MU-MIMO Beamforming Weights from Uplink Channel Calibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in achieving high-quality communication due to estimation errors and calibration issues in MU-MIMO systems, which are not effectively solved by existing technologies, leading to throughput degradation and communication quality issues.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication apparatus and method that utilizes format designation information, correction value calculation, correlation processing, and calibration coefficient updates to improve MIMO transmission quality by interpolating missing propagation channel information and transmission weight values.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If implicit feedback beamforming is used in MU-MIMO systems, then throughput can be improved, but estimation errors and calibration issues degrade communication quality

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidcommunication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where reception stations transmit propagation channel information back to the transmission station. This feedback loop allows the transmission station to calculate accurate transmission weight values that compensate for estimation errors and calibration issues, thereby maintaining high communication quality while achieving improved throughput through implicit beamforming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct downlink channel measurement with uplink channel estimation substituted through reciprocity. Instead of requiring complex downlink channel state information acquisition, the system uses uplink propagation channel information from reception stations to infer downlink characteristics, simplifying the system while maintaining beamforming effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If propagation channel information is not fully available from multiple reception stations, then system complexity is reduced, but transmission weight calculation becomes incomplete

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidtransmission weight accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the transmission station to self-calculate transmission weight values using available propagation channel information from reception stations. The system does not require complete information from all stations but can autonomously compute weights based on partially available data, maintaining accuracy without increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows transmission weight calculation to proceed with partial propagation channel information from reception stations rather than requiring complete information from all stations. This partial action approach enables the system to achieve sufficient transmission accuracy without the excessive complexity of full information collection and processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4243477B1Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 NT T INC
  • EP4243477B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4243477B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4243477B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wireless communication apparatus includes a designation unit which generates format designation information for designating a format of transmission and reception for another wireless communication apparatus, a first transmission unit which wirelessly transmits the format designation information to the other wireless communication apparatus, an acquisition unit which acquires a packet, a propagation channel estimation unit which estimates uplink propagation channel information indicating a propagation channel from the other wireless communication apparatus to the wireless communication apparatus based on the packet, a calibration coefficient calculation unit which calculates a calibration coefficient based on downlink propagation channel information indicating a propagation channel from the wireless communication apparatus to the other wireless communication apparatus and the uplink propagation channel information, a transmission weight value calculation unit which calculates a transmission weight value based on the calibration coefficient and the uplink propagation channel information, and a second transmission unit which wirelessly transmits a predetermined signal to the other wireless communication apparatus based on the transmission weight value.