Methods and Apparatus for Overlapping MIMO Physical Sectors

A method, comprising:

• providing access to a single wireless station configured to operate in a packet-switched cellular network, the single wireless station including:
• a first transmission point with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the first transmission point having:
• a plurality of first directional antennas,
• at least one first radio in communication with the first directional antennas, and
• first circuitry in communication with the at least one first radio;
• and
• a second transmission point with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the second transmission point having:
• a plurality of second directional antennas,
• at least one second radio in communication with the second directional antennas, and
• second circuitry in communication with the at least one second radio;
• cooperating with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device including:
• a plurality of mobile device directional antennas,
• at least one mobile device radio in communication with the mobile device directional antennas, and
• mobile device circuitry in communication with the at least one mobile device radio, said multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device configured for:
• measuring a first interference for the first transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability of the single wireless station, utilizing at least one of the mobile device directional antennas, and
• measuring a second interference for the second transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability of the single wireless station, utilizing at least one of the mobile device directional antennas;
• receiving first information from the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is based on the measurement of the first interference;
• receiving second information from the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is based on the measurement of the second interference;
• altering at least one aspect of a first transmission utilizing at least one of:
• multiple of the first directional antennas of the first transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, or multiple of the second directional antennas of the second transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, based on the first information and the second information;
• and
• transmitting data during the first transmission to the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, utilizing at least one of:
• the multiple first directional antennas of the first transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, or the multiple second directional antennas of the second transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability.

A method, comprising:

• providing access to a single wireless station configured to operate in a packet-switched cellular network, the single wireless station including:
• a first transmission point with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the first transmission point having:
• a plurality of first directional antennas,
• at least one first radio in communication with the first directional antennas, and
• first circuitry in communication with the at least one first radio;
• and
• a second transmission point with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the second transmission point having:
• a plurality of second directional antennas,
• at least one second radio in communication with the second directional antennas, and
• second circuitry in communication with the at least one second radio;
• and
• cooperating with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device including:
• a plurality of mobile device directional antennas,
• at least one mobile device radio in communication with the mobile device directional antennas, and
• mobile device circuitry in communication with the at least one mobile device radio, said multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device configured for:
• measuring a first interference in connection with the first transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability of the single wireless station, utilizing at least one of the mobile device directional antennas, and
• measuring a second interference in connection with the second transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability of the single wireless station, utilizing at least one of the mobile device directional antennas;
• receiving first information from the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is based on the measurement of the first interference;
• receiving second information from the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is based on the measurement of the second interference;
• performing beamforming in connection with a first transmission utilizing at least one of:
• multiple of the first directional antennas of the first transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, or multiple of the second directional antennas of the second transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, based on the first information and the second information;
• and
• transmitting data in connection with the first transmission to the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, utilizing the beamforming in connection with at least one of:
• the multiple first directional antennas of the first transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, or the multiple second directional antennas of the second transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability.

A method, comprising:

• providing access to a packet-switched cellular network including:
• a plurality of wireless cells each including:
• a first part with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the first part having:
• a plurality of first directional antennas,
• at least one first radio in communication with the first directional antennas, and
• first circuitry in communication with the at least one first radio;
• and
• a second part with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the second part having:
• a plurality of second directional antennas,
• at least one second radio in communication with the second directional antennas, and
• second circuitry in communication with the at least one second radio;
• and
• a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device including:
• a plurality of mobile device directional antennas,
• at least one mobile device radio in communication with the mobile device directional antennas, and
• mobile device circuitry in communication with the at least one mobile device radio, said multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device configured for:
• measuring a first interference in connection with the first part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability of a particular wireless cell, utilizing at least one of the mobile device directional antennas, and
• measuring a second interference in connection with the second part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability of the particular wireless cell, utilizing at least one of the mobile device directional antennas;
• receiving first information from the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is a function of the measurement of the first interference;
• receiving second information from the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is a function of the measurement of the second interference;
• coordinating utilization of at least one of multiple of the first directional antennas of the first part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, or multiple of the second directional antennas of the second part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, as a function of the first information and the second information;
• and
• communicating data in connection with a first transmission to the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, utilizing at least one of:
• the multiple first directional antennas of the first part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, or the multiple second directional antennas of the second part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability.