Codeword-to-layer mapping for mimo transmissions

A method of a network node of a cellular communication network, the network node adapted to transmit multiple-input multiple-output—MIMO—signals to a wireless communication device, the MIMO signals comprising a variable number—P—of codewords conveyed by a variable number—Q—of MIMO layers, wherein Q is larger than P and P is larger than 1, the method comprising:

• receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication of a preferred mapping scheme for codeword-to-layer mapping, wherein the preferred mapping scheme has been selected by the wireless communication device among a plurality of available codeword-to-layer mapping schemes based on a preferred number of layers and a channel quality metric related to the transmission of the MIMO signals;
• and
• mapping the codewords to the MIMO layers according to the preferred mapping scheme for generation of the MIMO signals.

A wireless communication device adapted to receive multiple-input multiple-output—MIMO—signals from a network node of a cellular communication network, the MIMO signals comprising a variable number—P—of codewords conveyed by a variable number—Q—of MIMO layers wherein Q is larger than P and P is larger than 1, the wireless communication device comprising:

• a control unit adapted to select a preferred mapping scheme for codeword-to-layer mapping based on a preferred number of layers and a channel quality metric related to the transmission of the MIMO signals, the preferred mapping scheme being selected among a plurality of available codeword-to-layer mapping schemes;
• and
• a transmitter adapted to transmit an indication of the preferred mapping scheme to the network node.

A network node of a cellular communication network, the network node adapted to transmit multiple-input multiple-output—MIMO—signals to a wireless communication device, the MIMO signals comprising a variable number—P—of codewords conveyed by a variable number—Q—of MIMO layers, wherein Q is larger than P and P is larger than 1, the network node comprising:

• a receiver adapted to receive, from the wireless communication device, an indication of a preferred mapping scheme for codeword-to-layer mapping, wherein the preferred mapping scheme has been selected by the wireless communication device among a plurality of available codeword-to-layer mapping schemes based on a preferred number of layers and a channel quality metric related to the transmission of the MIMO signals;
• and
• a control unit adapted to map the codewords to the MIMO layers according to the preferred mapping scheme for generation of the MIMO signals.