Method for Selecting Antennas in a Wireless Networks

Abstract

A method transmits data from a user equipment (UE) including a transceiver having a set of available antennas. The method selects a subset of antennas from the set of available antennas; and transmits the data by the transceiver using the subset of antennas. The selecting subset of antennas includes transmitting sounding reference signals (SRSs) according to specified times, frequencies, and antennas; and receiving, in response to the transmitting the SRSs, information indicative of a selection of the subset of antennas.

1 . A method for transmitting data from a user equipment (UE) including a transceiver having a set of available antennas, the method comprising:
 selecting a subset of antennas from the set of available antennas; and   transmitting the data by the transceiver using the subset of antennas, wherein the selecting comprises:
 transmitting sounding reference signals (SRSs) according to specified times, frequencies, and antennas; and 
 receiving, in response to the transmitting the SRSs, information indicative of a selection of the subset of antennas. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SRS are transmitted in response to receiving information indicative of the specific times, frequency and antennas, 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subset of antennas is selected by a base station based on the transmitted SRSs, such that the UE receives the selection from the base station. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting antenna selection capability information from the transceiver to a base station; and   receiving, in response to transmitting the capability information, a conformation of the capability information.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing the selecting periodically.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing the selecting adaptively.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing the selecting based on hopping SRSs.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing the selecting based on wideband SRSs.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing the selecting based on variable bandwidth SRSs.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing the selecting based on narrow-band SRSs.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving antenna selection parameters including one or combination of transmission bandwidth, starting or ending bandwidth position, transmission period, cyclic shift hopping sequence, transmission sub-frame, repetition factor for indicating a density of a pilot subcarriers, a duration of the SRS transmission, symbol position of the SRS within a sub-frame, and hopping SRS related parameters.   
     
     
         12 . A user equipment (UE) forming at least part of a wireless network, comprising:
 a set of available antennas;   at least one RF chain, wherein a number of available antennas of the UE is greater than a number of RF chains; and   a means for transmitting the SRSs according to specified times, frequencies, and antennas, and for receiving, in response to the transmitting the SRSs, information indicative of a selection of the subset of antennas, wherein the RF chain transmits data using the selected subset of antennas.   
     
     
         13 . The UE of  claim 12 , wherein the SRS are transmitted in response to receiving information indicative of the specific times, frequency and antennas, 
     
     
         14 . The UE of  claim 12 , wherein the subset of antennas is selected by a base station based on the transmitted SRSs, such that the UE receives the selection from the base station. 
     
     
         15 . The UE of  claim 12 , wherein the means for transmitting the SRS and for receiving the information is a transceiver including a processor. 
     
     
         16 . A method for transmitting data from a transceiver having a set of available antennas and at least one RF chain, wherein a number of available antennas in the set is greater than a number of RF chains, wherein the transceiver is a part of a wireless network including a base station and a plurality of transceivers, the method comprising:
 transmitting, to the base station, sounding reference signals (SRSs) according to specified times, frequencies, and antennas;   receiving, from the base station in response to the transmitting the SRSs, information indicative of a selection of the subset of antennas; and   transmitting the data to the base station using the subset of antennas.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the SRSs are transmitted in response to receiving from the base station information indicative of specific times, frequency and antennas.