, the resolvability can be understood as a function of the vertical and horizontal (normalized) aperture of the 2D transmit antenna array.

[0077] On the one hand, the higher-dimensional beamforming vector (from ) and the 2D "manifold" graph on the other hand can be intuitively grasped via the well-known fact that the codebook for a 2D transmit antenna array is the Kronecker product of two codebooks, which are functions of the elevation and azimuth angles of the spatially resolvable beams, respectively (within the angular domain representation of the MIMO channel). The question of how this dimensionality reduction can be meaningfully achieved will be answered in the following via the Self-Organizing Map (SOM) (also known as the Kohonen Eigenmap), which is a random clustering algorithm. Like the Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) algorithm, it is suitable for batch implementation and adding momentum (to increase speed).

[0078] The Kohonen method is an artificial neural network (ANN) that follows an unsupervised learning approach and uses a competitive learning algorithm to train its network. It is used in clustering and mapping (or dimensionality reduction) techniques in order to map multidimensional data onto a lower dimensional graph. The preservation of neighborhood topological relationships between the input space and the graph is an important performance (cost) parameter that can be measured; it is desirable to preserve topological proximity in the higher dimensional space when mapping to the lower dimensional graph—thus enabling vector-quantization-like behavior. During training, the 2D graph is "shaped" so as to essentially follow the probability mass of the input and ultimately inherit the sparsity of the MIMO channel in the angular domain.

[0079] It is worth noting that the dimensionality of the input data points (the latest beamforming vector used to train the SOM) is not lost (although moved to a 2D graph) in the sense that the “weights”—updated by the algorithm and residing at the nodes of the SOM—preserve the dimensionality of the input data points (the latest beamforming vector used to train the SOM). Eventually, dynamic codebooks will emerge that can dynamically replace fixed codebooks (such as traditional DFT-based codebooks) with respect to short-term “beamforming horizons”.

[0080] The first step is to randomize the weight vectors individually associated with (stored in) the nodes of the 2D graph, then randomly pick an input vector and then calculate the metric (Euclidean distance) to each graph node. The minimum in the Euclidean distances is then used to find the similarity between the current input vector and the winning graph node. The winning node is then tracked (this node is the best matching cell). The weight vectors of the nodes in the neighborhood of the best matching cell are then updated - in effect, pulling them closer to the input vector. This process is repeated until convergence (training is complete). The distinguishing feature from SGD is the concept of adjusting the learning rate by a neighborhood scaling factor (somewhat similar to SGD with momentum).

[0081] As discussed herein, dynamic non-fixed codebooks can be enabled in (essentially) at least two ways: the gNB either infers the DL channel matrix at the gNB based on, for example, CSI-RS (during UL transmissions, while channel reciprocity holds), or is fed back by the UE when it cannot be inferred (e.g., FDD). In either case, the gNB can either calculate / estimate the transmit-side correlation matrix (or the singular vectors themselves), or the side information can be fed back from the UE (e.g., via a digital feedback channel).

[0082] Quantitative methods

[0083] Compared with conventional techniques, the time-evolving codebook discussed in this article adapts to changing channel conditions and is different from conventional DFT-based codebooks because it is based on quantized historical implementations. The codebook discussed in this article provides a quantized finite set representing beamforming vectors. These beamforming vectors are grouped into centroids and then transmitted to all UEs (also known as communication devices CDs) near the transmission. The goal is to create a data set that should be used to form a concept similar to an image, which allows quantization similar to that in image processing. Using the Kohonen algorithm, convergence is achieved by performing conventional beam sweeping on a traditional static codebook. GnodeB can observe reference signal vectors from a set of UE signals on the uplink and estimate the channel from these reference signals based on subcarriers. Then, due to TDD, gnodeB knows the downlink channel by transposing the uplink channel.

[0084] In one example, each successful beam selection generates a data set. The data set is a set of many possible BF vectors from the set of UEs in the most recent pass. Over time, the UE will not have moved substantially since observing the channel, so it is transposed due to time division duplexing. To achieve the beamforming weight vector, M weights are required (one for each Tx antenna). This translates into elevation and azimuth to achieve the direction in the angle domain.

[0085] Now, more specifically, referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1is an example diagram illustrating a communication network environment as discussed herein and controlling one or more wireless beams to communicate with multiple communication devices in the network environment via a common beamforming arrangement.

[0086] In this example, the codebook 175 (also referred to as beamforming codebook information) includes beamforming control information 181 to support multiple different wireless beams WB1, WB2, WB3, etc. to the corresponding cluster 156 of communication devices. The beamforming control information 181 indicates the antenna settings of the antenna hardware 131-1 (a multi-dimensional array or matrix of antenna elements) associated with the wireless station 131 to steer the corresponding wireless beams including the wireless beams WB1, WB2, WB3, etc. in the corresponding desired directions to one or more communication devices CD1, CD2, etc. in the cluster 156. The beamforming control information for each wireless beam can be configured to indicate different angular directions (such as defined by azimuth and elevation, etc.) to transmit the wireless beam from the wireless station 131 and / or angles associated with beamforming at the communication device to receive wireless signals from the wireless station 131.

[0087] Each wireless beam in the beamforming control information supports wireless connectivity with a corresponding cluster of communication devices. For example, beamforming control information 181 indicates a first angular direction (vector) for transmitting a corresponding wireless beam WB1 from wireless station 131 to cluster 156 of communication devices; beamforming control information 182 indicates a corresponding second angular direction (vector) for transmitting a corresponding wireless beam WB2 from wireless station 131 to cluster 157 of communication devices; and so on.

[0088] It is noted that each of the entities, components, functions, etc. discussed herein may be configured as hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. For example, the communication management resource 140 may be configured as communication management hardware, communication management software, or a combination of communication management functions and communication management software; the wireless station 131 may be configured as wireless station hardware, wireless station software, or a combination of wireless station hardware and wireless station software; the communication device 121 may be configured as communication device hardware, communication device software, or a combination of communication device hardware and communication device software; the communication device 122 may be configured as communication device hardware, communication device software, or a combination of communication device hardware and communication device software; the wireless station 131 may be configured as wireless station hardware, wireless station software, or a combination of wireless station hardware and wireless station software; and so on.

[0089] Figure 2 is an example diagram illustrating wireless beamforming and its control in 3 dimensions as discussed herein.

[0090] Each wireless station in the network environment 100 (such as wireless station 131, communication device CD1, communication device CD2, etc.) can be configured to transmit at one or more different angles (such as azimuth radially outward from the z-axis, such as elevation relative to the XY plane, etc.) to communicate with one or more target wireless stations. The angular direction associated with WB1 includes an azimuth and an elevation, which define the corresponding direction in which the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 transmit the corresponding wireless beam WB1 to the cluster of communication devices including communication devices CD1, CD2, etc.

[0091] The corresponding wireless beam transmitted from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 can be received by multiple communication devices in the corresponding cluster. In this case, the beamforming setting for the corresponding wireless beam supports wireless connectivity with multiple communication devices, thereby reducing the number of different beamforming settings in the beamforming codebook.

[0092] Figure 3 is an example diagram illustrating collecting channel matrix information (receiving angle information) from a first mobile communication device and updating a wireless beam setting and a corresponding beamforming codebook as discussed herein.

[0093] In this example, a wireless base station (such as a gNode B and corresponding communication management resources 140) implements one or more wireless beams including wireless beam WB1 to communicate with multiple communication devices such as communication device CD1, communication device CD2, communication device CD3, etc.

[0094] Wireless communication link 127 - 1 supports wireless connectivity between wireless base station 131 and communication device 121 .

[0095] As shown, the wireless base station 131 transmits wireless communications 310 to the communication device 121, such as SSB (synchronization and signal block) information (such as a reference signal) and system information.

[0096] Via random access, the communication device 121 sends wireless communications 315, such as requests to establish a wireless communication link and data session.

[0097] The wireless base station 131 sends wireless communications 320 (such as reference signals) to the communication device 121. In one example, the wireless communications 320 include a sounding reference signal (SRS), which is a reference signal sent in the downlink direction by the wireless base station 131. The communication device 121 monitors the communications 320 and determines (estimates) an uplink channel quality associated with the wireless communication link 127-1.

[0098] The communication device 121 transmits wireless communications 325 , such as CSI (channel state information), such as indicating a power level or properties of a downlink communication 320 previously received from the wireless base station 131 .

[0099] In processing operation 328, during beamforming pairing 329, the wireless base station 131 selects one or more wireless beams (such as including wireless beam WB1) to communicate with the communication device 121. The wireless base station 131 establishes a beamforming pairing with the communication device 121 (such as wireless beam WB1 with a second receiving wireless beam at the mobile communication device 121).

[0100] After pairing and establishing a wireless beam, the wireless base station 131 sends wireless communications 330 (such as one or more symbols) to the communication device 121 .

[0101] As further shown, the communication device 121 implements a channel estimation function 335 based on the codewords received in the communication 330. Via the channel estimation function 335, the communication device 121 generates channel matrix information that indicates settings associated with antenna elements of the antenna hardware 121-1 that receives the wireless communication 330. In one example, the channel matrix information indicates or captures one or more angles at which the communication device 121 receives wireless communications sent by the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 through different wireless paths. The communication device 121 transmits the channel matrix information associated with receiving one or more wireless beams from the wireless station 131 to the wireless base station 131 in communication 340. As previously discussed, the channel matrix information captures the different angles at which the communication device 121 receives different wireless beams from the wireless station 131.

[0102] In processing operation 345, the wireless base station 131 uses the received channel matrix information (communication 340) to update the beamforming settings 181 for the wireless beam WB1. As previously discussed, the channel matrix information (or the angle information in communication 340) indicates the corresponding reception of different wireless beams at the communication device 121. More specifically, the channel matrix information also indicates the corresponding angles at which the communication device 121 receives different wireless beams transmitted from the wireless station 131. As further discussed herein, based on the different angles at which the communication device 121 receives different wireless beams from the wireless station 131, the communication management function 345 updates the corresponding beamforming codebook to include the updated settings 181 (controlling the angular directions of the antenna elements of the antenna hardware 131-1), which control the directionality of one or more wireless beams from the wireless station 131 and / or receive beamforming at the corresponding communication device to receive wireless signals transmitted by the wireless station 131.

[0103] Over time, note that the communication device 121 may move throughout the network environment 100; the presence of different obstacles in the network environment 100 may change; and so on. This means that an original set of wireless beamforming settings (at the transmitter or receiver side) may no longer provide good wireless connectivity between the wireless station 131 and the corresponding communication device 121. Based on continuous feedback from the communication device 121 indicating the corresponding different angles of the one or more wireless beams received, the communication management function 345 updates the beamforming settings associated with the one or more wireless beams supporting communication with the communication device 121. The communication management function 345 may also be configured to update corresponding beamforming codebook information indicating the updated beamforming settings associated with the communication device. As further discussed herein, the wireless base station 131 adjusts the directionality of the wireless beam over time based on feedback such as channel matrix information received from the communication device 121, and the communication device 121 monitors the received wireless beams and provides its feedback to the wireless station 131.

[0104] The wireless base station 131 transmits the codebook 175 of different beamforming settings to the communication device 121 and possibly other communication devices in the network environment 100 via communication 350. The communication device uses the codebook to determine different beamforming settings for receiving subsequent wireless communications from the wireless station 131.

[0105] Via communication 355 , the communication device 121 transmits information such as PMI (Precoding Matrix Indicator), RI (Rank Indicator), and CQI (Channel Quality Information) to the wireless base station 131 .

[0106] Figure 4 is an example diagram illustrating collecting channel matrix information from a second mobile communication device and updating a wireless beam setting and a corresponding beamforming codebook according to an embodiment of this document.

[0107] In this example, the wireless base station 131 (such as a gNode B and corresponding communication management resources 140) implements one or more wireless beams including wireless beam WB1 to communicate with multiple communication devices (such as communication device CD1, communication device CD2, communication device CD3, etc.).

[0108] Wireless communication link 127 - 2 supports wireless connectivity between wireless base station 131 and communication device 122 .

[0109] As shown, the wireless base station 131 initially transmits wireless communications 410 such as SSB (synchronization and signal block) information (such as a reference signal) and system information to the communication device 122.

[0110] Via random access, the communication device 122 sends a wireless communication 415 such as a request to establish a wireless communication link.

[0111] The wireless base station 131 sends wireless communications 420, such as reference signals, to the communication device 122. In one example, the wireless communications 420 include a sounding reference signal (SRS), which is a reference signal sent in the downlink direction by the wireless base station 131. The communication device 122 monitors the communications 420 and determines (estimates) uplink channel quality.

[0112] The communication device 122 transmits wireless communications 425 such as CSI (channel state information), such as indicating a power level or attribute of downlink communications 420 received from the wireless base station 131 .

[0113] In processing operation 428, during beamforming pairing 429, the wireless base station 131 selects one or more wireless beams, such as including wireless beam WB1, to communicate with the communication device 122. The wireless base station 131 and the communication device 122 establish a beamforming pairing.

[0114] After pairing via implementing appropriate beamforming at the wireless base station 131 and the communication device 122 , the wireless base station 131 transmits a wireless communication 430 , such as one or more symbols, to the communication device 122 .

[0115] The communication device 122 implements a channel estimation function 435 based on the codewords received in the communication 430. Via the channel estimation function, the communication device 122 generates channel matrix information that indicates settings (such as directivity settings) associated with antenna elements of the antenna hardware 121-1 for receiving the wireless communication 430 by transmitting one or more different wireless beams from the wireless base station 131. In one example, the channel matrix information indicates the communication device 121 receives the corresponding one or more angles of the wireless communication through the one or more different wireless beams transmitted by the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1. The communication device 122 transmits the channel matrix information (receive angle information) associated with receiving the one or more wireless beams from the wireless station 131 in the communication 440 to the wireless base station 131.

[0116] In processing operation 445, the wireless base station 131 uses the received channel matrix information (communication 440) to update the beamforming settings 181 for the wireless beam WB1 and / or other wireless beams that support wireless connectivity between the wireless station 131 and the plurality of communication devices 121 and 122. As previously discussed, the channel matrix information may be configured to indicate settings for receiving different wireless beams at the communication device 121. The channel matrix information also indicates respective angles at which different wireless beams transmitted from the wireless station 131 are received by the communication device 121.

[0117] Based on the different angles at which the communication device 121 receives different wireless beams from the wireless station 131, the communication management function 445 updates the corresponding beamforming codebook to include updated settings 181 (controlling the angular orientation of the antenna elements of the antenna hardware 131-1) that control the directionality of one or more wireless beams from the wireless station 131. The beamforming settings inform the communication device of the beamforming settings to receive the wireless beam from the wireless station 131.

[0118] Over time, the communication device 122 may move throughout the network environment 100; the presence of different obstacles in the network environment 100 may change; and so on. This means that an original set of wireless beamforming settings may no longer provide good wireless connectivity between the wireless station 131 and the corresponding communication device 122. Based on continuous feedback from the communication device 122 indicating the corresponding different angles of the one or more wireless beams received, the communication management function 445 updates the beamforming settings associated with the one or more wireless beams supporting communication with the communication device 122. The communication management function 445 may also be configured to update corresponding beamforming codebook information indicating the updated beamforming settings associated with the communication device. The wireless base station 131 adjusts the directionality of the wireless beam over time based on feedback such as channel matrix information received from the communication device 122, and the communication device 122 monitors the received wireless beams and provides its feedback to the wireless station 131.

[0119] The wireless base station 131 transmits the beamforming codebook 175 of different beamforming settings to the communication device 122 and potentially other communication devices in the network environment 100 via communication 450. The communication device uses the codebook as an indication of different beamforming settings for receiving subsequent wireless communications from the wireless station 131.

[0120] Via communication 455 , the communication device 122 transmits information such as PMI (Precoding Matrix Indicator), RI (Rank Indicator), and CQI (Channel Quality Information) to the wireless base station 131 .

[0121] Figure 5 is an example diagram illustrating beamforming management and codebook updating as discussed herein.

[0122] In this example, after wireless station 131 (such as gNodeB) is paired with communication devices CD1, CD2, etc. (such as via establishing wireless connectivity), wireless station 131 transmits (such as via operations 330 and 430) corresponding wireless signals from antenna hardware 131-1 in the network environment through different wireless paths (also referred to as different wireless beams generated by wireless station 131 via beamforming). The wireless beams can be transmitted simultaneously or at different times. The communication device monitors the communication to determine the direction (angle) of receiving each wireless beam.

[0123] In theory, a wireless station as discussed herein can transmit and receive wireless signals at an infinite number of angle settings in three-dimensional space (XYZ space). According to one example, each of the wireless stations (such as wireless station 131, communication devices CD1, CD2, etc.) can be configured to support directional beamforming in a limited number of settings (such as 300 or other suitable values, such as greater than or less than 300). Instead of providing a separate beamforming setting in the codebook for each of the 300 possible settings or settings associated with each communication device supported by the wireless station 131, operations as discussed herein can be implemented to reduce the number of settings in the corresponding beamforming codebook to a number less than 300 (or other suitable value) that provides good wireless connectivity between the wireless station 131 and each of a plurality of different clusters of communication devices.

[0124] For example, in processing operation #1, at time T1 or thereabouts, the wireless station 131 wirelessly transmits a first wireless signal along an angular direction A (having a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a first wireless path WPA (such as one or more wireless paths WPA1, WPA2, etc.) in the network environment 100; the wireless station 131 wirelessly transmits a second wireless signal along an angular direction B (having a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a second wireless path WPB (such as one or more paths WPBA1, WPB2, etc.) in the network environment 100; the wireless station 131 wirelessly transmits a second wireless signal along an angular direction B (having a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a third wireless path WPC (such as one or more wireless paths WPC1, WPC2, etc.) in the network environment 100; Paths WPC1, WPC2, etc.) wirelessly send a third wireless signal along an angular direction C (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through the fourth wireless path in the network environment 100; the wireless station 131 wirelessly sends a fourth wireless signal along an angular direction D (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through the fourth wireless path in the network environment 100; the wireless station 131 wirelessly sends a fifth wireless signal along an angular direction E (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through the fifth wireless path in the network environment 100; the wireless station 131 wirelessly sends a sixth wireless signal along an angular direction F (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through the sixth wireless path in the network environment 100; and so on.

[0125] Thus, via communication over different radio paths, the communication devices are able to determine which radio beam is best received by the respective communication device and at what beamforming angle.

[0126] As further shown, the network environment 100 includes one or more physical objects, such as physical objects OBJ1, OBJ2, OBJ3, etc. A wireless signal transmitted by the wireless station 131 may travel directly (such as via line of sight) from the wireless station 131 to each of the communication devices CD1, CD2, etc. in the cluster 156. Additionally or alternatively, a wireless signal transmitted from the wireless station 131 may be reflected from any one of the one or more objects and received by a corresponding communication device in the cluster 156.

[0127] Thus, each communication device in cluster 156 receives one or more of the different wireless signals transmitted by wireless station 131 from the same or different angles according to the wireless path. The reception and / or strength of the transmitted wireless signal received from wireless station 131-1 may vary according to the movement of objects and / or communication devices in cluster 156.

[0128] Note that each communication device in cluster 156 includes appropriate antenna hardware and corresponding antenna elements to receive wireless signals transmitted from wireless station 131 from different angles. In some cases, a corresponding communication device in cluster 156 may not be able to receive one or more of the wireless signals transmitted by wireless station 131 and corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 due to signal blocking, interference, etc. As previously discussed, this may change over time.

[0129] As a more specific example as shown in the figure, in processing operation #2, each communication device in cluster 156 monitors the reception of wireless signals A, B, C, D, E, F, etc. (such as test wireless signals) sent by wireless station 131 at different angles (directions) through different corresponding wireless paths. Note that each wireless path (such as wireless paths WPA1 and WPA2) can be substantially the same wireless path or a different wireless path; each wireless path (such as wireless paths WPB1 and WPB2) can be substantially the same wireless path or a different wireless path; and so on.

[0130] In this example, the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal (such as a test wireless signal) sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction A and the wireless path WPA1 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction A1 (i.e., A1 may be the first angular direction in which the communication device 121 receives the signal through the wireless path WPA1); the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction B and the wireless path WPB1 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction B1 (i.e., the communication device 121 receives the signal in the second angular direction, such as the angle B1, through the wireless communication protocol WPB1); the communication device CD1 does not receive the signal C or receives the signal C at very low power; the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction D and the wireless path WPD1 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction D1 (i.e., the fourth angular direction, such as the angle D1); the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction E as a wireless signal received along the angular direction E1 (i.e., the fifth angular direction). It is assumed that the communication device does not receive wireless energy associated with the wireless signal transmitted along the angular direction F from the wireless station 131 .

[0131] As further shown, the communication device CD2 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent along the angular direction A and the wireless path WPA from the wireless station 131 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction A2 (i.e., A2 represents the angular direction in which the communication device 121 receives the signal via the wireless path WPA2); the communication device CD2 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent along the angular direction B from the wireless station 131 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction B2 (i.e., B2 represents the angular direction in which the communication device 121 receives the signal via the wireless path WPB2); the communication device CD 1 does not receive signal C or receives signal C at very low power; communication device CD2 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent along angular direction D from wireless station 131 as a wireless signal received along angular direction D2 (i.e., C2 represents the angular direction in which communication device 121 receives the signal via wireless path WPC2); communication device CD2 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent along angular direction F from wireless station 131 as a wireless signal received along angular direction F2 (i.e., F2 represents the angular direction in which communication device 121 receives the signal via wireless path WPF2). It is assumed that the communication device does not receive the wireless energy associated with the wireless signal sent along angular direction E from wireless station 131.

[0132] Monitoring of the test wireless signals transmitted by the wireless station 131 at different angular directions relative to the antenna hardware 131-1 at the communication device provides insight into which of the multiple different angles at which wireless communications are transmitted from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 provides the best delivery of wireless communications to the communication devices in the cluster 156. As previously discussed, each communication device determines the angle at which the transmitted wireless signal is received (such as via channel matrix information indicating weight coefficients applied at the communication device for receiving the wireless signal, the weight coefficients indicating the angular direction of the communication device receiving the wireless signal from the wireless station 131 via different wireless paths), generates corresponding feedback indicating the different angles at which the wireless signal is received (such as channel matrix information or other suitable information), and transmits the corresponding angle feedback information 511 and 512 (such as channel matrix information or other suitable information) to the communication management resource 140 associated with the wireless station 131. The communication management resource 140 can be implemented at any location in the network environment 100 (such as the wireless station 131, an edge computing node supporting multiple gNodeB processing, a communication device, etc.).

[0133] For details on handling operations #3, #4, #5, and #6, see Figure 6 .

[0134] Note that input 505 indicates feedback information received from communication devices in cluster 156 .

[0135] Figure 6 is an example diagram illustrating the derivation of beamforming settings associated with feedback from multiple communication devices as discussed herein.

[0136] More specifically, in processing operation #3, if Figure 6As further shown in , the communication management resources or other suitable entities in the communication device CD1 generate corresponding feedback 511-1 (such as channel matrix information or other suitable information), which indicates: i) the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal (i.e., wireless beam) sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction A associated with the wireless path WPA1, as a wireless signal received along the angular direction A1 (i.e., the first angular direction A1) with a wireless power level PA1; ii) the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction B associated with the wireless path WPB1, as a wireless signal received along the angular direction A1 (i.e., the first angular direction A1) with a wireless power level PA1. angular direction B1 (i.e., the second angular direction B1) receives a wireless signal received at a wireless power level PB1; iii) the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction D associated with the wireless path WPD1 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction D1 (i.e., the fourth angular direction D1) at a wireless power level PD1, iv) the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction E associated with the wireless path WPE1 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction E1 (i.e., the fifth angular direction E1) at a wireless power level PE1.

[0137] In addition, in processing operation #3, if Figure 6 As further shown in FIG. 5 , the communication device CD2 or other suitable entity generates corresponding feedback 511-2 (such as channel matrix information), which indicates: i) the communication device CD2 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction A associated with the wireless path WPA2 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction A2 (i.e., the corresponding angular direction A2) at the wireless power level PA2; ii) the communication device CD2 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction B associated with the wireless path WPB2 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction ii) the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction D associated with the wireless path WPD2 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction D2 (i.e., the corresponding angular direction D2); iv) the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction F associated with the wireless path WPF2 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction F1 (i.e., the corresponding angular direction F1).

[0138] In a similar manner, each of the communication devices generates corresponding feedback indicating the angle at which the different wireless signals transmitted by the wireless station 131 are received.

[0139] In process operation #4, communication device CD1 or other suitable entity transmits feedback 511-1 to communication management resource 140 associated with wireless station 131 via a corresponding wireless communication link. Communication device CD2 or other suitable entity transmits feedback 512-1 to communication management resource 140 via wireless station 131 via a corresponding wireless communication link. Note that the feedback from each communication device may be encoded in any suitable manner.

[0140] In processing operation #5 (such as operation #5A, operation #5B, and operation #5C), the communication management resource 140 processes and integrates the received feedback 511-1 and 512-1 to generate corresponding common beamforming control settings 581-1 to communicate jointly with multiple communication devices CD1 and CD2 in the cluster 156.

[0141] The communication management resources 140 may be configured to generate settings for one or more wireless beams to be transmitted from the wireless station to each communication device in the corresponding cluster. Thus, the communication management resources 140 may be configured to generate settings for a single wireless beam from the wireless station 131 or settings for multiple wireless beams from the wireless station 131 that together provide good wireless connectivity for each of the multiple communication devices in the cluster 156.

[0142] In addition, in this example, based on the feedback 511-1 received in processing operation #4, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal sent by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction A (corresponding to the wireless path A at the angle A) is received by the communication device CD1 at a good power level (such as a power level PA1 higher than the threshold level). Based on the received feedback 511-1, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal sent by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction B (corresponding to the wireless path B at the angle B) is received by the communication device CD1 at a good power level (such as a power level PB1 higher than the threshold level). Based on the received feedback 511-1, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal sent by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction D (corresponding to the wireless path D at the angle D) is received by the communication device CD1 at a good power level (such as a power level PD1 higher than the threshold level). Based on the received feedback 511-1, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal transmitted by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction E (corresponding to the wireless path E at the angle E) is received by the communication device CD1 at a good power level (such as a power level PE1 above the threshold level). The feedback 511-1 indicates that the communication device CD1 does not receive the wireless signals transmitted from the directions C and F.

[0143] Based on the feedback 512-1 received in the processing operation #4, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal sent by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction A (corresponding to the wireless path A at the angle A) is received by the communication device CD2 at a good power level (such as a power level PA2 higher than the threshold level). Based on the received feedback 512-1, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal sent by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction B (corresponding to the wireless path B at the angle B) is received by the communication device CD2 at a good power level (such as a power level PB2 higher than the threshold level). Based on the received feedback 512-1, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal sent by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction D (corresponding to the wireless path D at the angle D) is received by the communication device CD2 at a good power level (such as a power level PD2 higher than the threshold level). Based on the received feedback 512-1, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal sent by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction F (corresponding to the wireless path F at the angle F) is received by the communication device CD1 at a good power level (such as a power level PF1 higher than the threshold level). Feedback 512 - 1 indicates that the communication device CD2 does not receive the wireless signals transmitted from directions C and E.

[0144] In a similar manner, the communication management resource 140 receives and processes feedback from a plurality of different communication devices in the network environment.

[0145] In process operation #5A, the communication management resource 140 converts the received feedback into a single integrated transmit angle direction for each communication device.

[0146] For example, the communication management resource 140 knows the angle (A, B, C, D, E, etc.) at which each test wireless signal is transmitted to the communication device CD1, CD2, etc. Based on the feedback, the communication management resource 140 is aware of the different angles (angular directions) at which the corresponding communication device receives the signal (which may depend on the orientation of the communication device). Based on the combination of different directional beams transmitted by the wireless station 131 and the corresponding different angles at which the communication device receives the wireless signal, the communication management resource 140 generates a corresponding overall directional beam (such as O1, O2, O3, etc.) representing the combination of the transmitted wireless beams received by the corresponding communication device.

[0147] More specifically, in processing operation #5A, based on the combination of wireless paths A, B, D, and E that support wireless connectivity between wireless station 131 and communication device CD1, and based on the corresponding wireless paths and known different angles (directions) for transmitting the test wireless signal transmitted by wireless station 131 as indicated by feedback 511-1 and the reception angle (direction) at which the test wireless signal is received by communication device CD1 (121), communication management resource 140 generates an overall angular direction associated with feedback 511-1 for transmission from wireless station 131 to communication device CD1. In this example, communication management resource 140 generates an overall angular direction value O1 associated with communication device CD1 to indicate a corresponding desired direction for transmitting a wireless signal from wireless station 131 to communication device CD1 based on feedback 511-1.

[0148] In one example, the overall angular direction value O1 represents the associated expected elevation angle and azimuth angle (i.e., direction) of transmitting a wireless signal from antenna hardware 131-1 associated with wireless station 131 based on feedback 511-1. When deriving the corresponding overall angular direction value O1, such as based on averaging the corresponding angular transmission directions of the wireless signals best received by communication device CD1, the communication management resource 140 can be configured to take into account the power level at which the corresponding communication device CD1 receives the test signal through different wireless paths. For example, the higher the power level, the greater the weight that can be used to generate the overall angular direction value O1 using the corresponding directional angle of the transmitted beam. The lower the power level, the smaller the weight that can be used to generate the overall angular direction value O1 using the corresponding directional angle of the transmitted beam. Therefore, the overall angular direction value O1 can be a weighting of different angles (directions) associated with the test wireless signals transmitted through wireless paths A, B, D, and E. If the power level of the received wireless communication is used to provide a weight for generating the corresponding body total angular direction value O1, then this helps to ensure that when the corresponding angular direction value O1 is generated, the directional beam received by the communication device CD1 from the wireless station 131 providing the best wireless power has a larger weight, while the directional beam received by the communication device CD1 from the wireless station 130 providing less wireless power has a smaller weight.

[0149] As shown in processing operation #5B, the communication management resource 140 creates a corresponding graph indicating the location of the overall angular direction value O1 in the graph 610. As previously discussed, the overall angular direction value O1 (the specific angular direction in which the corresponding wireless beam is transmitted from the wireless station 131) includes an azimuth value and an elevation value associated with the wireless station 131 transmitting the corresponding wireless beam from the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1.

[0150] In addition, in processing operation #5A, based on the combination of wireless paths A, B, D, and F that support wireless connectivity between wireless station 131 and communication device CD2 during the test, and based on the corresponding wireless paths that capture the known different angles at which the test wireless signal transmitted by wireless station 131 is transmitted as indicated by feedback 511-2 and the angle at which the test wireless signal is received by communication device CD2 (122), the communication management resource 140 generates an overall angular direction associated with feedback 512-1. In this example, the communication management resource 140 generates an overall angular direction value O2 associated with communication device CD2 to indicate the corresponding desired direction for transmitting the wireless signal from wireless station 131 to communication device CD2 based on feedback 512-1.

[0151] In one example, the overall angular direction value O2 represents the associated expected elevation angle and azimuth angle of the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless station 131 based on the feedback 512-1. When the corresponding overall angular direction value O2 is derived, such as based on averaging the corresponding directions of the wireless signals best received by the communication device CD2, the communication management resource 140 can be configured to take into account the power level at which the corresponding communication device CD2 receives the test signal through different wireless paths. For example, the higher the power level, the greater the weight with which the corresponding direction angle of the transmitted beam can be used to generate the overall angular direction value O2. The lower the power level, the smaller the weight with which the corresponding direction angle of the transmitted beam can be used to generate the overall angular direction value O2. The overall angular direction value O2 can be a weighting of different angles associated with the test wireless signals transmitted through wireless paths A, B, D and F. If the communication management resource 140 uses a power level for receiving wireless communications, then this helps to ensure that the directional beam from the wireless station 131 that provides the best wireless power received by the communication device CD2 is weighted higher to produce the overall angular direction value O2, while the directional beam from the wireless station 130 that provides less wireless power received by the communication device CD1 is weighted less to produce the overall angular direction value O2.

[0152] As shown in processing operation #5B, the communication management resource 140 creates a corresponding graph indicating the location of the overall angular direction value O2 in the graph 610. As previously discussed, the overall angular direction value O2 (the specific angular direction in which the corresponding wireless beam is transmitted from the wireless station 131) includes an azimuth value and an elevation value associated with the wireless station 131 transmitting the corresponding wireless beam from the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1.

[0153] In a similar manner, the communication management resource 140 processes the received feedback associated with each of the plurality of communication devices monitoring the wireless test signal, as previously discussed. In processing operation #5B, the communication management resource 140 determines which of the different overall angular direction values ​​are closest in magnitude to each other to generate corresponding common beamforming settings to support wireless communication with each communication device using the same wireless beam. For example, it is known that based on the magnitude of the overall angular direction value O1 associated with the communication device CD1, the overall angular direction value O2 associated with the communication device CD2, and the overall angular direction value O11 associated with the communication device CD11, the values ​​O1, O2, and O11 are very close to the same angular direction.

[0154] To provide further integration of the beamforming settings, in process operation #5B, the communication management resources also generate a corresponding common angle direction value X1 to support wireless communications sent from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 to all communication devices CD1, CD2, CD11 in the corresponding cluster 156. Therefore, rather than implementing different beamforming settings for each overall angle direction value O1, O2, and O11 for each different communication device, the common angle direction value X1 is used to support wireless connectivity between the wireless station 131 and the communication devices in the cluster 156. Therefore, the communication management resources 140 can be viewed as an integration function that generates an abridged codebook 575.

[0155] In processing operation #5C, in order to support subsequent communications from the wireless station to the cluster of communication devices, the communication management resource 140 updates the corresponding beamforming control setting 581-1 to indicate the different communication devices present in the cluster 156 and the corresponding angular direction and corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 of the wireless station 131 transmitting wireless signals to the communication devices in the cluster 156.

[0156] Note that any suitable function may be used to derive the common angular direction value X1 from the overall angular direction values ​​of the communication devices in cluster 156. According to one example, communication management resources 140 may be configured to implement quantization in each dimension (azimuth dimension and elevation dimension) to generate a corresponding common angular direction value X1 for the communication devices in cluster 156.

[0157] Alternatively, the communication management resource 141 can be configured to implement an averaging function to determine a centroid value associated with the overall angular direction value of the communication devices in the cluster. Further, as discussed above, the corresponding overall angular direction value O1 for the communication device can be determined based on applying different weight values ​​to different transmission angles of the wireless station 131.

[0158] Reference again Figure 5In processing operation #6, the communication management resource 140 updates the original beamforming control information 581 to the beamforming control information 581-1, which is then used to send the wireless signal from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 to the cluster 156 of communication devices.

[0159] In one example, the communication management resource 140 updates the beamforming codebook information 575 to include the updated beamforming control setting 581-1 and / or other information related to the feedback 511-1 and the feedback 512-1. In this way, the beamforming codebook information 575 can be continuously updated over time as the communication management resource 140 receives feedback associated with the cluster 156 of communication devices.

[0160] As previously discussed, the beamforming codebook information 575 can be configured to include beamforming settings associated with each of the plurality of clusters. For example, as previously discussed, the beamforming control information 581-1 (also referred to as settings 581-1) supports wireless connectivity with a first cluster 156 of communication devices; the beamforming control information 582 (also referred to as settings 582) supports wireless connectivity with a second cluster 157 of communication devices in the network environment 100; and so on.

[0161] Over time, the communication management resource 140 receives updated receive angle information from each communication device in different clusters in a similar manner as discussed above, and updates corresponding beamforming control settings based on feedback received from the communication devices in the cluster.

[0162] As further shown, in processing operation #7, as the beamforming codebook information 575 is updated, the wireless station 131 repeatedly transmits the updated beamforming codebook information 575 to the communication devices CD1, CD2, etc. in the cluster 156 and the communication devices in other clusters. Processing the feedback information to generate a shared or integrated beamforming setting reduces the overall complexity of the corresponding beamforming codebook information 575 because fewer instances of the beamforming setting are required to communicate with the corresponding communication devices. The transmission of the beamforming codebook information 575 provides notification to the communication devices in each cluster of the different angles at which to expect to receive subsequent wireless signals from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1.

[0163] The dynamic codebook discussed herein may be configured to include beamforming control information 581-1 (such as including matrix H information) for cluster 156. The communication devices in cluster 156 use the matrix H information to apply the matrix information to the corresponding communication device V to set its corresponding antenna element to receive communications from wireless station 131. Thus, the group of communication devices in cluster 156 may be configured to each use the same integrated beamforming control information 581-1 to set its corresponding antenna element to receive communications from wireless station 131 at an appropriate angular direction.

[0164] As further shown, Figure 7 Subsequent use of the newly generated beamforming control information 581-1 is illustrated for transmission from the wireless station 131 to the cluster 156 of communication devices.

[0165] Figure 7 is an example diagram illustrating the derivation of beamforming settings associated with feedback from multiple communication devices as discussed herein.

[0166] Based on the previous learning and generation of the corresponding beamforming control information 581-1, when communicating with the cluster 156 of communication devices, the wireless station 131 or other suitable entity retrieves the beamforming control information 581-1 to determine the common angle direction value X1 previously stored for the cluster 156. The wireless station 131 then transmits the signal S1 with the common angle direction value X1 via the wireless path 701. Each communication device in the cluster 156 receives a corresponding portion of the wireless signal S1.

[0167] Figure 8 is an example diagram illustrating beamforming management and codebook updating as discussed herein.

[0168] In this example, at or about time T11 (after time T1), the communication management resource 140 updates the beamforming control information based on new wireless path conditions due to one or more communication device movements, object movement, etc. In this example, the communication device CD1 moves from position L1 to position L1-1.

[0169] After pairing the wireless station 131 with the communication devices CD1, CD2, etc. (such as via establishing wireless connectivity), the wireless station 131 transmits (such as via operations 330 and 430) corresponding wireless signals from the antenna hardware 131-1 in the network environment through different wireless paths (also referred to as different wireless beams generated by the wireless station 131 via beamforming). The wireless beams may be transmitted simultaneously or at different times. The communication device monitors the communication to determine the direction (angle) of receiving each wireless beam.

[0170] In processing operation #1, at time T11 or thereabouts, the wireless station 131 wirelessly transmits a first wireless signal along an angular direction A' (having a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a first wireless path WPA' (such as one or more wireless paths WPA1', WPA2', etc.) in the network environment 100; the wireless station 131 wirelessly transmits a second wireless signal along an angular direction B' (having a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a second wireless path WPB' (such as one or more paths WPB1', WPB2', etc.) in the network environment 100; the wireless station 131 wirelessly transmits a second wireless signal along an angular direction B' (having a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a third wireless path WPC' (such as one or more wireless paths WPC2', etc.) in the network environment 100. Paths WPC1', WPC2', etc.) wirelessly send a third wireless signal along an angular direction C' (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through the fourth wireless path in the network environment 100; the wireless station 131 wirelessly sends a fourth wireless signal along an angular direction D' (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through the fourth wireless path in the network environment 100; the wireless station 131 wirelessly sends a fifth wireless signal along an angular direction E' (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through the fifth wireless path in the network environment 100; the wireless station 131 wirelessly sends a sixth wireless signal along an angular direction F' (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through the sixth wireless path in the network environment 100; and so on.

[0171] Thus, via communication over different radio paths, the communication devices are able to determine which radio beam is best received by the respective communication device and at what beamforming angle.

[0172] As further shown, the network environment 100 includes one or more physical objects, such as physical objects OBJ1, OBJ2, OBJ3, etc. A wireless signal transmitted by the wireless station 131 may be transmitted directly (such as via line of sight) from the wireless station 131 to each of the communication devices CD1, CD2, etc. in the cluster 156. Additionally or alternatively, the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless station 131 may be reflected from any one of one or more of the objects and received by a corresponding communication device in the cluster 156.

[0173] Thus, each communication device in the cluster 156 receives one or more of the different wireless signals transmitted by the wireless station 131 from the same or different angles according to the wireless path.

[0174] Note that each communication device in cluster 156 includes appropriate antenna hardware and corresponding antenna elements to receive wireless signals transmitted from wireless station 131 from different angles. In some cases, due to signal blocking, interference, etc., the corresponding communication devices in cluster 156 may not be able to receive one or more of the wireless signals transmitted by wireless station 131 and corresponding antenna hardware 131-1.

[0175] As a more specific example as shown in the figure, in processing operation #2, each communication device in cluster 156 monitors the reception of wireless signals (such as test wireless signals) sent by wireless station 131 through different corresponding wireless paths at different angles. Note that each wireless path (such as wireless paths WPA1' and WPA2') can be substantially the same wireless path or a different wireless path; each wireless path (such as wireless paths WPB1' and WPB2') can be substantially the same wireless path or a different wireless path; and so on.

[0176] In this example, the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal (such as a test wireless signal) sent along the angular direction A' and the wireless path WPA1' from the wireless station 131 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction A1' (that is, A1' may be the first angular direction in which the communication device 121 receives the signal through the wireless path WPA1'); the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent along the angular direction B' and the wireless path WPB1' from the wireless station 131 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction B1' (that is, the communication device 121 receives the signal through the wireless path W PB1' is a second angular direction in which it receives the signal, such as angle B1'); the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction C' and the wireless path WPC1' as a wireless signal received along the angular direction C1' (i.e., a fourth angular direction, such as angle C1'); the communication device CD does not receive the signal D' or receives the signal D' at a very low power; the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction E as a wireless signal received along the angular direction E1' (i.e., a fifth angular direction). It is assumed that the communication device does not receive the wireless energy associated with the wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction F'.

[0177] As further shown, the communication device CD2 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent along the angular direction A' and the wireless path WPA' from the wireless station 131 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction A2' (i.e., A2' represents the angular direction in which the communication device 121 receives the signal via the wireless path WPA2'); the communication device CD2 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent along the angular direction B' from the wireless station 131 as a wireless signal received along the angular direction B2' (i.e., B2' represents the angular direction in which the communication device 121 receives the signal via the wireless path WPB2'); the communication device CD 1 does not receive signal C' or receives signal C' at very low power; communication device CD2 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent along angle direction D' from wireless station 131 as a wireless signal received along angle direction D2' (i.e., C2' represents the angle direction in which communication device 121 receives the signal through wireless path WPC2'); communication device CD2 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent along angle direction F' from wireless station 131 as a wireless signal received along angle direction F2' (i.e., F2' represents the angle direction in which communication device 121 receives the signal through wireless path WPF2). It is assumed that the communication device does not receive wireless energy associated with the wireless signal sent along angle direction E' from wireless station 131.

[0178] Monitoring of wireless signals transmitted by wireless station 131 at the communication device provides insight into which of a plurality of different angles at which wireless communications are transmitted from wireless station 131 and corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 provides optimal delivery of wireless communications to communication devices in cluster 156. As previously discussed, each communication device determines an angle at which the transmitted wireless signal is received (such as via channel matrix information indicating weight coefficients applied at the communication device for receiving the wireless signal, the weight coefficients indicating the angular direction of the communication device receiving the wireless signal from wireless station 131 via different wireless paths), generates corresponding feedback (such as channel matrix information) indicating the different angles at which the wireless signal is received, and transmits corresponding angular feedback information 511-2 and 512-2 (such as channel matrix information or other suitable information) to the communication management resource 140 associated with wireless station 131. For details on processing operations #3, #4, #5, and #6, see. Fig. 9 .

[0179] Note that input 505 - 1 indicates feedback information received from communication devices in cluster 156 .

[0180] Fig. 9 is an example diagram illustrating the derivation of beamforming settings associated with feedback from multiple communication devices as discussed herein.

[0181] More specifically, in processing operation #3, if Fig. 9 As further shown in the figure, the communication management resources or other suitable entities in the communication device CD1 generate corresponding feedback 511-2 (such as channel matrix information or other suitable information), which indicates: i) the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal (i.e., wireless beam) sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction A associated with the wireless path WPA1' as a wireless signal received along the angular direction A1' (i.e., the first angular direction A1') at the wireless power level PA1'; ii) the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction B' associated with the wireless path WPB1' as a wireless signal received along the angular direction B1' (i.e., the second angular direction B1') receives a wireless signal received at the wireless power level PB1'; iii) the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction D' associated with the wireless path WPD1' as a wireless signal received along the angular direction D1' (i.e., the fourth angular direction D1') at the wireless power level PD1', iv) the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction E' associated with the wireless path WPE1' as a wireless signal received along the angular direction E1' (i.e., the fifth angular direction E1') at the wireless power level PE1'.

[0182] In addition, in processing operation #3, if Fig. 9 As further shown in FIG. 5 , the communication device CD2 or other suitable entity generates corresponding feedback 511-2 (such as channel matrix information), which indicates: i) the communication device CD2 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction A' associated with the wireless path WPA2' as a wireless signal received along the angular direction A2' (i.e., the corresponding angular direction A2') at the wireless power level PA2'; ii) the communication device CD2 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction B' associated with the wireless path WPB2' as a wireless signal received along the angular direction B 2' (i.e., the corresponding angular direction B2') as a wireless signal received at a wireless power level PB2'; iii) the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction D' associated with the wireless path WPD2' as a wireless signal received along the angular direction D2' (i.e., the corresponding angular direction D2'); iv) the communication device CD1 receives a portion of the original wireless signal sent from the wireless station 131 along the angular direction F associated with the wireless path WPF2' as a wireless signal received along the angular direction F1' (i.e., the corresponding angular direction F1').

[0183] In a similar manner, each of the communication devices generates corresponding feedback indicating the angle at which the different wireless signals transmitted by the wireless station 131 are received.

[0184] In process operation #4, communication device CD1 or other suitable entity transmits feedback 511-2 to communication management resource 140 associated with wireless station 131 via a corresponding wireless communication link. Communication device CD2 or other suitable entity transmits feedback 512-2 to communication management resource 140 via wireless station 131 via a corresponding wireless communication link. Note that the feedback from each of the communication devices may be encoded in any suitable manner.

[0185] In processing operation #5 (such as operation #5A, operation #5B, and operation #5C), the communication management resource 140 processes and integrates the received feedback 511-2 and 512-2 to generate corresponding common beamforming control settings 581-2 to communicate with multiple communication devices CD1 and CD2 in cluster 156. The communication management resource 140 can be configured to generate settings for one or more wireless beams to be transmitted from the wireless station to each communication device in the corresponding cluster. Therefore, the communication management resource 140 can be configured to generate settings for a single wireless beam from the wireless station 131 or settings for multiple wireless beams from the wireless station 131, which together provide good wireless connectivity for each of the multiple communication devices in the cluster 156.

[0186] Based on the feedback 511-2 received in processing operation #4, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal sent by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction A' (corresponding to the wireless path A' at angle A) is received by the communication device CD1 at a good power level (such as a power level PA1' higher than the threshold level). Based on the received feedback 511-2, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal sent by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction B' (corresponding to the wireless path B' at angle B') is received by the communication device CD1 at a good power level (such as a power level PB1' higher than the threshold level). Based on the received feedback 511-2, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal sent by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction C' (corresponding to the wireless path C' at angle C') is received by the communication device CD1 at a good power level (such as a power level PC1' higher than the threshold level). Based on the received feedback 511-2, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal transmitted by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction E' (corresponding to the wireless path E' at the angle E') is received by the communication device CD1 at a good power level (such as a power level PE1' above the threshold level). The feedback 511-2 indicates that the communication device CD1 does not receive the wireless signal transmitted from the directions D' and F'.

[0187] Based on the feedback 512-1 received in processing operation #4, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal sent by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction A' (corresponding to the wireless path A' at the angle A') is received by the communication device CD2 at a good power level (such as a power level PA2' higher than the threshold level). Based on the received feedback 512-2, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal sent by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction B' (corresponding to the wireless path B' at the angle B') is received by the communication device CD2 at a good power level (such as a power level PB2' higher than the threshold level). Based on the received feedback 512-2, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal sent by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction D' (corresponding to the wireless path D' at the angle D') is received by the communication device CD2 at a good power level (such as a power level PD2' higher than the threshold level). Based on the received feedback 512-2, the communication management resource 140 detects that the wireless signal transmitted by the wireless station 131 in the angular direction F' (corresponding to the wireless path F' at the angle F') is received by the communication device CD1 at a good power level (such as a power level PF1' above the threshold level). The feedback 512-2 indicates that the communication device CD2 does not receive the wireless signal transmitted from the directions C' and E'.

[0188] In a similar manner, the communication management resource 140 receives and processes feedback from a plurality of different communication devices in the network environment.

[0189] In processing operation #5A, the communication management resource 140 converts the received feedback into a corresponding overall angular direction value. For example, the communication management resource 140 knows the angle (A', B', C', D', E', etc.) at which each of the test wireless signals is transmitted to the communication devices CD1, CD2, etc. Based on the feedback, the communication management resource 140 is aware of the different angles (angular directions) at which the corresponding communication devices receive the signals (which may depend on the orientation of the communication devices). Based on the combination of different directional beams transmitted by the wireless station 131 and the corresponding different angles at which the communication devices receive the wireless signals, the communication management resource 140 generates a corresponding overall directional beam representing the combination of the transmitted wireless beams received by the corresponding communication devices.

[0190] More specifically, in processing operation #5A, based on the combination of wireless directional paths A', B', C', and E' that support wireless connectivity between wireless station 131 and communication device CD1 during the test, and based on the corresponding wireless paths that take into account the known different transmission angles of the test wireless signal transmitted by wireless station 131 and the angle at which the test wireless signal is received by communication device CD1 (121) as indicated by feedback 511-2, the communication management resource 140 generates an overall angular direction associated with feedback 511-2. In this example, the communication management resource 140 generates an overall angular direction value O1' (different from O1) associated with communication device CD1 to indicate the corresponding expected direction of transmitting the wireless signal from wireless station 131 to communication device CD1 based on feedback 511-2.

[0191] In one example, the overall angular direction value O1' represents the associated expected elevation angle and azimuth angle of the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless station 131 based on the feedback 511-2. When the corresponding overall angular direction value O1' is derived, such as based on averaging the corresponding directions of the wireless signals best received by the communication device CD1, the communication management resource 140 can be configured to take into account the power level of the test signal received by the corresponding communication device CD1 through different wireless paths. For example, the higher the power level, the greater the weight with which the corresponding direction angle of the transmitted beam can be used to generate the overall angular direction value O1'. The lower the power level, the smaller the weight with which the corresponding direction angle of the transmitted beam can be used to generate the overall angular direction value O1'. Therefore, the overall angular direction value O1' can be a weighting of different angles associated with the test wireless signals transmitted through the wireless paths A', B', D' and E'. If power levels for received wireless communications are used, this helps ensure that either a directional beam from wireless station 131 provides the best wireless power received by communication device CD1, or a more heavily weighted directional beam from wireless station 130 provides less wireless power received by communication device CD1.

[0192] As shown in processing operation #5B, the communication management resource 140 creates a corresponding graph indicating the location of the overall angular direction value O1' in the graph 610. As previously discussed, the overall angular direction value O1' (the specific angle at which the corresponding wireless beam is transmitted from the wireless station 131) includes an azimuth value and an elevation value associated with the wireless station 131 directionally transmitting the corresponding wireless beam from the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1.

[0193] In addition, in processing operation #5A, based on the combination of wireless paths A', B', D' and F' that support wireless connectivity between wireless station 131 and communication device CD2 during the test, and based on the corresponding wireless paths that take into account the known different angles at which the test wireless signal transmitted by wireless station 131 is transmitted and the angle at which the test wireless signal is received by communication device CD2 (122) as indicated by feedback 512-2, the communication management resource 140 generates an overall angular direction associated with feedback 512-2. In this example, the communication management resource 140 generates an overall angular direction value O2 associated with communication device CD2 to indicate the corresponding desired direction for transmitting the wireless signal from wireless station 131 to communication device CD2 based on feedback 511-2.

[0194] In one example, the overall angular direction value O2 represents the associated expected elevation angle and azimuth angle of the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless station 131 based on the feedback 512-2. When the corresponding overall angular direction value O2 is derived, such as based on averaging the corresponding directions of the wireless signals best received by the communication device CD2, the communication management resource 140 can be configured to take into account the power level of the test signal received by the corresponding communication device CD2 through different wireless paths. For example, the higher the power level, the greater the weight that the corresponding direction angle of the transmitted beam can be used to generate the overall angular direction value O2. The lower the power level, the smaller the weight that the corresponding direction angle of the transmitted beam can be used to generate the overall angular direction value O2. The overall angular direction value O2 can be a weighting of different angles associated with the test wireless signals transmitted through the wireless paths A', B', D' and F'. If the communication management resource 140 uses a power level for receiving wireless communications, then this helps to ensure that the directional beam received by the communication device CD2 from the wireless station 131 providing the best wireless power is weighted more heavily to produce the overall angular direction value O2, while the directional beam received by the communication device CD1 from the wireless station 130 providing less wireless power is weighted less heavily to produce the overall angular direction value O2.

[0195] As shown in processing operation #5B, the communication management resource 140 creates a corresponding graph indicating the location of the overall angular direction value O2 in the graph 610. As previously discussed, the overall angular direction value O2 (the specific angle at which the corresponding wireless beam is transmitted from the wireless station 131) includes an azimuth value and an elevation value associated with the wireless station 131 transmitting the corresponding wireless beam from the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1.

[0196] In a similar manner, the communication management resource 140 processes the received feedback associated with each of the plurality of communication devices monitoring the wireless test signal, as previously discussed. In processing operation #5B, the communication management resource 140 determines which of the different overall angular direction values ​​are closest in magnitude to each other to generate corresponding common beamforming settings to support wireless communication with each communication device using the same wireless beam. For example, based on the analysis performed by the communication management resource 140, it is known that based on the overall angular direction value O1' associated with the communication device CD1, the overall angular direction value O2 associated with the communication device CD2 and the overall angular direction value O11 associated with the communication device CD11 are very close to the same angle.

[0197] To provide further integration of the beamforming settings, additionally in process operation #5B, the communication management resources generate a corresponding common angle direction value X1' to support wireless communications sent from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 to all communication devices CD1, CD2, CD11 in the corresponding cluster 156. Thus, the common angle direction value X1' supports wireless connectivity between the wireless station 131 and the communication devices in the cluster 156, rather than implementing different beamforming settings for each different communication device. Thus, the communication management resources 140 can be viewed as an integration function.

[0198] To support subsequent communications from the wireless station 131 to the cluster of communication devices, the communication management resource 140 updates the corresponding beamforming control setting 581-1 to indicate the different communication devices present in the cluster 156 and the corresponding angular direction of the wireless station 131 transmitting wireless signals to the communication devices in the cluster 156 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1.

[0199] Note that any suitable function may be used to derive the common angular direction value X1' from the overall angular direction values ​​of the communication devices in cluster 156. According to one example, communication management resources 140 may be configured to implement quantization in each dimension (azimuth dimension and elevation dimension) to generate a corresponding common angular direction value for the communication devices in cluster 156.

[0200] Alternatively, the communication management resources 141 may be configured to implement an averaging function to determine a centroid value associated with the overall angular direction value of the communication devices in the cluster.

[0201] Reference again Figure 8 In processing operation #6, the communication management resource 140 updates the original beamforming control information 581 to beamforming control information 581-2, which is then used to send wireless signals from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 to the cluster 156 of communication devices.

[0202] In one example, the communication management resource 140 updates the beamforming codebook information 575 to include the updated beamforming control setting 581-2 generated based on the feedback 511-2 and the feedback 512-2. In this way, the beamforming codebook information 575 can be continuously updated over time as the communication management resource 140 receives feedback associated with the cluster 156 of communication devices.

[0203] As previously discussed, the beamforming codebook information 575 can be configured to include beamforming settings associated with each of the plurality of clusters. For example, as previously discussed, the beamforming control information 581-2 (also referred to as settings 581-2) supports wireless connectivity with the first cluster 156 of communication devices; the beamforming control information 582 (also referred to as settings 582) supports wireless connectivity with the second cluster 157 of communication devices in the network environment 100; and so on.

[0204] Over time, the communication management resource 140 receives updated receive angle information from each communication device in different clusters in a manner similar to that discussed above, and updates corresponding beamforming control settings based on feedback received from the communication devices in the cluster.

[0205] As further shown, in processing operation #7, as the beamforming codebook information 575 is updated, the wireless station 131 repeatedly transmits the updated beamforming codebook information 575 to the communication devices CD1, CD2, etc. in the cluster 156 and the communication devices in other clusters. Processing the feedback information to generate a shared or integrated beamforming setting reduces the overall complexity of the corresponding beamforming codebook information 575 because fewer instances of the beamforming setting are required to communicate with the corresponding communication devices. The transmission of the beamforming codebook information 575 provides notification to the communication devices in each cluster of the different angles at which to expect to receive subsequent wireless signals from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1.

[0206] As further shown, Figure 7 Subsequent communication from the wireless station 131 to the cluster 156 of communication devices using the newly generated beamforming control information 581-2 is illustrated.

[0207] Fig.18 is an example diagram illustrating the partitioning of angular directions in 3-D space into multiple clusters as discussed herein.

[0208] like Fig.18As shown in , the entire 3-D range of possible angular directions can be partitioned into multiple clusters, where each cluster potentially includes a centroid angular direction value that indicates the direction in which a corresponding wireless beam is transmitted to one or more communication devices in the corresponding cluster. For example, cluster C1 includes a corresponding angular direction value (as specified by a corresponding asterisk *) that specifies the corresponding angular direction along which communication is performed from wireless station 131 to any communication device in cluster C1; cluster C2 includes a corresponding angular direction value that specifies the corresponding angular direction along which communication is performed from wireless station 131 to any communication device in cluster C2; cluster C3 includes a corresponding angular direction value that specifies the corresponding angular direction along which communication is performed from wireless station 131 to any communication device in cluster C3; cluster C156 includes a corresponding angular direction value that specifies the corresponding angular direction along which communication is performed from wireless station 131 to any communication device in cluster C156; and so on.

[0209] Note that the beamforming codebook as discussed herein may include respective beamforming control settings for each cluster, whether or not they include respective communication devices. Alternatively, the codebook (such as a type 2 codebook or other codebook) transmitted to each communication device may be configured to include only beamforming settings associated with clusters having at least one communication device therein. As previously discussed, the size of a cluster, the centroid of a cluster, the number of communication devices in a respective cluster, etc. may change over time.

[0210] Fig.10 is an example diagram illustrating the derivation of beamforming settings associated with feedback from multiple communication devices as discussed herein.

[0211] Based on the previous learning and generation of the corresponding beamforming control information 581-2, when communicating with the cluster 156 of communication devices, the wireless station 131 or other suitable entity retrieves the beamforming control information 581-2 to determine the common angle direction value X1' previously stored for the cluster 156. The wireless station 131 then transmits the signal S1' with the common angle direction value X1' via the wireless path 701-1. Each communication device in the cluster 156 receives a corresponding portion of the wireless signal S1'.

[0212] Fig.11 is an example diagram illustrating beamforming management and codebook updating as discussed herein.

[0213] In this example, after wireless station 131 is paired with communication devices CD1, CD2, etc. (such as via establishing wireless connectivity) in a manner as previously discussed, wireless station 131 receives corresponding wireless signals from communication devices 121 and 122 via different wireless paths (also referred to as different wireless beams generated by wireless station 131 via beamforming). Communication management resources 140 may be configured to generate reception angle information (such as channel matrix information or other suitable information) indicating different angles and / or power levels at which wireless signals (such as directional wireless signals W1, X1, Y1, Z1 from communication device CD1 and directional wireless signals W2, X2, Y2, Z2 from communication device CD2) are received from communication devices via different wireless paths. Presumably, in this example, the wireless path from the communication device to wireless station 131 is reciprocal in its ability to transmit wireless communications in opposite directions from wireless station 131 to communication devices in cluster 156 via the same wireless path (via corresponding beamforming).

[0214] In other words, it is assumed that when the wireless station 131 sends a corresponding wireless signal from the wireless station 131 (from the perspective of receiving the signal W1) to the communication device CD1, the wireless path WPW1 carrying the signal W1 from the communication device CD1 to the wireless station 131 supports the same wireless path WPW1 from the wireless station 131 to the communication device CD1; it is assumed that when the wireless station 131 sends a corresponding wireless signal from the wireless station 131 (from the perspective of receiving the signal W2) to the communication device CD2, the wireless path WPW2 carrying the signal W2 from the communication device CD2 to the wireless station 131 supports the same wireless path WPW2 from the wireless station 131 to the communication device CD2; and so on.

[0215] As a more specific example, in processing operation #1, at or around time T21, the communication device CD1 wirelessly transmits a first wireless signal along an angular direction W1 (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a first wireless path WPW1 in the network environment 100; the communication device CD1 wirelessly transmits a second wireless signal along an angular direction X1 (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a second wireless path WPX1 in the network environment 100; the communication device CD1 (i.e., the wireless station) wirelessly transmits a third wireless signal along an angular direction Y1 (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a third wireless path WPY1; the wireless station 131 wirelessly transmits a fourth wireless signal along an angular direction Z1 (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a fourth wireless path WPZ1 in the network environment 100; etc. As discussed previously, the communication device CD1 may be configured to transmit wireless signals simultaneously on different wireless channels or to transmit wireless signals at different times on the same or different wireless channels, etc.

[0216] In addition, in processing operation #1, at or around time T21, the communication device CD2 wirelessly transmits a first wireless signal along an angular direction W2 (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a wireless path WPW2 in the network environment 100; the communication device CD2 wirelessly transmits a wireless signal along an angular direction X2 (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a second wireless path WPX2 in the network environment 100; the communication device CD2 (i.e., the wireless station) wirelessly transmits a wireless signal along an angular direction Y2 (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a wireless path WPY2; the wireless station 132 wirelessly transmits a wireless signal along an angular direction Z2 (with a corresponding elevation angle and a corresponding azimuth angle) through a fourth wireless path WPZ2 in the network environment 100; and so on. As discussed previously, the communication device CD2 may be configured to transmit wireless signals simultaneously through different wireless channels or to transmit wireless signals at different times through the same or different wireless channels, and so on.

[0217] As previously discussed, the network environment 100 includes one or more objects, such as objects OBJ1, OBJ2, OBJ3, etc. The wireless signal transmitted by the wireless station 131 may be transmitted directly (such as via line of sight) from the communication devices CD1 and CD2 to the wireless station 131. Additionally or alternatively, the wireless signal transmitted from the communication devices CD1 and CD2 may be reflected from any one of the one or more of the objects and received by the wireless station 131. Thus, the wireless station 131 receives different wireless signals transmitted from the communication devices CD1 and CD2 at different angles according to the corresponding wireless paths.

[0218] Note that each communication device in cluster 156 includes appropriate antenna hardware and corresponding antenna elements to transmit wireless signals transmitted at different angles (in different wireless beams) from wireless station 131. In some cases, wireless station 131 does not receive one or more (such as Y1 and Y2) of the wireless signals transmitted by communication device CD1 and communication device CD2 due to signal blocking, interference, etc.

[0219] Note that each of the communication devices CD1, CD2, etc. in the cluster 156 transmits signals via the same or different wireless paths. For example, because the communication devices CD1, CD2, etc. may be in close proximity to one another, the wireless path WPW1 may be substantially the same as or different from the wireless path WPW2; the wireless path WPX1 may be substantially the same as or different from the wireless path WPX2; the wireless path WPY1 may be substantially the same as or different from the wireless path WPY2; the wireless path WPZ1 may be substantially the same as or different from the wireless path WPZ2; and so on.

[0220] In one example, assuming that communication device CD1 is oriented in a similar manner to communication device CD2, when wireless path WPW1 is substantially the same as wireless path WPW2, the angle at which communication device CD1 sends the corresponding signal along angular direction W1 is substantially the same as the angle at which communication device CD2 sends the corresponding signal along angular direction W2; when wireless path WPX1 is substantially the same as wireless path WPX2, the angle at which communication device CD1 sends the corresponding signal along angular direction X1 is substantially the same as the angle at which communication device CD2 sends the corresponding signal along angular direction X2; when wireless path WPY1 is substantially the same as wireless path WPY2, the angle at which communication device CD1 sends the corresponding signal along angular direction Y1 is substantially the same as the angle at which communication device CD2 sends the corresponding signal along angular direction Y2; when wireless path WPZ1 is substantially the same as wireless path WPZ2, the angle at which communication device CD1 sends the corresponding signal along angular direction Z1 is substantially the same as the angle at which communication device CD2 sends the corresponding signal along angular direction Z2; and so on.

[0221] As a more specific example as shown in the figure, in processing operation #2, the wireless station 131 receives a portion of the wireless signal sent from the communication device CD1 through the wireless path WPW1 at a first angle W1-1; the wireless station 131 receives a portion of the wireless signal sent from the communication device CD1 through the wireless path WPX1 at a second angle X1-1; the wireless station 131 receives a portion of the wireless signal sent from the communication device CD1 through the wireless path WPX1 (such as a very small portion or no signal at all) at a third angle Y1-1; the wireless station 131 receives a portion of the wireless signal sent from the communication device CD1 through the wireless path WPY1 at a fourth angle Z1-1; and so on.

[0222] In addition, in processing operation #2, the wireless station 131 receives a portion of the wireless signal sent from the communication device CD2 through the wireless path WPW2 at an angle W2-1; the wireless station 131 receives a portion of the wireless signal sent from the communication device CD2 through the wireless path WPX1 at a second angle X2-1; the wireless station 131 receives a portion (such as a very small portion) of the wireless signal sent from the communication device CD2 through the wireless path WPY1 at a third angle Y2-1; the wireless station 131 receives a portion of the wireless signal sent from the communication device CD2 through the wireless path WPZ1 at a fourth angle Z2-1; and so on.

[0223] In operation #3, the communication management resource 140 stores angle information associated with receiving different wireless signals from the communication device as state information 1111-1 and state information 1112-1.

[0224] Assuming wireless path reciprocity as discussed previously, monitoring of wireless signals at wireless station 131 provides insight into which of multiple different angles of wireless communications received at wireless station 131 from communication devices in the cluster provides optimal delivery of wireless communications in opposite directions from wireless station 131 to communication devices CD1 and CD2.

[0225] In one example, wireless station 131 determines the angle at which the transmitted wireless signal is received (such as via channel matrix information indicating a weight coefficient applied at wireless station 131 for receiving the wireless signal, the weight coefficient indicating the angular direction at which the communication device receives the wireless signal from wireless station 131 via different wireless paths). As previously discussed, communication management resources 140 associated with wireless station 131 generate corresponding state information 1111-1 and 1112-1 indicating different angles at which the wireless signal is received from the communication device via different wireless paths.

[0226] As further shown in process operation #4, and as Fig.12 As further discussed in , the communication management resource 140 processes the state information 1111-1 and 1111-2 to generate corresponding updated beamforming control information 1181-1, which indicates how to control the directionality of wireless signals transmitted from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 to the cluster 156 of communication devices CD1 and CD2. In other words, the communication management resource 140 integrates and / or updates the beamforming settings associated with the beamforming codebook based on the received wireless signals transmitted from the communication devices CD1 and CD2. The details of the integration and updating are described in Fig.12 Shown in.

[0227] Fig.12 is an example diagram illustrating the derivation of beamforming settings associated with receiving signals from multiple communication devices as discussed herein.

[0228] In process operation #3, the communication management resource 140 or other suitable entity generates state information 1111-1 and 1112-1.

[0229] The status information 1111-1 generated by the communication management resource 140 indicates that the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 received the signal W1 at an angle W1-1 and a wireless power level PW1-1; the status information 1111-1 indicates that the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 received the signal X1 at an angle X1-1 and a wireless power level PX1-1; the status information 1111-1 indicates that the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 received the signal Y1 at an angle Y1-1 and a wireless power level PY1-1; the status information 1111-1 indicates that the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 received the signal Z1 at an angle Z1-1 and a wireless power level PZ1-1.

[0230] The status information 1111-1 generated by the communication management resource 140 indicates that the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 received the signal W2 at an angle W2-1 and a wireless power level PW2-1; the status information 1111-2 indicates that the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 received the signal X2 at an angle X2-1 and a wireless power level PX2-1; the status information 1111-1 indicates that the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 received the signal Y2 at an angle Y2-1 and a wireless power level PY2-1; the status information 1111-2 indicates that the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 received the signal Z2 at an angle Z2-1 and a wireless power level PZ2-1.

[0231] In processing operation #4, the communication management resource 140 retrieves the state information 1111-1 and the state information 1112-1 for processing.

[0232] In processing operation #5 (such as operation #5A, operation #5B, and operation #5C), the communication management resource 140 processes and integrates the received feedback 1111-1 and 1112-1 to generate corresponding common beamforming control settings 1181-1 to communicate jointly with multiple communication devices CD1 and CD2 in the cluster 156.

[0233] The communication management resources 140 may be configured to generate settings for one or more wireless beams to communicate from the wireless station 131 to each communication device in the corresponding cluster. Thus, the communication management resources 140 may be configured to generate settings for a single wireless beam from the wireless station 131 or settings for multiple wireless beams from the wireless station 131 that together provide good wireless connectivity for each of the multiple communication devices in the cluster 156.

[0234] In process operation #5A, the communication management resource 140 converts the received feedback into a single integrated transmit angle direction for each communication device.

[0235] For example, the communication management resource 140 knows the direction angles of receiving signals W1, X1, Y1, and Z1 from the communication device CD1; the communication management resource 140 knows the direction angles of receiving signals W2, X2, Y2, and Z2 from the communication device CD2.

[0236] The communication management resource 140 can be configured to receive notifications of different angles at which the communication device sends wireless signals W1, X1, Y1 and Z1 and wireless signals W2, X2, Y2 and Z2. Based on the state information, the communication management resource 140 is aware of the different angles (angular directions) at which the wireless station 131 receives the signal. Based on the directional angle of the received wireless signal or based on the combination of different directional beams sent by the communication device CD1, CD2, etc. and the corresponding different angles at which the wireless station 131 receives the wireless signal, the communication management resource 140 generates a corresponding overall directional beam (such as O1, O2, O3, etc.) representing the combination of the transmitted wireless beams received by the corresponding wireless station 131.

[0237] More specifically, in processing operation #5A, based on the combination of wireless paths WPW1, WPX1, WPY1, and WPZ1 that support wireless connectivity between the communication device CD1 and the wireless station 131, and potentially based on the corresponding wireless paths and known different angles (directions) of the test wireless signals W1, X1, Y1, and Z1 transmitted by the communication device CD1 as indicated by the state information 1111-1, and the reception angle (direction) at which the test wireless signals are received by the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1, the communication management resource 140 generates an overall angular direction associated with the state information 1111-1 for communication with the communication device CD1 from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1. In this example, the communication management resource 140 generates an overall angular direction value O1 associated with the communication device CD1 to indicate a corresponding desired direction of transmitting wireless signals from the wireless station 131 to the communication device CD1 based on the state information 1111-1.

[0238] In one example, the overall angular direction value O1 represents the associated expected elevation angle and azimuth angle (i.e., direction) of transmitting a wireless signal from antenna hardware 131-1 associated with wireless station 131 based on state information 1111-1. When deriving the corresponding overall angular direction value O1, such as based on averaging the corresponding angular transmission directions (W11, X1-1, Y1-1, and Z1-1) of the wireless signals best received by wireless station 131, the communication management resource 140 can be configured to take into account the power level at which the corresponding wireless station 131 receives the test signal through different wireless paths. For example, the higher the power level, the greater the weight that the corresponding direction angle of the received beam can be used to generate the overall angular direction value O1. The lower the power level, the smaller the weight that the corresponding direction angle of the transmitted beam can be used to generate the overall angular direction value O1. Therefore, the overall angular direction value O1 can be a weighting of different angles (directions) associated with the test wireless signals transmitted through wireless paths A, B, D, and E.

[0239] If the power level of the received wireless communication is used to provide weighting when generating the corresponding overall angular direction value O1, then this helps to ensure that when the corresponding angular direction value O1 is generated, the directional beam received by the communication device CD1 from the wireless station 131 providing the best wireless power has a larger weight, while the directional beam received by the communication device CD1 from the wireless station 130 providing less wireless power has a smaller weight.

[0240] As shown in processing operation #5B, the communication management resource 140 creates a corresponding graph indicating the location of the overall angular direction value O1 in the graph 1110. As previously discussed, the overall angular direction value O1 (the specific angular direction in which the corresponding wireless beam is transmitted from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1) includes an azimuth value and an elevation value associated with the wireless station 131 transmitting the corresponding wireless beam from the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1.

[0241] In addition, in processing operation #5A, based on the combination of wireless paths WPW2, WPX2, WPY2, and WPZ2 that support wireless connectivity between the communication device CD2 and the wireless station 131, and potentially based on the corresponding wireless paths and known different angles (directions) of the test wireless signals W2, X2, Y2, and Z2 transmitted by the communication device CD2 as indicated by the state information 1111-2, and the reception angle (direction) at which the test wireless signals are received by the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1, the communication management resource 140 generates an overall angular direction associated with the state information 1111-2 for transmission from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 to the communication device CD2. In this example, the communication management resource 140 generates an overall angular direction value O2 associated with the communication device CD2 to indicate a corresponding desired direction for transmitting wireless signals from the wireless station 131 to the communication device CD2 based on the state information 1111-2.

[0242] In one example, the overall angular direction value O2 represents the associated expected elevation angle and azimuth angle (i.e., direction) of transmitting a wireless signal from the antenna hardware 131-1 associated with the wireless station 131 based on the state information 1111-2. When deriving the corresponding overall angular direction value O2, the communication management resource 140 can be configured to take into account the power level of the corresponding wireless station 131 receiving the test signal through different wireless paths, such as based on averaging the corresponding angular transmission directions (W21, X2-1, Y2-1, and Z2-1) of the wireless signal best received by the wireless station 131. For example, the higher the power level, the greater the weight that the corresponding direction angle of the received beam can be used to generate the overall angular direction value O2. The lower the power level, the smaller the weight that the corresponding direction angle of the transmitted beam can be used to generate the overall angular direction value O2. Therefore, the overall angular direction value O2 can be a weighting of different angles (directions) associated with the test wireless signals transmitted through the wireless paths A, B, D, and E.

[0243] If the power level of the received wireless communication is used to provide weighting when generating the corresponding overall angular direction value O2, then this helps to ensure that when the corresponding angular direction value O2 is generated, the directional beam received by the communication device CD2 from the wireless station 131 providing the best wireless power has a larger weight, while the directional beam received by the communication device CD2 from the wireless station 130 providing less wireless power has a smaller weight.

[0244] As shown in processing operation #5B, the communication management resource 140 creates a corresponding graph indicating the location of the overall angular direction value O2 in the graph 1110. As previously discussed, the overall angular direction value O1 (the specific angular direction in which the corresponding wireless beam is transmitted from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1) includes an azimuth value and an elevation value associated with the wireless station 131 transmitting the corresponding wireless beam from the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1.

[0245] In a similar manner, the communication management resource generates a corresponding overall angular direction value O13 based on the reception of a wireless signal from the communication device CD13.

[0246] To provide further integration of the beamforming settings, in process operation #5B, the communication management resources 140 also generates a corresponding common angle direction value X5 to support wireless communications sent from the wireless station 131 and the corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 to all communication devices CD1, CD2, CD13 in the corresponding cluster 156. Therefore, instead of implementing different beamforming settings for each of the overall angle direction values ​​O1, O2, and O11 for each different communication device, the common angle direction value X5 is used to support wireless connectivity between the wireless station 131 and the communication devices in the cluster 156. Therefore, the communication management resources 140 can be viewed as an integration function that generates the truncated codebook 575.

[0247] In processing operation #5C, in order to support subsequent communications from the wireless station to the cluster of communication devices, the communication management resource 140 updates the corresponding beamforming control setting 1181-1 to indicate the different communication devices present in the cluster 156 and the corresponding angular direction and corresponding antenna hardware 131-1 of the wireless station 131 transmitting wireless signals to the communication devices in the cluster 156.

[0248] Note that any suitable function may be used to derive the common angular direction value X5 from the overall angular direction values ​​of the communication devices in cluster 156. According to one example, communication management resources 140 may be configured to implement quantization in each dimension (azimuth dimension and elevation dimension) to generate a corresponding common angular direction value X5 for the communication devices in cluster 156.

[0249] Alternatively, the communication management resource 141 can be configured to implement an average function to determine a centroid value associated with the overall angular direction value of the communication devices in the cluster (such as the average of angles O1, O2, and O13). Further, as discussed above, the corresponding overall angular direction value O1 of the communication device can be determined based on applying different weight values ​​to different transmission angles of the wireless station 131.

[0250] Fig.13is an example diagram illustrating an implementation of a beamforming arrangement generated as discussed herein for communicating with a plurality of communication devices.

[0251] Based on the previous learning and generation of the corresponding beamforming control information 1181-2, when communicating with the cluster 156 of communication devices, the wireless station 131 or other suitable entity retrieves the beamforming control information 181-2 to determine the common angle direction value X5 previously stored for the cluster 156. The wireless station 131 then transmits the signal SX with the common angle direction value X5 via the wireless path 702. Each communication device in the cluster 156 receives a corresponding portion of the wireless signal SX.

[0252] Fig.14 is an example block diagram of a computer system for implementing any of the operations as discussed herein according to embodiments herein.

[0253] Any resource as discussed herein (such as wireless station 131, communication device 121, communication device 122, communication management resource 140, function 328, function 335, function 345, function 428, function 435, function 445, etc.) can be configured to include corresponding instantiations of computer processor hardware and corresponding executable instructions to perform different operations as discussed herein. For example, a management application (such as wireless station 131, communication device 121, communication device 122, communication management resource 140, function 328, function 335, function 345, function 428, function 435, function 445, etc.) can be configured to execute (communication) management application 140-1 to perform operations associated with communication management as discussed herein.

[0254] As further shown, the computer system 1450 of the present example includes an interconnect 1411 that couples a computer-readable storage medium 1412 (such as a non-transitory type of medium (i.e., any type of hardware storage medium) from which digital information is stored and retrieved), a processor 1413, an I / O interface 1414, and a communication interface 1417.

[0255] I / O interface 1414 supports connectivity with repository 1480 and input resources 1492 .

[0256] The computer readable storage medium 1412 may be any hardware storage device, such as a memory, an optical storage device, a hard drive, a floppy disk, etc. In one embodiment, the computer readable storage medium 1412 stores instructions and / or data.

[0257] As shown, computer-readable storage media 1412 may be encoded with management application 140 - 1 (eg, including instructions) to perform any of the operations as discussed herein.

[0258] During operation of one embodiment, processor 1413 accesses computer-readable storage medium 1412 via use of interconnect 1411 to launch, run, execute, interpret, or otherwise perform instructions in management application 140-1 stored on computer-readable storage medium 1412. Execution of management application 140-1 generates management process 140-2 to perform any operations and / or processes as discussed herein.

[0259] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the computer system 1450 may include other processes and / or software and hardware components, such as an operating system that controls the allocation and use of hardware resources to execute the communication management application 140-1.

[0260] According to various embodiments, it is noted that the computer system may be or be included in any of a variety of types of devices, including but not limited to mobile computers, personal computer systems, wireless devices, base stations, telephone devices, desktop computers, laptop computers, notebooks, netbook computers, mainframe computer systems, handheld computers, workstations, network computers, application servers, storage devices, consumer electronic devices (such as cameras, camcorders, set-top boxes, mobile devices, video game consoles, handheld video game devices), peripheral devices (such as switches, modems, routers, set-top boxes, content management devices, handheld remote control devices), any type of computing or electronic device, etc. The computer system 1450 may reside at any location or may be included in any suitable resource in any network environment to implement the functionality as discussed herein.

[0261] Now it will go through Figures 15 to 17 The flowcharts in discuss the functions supported by different resources. Note that the operations in the flowcharts below may be performed in any suitable order.

[0262] Fig.15 is a flow chart 1500 illustrating an example method according to an embodiment. Note that there will be some overlap with the concepts discussed above.

[0263] In process operation 1510, the wireless base station 131 transmits communications from the wireless base station to a plurality of communication devices via a first wireless beam.

[0264] In process operation 1520, the wireless base station 131 receives corresponding channel matrix information from each of the plurality of communication devices. The channel matrix information indicates weight coefficients applied to corresponding receiver antenna hardware for receiving communications from the wireless base station from different directions.

[0265] In processing operation 1530 , via the received channel matrix information, the wireless base station 131 adjusts the beamforming settings associated with the first wireless beam.

[0266] Fig.16 is a flow chart 1600 illustrating an example method according to an embodiment. Note that there will be some overlap with the concepts discussed above.

[0267] In processing operation 1610 , the wireless base station 131 and the communication device establish a first pairing of a first wireless beam from the wireless base station and a second wireless beam from the first mobile communication device to set up a data communication session.

[0268] In processing operation 1620, the wireless base station monitors via the first wireless beam a first communication sent from the first mobile communication device via the second wireless beam.

[0269] In processing operation 1630, the wireless base station adjusts antenna settings used to generate a first wireless beam based on the monitored first communication from the first mobile communication device.

[0270] In processing operation 1640, the wireless base station updates the beamforming codebook based on the CSI (channel state information) feedback related to the communication device CD1 and each other second wireless beam received (within a recent period of time) from multiple UEs covered by the wireless base station (gNB).

[0271] Fig.17 is a flow chart 1700 illustrating an example method according to an embodiment. Note that there will be some overlap with the concepts discussed above.

[0272] In processing operation 1710, the communication management resource 140 receives a first input indicating angular directions associated with different wireless paths between a first wireless station and a plurality of communication devices.

[0273] In processing operation 1720, the communication management resource 140 derives a first beamforming setting from the first input, the first beamforming setting supporting wireless communications between the first wireless station and a plurality of communication devices.

[0274] In process operation 1730, the communication management resources 140 implement a first beamforming arrangement to provide wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the plurality of communication devices.

[0275] Note again that the techniques herein are well suited to support more robust and efficient communications in wireless network environments. However, it should be noted that the embodiments herein are not limited to use in such applications, and the techniques discussed herein are also well suited to other applications.

[0276] Based on the description set forth herein, many specific details have been set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter claimed. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the subject matter claimed can be practiced without these specific details. In other cases, methods, devices, systems, etc. known to ordinary technicians are not described in detail to avoid confusing the subject matter claimed. Some parts of the detailed description are presented in the form of algorithms or code element representations of operations performed on data bits or binary digital signals stored in a computing system memory (such as a computer memory). These algorithm descriptions or representations are examples of techniques used by ordinary technicians in the field of data processing to convey their work content to other technicians in the field. Algorithms as described herein are generally considered to be self-consistent sequences of operations or similar processes that lead to desired results. In this context, operations or processes involve physical manipulation of physical quantities. Typically, although not necessarily, these quantities can take the form of electrical or magnetic signals that can be stored, transmitted, combined, compared, or otherwise manipulated. Sometimes, it is convenient to refer to such signals as bits, data, values, elements, code elements, characters, terms, numbers, numerical values, etc., mainly for common reasons. However, it should be understood that all these terms and similar terms are associated with appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels. Unless otherwise expressly stated, as will be apparent from the following discussion, it should be recognized that discussions throughout this specification utilizing terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining," and the like refer to the actions or processes of a computing platform (such as a computer or similar electronic computing device) that manipulates or transforms data represented as physical electronic or magnetic quantities within a memory, register, or other information storage device, transmission device, or display device of the computing platform.

[0277] Although the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims. Such changes are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present application. Thus, the foregoing description of the embodiments of the present application is not intended to be limiting. On the contrary, any limitations to the present invention are given in the following claims.

Claims

1. A method comprising: receiving a first input indicating angular directions associated with different wireless paths between a first wireless station and a plurality of communication devices; deriving a first beamforming setting from a first input, the first beamforming setting supporting wireless communication between the first wireless station and the plurality of communication devices; as well as A first beamforming arrangement is implemented to provide wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the plurality of communication devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input is feedback received from the plurality of communication devices monitoring reception of a first wireless signal transmitted from a first wireless station, the angular directions capturing different angles at which the communication devices receive the first wireless signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input is generated based on the first wireless station monitoring the reception of wireless signals transmitted from the plurality of communication devices to the first wireless station via different wireless paths, and the angular directions indicate different angles at which the first wireless station receives the wireless signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the received input is channel matrix information indicating weight coefficients applied to corresponding antenna elements in receiver antenna hardware of the plurality of communication devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a beamforming codebook to include a first beamforming setting; as well as A beamforming codebook and a first beamforming setting are transmitted to the plurality of communication devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a first input comprises: receiving first channel matrix information associated with a first portion of a different wireless path between a first wireless station and a first communication device of the plurality of communication devices; as well as Second channel matrix information associated with a second portion of a different wireless path between the first wireless station and a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices is received.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein deriving the first beamforming setting comprises: deriving a first wireless beam angle supporting a first wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the first communication device from the first channel matrix information; deriving a second wireless beam angle supporting second wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the first communication device from the second channel matrix information; as well as The third beam angle is derived based on the first wireless beam angle and the second wireless beam angle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein implementing a first beamforming arrangement to provide wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the plurality of communication devices comprises: According to the first beamforming setting, a first wireless signal is transmitted from the first wireless station at a third wireless beam angle to communicate with the first communication device and the second communication device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing a pairing of the first wireless station with each of the plurality of communication devices; During the beamforming sweep test, transmitting a first wireless signal from a first wireless station through different wireless paths; as well as Input from the plurality of communication devices is received as feedback, the feedback comprising wireless power level values ​​indicative of power levels at which the plurality of communication devices receive first wireless signals.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein deriving the first beamforming setting comprises: deriving a first wireless beam angle based on receiving wireless communications by the first communication device from the wireless station over a first portion of a different wireless path; deriving a second wireless beam angle based on receiving wireless communications by the second communication device from the wireless station over a second portion of a different wireless path; as well as Via quantization, a third beam angle is derived based on the first radio beam angle and the second radio beam angle.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein deriving a first beamforming setting from a first input comprises: A phase setting associated with the first beamforming setting is adjusted, the adjusted phase setting being distributed to control phases of antenna elements in a multi-dimensional array arranged in the first wireless station.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: In response to transmitting a first wireless signal from a first wireless station: i) receiving first channel matrix information from a first communication device among the plurality of communication devices, the first channel matrix information indicating an angular antenna setting of a first mobile communication device that receives the first wireless signal during channel estimation by the first communication device, and ii) receiving second channel matrix information from a second communication device among the plurality of communication devices, the second channel matrix information indicating an angular antenna setting of a second communication device that receives the first wireless signal during channel estimation by the second communication device.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein implementing a first beamforming setting comprises: A first beamforming setting in the beamforming codebook is transmitted to the plurality of communication devices, the first beamforming setting being implemented by the communication devices to receive subsequent communications from the first wireless station.

14. A system comprising: Communications management hardware, operating with: receiving a first input indicating angular directions associated with different wireless paths between a first wireless station and a plurality of communication devices; deriving a first beamforming setting from the first input, the first beamforming setting supporting wireless communications between the first wireless station and the plurality of communication devices; as well as A first beamforming arrangement is implemented to provide wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the plurality of communication devices.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first input is feedback received from the plurality of communication devices monitoring reception of a first wireless signal transmitted from a first wireless station, the angular direction capturing different angles at which the communication devices receive the first wireless signal.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the first input is generated based on the first wireless station monitoring reception of wireless signals transmitted from the plurality of communication devices to the first wireless station via different wireless paths, the angular directions indicating different angles at which the first wireless station receives wireless signals.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the received input is channel matrix information indicating weight coefficients applied to corresponding antenna elements in receiver antenna hardware of the plurality of communication devices.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication management hardware is further operable to: generating a beamforming codebook to include a first beamforming setting; and A beamforming codebook and a first beamforming setting are transmitted to the plurality of communication devices.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication management hardware is further operable to: receiving first channel matrix information associated with a first portion of a different wireless path between a first wireless station and a first communication device of the plurality of communication devices; and Second channel matrix information associated with a second portion of a different wireless path between the first wireless station and a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices is received.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the communication management hardware is further operable to: deriving a first wireless beam angle supporting a first wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the first communication device from the first channel matrix information; deriving a second wireless beam angle supporting second wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the first communication device from the second channel matrix information; and The third beam angle is derived based on the first wireless beam angle and the second wireless beam angle.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the communication management hardware is further operable to: According to the first beamforming setting, a first wireless signal is transmitted from the first wireless station at a third wireless beam angle to communicate with the first communication device and the second communication device.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication management hardware is further operable to: establishing a pairing of the first wireless station with each of the plurality of communication devices; During the beamforming sweep test, transmitting a first wireless signal from a first wireless station through different wireless paths; and Input from the plurality of communication devices is received as feedback, the feedback comprising wireless power level values ​​indicative of power levels at which the plurality of communication devices receive first wireless signals.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication management hardware is further operable to: deriving a first wireless beam angle based on receiving wireless communications by the first communication device from the wireless station over a first portion of a different wireless path; deriving a second wireless beam angle based on the second communication device receiving wireless communications from the wireless station over a second portion of a different wireless path; and Via quantization, a third beam angle is derived based on the first radio beam angle and the second radio beam angle.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication management hardware is further operable to: A phase setting associated with the first beamforming setting is adjusted, the adjusted phase setting being distributed to control phases of antenna elements in a multi-dimensional array arranged in the first wireless station.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication management hardware is further operable to: In response to transmitting a first wireless signal from a first wireless station: i) receiving first channel matrix information from a first communication device among the multiple communication devices, the first channel matrix information indicating an angular antenna setting for the first mobile communication device to receive the first wireless signal during a period when the first communication device performs channel estimation, and ii) receiving second channel matrix information from a second communication device among the multiple communication devices, the second channel matrix information indicating an angular antenna setting for the second communication device to receive the first wireless signal during a period when the second communication device performs channel estimation.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication management hardware is further operable to: A first beamforming setting in the beamforming codebook is transmitted to the plurality of communication devices, the first beamforming setting being implemented by the communication devices to receive subsequent communications from the first wireless station.

27. Computer readable storage hardware having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by computer processor hardware, cause the computer processor hardware to: receiving a first input indicating angular directions associated with different wireless paths between a first wireless station and a plurality of communication devices; deriving a first beamforming setting from the first input, the first beamforming setting supporting wireless communication between the first wireless station and the plurality of communication devices; and A first beamforming arrangement is implemented to provide wireless connectivity between the first wireless station and the plurality of communication devices.

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