Downlink Virtual Multi-Antenna Forwarding for Network Throughput

The patent introduces a signaling mechanism as an intermediary between the Node B and User Equipments to enable downlink virtual MIMO. The signaling carries reference signal resources and port indication information, acting as a mediator that allows the network to coordinate multiple users' receiving antennas without requiring complex network architecture changes. This intermediary signaling layer resolves the contradiction by providing a simple yet effective method to implement virtual MIMO in existing LTE networks.

The patent makes existing LTE downlink signaling multi-functional by adding virtual MIMO capabilities to the existing Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) structures. The same signaling framework used for traditional MIMO is extended to support virtual MIMO, allowing the network to achieve antenna sharing without creating separate dedicated signaling paths. This universal approach enables existing infrastructure to support advanced virtual MIMO operations.

The patent transitions from traditional spatial multiplexing in the horizontal dimension (multiple users sharing resources) to virtual MIMO that exploits the vertical dimension of time and signaling. By introducing a new dimension of virtual antenna ports and layered signaling, the system allows users to access more layers through virtual resource allocation rather than physical layer sharing. This dimensional shift resolves the trade-off between resource utilization and layers per user.

The patent segments the virtual antenna resources into multiple virtual ports that can be dynamically allocated to different users. Instead of assigning fixed physical antennas to users, the system divides the virtual antenna space into separable ports that can be flexibly distributed. This segmentation allows the network to optimize layer allocation per user while maintaining overall resource efficiency, resolving the contradiction between MU-MIMO resource sharing and SU-MIMO layer availability.

The patent creates virtual copies of antenna resources through signaling. Instead of requiring physical antennas at the terminal, the system generates virtual antenna ports that are mathematically modeled and signaled to the UE. The terminal receives signaling that describes virtual antenna configurations, allowing it to process MIMO signals as if having more physical antennas. This copying approach allows terminals with limited physical antennas to utilize MIMO advantages through virtual resource representation.

The signaling mechanism acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between limited physical terminals and ideal MIMO performance. The signaling carries information about virtual antenna ports, reference signals, and layer configurations, enabling the terminal to compensate for its physical limitations through processed virtual resource information. This intermediary layer allows terminals to achieve enhanced MIMO utilization without increasing physical antenna count.