Multi-mode terminal in a wireless MIMO system

A method of processing data in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

• selecting a spatial multiplexing mode from among a plurality of spatial multiplexing modes, wherein each of the plurality of spatial multiplexing modes supports simultaneous transmission of multiple data symbol streams via multiple spatial channels of a MIMO channel;
• spatially processing a first plurality of data symbol streams in accordance with the selected spatial multiplexing mode to obtain a plurality of transmit symbol streams for transmission from a plurality of antennas and via a first communication link;
• and
• spatially processing a plurality of received symbol streams, obtained from the plurality of antennas, in accordance with the selected spatial multiplexing mode to obtain a plurality of recovered data symbol streams, which are estimates of a second plurality of data symbol streams sent via a second communication link, wherein the MIMO system is a frequency division duplex (FDD) system.

An apparatus in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

• means for selecting a spatial multiplexing mode from among a plurality of spatial multiplexing modes, wherein each of the plurality of spatial multiplexing modes supports simultaneous transmission of multiple data symbol streams via multiple spatial channels of a MIMO channel;
• means for spatially processing a first plurality of data symbol streams in accordance with the selected spatial multiplexing mode to obtain a plurality of transmit symbol streams;
• means for transmitting the plurality of transmit symbol streams from a plurality of antennas and via a first communication link;
• means for receiving a plurality of received symbol streams from the plurality of antennas for a second communication link;
• and
• means for spatially processing the plurality of received symbol streams in accordance with the selected spatial multiplexing mode to obtain a plurality of recovered data symbol streams, which are estimates of a second plurality of data symbol streams sent via the second communication link, wherein the MIMO system is a frequency division duplex (FDD) system.

An access point in a wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, comprising:

• a mode selector operable to select a spatial multiplexing mode from among a plurality of spatial multiplexing modes supported by the access point, wherein each of the plurality of spatial multiplexing modes supports simultaneous transmission of multiple data symbol streams via multiple spatial channels of a MIMO channel formed with a plurality of antennas at the access point;
• a transmit spatial processor operable to spatially process a first plurality of data symbol streams in accordance with the selected spatial multiplexing mode to obtain a plurality of transmit symbol streams for transmission from the plurality of antennas and via a first communication link;
• and
• a receive spatial processor operable to spatially process a plurality of received symbol streams, obtained from the plurality of antennas, in accordance with the selected spatial multiplexing mode to obtain a plurality of recovered data symbol streams, which are estimates of a second plurality of data symbol streams sent via a second communication link, wherein the MIMO system is a frequency division duplex (FDD) system.

An article of manufacture comprising:

• a computer program product, said computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code instructions for carrying out instructions embodied by said code instructions, and said code instructions comprising:
• code for causing a computer to select a spatial multiplexing mode from among a plurality of spatial multiplexing modes supported by the terminal, wherein each of the plurality of spatial multiplexing modes supports simultaneous transmission of multiple data symbol streams via multiple spatial channels of a MIMO channel formed with a plurality of antennas at the terminal;
• code for causing a computer to spatially process a first plurality of data symbol streams in accordance with the selected spatial multiplexing mode to obtain a plurality of transmit symbol streams for transmission from the plurality of antennas and via a first communication link;
• and
• code for causing a computer to spatially process a plurality of received symbol streams, obtained from the plurality of antennas, in accordance with the selected spatial multiplexing mode to obtain a plurality of recovered data symbol streams, which are estimates of a second plurality of data symbol streams sent via a second communication link.

An integrated circuit, comprising:

• circuitry configured to:
• select a spatial multiplexing mode from among a plurality of spatial multiplexing modes supported by the terminal, wherein each of the plurality of spatial multiplexing modes supports simultaneous transmission of multiple data symbol streams via multiple spatial channels of a MIMO channel formed with a plurality of antennas at the terminal;
• spatially process a first plurality of data symbol streams in accordance with the selected spatial multiplexing mode to obtain a plurality of transmit symbol streams for transmission from the plurality of antennas and via a first communication link;
• and
• spatially process a plurality of received symbol streams, obtained from the plurality of antennas, in accordance with the selected spatial multiplexing mode to obtain a plurality of recovered data symbol streams, which are estimates of a second plurality of data symbol streams sent via a second communication link.