Methods and Apparatus for Overlapping MIMO Physical Sectors

A system, comprising:

• a first wireless cell transmission point with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the first wireless cell 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;
• a second wireless cell transmission point with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the second wireless cell 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
• third circuitry in communication with the first circuitry of the first wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability and the second circuitry of the second wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability;
• said system configured such that the first wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability cooperates with the second wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability in connection with a first transmission to a first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, for improving the first transmission;
• said system configured for:
• receiving first information from the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is based on an measurement performed by the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device;
• receiving second information from the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is based on another measurement performed by the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device;
• altering at least one aspect of the first transmission in connection with at least one of:
• multiple of the first directional antennas of the first wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, or multiple of the second directional antennas of the second wireless cell 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 first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, utilizing at least one of:
• the multiple first directional antennas of the first wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, or the multiple second directional antennas of the second wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability.

A method, comprising:

• providing access to parts of a packet-switched cellular network including:
• a first wireless cell transmission point with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the first wireless cell 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 wireless cell transmission point with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the second wireless cell 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 first 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 first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device configured for:
• measuring a first interference for the first wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, utilizing at least one of the mobile device directional antennas, and
• measuring a second interference for the second wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, utilizing at least one of the mobile device directional antennas;
• receiving first information from the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is based on the measurement of the first interference;
• receiving second information from the first 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 wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, or multiple of the second directional antennas of the second wireless cell 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 first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, utilizing at least one of:
• the multiple first directional antennas of the first wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, or the multiple second directional antennas of the second wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability.

An apparatus, comprising:

• 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 operable for:
• measuring a first interference in connection with a first wireless cell transmission point with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability configured to operate in a packet-switched cellular network, utilizing at least one of the mobile device directional antennas, the first wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability including:
• 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;
• measuring a second interference in connection with a second wireless cell transmission point with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, utilizing at least one of the mobile device directional antennas, the second wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability including:
• 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;
• reporting first information that is a function of the first interference, utilizing the at least one mobile device radio and at least one of the mobile device directional antennas;
• reporting second information that is a function of the second interference, utilizing the at least one mobile device radio and at least one of the mobile device directional antennas;
• where at least one of the first information or the second information is configured for enabling alteration of at least one aspect of a first transmission in connection with at least one of:
• multiple of the first directional antennas of the first wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, or multiple of the second directional antennas of the second wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability;
• and
• receiving data in connection with the first transmission via at least one of:
• the multiple first directional antennas of the first wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, or the multiple second directional antennas of the second wireless cell transmission point with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability.