Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04J—MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION
  • H04J3/00—Time-division multiplex systems
  • H04J3/02—Details
  • H04J3/14—Monitoring arrangements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
  • H04B7/02—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
  • H04B7/04—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
  • H04B7/06—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station
  • H04B7/0602—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station using antenna switching
  • H04B7/0604—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station using antenna switching with predefined switching scheme
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
  • H04B7/02—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
  • H04B7/04—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
  • H04B7/06—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station
  • H04B7/0613—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station using simultaneous transmission
  • H04B7/0615—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station using simultaneous transmission of weighted versions of same signal
  • H04B7/0617—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station using simultaneous transmission of weighted versions of same signal for beam forming
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
  • H04B7/02—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
  • H04B7/04—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
  • H04B7/06—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station
  • H04B7/0686—Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and simultaneous transmission
  • H04B7/0689—Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and simultaneous transmission using different transmission schemes, at least one of them being a diversity transmission scheme
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W24/00—Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
  • H04B7/02—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
  • H04B7/04—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
  • H04B7/06—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station
  • H04B7/0686—Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and simultaneous transmission
  • H04B7/0691—Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and simultaneous transmission using subgroups of transmit antennas
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
  • H04B7/02—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
  • H04B7/04—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
  • H04B7/08—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station
  • H04B7/0802—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station using antenna selection
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
  • H04B7/02—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
  • H04B7/04—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
  • H04B7/08—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station
  • H04B7/0837—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station using pre-detection combining
  • H04B7/0842—Weighted combining
  • H04B7/086—Weighted combining using weights depending on external parameters, e.g. direction of arrival [DOA], predetermined weights or beamforming
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
  • H04B7/02—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
  • H04B7/04—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
  • H04B7/08—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station
  • H04B7/0868—Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and combining
  • H04B7/0871—Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and combining using different reception schemes, at least one of them being a diversity reception scheme
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
  • H04B7/02—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
  • H04B7/04—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
  • H04B7/08—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the receiving station
  • H04B7/0868—Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and combining
  • H04B7/0874—Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and combining using subgroups of receive antennas

Definitions

• the technology relates to radio signal transmission systems using multi-antenna structures. More specifically, the technology relates to a multi-antenna structure and methods of management thereof, e.g.. for reducing power and resource consumption.
• Non-limiting example applications of the technology include telecommunication systems, such as those implementing standards like GSM, WCDMA, LTE or any other standard or combinations thereof.
• Radio signal transmission systems typically use single or small antenna groups to properly transmit/receive radio signals.
• Multi-antenna technology can improve space resource utilization, increase radio channel bandwidth efficiency, and improve system capacity.
• MIMO technology has ati advantage of improving channel capacity.
• Two antenna MIMO technology has been widely used, for example a macro node (eNodeB) using two antennas to transmit downlink (DL) signals and receive uplink signals (UL).
• eNodeB macro node
• UL uplink signals
• LTE long term evolution
• frame type-2 structures are applicable to time division duplex (TDD), and at least for LTE high speed data transmission, may require a high resource usage rate.
• Interference between users is a concern in LTE systems, not only at the edge of ceil, but also in the cell.
• beamforming smart antenna techniques are used, e.g., within time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) systems and may effectively reduce interference between users and provide interference coordination capability.
• Beamforming is a signal processing technique used to directionally shape antenna transmission patterns to avoid interference.
• eight antenna beamforming smart antenna technology has been ratrodueed into the TDD-LTE system, the eight antenna beamforming smart antenna technology makes it is easier to iipgrade TD-SCDMA systems to TDD-LTE resulting in reduced network construction.
• the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) provides technical specifications for a 3rd generation mobile system based on evolved Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) core networks.
• GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
• release 8 there are seven transmission modes in an LTE system, every transmission mode related to a different radio condition and scenario.
• a specific transmission mode is defined to support beamforming in TDD-LTE.
• the other transmission modes are single-input and single- output system (SISO), transmission diversity, MIMO and multi-user MEMO (MU- MIMO).
• a one-layer beamforming smart antenna is used, eight antennas sending and two antennas receiving (8x2).
• a dual-layer beamforming smart antenna is used in TDD_LTE systems, eight antennas sending and eight antennas receiving (SxS).
• SxS single-input and single-output system
• MIMO multi-user
• SISO single-input and single-output system
• Smart antenna beamforming is therefore not suitable for all transmission modes and conditions in LTE. For example, when radio conditions are sufficiently good and the number of users small, the system may not necessarily need to enable beamforming, so eight antennas are not necessary for sending data.
• nodes using eight antennas to transmit SISO data and 2x2 MIMO data use two groups of 4 antennas. Such nodes may not fully use the space diversity gain, and as such may use more energy resources. What is needed is an effective way to schedule n antennas when less than n are needed (e.g., eight antennas when less than a maximum number of resources is needed, e.g., 2x2 MIMO or SISO). Effective scheduling of the antennas can improve downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) transmit diversity, create power savings, DL power control, interference reduction and signaling performance.
• DL downlink
• UL uplink
• the technology disclosed herein concerns a method in a radio network node for dynamic an tenna management of a multi -antenna structure, the multi-antenna structure comprising a set of n integer number of antennas with beamforming capability.
• the method comprises monitoring a condition of a radio network cell served by the radio network node and, if the monitored condition is less than or equal to a predetermined criteria, disabling a beamforming operation and managing a subset, less than n, of the set of n antennas according to a predetermined antenna hopping pattern.
• the monitored condition is a number of users in a radio network cell served by the radio network node
• the predetermined criteria is a predetermined number of users
• the predetermined antenna hopping pattern includes sequential hops between non-sequential antennas.
• the beamforming operation is disabled and the subset managed for a time period t.
• the method further comprises disabling the antenna hopping pattern and enabling the beamforming operation.
• the mediod further comprises measuring radio network performance parameters and disabling the beamforming operation when both the monitored condition is less than or equal to a predetermined criteria and the measured radio network performance parameters exceed a radio network performance threshold.
• the network perfonnance parameters include any of user channel quality and downlink quality.
• the subset includes one antenna.
• the subset includes multiple antennas formed as a group.
• the predetermined antenna hopping pattern includes sequential hops between isolated or orthogonal groups of M antennas.
• a different antenna is selected to recei ve and send user data.
• the radio network node is part of a TDD- LTE network.
• the technology disclosed herein concerns a method in a radio network node ibr dynamic antenna management of a multi-antenna structure.
• the multi-antenna structure comprises a set of an integer n number of antennas with bearaforming capability.
• the method comprises monitoring a number of users Nu served by the radio network node and, if the monitored number of users Nu does not exceed a predetermined threshold and radio network performance parameters exceed a predetermined radio network, performance threshold Np, switching off the beamfonning operation and managing a subset, less than n, of the set of n antennas according to a predetermined antenna hopping pattern.
• the method further comprises setting a timer for time period t when the beamforming operation is disabled and the subset is managed.
• the method further comprises continuing to monitor the number of users Nu-off and starting a new timer, for time period tn, if Nu-off equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold and a network performance parameter is ⁇ Np, switching on the beamforming operation and disabling the predetermined antenna hopping pattern.
• the predetermined antenna hopping pattern includes sequential hops between non-sequentiai antennas.
• the network performance parameters include any of user channel quality and downlink quality.
• the network performance parameters include any of user channel quality indication (CQI), downlink biock error rate (DL BLER) and downlink modulation and coding scheme (DL MCS).
• CQI user channel quality indication
• DL BLER downlink biock error rate
• DL MCS downlink modulation and coding scheme
• S1SO single antenna input single antenna output
• the subset includes multiple antennas formed as a group.
• MIMO multiple-antenna input multiple-antenna output
• the predetermined antenna hopping pattern includes sequential hops between well isolated or orthogonal groups of M antennas.
• the radio network node is part of a TDD- LTE network.
• the technology disclosed herein concerns a radio network node which comprises a miilti ⁇ antenna structure and electronic circuitry.
• the multi-antenna structure comprises a set of an integer n number antennas.
• the electronic circuitry is configured: to monitor a condition in a radio network cell served by the radio network node; to perform a beamforming operation for the set of antennas; and, if the monitored condition of users is less than or equal to a predetermined criteria, disable the beamforming operation and manage a subset, less than n, of the set of n antennas according to a predetermined antenna hopping pattern.
• the monitored condition is a number of users in a radio network cell served by the radio network node
• the predetermined criteria is a predetermined number of users
• the electronic circuitry is further configured to disable the beamforming operation when both the monitored condition is less titan or equal to a predetermined criteria and when radio network performance parameters exceed a radio network performance threshold.
• the network performance parameters include any of user channel quality and downlink quality.
• the node further comprises a node user monitor; a timer; a beamforming switch; and an antenna hopping sequence manager.
• the user monitor is configured to track a number of users in a radio network cell served by the radio network node.
• the timer is configured to set a time period when the tracked number of users is less than or equal to a predetermined number of users.
• the beamforming switch responsive to the setting of the timer, is configured to switch off the heamforming operation for the time period
• the antenna hopping sequence manager is configured, during the time period t, to manage the subset of antennas according to the predetermined antenna hopping pattern.
• the predetermined antenna hopping pattern includes sequential hops between non-sequential antennas.
• the subset includes one antenna.
• the subset includes multiple antennas formed as a group.
• the predetermined antenna hopping pattern includes sequential hops between isolated or orthogonal groups of M antennas.
• a different antenna is selected to receive and send user data.
• the radio network node is part of a TDD-LTE network.
• Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an example embodiment of a basic radio communications system.
• Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an example embodiment of a multi- antenna structure.
• Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing example basic acts or steps included in a method of operating a multi-antenna structure of a node according to an example embodimen t
• Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing example basic acts or steps included in a dynamic antenna management process for a multi-antenna structure according to an example embodiment.
• Fig. 5 - is a graph showing,, e.g., a number of users (NU_in) failing below number a liser threshold NU_in threshold in a time period from time TO to time TI .
• Fig. 6 is a graph showing, e.g., a number of users (NU_out) rising above a number of user threshold Nu__out_threshold in a time period from time TO to time Tl .
• Fig. 7 A. and Fig. 7B are diagrammatic views illustrating usage of different antennas for different SFNs in a Si SO example embodiment.
• Fig. 8A and Fig. SB are diagrammatic views illustrating usage of different antennas for different S FNs in a MIMO example embodiment.
• Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing example more detailed acts or steps included in a dynamic antenna management process for a multi-antenna structure according to an example embodiment.
• Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a node arranged to perforin a dynamic antenna management process for a multi-antenna structure according to an example embodiment.
• functions and illustrated functional blocks are to be understood as being either hardware-implemented and/or computer-implemented, and thus machine-implemented.
• the functional blocks may include or encompass, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, reduced instruction set processor, hardware (e.g., digital or analog) circuitry including but not limited to application specific integrated circuit(s) [ASIC], and/or field programmable gate array(s) (FPGA(s)), and (where appropriate) state machines capable of performing such functions.
• DSP digital signal processor
• ASIC application specific integrated circuit
• FPGA field programmable gate array
• a computer is generally understood to comprise one or more processors or one or more controllers, and the terms computer and processor and controller may be employed interchangeably herein.
• the functions may be provided by a single dedicated computer or processor or controller, by a single shared computer or processor or controller, or by a plurality of individual computers or processors or controllers, some of which may be shared or distributed.
• processor or “controller” shall also be construed to refer to other hardware capable of performing such functions and/or executing software, such as the example hardware recited above.
• heterogeneous network comprising network nodes using any technology including, e.g., high speed packet access (HSPA), long term evolution (LTE), code division multiple access (CDMA)2000, GSM, etc. or a mixture of technologies such as with a multi-standard radio (MSR) node (e.g., LTE/HSPA, GSM/HS/LTE, CDMA2000/LTE etc).
• HSPA high speed packet access
• LTE long term evolution
• CDMA code division multiple access
• GSM Global System for Mobile communications
• MSR multi-standard radio
• nodes e.g., base station, eNode B, Node B, relay, base transceiver station (BTS), donor node serving a relay node (e.g., donor base station, donor Node B, donor eNB), supporting one or more radio access technologies.
• nodes e.g., base station, eNode B, Node B, relay, base transceiver station (BTS), donor node serving a relay node (e.g., donor base station, donor Node B, donor eNB), supporting one or more radio access technologies.
• BTS base transceiver station
• Nodes that communicate using the air interface also have suitable radio communications circuitry.
• the technology can additionally be considered to be embodied entirely within any form of computer-readable memory, such as solid- state memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk containing an appropriate set of computer instructions that would cause a processor to carry out the techniques described herein.
• Fig. 1 illustrates a basic radio communications structure including node 101 which generally provides transmission/reception of radio signals through multi-antenna structure 102 controlled by node controller 106.
• the node 101 creates cell coverage area 103 in which a plurality of user equipment (UE) 105, e.g., wireless terminals (telephones), communicate through downlink (DL) and uplink signals (UL).
• UE user equipment
• the node controller 106 comprises, or works in conjunction with, beamfbrming function 104.
• Fig. 2 illustrates an example, basic multi-antenna structure 200.
• the multi- antenna structure 200 includes processing circuitry 205 located within radio remote unit (RRU) 201 and power amplifiers (PAs) 202 ( ⁇ - ⁇ 8) which control amplification of radio signals for transmission as well as those received by respective antennas 203,
• RRU radio remote unit
• PAs power amplifiers
• Fig.2 eight power amplifiers 202 and eight antennas are illustrated in Fig.2, although it should be understood that a greater or lesser number may comprise the multi-antenna structure 200.
• the multi-antenna structure 200 shown in Fig. 2 is not meant to fully describe all hardware and software aspects of a multi-antenna structure and should not be limited thereto.
• the user equipment may be called by other names and comprise different types of equipment.
• the user equipment (UE) can also be called a mobile station, wireless station, wireless terminal, and can be equipment such as a mobile telephone ("cellular" telephone) and a laptop with mobile termination, and thus can be, for example, portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included, or car-mounted mobile devices which communicate voice and/or data with tlte radio access network.
• cellular mobile telephone
• laptop with mobile termination a mobile termination
• portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included, or car-mounted mobile devices which communicate voice and/or data with tlte radio access network.
• the node 101 may determine whether or not to disable beamforming function 104, and thereby a beamforming capability, e.g., a beamforming operation, of node 101. That is, the node 101 may determine not to use all available plural antennas of multi-antenna structure 200, but instead utilize a subset of the antennas.
• Fig. 1 a beamforming capability, e.g., a beamforming operation
• beamforming function 104 as comprising a unit or functionality of node controller 106 which, when implemented, performs a beamforming operation which affects, e.g., the signal processing techniques used to directionally shape antenna transmission patterns of the antennas of multi-antenna structure 200 to avoid interference.
• a condition of a radio network cell served by the radio network node is monitored, if the monitored condition is less than or equal to a predetermined criteria, the beamforming operation is disabled and a subset of antennas of multi-antenna structure 200 is managed according to a predetermined antenna hopping pattern.
• the beamforming function/operation is disabled and the antenna hopping management of the subset occurs when both the monitored condition is less than or equal to a predetermined criteria and the measured radio network performance parameters exceed a radio network performance threshold.
• the monitored condition is a number of users in a radio network cell served by the radio network node
• the predetermined criteria is a predetermined number of users.
• the node 101 may determine whether or not to disable beamforming function 104, and thereby disable the beamforming operation of node 101.
• What constitute suitably low traffic load and sufficiently good radio environment may be established or defined with reference to one or more thresholds for one or more corresponding network performance parameters (exampies being listed herein). Such thresholds may be set by a network operator and consequently stored or otherwise made available for consultation and checking.
• Fig. 3 illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of the technology described herein, and particularly shows basic example acts or steps of operating a node (e.g., such as a base station) for efficiently managing a multi-antenna group or multi-antenna structure 200.
• Act 301 comprises monitoring the number of users (UEs) 105 in radio network cell coverage area 103. Such monitoring may comprise, for example, the counting of the users (UEs).
• Act 302 comprises disabling the beamforming function 104 if the number monitored of users is less than or equal to a predetermined number of users.
• disabling the beamforming function 104 is meant that signal processing techniques used to directionatly shape antenna transmission patterns to avoid interference are at least temporarily halted.
• Act 303 comprises managing a subset (e.g., 1 , 2, 4, etc.) of the antenna elements 202/203 of multi-antenna structure 200 according to a predetermined antenna hopping pattern. Such management may occur dining a time period t which is based on operation of a timer.
• a subset e.g., 1 , 2, 4, etc.
• the node e.g., base station
• the node can disable the beamforming function 104.
• the beamforming function 104 is disabled, at any given time a subset of the plural antennas of multi-antenna structure 200, less than the full antenna set, is used during transmission or reception, in the SI SO mode, the subset of the antennas of multi-antenna structure 200 used for transmission and receiving is one antenna; in the 2x2 MIMO mode the subset of the antennas of multi-antenna structure 200 used for transmission and receiving is two antennas.
• which antenna(s) of the multi-antenna structure 200 constitute the subset at any point in time, e.g., for any particular system frame of data is determined in accordance with a hopping pattern.
• the technology described herein changes the antenna indexes for antenna hopping purposes every system frame number (SFN), in some radio access technologies, each frame is serially numbered by a System Frame Number (SFN), which is used to identify the framing and timing, e.g., of a base station, and which in some technologies has a value ranging from 0 to 4,095.
• SFN System Frame Number
• the DL and UL user data transmission/reception hops between the plural antennas of multi-antenna structure 200 according to a hopping technique or algorithm.
• a radio remote unit (connecting PAs to antennas) will also switch on or bypass the appropriate antenna PA, according to an antenna mapping at that time, if a specific antenna is selected in the antenna hopping pattern, the related power amplifier (PA)in the RRU will be switched on or bypassed.
• PA power amplifier
• a node e.g.. base station
• transmit diversity is introduced by altering transmit antennas between system frame numbers (SFN). Therefore the technology described herein may reduce downlink (DL) transmission power, reduce interference between cells, improve space diversity gain, ensure assigning the most efficient resource to each user, and reach a goal of optimal performance of LIE system.
• DL downlink
• Table 1 provides a basis for understanding of at least some of the terminology employed herein.
• network performance parameters may include such parameters as user channel quality indication (CQI) reports, DL block error rates (BLERs), and DL modulation and coding scheme (MCS), each being above related a corresponding predetermined threshold.
• CQI user channel quality indication
• BLERs DL block error rates
• MCS DL modulation and coding scheme
• the number of users threshold (Nu threshold) and the network parameter threshold (Np threshold) may be set by a network operator according to network load conditions.
• Nu out threshold and Tout threshold can be set by a network operator according to network load conditions.
• Fig. 4 illustrates an example, non-limiting embodiment of a dynamic antenna management process for a multi -antenna structure, After initial celt setup and node (e.g., eNodeB) startup, the dynamic antenna management feature is switched on.
• node e.g., eNodeB
• Act 401 comprises monitoring a number of users (IJEs) in radio network cel l coverage area (e.g., counted).
• Act 402 comprises switching off beamforming and setting (e.g., initializing) a timer T for an initial time period if the monitored number of users (Nu) is less than or equal to a number of users threshold (Nu threshold) and if one or more radio parameters exceed a radio network performance threshold (Np).
• Act 403 comprises the dynamic antenna management system managing a subset of anfenna(s) of multi-antenna structure 200 according to a predetermined hopping pattern. For a set of n number of antennas comprising multi-antenna structure 200, the subset is less than the number n.
• Fig. 5 illustrates a time period t from time T0 to time Tl , and the number of users (NU_in) falling below number of user threshold Nu_in_threshold.
• the node controller 106 turns off the beamforming function 104 and begins the antenna hopping procedure described herein.
• the node while the beamfonmng feature is turned off, the node continues to monitor the number of users during beamforming outage (Nu_out).
• a new timer is started for the beamforming outage time period, e.g., timer Tout . hold. If the number of users during beamforming outage (Nu_out) is equal to or greater than a threshold (Nu_out__threshold), and the timer Tout_hold equals or exceeds a threshold Tout_threshold, and one or more of the network performance parameters falls below a related threshold_out, the beamforming feature is switched on.
• a threshold Nu_out__threshold
• the transmission antenna index P changes according to a sequence (bopping pattern).
• the specific- sequence may be defined or otherwise specified by a baseband or system designer, and preferably follows a principle that the next hop of antenna used is well isolated or orthogonal with the current antenna usage.
• Table 2 illustrates an example of a hopping pattern for an S I SO example, wherein antenna index P changes every sequence frame number (SFN).
• SFN mod 8 sequence frame number
• SFN mod 8 the antenna index table
• all antennas 702 will be off (bypassed) except for antenna 1 (e.g., antenna 701) which through power amplifier PA1 703 will be on.
• Fig. 7B illustrates the eight antenna configuration of Fig, 2 with SFN mod 8-1.
• SFN mod 8 the antenna index table
• all antennas 704 will be off (bypassed) except for antenna 4 (e.g., antenna 705) which through power amplifier PA4 706 will be on.
• a subset (e.g., two or more but not all of the antennas) of multi-antenna structure 200 may be employed.
• the subset for a MIMO mode may be two antennas, so that two (different) antennas and their respective power amplifiers (PA) switch on every SFN.
• PA power amplifier
• Transmission antenna indices P I and P2 change according a predefined sequence, such as that illustrated by way of example in Table 2.
• the antenna hopping pattern or principle provides that the next antenna group is well isolated from the current group to avoid interference between antennas.
• the hopping sequence can be defined or otherwise specified by the baseband or system designer.
• the transmission antenna indices P1 and P2 change every SFN.
• Table 3 Antenna Hopping for MIMO example embodiment
• all antennas 801 will be off (bypassed) except for antenna 1 (e.g., antenna 802) and antenna 5 (e.g., antenna 803) which through respective power amplifiers PAT 804 and PAS 805 will be on.
• all antennas 806 will be off (bypassed) except for antenna 3 (e.g., antenna 807) and antenna 7 (e.g., antenna 808) which through respective power amplifiers PA3 809 and PA7 810 will be on.
• the eNodeB will use a different antenna (or combination of antennas) to receive and send user data, thereby providing more space diversity gain to both the downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) signals.
• Fig. 9 shows example acts or steps which are executed by, e.g., a node controller, in conjunction with the technology described herein for both the SISO and MIMO example modes.
• Act 901 comprises setting up the cell, which in an example embodiment may be a LTE cell, for example.
• Act 902 comprises turning on the dynamic antenna management feature.
• Act 903 comprises the node (e_g., EnodeB) starting a process to monitor the number of users Nu in the cell.
• Act 904 comprises recording the number of users Nu in the cell.
• Act 905 comprises initially setting Nu in equal to Nu and monitoring Nujn. When Nu_in is less than or equal to Nu in threshold, operation continues to Act 906.
• Act 906 comprises staring a timer Tinjiold and monitoring Tin_hold.
• Act 907 comprises stopping the timer Tin hold if the Threshold_in parameter is fulfilled, Thereafter, as act 90S, the antenna hopping function is enabled.
• alternate acts 909 and 910 respectively, either an SISO antenna hopping technique or a MIMO antenna hopping technique is employed.
• Nu_out is initially set to Nu and Nu_out is then monitored. So long as Nu_out does not equal or exceed Nu_out threshold, the antenna hopping continues. Bat when Nu out equals or exceeds Nu_out_threshold, Nu_out is set to Nu, and act 912 is performed.
• Act 912 comprises starting a timer Tout hold and monitoring Tout hold.
• Tout hold equals or exceeds Tout_threshold
• operation continues to Act 913 and the timer Tout-hold is stopped.
• the Threshold put parameter is checked.
• act 914 is performed. Act 914 comprises switching on the beamforming function 104 and disabling the antenna hopping.
• Node 1003 includes, but is not limited to: a transmitter/receiver 1002; node memory 1003; user moni tor 1004 (for recording of number of users); radio network performance monitor 1005 (to monitor the quality of network conditions); timer 1006 (to implement the various monitoring time periods described herein); antenna beamforming switch ⁇ 007 (to turn beamforming on ⁇ 'off); and antenna hopping sequence manager (dynamic antenna manager) 100S.
• the antenna hopping sequence manager 1008 uses the predetermined sequences to selectively turn on/off selected antennas through RRU 1009 with power amplifiers (PA) connected to antennas 1010.
• PA power amplifiers
• One or more of the aforemen tioned elements of node 1001 may comprise or be realized by node controller 106, and thereby or by other realization may have hardware implementation such as by a controller, processor.
• a computer implementation for realizing the elements of the node 1001 may comprise, for example, a processors) and memory (which in turn can comprise a random access memory; a read only memory: and a application memory (a non-transitory computer readable medium which stores, e.g., coded instructions which can be executed by the processor to perform acts described herein), and any other memory such as cache memory, for example)
• the technology described herein reduces interference between ceils because of reduced transmission power; increases space diversity gain for DL and UL signals by altering transmit antennas between SFNs (thereby improving space resource usage); randomizes interference from wireless channels; saves system power and enhances overall cell throughput.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=49681086

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (10)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2012
  • 2012-09-24 US US13/625,660 patent/US9252905B2/en active Active
• 2013
  • 2013-09-16 EP EP13798744.2A patent/EP2898607B1/en active Active
  • 2013-09-16 WO PCT/IB2013/058585 patent/WO2014045186A1/en not_active Ceased
• 2015
  • 2015-02-13 IN IN1195DEN2015 patent/IN2015DN01195A/en unknown

Patent Citations (5)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events