Method of controlling a signal transmission in a cellular MIMO system, base station, and cellular MIMO system

#Embodiments of the invention relate to cellular communication systems. Embodiments relate in particular to methods and devices for controlling signal transmissions in cellular multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) systems.

#Mobile data and voice communication continues to evidence significant growth. With increasing popularity of data and voice communication, it is more likely that the communication needs of a large number of users must to be met which are all located within a small area, a case referred to as dense crowd scenario in the art. Typical examples include sport arenas or large office buildings.

#In order to increase data transmission performance and reliability, the so-called multiple input and multiple-output (MIMO) technology may be used in wireless radio telecommunication for transmitting information between a base station and terminals of users. MIMO systems may use multiple send and receive antennas for wireless communication at a base station. The MIMO technology forms the basis for coding techniques which use the temporal as well as the spatial dimension for transmitting information. The enhanced coding provided in MIMO systems allows a quality and data rate of the wireless communication to be increased.

#Embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like elements.

#FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a communication system according to an embodiment.

#FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment.

#In the following, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail. It is to be understood that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined with each other unless specifically noted otherwise. Identical or similar reference signs in various drawings refer to identical or similar components. Any coupling between components or devices shown in the figures may be a direct or an indirect coupling unless specifically noted otherwise.

#FIG. 1 shows a communication system 10 according to an embodiment. The communication system 10 is a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) system and includes a MIMO base station 20 according to an embodiment. The MIMO system may be a massive MIMO system, and the MIMO base station 20 may have a large number of antennas, such as several tens or in excess of one hundred antennas.

#The base station 20 comprises a plurality of antennas 22. The antennas 23-25 may be arranged in a two- or three-dimensional spatial array on a carrier. The base station 20 also comprises associated transceivers for the antennas 23-25. The base station 20 may be a base station for a massive MIMO system. Accordingly, the base station 20 may have several tens or in excess of one hundred antennas 23-25. The plurality of antennas may also be spatially distributed to various locations, e.g. in cooperative MIMO. It is also possible that several base stations interact in cooperative MIMO, with the plurality of antennas being distributed over various locations.