Apparatus and method for dynamically altering a downlink MIMO configuration

A user equipment (UE) configured for wireless communication, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor;
• and
• a transceiver communicatively coupled to the at least one processor,
• wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
• determine to alter a first multi-input multi-output (MIMO) configuration of a downlink transmission based on at least one of a speed of the UE or a detection that one or more antennas of the UE are blocked;
• transmit a capability indication message configured to indicate a capability of requesting to alter a downlink MIMO configuration, wherein the capability indication message comprises an information element (IE) carried on one of a radio resource control (RRC) protocol message or an enhanced uplink dedicated physical control channel (E-DPCCH) order;
• transmit a request to alter the first MIMO configuration of the downlink transmission, wherein the request is transmitted based on the determination to alter the first MIMO configuration;
• and
• receive the downlink transmission based on a second MIMO configuration corresponding to the request.

A user equipment (UE) configured for wireless communication, comprising:

• means for determining to alter a first multi-input multi-output (MIMO) configuration of a downlink transmission based on at least one of a speed of the UE or a detection that one or more antennas of the UE are blocked;
• means for transmitting a capability indication message configured to indicate a capability of requesting to alter a downlink MIMO configuration, wherein the capability indication message comprises an information element (IE) carried on one of a radio resource control (RRC) protocol message or an enhanced uplink dedicated physical control channel (E-DPCCH) order;
• means for transmitting a request to alter the first MIMO configuration of the downlink transmission, wherein the request is transmitted based on the determination to alter the first MIMO configuration;
• and
• means for receiving the downlink transmission based on a second MIMO configuration corresponding to the request.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

• determine to alter a first multi-input multi-output (MIMO) configuration of a downlink transmission based on at least one of a speed of the computer or a detection that one or more antennas of the computer are blocked;
• transmit, from the computer, a capability indication message configured to indicate a capability of requesting to alter a downlink MIMO configuration, wherein the capability indication message comprises an information element (IE) carried on one of a radio resource control (RRC) protocol message or an enhanced uplink dedicated physical control channel (E-DPCCH) order;
• transmit a request to alter the first MIMO configuration of the downlink transmission, wherein the request is transmitted based on the determination to alter the first MIMO configuration;
• and
• receive the downlink transmission based on a second MIMO configuration corresponding to the request.