Communication method and apparatus using beamforming

A communication method using beamforming by a mobile station (MS), the communication method comprising:

• receiving, from a base station (BS), a message including measurement information related to transmission beam groups, wherein a plurality of transmission beams of the BS are grouped into the transmission beam groups according to elevation angles of the plurality of transmission beams;
• identifying the plurality of transmission beams to be measured;
• measuring reference signals transmitted through part of the plurality of transmission beams according to the measurement information;
• and
• transmitting a measurement report generated according to the measurement information to the BS,
• wherein the measurement information includes identities and measurement parameter sets corresponding to the transmission beam groups,
• wherein the measurement parameter sets are used for measuring the reference signals and comprise parameters determined differently depending on ranges of the elevation angles corresponding to the transmission beam groups, and
• wherein among the plurality of transmission beams having different elevation angles, at least one of:
• a transmission beam having an elevation angle larger than a threshold value has a measurement parameter set having values lower than a measurement parameter set of a transmission beam having an elevation angle equal to or smaller than the threshold value, or
• a transmission beam included in a boundary of a sector has a measurement parameter set having values lower than a measurement parameter set of a transmission beam included in the center of the sector.

A base station (BS) apparatus for performing communication by using beamforming, the BS apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a signal from a mobile station (MS);
• and
• a controller configured to:
• transmit a measurement control message containing measurement information related to transmission beam groups, wherein a plurality of transmission beams of the BS is grouped into the transmission beam groups according to elevation angles of the plurality of transmission beams,
• transmit reference signals through part of the plurality of transmission beams, and
• receive a measurement report generated by the MS according to the measurement information from the received signal,
• wherein the measurement information on the transmission beam groups include identities and measurement parameter sets corresponding to the transmission beam groups,
• wherein the measurement parameter sets are used for measuring the reference signals and comprise parameters determined differently depending on ranges of the elevation angles corresponding to the transmission beam groups, and
• wherein among the plurality of transmission beams having different elevation angles, at least one of:
• at least one transmission beam having an elevation angle larger than a threshold value has a measurement parameter set having values lower than a measurement parameter set of a transmission beam having an elevation angle equal to or smaller than the threshold value, or
• at least one transmission beam included in a boundary of a sector has a measurement parameter set having values lower than a measurement parameter set of a transmission beam included in the center of the sector.

A mobile station (MS) apparatus for performing communication by using beamforming, the MS apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a signal of a base station (BS);
• and
• a controller configured to:
• control the receiver to receive, from the BS, a message including measurement information related to transmission beam groups, wherein a plurality of transmission beams of the BS are grouped into the transmission beam groups according to elevation angles of the plurality of transmission beams,
• identify the plurality of transmission beams to be measured,
• measure reference signals transmitted through part of the plurality of transmission beams according to the measurement information, and
• transmit a measurement report generated according to the measurement information to the BS,
• wherein the measurement information on the transmission beam groups include identities and measurement parameter sets corresponding to the transmission beam groups,
• wherein the measurement parameter sets are used for measuring the reference signals and comprise parameters determined differently depending on ranges of the elevation angles corresponding to the transmission beam groups, and
• wherein among the plurality of transmission beams having different elevation angles, at least one of:
• a transmission beam having an elevation angle larger than a threshold has a measurement parameter set having values lower than a measurement parameter set of a transmission beam having an elevation angle equal to or smaller than the threshold value, or
• a transmission beam included in a boundary of a sector has a lower measurement parameter set having values lower than a measurement parameter set of a transmission beam included in the center of the sector.