Method and apparatus for reporting precoding information in a communication network

A communication device configured for operation in a communication network and comprising:

• a communication interface circuit configured to receive transmissions from an antenna array of a network node in the communication network, wherein the antenna array has first and second dimensions;
• and
• a processing circuit configured to:
• determine precoding recommendations for transmitting to the communication device from the antenna array, based on evaluating the received transmissions, wherein the precoding recommendations comprise first recommendations pertaining to the first dimension and second recommendations pertaining to the second dimension;
• and
• send, to the network node via the communication interface circuit by time multiplexing onto a reporting channel, a first number of first precoding reports comprising the first recommendations and a second number of second precoding reports comprising the second recommendations, by time multiplexing in accordance with a particular multiplexing ratio relating the first number and the second number.

A method implemented by a network node configured for operation in a communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a communication device via a reporting channel, precoding reports for use in precoding transmissions to the communication device from an antenna array having first and second dimensions, wherein:
• the precoding reports comprise a first number of first precoding reports comprising precoding recommendations pertaining to the first dimension, and a second number of second precoding reports comprising precoding recommendations pertaining to the second dimension;
• and
• the precoding reports are time-multiplexed according to a particular multiplexing ratio relating the first number and the second number;
• determining whether individual ones of the precoding reports comprise one of the first precoding reports or comprise one of the second precoding reports, based on the particular multiplexing ratio;
• and
• precoding transmissions to the communication device from the antenna array, according to precoding weights determined in consideration of the precoding recommendations comprising the determined first or second precoding reports.

A network node configured for operation in a communication network and comprising:

• a communication interface circuit configured to receive, from a communication device via a reporting channel, precoding reports for use in precoding transmissions to the communication device from an antenna array having first and second dimensions, wherein:
• the precoding reports comprise a first number of first precoding reports comprising precoding recommendations pertaining to the first dimension, and a second number of second precoding reports comprising precoding recommendations pertaining to the second dimension;
• and
• the precoding reports are time-multiplexed according to a particular multiplexing ratio relating the first number and the second number;
• and
• a processing circuit configured to:
• determine whether individual ones of the precoding reports comprise one of the first precoding reports or comprise one of the second precoding reports, based on the particular multiplexing ratio;
• and
• precode transmissions to the communication device from the antenna array, according to precoding weights determined in consideration of the precoding recommendations comprising the determined first or second precoding reports.