US 2015/0092573 A1 · MULTIFLOW WITH ANTENNA SELECTION

Abstract

Optimizing multiflow performance and priority across UEs and networks including receive antenna selection at the UEs, CSI measurement and reporting, and scheduling for multiflow operation. The techniques may evaluate channel conditions for a UE for multiple access points and different combinations of antennas and determine how the UE should feedback CSI for transmissions from the multiple access points. The disclosed techniques also include techniques for scheduling transmissions from the multiple access points using the CSI information to optimize multiflow performance and priority across UEs and networks. Various scheduling modes use feedback from UEs including the maximum supported rates for each link and/or rates based on the maximum sum capacity of the links used concurrently. The scheduler may maintain separate priority lists for each access point or a single priority list across both access points. The techniques may be used for multiflow operation using LTE and WLAN links.

Claims57

Dependent claims

A method for communication performed by a user equipment having two or more antennas, the method comprising:

identifying a first set of antenna subsets of the two or more antennas for communication with a first access point over a first communication channel;
identifying a second set of antenna subsets of the two or more antennas for communication with a second access point over a second communication channel;
determining channel estimates for the first communication channel for the first set of antenna subsets and for the second communication channel for the second set of antenna subsets;
reporting channel rate information based at least in part on the determined channel estimates, wherein the reporting comprises at least one of reporting a first channel rate based on a maximum rate for the first communication channel and the first set of antenna subsets, reporting a second channel rate based on a maximum rate for the second communication channel and the second set of antenna subsets, reporting a third channel rate of the first communication channel using a first antenna subset, or reporting a fourth channel rate of the second communication channel using a second antenna subset different from the first antenna subset, or a combination thereof, wherein the third channel rate and the fourth channel rate are based on a maximum sum capacity of the first and second communication channels using the first and second antenna subsets, respectively;
and
receiving at least one transmission over at least one of the first communication channel or the second communication channel based on the reported channel rate information.

3 more elements

A method, comprising:

receiving channel rate information for a first communication channel between a first access point and a user equipment (UE) and a second communication channel between a second access point and the UE, wherein the channel rate comprises at least one of a first channel rate based on a maximum rate for the first communication channel, a second channel rate based on a maximum rate for the second communication channel, a third channel rate of the first communication channel, or a fourth channel rate of the second communication channel, or a combination thereof, wherein the third channel rate and fourth channel rate are based on a maximum sum capacity of the first and second communication channels using a first antenna subset and a second, different antenna subset, respectively;
determining a scheduling priority metric for the UE for the first and second communication channels based at least in part on the received channel rate;
and
scheduling communications between at least one of the first access point or the second access point and the UE based on the determined scheduling priority metric.

1 more element

An apparatus for wireless communication comprising:

means for identifying, for a user equipment (UE) having two or more antennas, first and second sets of antenna subsets of the two or more antennas, the first and second sets of antenna subsets for communication with a first access point over a first communication channel and with a second access point over a second communication channel, respectively;
means for determining channel estimates for the first communication channel for the first set of antenna subsets and for the second communication channel for the second set of antenna subsets;
means for reporting channel rate information based at least in part on the determined channel estimates, wherein the reporting comprises at least one of reporting a first channel rate based on a maximum rate for the first communication channel and the first set of antenna subsets, reporting a second channel rate based on a maximum rate for the second communication channel and the second set of antenna subsets, reporting a third channel rate of the first communication channel using a first antenna subset, or reporting a fourth channel rate of the second communication channel using a second antenna subset different from the first antenna subset, or a combination thereof, wherein the third channel rate and the fourth channel rate are based on a maximum sum capacity of the first and second communication channels using the first and second antenna subsets, respectively;
and
means for receiving at least one transmission over at least one of the first communication channel or the second communication channel based on the reported channel rate information.

2 more elements

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving channel rate information for a first communication channel between a first access point and a user equipment (UE) and a second communication channel between a second access point and the UE, wherein the channel rate comprises at least one of a first channel rate based on a maximum rate for the first communication channel, a second channel rate based on a maximum rate for the second communication channel, a third channel rate of the first communication channel, or a fourth channel rate of the second communication channel, or a combination thereof, wherein the third channel rate and fourth channel rate are based on a maximum sum capacity of the first and second communication channels;
means for determining a scheduling priority metric for the UE for the first and second communication channels based at least in part on the received channel rate information;
and
means for scheduling communications between at least one of the first access point or the second access point and the UE based on the determined scheduling priority metric.

1 more element

A device for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor;
and
a memory in electronic communication with the processor, the memory embodying instructions, the instructions being executable by the processor to:
identify, for a user equipment having two or more antennas, a first set of antenna subsets for communication with a first access point over a first communication channel;
identify a second set of antenna subsets of the two or more antennas for communication with a second access point over a second communication channel;
determine channel estimates for the first communication channel for the first set of antenna subsets and for the second communication channel for the second set of antenna subsets;
report channel rate information based at least in part on the determined channel estimates, wherein the reporting comprises at least one of reporting a first channel rate based on a maximum rate for the first communication channel and the first set of antenna subsets, reporting a second channel rate based on a maximum rate for the second communication channel and the second set of antenna subsets, reporting a third channel rate of the first communication channel using a first antenna subset, or reporting a fourth channel rate of the second communication channel using a second antenna subset different from the first antenna subset, or a combination thereof, wherein the third channel rate and the fourth channel rate are based on a maximum sum capacity of the first and second communication channels using the first and second antenna subsets, respectively;
and
receive at least one transmission over at least one of the first communication channel or the second communication channel based on the reported channel rate information.

6 more elements

A device for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor;
and
a memory in electronic communication with the processor, the memory embodying instructions, the instructions being executable by the processor to:
receive channel rate information for a first communication channel between a first access point and a user equipment (UE) and a second communication channel between a second access point and the UE, wherein the channel rate comprises at least one of a first channel rate based on a maximum rate for the first communication channel, a second channel rate based on a maximum rate for the second communication channel, a third channel rate of the first communication channel, or a fourth channel rate of the second communication channel, or a combination thereof, wherein the third channel rate and fourth channel rate are based on a maximum sum capacity of the first and second communication channels;
determine a scheduling priority metric for the UE for the first and second communication channels based at least in part on the received channel rate;
and
schedule communications between at least one of the first access point or the second access point and the UE based on the determined scheduling priority metric.

4 more elements

A computer program product for wireless communication, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising code for:
identifying, for a user equipment (UE) having two or more antennas, a first set of antenna subsets of the two or more antennas for communication with a first access point over a first communication channel;
identifying a second set of antenna subsets of the two or more antennas for communication with a second access point over a second communication channel;
determining channel estimates for the first communication channel for the first set of antenna subsets and for the second communication channel for the second set of antenna subsets;
reporting channel rate information based at least in part on the determined channel estimates, wherein the reporting comprises at least one of reporting a first channel rate based on a maximum rate for the first communication channel and the first set of antenna subsets, reporting a second channel rate based on a maximum rate for the second communication channel and the second set of antenna subsets, reporting a third channel rate of the first communication channel using a first antenna subset, or reporting a fourth channel rate of the second communication channel using a second antenna subset different from the first antenna subset, or a combination thereof, wherein the third channel rate and the fourth channel rate are based on a maximum sum capacity of the first and second communication channels using the first and second antenna subsets, respectively;
and
receiving at least one transmission over at least one of the first communication channel or the second communication channel based on the reported channel rate information.