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US9768843B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 7.4 years remaining
Massive MIMO (M-MIMO) support for heterogeneous networks (HetNets)
Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Ltd
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Filing: 2014-03-21
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Granted: 2017-09-19
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Expires: 2034-03-21
Abstract
Abstract Systems and methods for enabling a wireless backhaul network between access points (APs) in a wireless network are provided. In an embodiment, the wireless backhaul network is enabled using a Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) radio access technology (RAT). In another embodiment, the wireless backhaul network is established using the same RAT as used by the APs to serve user devices, and can utilize the same time and frequency resources used for user communication.
Inventors
- 👤 Murat Mese
- 👤 Yan Wang
- 👤 Nihar Jindal
- 👤 Louay Jalloul
- 👤 Arogyaswami Paulraj
- 👤 Amin Mobasher
- 👤 Sirikiat Ariyavisitakul
- 👤 James Bennett
- 👤 Sam Alex
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/02; H04B7/04; H04B7/0413; H04B7/0456; H04B7/06; H04B7/0613; H04B7/0615; H04B7/0617; H04B7/0686; H04B7/0691
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An Access Point (AP), comprising: a Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (M-MIMO) antenna array; and a processor configured to: generate a first symbol stream comprising user data for a user device; generate a second symbol stream comprising backhaul information for another AP; determine a transmit precoder matrix; pre-code the first symbol stream and the second symbol stream using the transmit precoder matrix to generate a plurality of signals; and couple the plurality of signals to the M-MIMO antenna array to transmit a first beam for the first symbol stream to the user device and a second beam for the second symbol stream to the another AP, wherein the transmit precoder matrix is determined, based on a concatenated channel formed by concatenating a first channel estimate and a second channel estimate such that the second beam is narrower than the first beam, and wherein a row of zeros is added to either the first channel estimate or the second channel estimate prior to the first channel estimate and the second channel estimate being concatenated to form the concatenated channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
An Access Point (AP), comprising: a Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (M-MIMO) antenna array; and a processor configured to: generate a first symbol stream comprising user data for a user device; generate a second symbol stream comprising backhaul information for another AP; determine a transmit precoder matrix; pre-code the first symbol stream and the second symbol stream using the transmit precoder matrix to generate a plurality of signals; and couple the plurality of signals to the M-MIMO antenna array to transmit a first beam for the first symbol stream to the user device and a second beam for the second symbol stream to the another AP, wherein the transmit precoder matrix is determined, based on a concatenated channel formed by concatenating a first channel estimate and a second channel estimate such that the second beam is narrower than the first beam, and wherein a row of zeros is added to either the first channel estimate or the second channel estimate prior to the first channel estimate and the second channel estimate being concatenated to form the concatenated channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The AP of claim 1 , wherein the first channel estimate is a first channel from the AP to the user device, and the second channel estimate is a second channel from the AP to the another AP.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The AP of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the transmit precoder matrix such that transmission of the plurality of signals by the M-MIMO antenna array results in the first symbol stream being beamformed to the user device and the second symbol stream being beamformed to the another AP.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The AP of claim 1 , further comprising: a switching module, coupled between the processor and the M-MIMO antenna array, wherein the processor is further configured to select a subset of the M-MIMO antenna array, and to control the switching module to couple the plurality of signals to respective antenna elements of the subset of the M-MIMO antenna array.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The AP of claim 4 , wherein the subset of the M-MIMO antenna array is configured to transmit the plurality of signals on same time and frequency physical resources.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The AP of claim 5 , further comprising: a multi-carrier modulator, wherein the processor is configured to control the multi-carrier modulator to modulate the plurality of signals onto the same time and frequency physical resources.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The AP of claim 6 , wherein the same time and frequency physical resources correspond to one or more symbols of a multi-carrier frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The AP of claim 6 , wherein the same time and frequency physical resources correspond to one or more subcarriers of a multi-carrier frame.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
180 words
A method performed by an Access Point (AP) having a Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (M-MIMO) antenna array, the method comprising: generating a first symbol stream comprising user data for a user device; generating a second symbol stream comprising backhaul information for another AP; determining a transmit precoder matrix; pre-coding the first symbol stream and the second symbol stream using the transmit precoder matrix to generate a plurality of signals; and coupling the plurality of signals to the M-MIMO antenna array to transmit a first beam for the first symbol stream to the user device and a second beam for the second symbol stream to the another AP, wherein the transmit precoder matrix is determined, based on a concatenated channel formed by concatenating a first channel estimate and a second channel estimate such that the second beam is narrower than the first beam, and wherein a row of zeros is added to either the first channel estimate or the second channel estimate prior to the first channel estimate and the second channel estimate being concatenated to form the concatenated channel.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
180 words
A method performed by an Access Point (AP) having a Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (M-MIMO) antenna array, the method comprising: generating a first symbol stream comprising user data for a user device; generating a second symbol stream comprising backhaul information for another AP; determining a transmit precoder matrix; pre-coding the first symbol stream and the second symbol stream using the transmit precoder matrix to generate a plurality of signals; and coupling the plurality of signals to the M-MIMO antenna array to transmit a first beam for the first symbol stream to the user device and a second beam for the second symbol stream to the another AP, wherein the transmit precoder matrix is determined, based on a concatenated channel formed by concatenating a first channel estimate and a second channel estimate such that the second beam is narrower than the first beam, and wherein a row of zeros is added to either the first channel estimate or the second channel estimate prior to the first channel estimate and the second channel estimate being concatenated to form the concatenated channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the first channel estimate is a first channel from the AP to the user device, and the second channel estimate is a second channel from the AP to the another AP.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the transmit precoder matrix comprises determining the transmit precoder matrix such that transmission of the plurality of signals by the M-MIMO antenna array results in the first symbol stream being beamformed to the user device and the second symbol stream being beamformed to the another AP.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising: selecting a subset of the M-MIMO antenna array; and coupling the plurality of signals to respective antenna elements of the subset of the M-MIMO antenna array.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of signals are transmitted on same time and frequency physical resources using the subset of the M-MIMO antenna array.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: modulating the plurality of signals onto the same time and frequency physical resources.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the same time and frequency physical resources correspond to one or more symbols of a multi-carrier frame.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the same time and frequency physical resources correspond to one or more subcarriers of a multi-carrier frame.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
172 words
A system, comprising: a first Access Point (AP); and a second AP comprising a processor configured to: generate a first symbol stream comprising user data for a user device; generate a second symbol stream comprising backhaul information for the first AP; determine a transmit precoder matrix; pre-code the first symbol stream and the second symbol stream using the transmit precoder matrix to generate a plurality of signals; and couple the plurality of signals to an antenna array to transmit a first beam for the first symbol stream to the user device and a second beam for the second symbol stream, wherein the transmit precoder matrix is determined, based on a concatenated channel formed by concatenating a first channel estimate and a second channel estimate such that the second beam is narrower than the first beam, and wherein a row of zeros is added to either the first channel estimate or the second channel estimate prior to the first channel estimate and the second channel estimate being concatenated to form the concatenated channel.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
172 words
A system, comprising: a first Access Point (AP); and a second AP comprising a processor configured to: generate a first symbol stream comprising user data for a user device; generate a second symbol stream comprising backhaul information for the first AP; determine a transmit precoder matrix; pre-code the first symbol stream and the second symbol stream using the transmit precoder matrix to generate a plurality of signals; and couple the plurality of signals to an antenna array to transmit a first beam for the first symbol stream to the user device and a second beam for the second symbol stream, wherein the transmit precoder matrix is determined, based on a concatenated channel formed by concatenating a first channel estimate and a second channel estimate such that the second beam is narrower than the first beam, and wherein a row of zeros is added to either the first channel estimate or the second channel estimate prior to the first channel estimate and the second channel estimate being concatenated to form the concatenated channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 17 , wherein the first channel estimate is a first channel from the second AP to the user device, and the second channel estimate is a second channel from the second AP to the first AP.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the transmit precoder matrix such that transmission of the plurality of signals by the antenna array results in the first symbol stream being beamformed to the user device and the second symbol stream being beamformed to the first AP.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 17 , wherein the second AP further comprises: a switching module, coupled between the processor and the antenna array, wherein the processor is further configured to select a subset of the antenna array, and to control the switching module to couple the plurality of signals to respective antenna elements of the subset of the antenna array.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein the subset of the antenna array is configured to transmit the plurality of signals on same time and frequency physical resources.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the second AP further comprises: a multi-carrier modulator, wherein the processor is configured to control the multi-carrier modulator to modulate the plurality of signals onto the same time and frequency physical resources.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the same time and frequency physical resources correspond to one or more symbols of a multi-carrier frame.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the same time and frequency physical resources correspond to one or more subcarriers of a multi-carrier frame.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
165 words
An Access Point (AP), comprising: a Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (M-MIMO) antenna array; and a processor configured to pre-code a first symbol stream and a second symbol stream using a transmit precoder matrix to generate a plurality of signals and couple the plurality of signals to the M-MIMO antenna array to transmit a first beam for the first symbol stream and a second beam for the second symbol stream, wherein the first symbol stream comprises user data for a user device and the second symbol stream comprises backhaul information for another AP, wherein the transmit precoder matrix is determined, based on a concatenated channel formed by concatenating a first channel estimate and a second channel estimate such that the second beam is narrower than the first beam, and wherein a row of zeros is added to either the first channel estimate or the second channel estimate prior to the first channel estimate and the second channel estimate being concatenated to form the concatenated channel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
165 words
An Access Point (AP), comprising: a Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (M-MIMO) antenna array; and a processor configured to pre-code a first symbol stream and a second symbol stream using a transmit precoder matrix to generate a plurality of signals and couple the plurality of signals to the M-MIMO antenna array to transmit a first beam for the first symbol stream and a second beam for the second symbol stream, wherein the first symbol stream comprises user data for a user device and the second symbol stream comprises backhaul information for another AP, wherein the transmit precoder matrix is determined, based on a concatenated channel formed by concatenating a first channel estimate and a second channel estimate such that the second beam is narrower than the first beam, and wherein a row of zeros is added to either the first channel estimate or the second channel estimate prior to the first channel estimate and the second channel estimate being concatenated to form the concatenated channel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
The AP of claim 25 , wherein the first channel estimate is a first channel from the AP to the user device, and the second channel estimate is a second channel from the AP to the another AP.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
53 words
The AP of claim 25 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the transmit precoder matrix such that transmission of the plurality of signals by the M-MIMO antenna array results in the first symbol stream being beamformed to the user device and the second symbol stream being beamformed to the another AP.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
59 words
The AP of claim 25 , further comprising: a switching module, coupled between the processor and the M-MIMO antenna array, wherein the processor is further configured to select a subset of the M-MIMO antenna array, and to control the switching module to couple the plurality of signals to respective antenna elements of the subset of the M-MIMO antenna array.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The AP of claim 28 , wherein the subset of the M-MIMO antenna array is configured to transmit the plurality of signals on same time and frequency physical resources.
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