Method and wireless systems using multiple antennas and adaptive control for maximizing a communication parameter

Abstract

A method of maximizing a communication parameter, such as data capacity, signal quality or throughput of a channel between a transmit unit with M transmit antennas and a receive unit with N receive antennas and a communication system such as a wireless network (including networks with multiple access techniques such as TDMA, FDMA, CDMA, OFDMA) employing the method. The data is first processed to produce parallel spatial-multiplexed streams SM i , where i=1 . . . k, which are converted or mapped to transmit signals TS p , where p=1 . . . M, assigned for transmission from the M transmit antennas. Corresponding receive signals RS j , where j=1 . . . N, are received by the N receive antennas of the receiver and used to assess a quality parameter, such as a statistical signal parameter including SINR, SNR, power level, level crossing rate, level crossing duration of the signal of a predetermined threshold and reception threshold, or a parameter of the data, such as BER or packet error rate. The quality parameter is used to adaptively adjust k as well as other parameters such as coding and mapping to transmit antennas such that the communication parameter of the channel is maximized.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of maximizing a communication parameter of a channel between a transmit unit having a number M of transmit antennas and a receive unit having a number N of receive antennas, said method comprising the following steps:
 a) processing said data to produce parallel spatial-multiplexed streams SM i , where i=1 . . . k; 
 b) mapping said spatial-multiplexed streams SM i  to transmit signals TS p , where p=1 . . . M, for transmission from said M transmit antennas to said receiver via said channel, wherein the mapping comprises processing each of said spatial-multiplexed streams SM i  by a coding unit to produce coded streams CS h , where h=1 . . . k′; 
 c) receiving receive signals RS j , where j=1 . . . N by said N receive antennas; 
 d) assessing a quality parameter of said receive signals RS j ; 
 e) using said quality parameter to adjust k to maximize said communication parameter of said channel; and 
 f) using said quality parameter in said transmit unit to adjust k′. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quality parameter is utilized in said transmit unit to adjust the coding of said coding unit. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said coding unit is selected from the group consisting of space-time coders, space-frequency coders, adaptive modulation rate coders. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein said space-time coders and said space-frequency coders use different coding and modulation rates. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of receive processing said receive signals RS j  to reproduce said spatial-multiplexed streams SM i . 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein said quality parameter is obtained from said receive processed spatial-multiplexed streams SM i . 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein said quality parameter is derived by a statistical unit. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein said quality parameter is selected from the group consisting of signal-to-interference noise ratio, signal-to-noise ratio, power level, level crossing rate, level crossing duration. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of processing said receive signals RS j  to reconstitute said data and obtaining said quality parameter from said data. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said quality parameter is selected from the group consisting of bit-error-rate and packet error-rate. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mapping step further comprises a transmit processing step by a transmit processing block and said quality parameter is used for adjusting the transmit processing of said transmit processing block. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quality parameter is fed back to said transmit unit. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of processing said data comprises a technique selected from the group consisting of adaptive modulation, adaptive coding, Space-Time coding, and Space-Frequency coding. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transmit signals TS p  are formatted in accordance with at least one multiple access technique selected from the group consisting of TDMA, FDMA, CDMA, OFDMA. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said communication parameter is selected from the group consisting of data capacity, signal quality and throughput. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said receive unit and said transmit unit belong to a cellular communication system. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , used in the downlink of said cellular communication system. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , used in the uplink of said cellular communication system. 
     
     
       19. A communication system with an adaptively maximized communication parameter of a channel in which data is transmitted between a transmit unit having a number M of transmit antennas and a receive unit having a number N of receive antennas, said transmit unit comprising:
 a) processing means for processing said data to produce parallel spatial-multiplexed streams SM i , where i=1 . . . k; 
 b) antenna mapping means for converting said spatial-multiplexed streams SM i  to transmit signals TS p , where p=1 . . . M, and transmitting said transmit signals TS p  from said M transmit antennas via said channel; 
 said receive unit receiving receive signals RS j , where j=1 . . . N, and said communication system comprising: 
 a) means for assessing a quality parameter of said receive signals RS j ; 
 b) means for adjusting k based on said quality parameter to maximize said communication parameter of said channel; and 
 c) an adaptive controller in communication with said processing means and said antenna mapping means, said adaptive controller adjusting said processing means and said antenna mapping means based on said quality parameter. 
 
     
     
       20. The communication system of  claim 19 , wherein said means for assessing said quality parameter comprises a statistical unit. 
     
     
       21. The communication system of  claim 19 , wherein said means for assessing said quality parameter is located in said receive unit. 
     
     
       22. The communication system of  claim 19 , wherein said means for assessing said quality parameter is located in said transmit unit. 
     
     
       23. The communication system of  claim 19 , further comprising a coding unit in said transmit unit for processing said spatial-multiplexed streams SM i  to produce coded streams CS h , where h=1 . . . k′. 
     
     
       24. The communication system of  claim 23 , wherein said means for adjusting k further comprises a mechanism for adjusting k′. 
     
     
       25. The communication system of  claim 23 , wherein said coding unit is selected from the group consisting of space-time coders, space-frequency coders, adaptive modulation rate coders. 
     
     
       26. The communication system of  claim 23 , further comprising a database of codes and antenna mapping parameters in communication with said coding unit and said antenna mapping means. 
     
     
       27. The communication system of  claim 23 , further comprising an adaptive controller in communication with said processing means, said coding unit and said antenna mapping means, said adaptive controller adjusting said processing means, said coding unit and said antenna mapping means based on said quality parameter. 
     
     
       28. The communication system of  claim 19 , wherein said means for adjusting k is located in said transmit unit. 
     
     
       29. The communication system of  claim 19 , said communication system operating in accordance with at least one multiple access technique selected from the group consisting of TDMA, FDMA, CDMA, OFDMA. 
     
     
       30. The communication system of  claim 19 , wherein said communication system is a cellular communication system. 
     
     
       31. The communication system of  claim 19  employing multi-carrier modulation. 
     
     
       32. A method of improving a communication parameter of a wireless communication channel between a transmit unit having a number M of transmit antennas and a receive unit having a number N of receive antennas, said method comprising:
 processing data to produce parallel spatial-multiplexed streams;   mapping said spatial-multiplexed streams to transmit signal(s) for transmission from one or more of said M transmit antennas to the receiver via the wireless communication channel, wherein the mapping comprises processing at least a subset of the spatial multiplexed streams to produce a plurality of coded streams; and   receiving an indication from a receiver denoting one or more quality parameters associated with the wireless communication channel; and   modifying one or more of the number of parallel spatial-multiplexed streams and the mapping of said spatial multiplexed streams to transmit signals based, at least in part, on the received indication;   wherein the quality parameter is utilized in the transmit unit to adjust one or more coding parameters employed by a coding unit in generating the plurality of coded streams.   
     
     
       33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the transmit signals are formatted in accordance with at least one multiple access technique selected from a group consisting of TDMA, FDMA, CDMA, and OFDM. 
     
     
       34. A method according to claim 32, wherein the indication is received from a remote receiver. 
     
     
       35. A method according to claim 32, wherein the indication is received from a receiver co-located with the transmit unit. 
     
     
       36. A method of improving a communication parameter of a wireless communication channel between a transmit unit having a number M of transmit antennas and a receive unit having a number N of receive antennas, said method comprising:
 processing data to produce parallel spatial-multiplexed streams;   mapping said spatial-multiplexed streams to transmit signal(s) for transmission from one or more of said M transmit antennas to the receiver via the wireless communication channel, wherein the mapping comprises processing at least a subset of the spatial multiplexed streams to produce a plurality of coded streams; and   receiving an indication from a receiver denoting one or more quality parameters associated with the wireless communication channel; and   modifying one or more of the number of parallel spatial-multiplexed streams and the mapping of said spatial multiplexed streams to transmit signals based, at least in part, on the received indication, wherein a coding unit is selected from a group consisting of space-time coders, space-frequency coders, adaptive modulation rate coders.   
     
     
       37. A method of improving a communication parameter of a wireless communication channel between a transmit unit having a number M of transmit antennas and a receive unit having a number N of receive antennas, said method comprising:
 processing data to produce parallel spatial-multiplexed streams;   mapping said spatial-multiplexed streams to transmit signal(s) for transmission from one or more of said M transmit antennas to the receiver via the wireless communication channel, wherein the mapping comprises processing at least a subset of the spatial multiplexed streams to produce a plurality of coded streams; and   receiving an indication from a receiver denoting one or more quality parameters associated with the wireless communication channel, wherein the indication denotes one or more of a bit-error rate (BER), packet error rate (PER), signal to noise ratio (SNR), signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR), and a received signal strength indication (RSSI) measured at the receiver of the communication channel; and   modifying one or more of the number of parallel spatial-multiplexed streams and the mapping of said spatial multiplexed streams to transmit signals based, at least in part, on the received indication.   
     
     
       38. A method of improving a communication parameter of a wireless communication channel between a transmit unit having a number M of transmit antennas and a receive unit having a number N of receive antennas, said method comprising:
 processing data to produce parallel spatial-multiplexed streams;   mapping said spatial-multiplexed streams to transmit signal(s) for transmission from one or more of said M transmit antennas to the receiver via the wireless communication channel, wherein the mapping comprises processing at least a subset of the spatial multiplexed streams to produce a plurality of coded streams; and   receiving an indication from a receiver denoting one or more quality parameters associated with the wireless communication channel; and   modifying one or more of the number of parallel spatial-multiplexed streams and the mapping of said spatial multiplexed streams to transmit signals based, at least in part, on the received indication, wherein the coding of the spatial-multiplexed streams comprises a technique selected from a group consisting of adaptive modulation, adaptive coding, space-time coding, and space-frequency coding.   
     
     
       39. A transmitter comprising:
 a mapping unit, to selectively process a plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams to produce a plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, and to map at least a subset of the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams to a plurality of (M) of transmit antennae for transmission to a remote receiver via a wireless communication channel; and   a control unit, coupled to the mapping unit, to control one or more aspects of one or more of the selective processing spatial-multiplexed streams and the mapping of the coded spatial-multiplexed streams based, at least in part, on an indication of a quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel;   wherein the quality parameter is utilized in the transmitter to adjust one or more coding parameters employed by a coding unit in generating the plurality of coded streams.   
     
     
       40. A transmitter according to claim 39, the mapping unit comprising:
 a coding unit, to receive the plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams and to generate the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams.   
     
     
       41. A transmitter according to claim 40, wherein the coding unit comprises a number (k) of space-time coders. 
     
     
       42. A transmitter according to claim 40, wherein the coding unit comprises a number (k) of space-frequency coders. 
     
     
       43. A transmitter according to claim 40, the mapping unit further comprising:
 a transmit processing unit, to receive the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams to select ones of at least a subset of a plurality (M) of transmit antennae.   
     
     
       44. A transmitter according to claim 39, wherein the indication of the quality parameter is received from a remote receiver. 
     
     
       45. A transmitter according to claim 39, wherein the indication of the quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel is received from a co-located receive unit. 
     
     
       46. A transceiver comprising:
 a plurality of dipole antennae; and   a transmitter according to claim 40, coupled with at least a subset of the plurality of dipole antennae through which a wireless communication channel may be established with a remote receiver, wherein the transmitter adaptively modifies one or more of a number of spatial-multiplexed streams, the coding applied to the spatial-multiplexed streams, and/or the mapping of the coded spatial-multiplexed streams to the plurality of dipole antennae.   
     
     
       47. A transmitter comprising:
 a mapping unit comprising a coding unit, to receive a plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams and to generate a plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, to selectively process a plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams to produce a plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, and to map at least a subset of the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams to a plurality of (M) of transmit antennae for transmission to a remote receiver via a wireless communication channel, the coding unit comprising a number (k) of space time coders and at least a subset of the k space-time coders applies one of a number of space-time codes to an associated subset of the received k spatial-multiplexed streams based, at least in part, on a control signal generated by a control unit in view of the received indication; and   a control unit, coupled to the mapping unit, to control one or more aspects of one or more of the selective processing spatial-multiplexed streams and the mapping of the coded spatial-multiplexed streams based, at least in part, on an indication of a quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel.   
     
     
       48. A transmitter comprising:
 a mapping unit comprising a coding unit, to receive a plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams and to generate a plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, to selectively process a plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams to produce a plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, and to map at least a subset of the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams to a plurality of (M) of transmit antennae for transmission to a remote receiver via a wireless communication channel, the coding unit comprising a number (k) of space time coders and at least a subset of the k space-time coders applies one of a number of space-time codes to an associated subset of the received k spatial-multiplexed streams based, at least in part, on a control signal generated by a control unit in view of the received indication and the space-time code selected is designed to improve the quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel; and   the control unit, coupled to the mapping unit, to control one or more aspects of one or more of the selective processing spatial-multiplexed streams and the mapping of the coded spatial-multiplexed streams based, at least in part, on an indication of a quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel.   
     
     
       49. A transmitter comprising:
 a mapping unit comprising a coding unit and a transmit processing unit, the coding unit to receive the plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams and to generate the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, to selectively process a plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams to produce a plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, and to map at least a subset of the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams to a plurality of (M) of transmit antennae for transmission to a remote receiver via a wireless communication channel and the transmit processing unit to receive the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams to select one of at least a subset of a plurality (M) of transmit antennae and applies a select one of a number of k M×M space-time filtering matrix set G(z) to the received k′ coded spatial-multiplexed streams; and   a control unit, coupled to the mapping unit, to control one or more aspects of one or more of the selective processing spatial-multiplexed streams and the mapping of the coded spatial-multiplexed streams based, at least in part, on an indication of a quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel.   
     
     
       50. A transmitter comprising:
 a mapping unit comprising a coding unit and a transmit processing unit, the coding unit to receive the plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams and to generate the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, to selectively process a plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams to produce a plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, and to map at least a subset of the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams to a plurality of (M) of transmit antennae for transmission to a remote receiver via a wireless communication channel and the transmit processing unit to receive the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams to select one of at least a subset of a plurality (M) of transmit antennae and applies a select one of a number of k M×M spacetime filtering matrix set G(z) to the received k′ coded spatial-multiplexed streams; and   a control unit, coupled to the mapping unit, to control one or more aspects of one or more of the selective processing spatial-multiplexed streams and the mapping of the coded spatial-multiplexed streams based, at least in part, on an indication of a quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel, the selection of the space-time filtering matrix set is made in response to control input from the control unit based, at least in part, on the received indication.   
     
     
       51. A transmitter comprising:
 a mapping unit comprising a coding unit and a transmit processing unit, the coding unit to receive the plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams and to generate the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, to selectively process a plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams to produce a plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, and to map at least a subset of the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams to a plurality of (M) of transmit antennae for transmission to a remote receiver via a wireless communication channel and the transmit processing unit to receive the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams to select one of at least a subset of a plurality (M) of transmit antennae and; and   a control unit, coupled to the mapping unit, to control one or more aspects of one or more of the selective processing spatial-multiplexed streams and the mapping of the coded spatial-multiplexed streams based, at least in part, on an indication of a quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel, the transmit processing unit applies a select one of a number of k M×M space-frequency filtering matrix set to the received k′ coded spatial-multiplexed streams in response to control input from the control unit based, at least in part, on the received indication.   
     
     
       52. A wireless communication device comprising:
 a plurality of dipole antennae, wherein the wireless communication device establishes a wireless communication channel with one or more remote wireless communication devices through at least a subset of such antennae; and   a transmit unit, coupled with at least a subset of the dipole antennae, to selectively process a plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams to produce a plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, and to map at least a subset of the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams to a plurality of (M) of the antennae for transmission to the remote receiver via the wireless communication channel, and to control one or more aspects of one or more of the selective processing spatial-multiplexed streams and the mapping of the coded spatial-multiplexed streams based, at least in part, on a received indication of a quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel;   wherein the quality parameter is utilized in the transmit unit to adjust one or more coding parameters employed by a coding unit in generating the plurality of coded streams.   
     
     
       53. A wireless communication device according to claim 52, further comprising:
 a receive unit, coupled with the transmit unit, to provide the indication of a quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel.   
     
     
       54. A wireless communication device according to claim 52, wherein the indication of the quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel is received from a remote receive unit. 
     
     
       55. A wireless communication device according to claim 54, wherein the remote receive unit is an intended target of the wireless communication channel. 
     
     
       56. A wireless communication device comprising:
 a plurality of dipole antennae, wherein the wireless communication device establishes a wireless communication channel with one or more remote wireless communication devices through at least a subset of such antennae;   a transmit unit, coupled with at least a subset of the dipole antennae, to selectively process a plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams to produce a plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, and to map at least a subset of the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams to a plurality of (M) of the antennae for transmission to the remote receiver via the wireless communication channel, and to control one or more aspects of one or more of the selective processing spatial-multiplexed streams and the mapping of the coded spatial-multiplexed streams based, at least in part, on a received indication of a quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel;   a receive unit, coupled with the transmit unit, to provide the indication of a quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel, the quality parameter represents one or more of a received signal strength indication (RSSI), a crossing level, a signal to noise ratio (SNR), a signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR), a bit error rate (BER), and a packet error rate (PER).   
     
     
       57. A wireless communication device comprising:
 a plurality of dipole antennae, wherein the wireless communication device establishes a wireless communication channel with one or more remote wireless communication devices through at least a subset of such antennae; and   a transmit unit, coupled with at least a subset of the dipole antennae, to selectively process a plurality (k) of spatial-multiplexed streams to produce a plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams, and to map at least a subset of the plurality (k′) of coded spatial-multiplexed streams to a plurality of (M) of the antennae for transmission to the remote receiver via the wireless communication channel, and to control one or more aspects of one or more of the selective processing spatial-multiplexed streams and the mapping of the coded spatial-multiplexed streams based, at least in part, on a received indication of a quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel, the indication of the quality parameter associated with the wireless communication channel is received from a remote receive unit and represents one or more of a received signal strength indication (RSSI), a crossing level, a signal to noise ratio (SNR), a signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR), a bit error rate (BER), and a packet error rate (PER).