MU-MIMO Split Beam Scheduling for Small Antenna Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current MU-MIMO communications systems with small numbers of antennas, such as 4 or 8 antennas per evolved NodeB, face disappointing performance improvements due to increased complexity and cost, limiting their deployment popularity.
Innovation Solution
The method involves scheduling user equipments (UEs) using appropriate code pairs for multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) mode transmission and configuring a 3-sector wireless communications system by generating split beams that are mapped to baseband antenna ports to equalize reference signal coverage, thereby improving MU-MIMO performance and simplifying hardware design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If MU-MIMO with multiple antennas is implemented to improve system throughput, then communications system throughput is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing a single wide beam into multiple split beams (e.g., two split beams per sector) using code-based beam splitting. This allows the system to achieve multi-user service capabilities similar to 6-sector systems while maintaining only 3 physical sectors and 4 or 8 antennas, thereby improving throughput without proportionally increasing hardware complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the beamforming parameters by using different code pairs to generate split beams with different spatial characteristics. By adjusting code parameters rather than hardware configuration, the system can create multiple virtual beams from limited physical antennas, improving multi-user throughput while avoiding the complexity of deploying more physical antennas
2Productivity
If MU-MIMO with multiple antennas is implemented to improve system throughput, then communications system throughput is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the broadcast beam into multiple split beams through code processing rather than hardware division. This allows one physical antenna array to serve multiple users simultaneously in different spatial directions, achieving the throughput benefits of multiple antenna systems without the corresponding hardware cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of beam patterns through code-based beam splitting. Instead of deploying multiple physical antenna arrays, the system generates multiple virtual beams from a single physical array using different code pairs, thereby achieving multi-user throughput improvement without the cost of additional hardware
3Productivity
If split beams are generated to improve MU-MIMO performance, then mutual interference is reduced and throughput is increased, but beam configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the code pair mechanism universal by using the same code-based beam splitting approach across all sectors and antenna configurations. The same principles apply whether using 4 or 8 antennas, simplifying the overall system design and reducing configuration complexity despite the advanced beam splitting capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces code pairs as an intermediary between the physical antenna array and the multiple users. These codes act as a mediator that creates virtual beam separation without requiring complex hardware beamforming networks, thereby reducing the overall system complexity while achieving the desired throughput and interference reduction
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for operating a communications controller in a wireless communications system includes scheduling a pair of user equipments (UE) located in different ones of a plurality of split beams using an appropriate code pair that produces the plurality of split beams for multi-user multiple-input multiple output (MU-MIMO) mode transmission, and transmitting data packets to the pair of UEs in accordance with the appropriate code pair.