Allocation of sub channels of MIMO channels of a wireless network

Abstract

A base station for a wireless network uses one or more MIMO channels having subchannels, to communicate with multiple user equipments, and allocates the sub channels to the user equipments. Different subchannels of a given one of the channels can be allocated to different user equipments. The ability to allocate sub channels individually rather than only allocating entire channels can enable higher data rates can be achieved. This is particularly useful for improving data rates at cell boundaries or sector boundaries, where the coverage is traditionally weakest. A user equipment can use subchannels from different MIMO channels from different sectors or from different base stations.

1 . A base station for a wireless network for communicating over one or more channels to multiple user equipments, at least one of the channels having sub channels distinguishable by spatial separation of transmitters of the respective sub channels, the base station having an allocator for allocating the sub channels to the user equipments, the allocator being arranged to allocate different subchannels of a given one of the channels to different user equipments.  
     
     
         2 . The base station of  claim 1 , arranged to cooperate with a neighboring base station to enable subchannels from both base stations to be allocated to the same user equipment.  
     
     
         3 . The base station of  claim 1 , the allocator being arranged to allocate the sub channels for downlinks according to information relating to sub channel signal quality received from the user equipment.  
     
     
         4 . The base station of  claim 3 , the information comprising signal quality measurements of sub channels allocated to the user equipment, and sub channels available but not allocated.  
     
     
         5 . The base station of  claim 3 , the information comprising a request to allocate a different sub channel.  
     
     
         6 . The base station of  claim 1 , having different transmitters for different sectors, the allocator being arranged to allocate sub channels from more than one sector to the same user equipment.  
     
     
         7 . The base station of  claim 1 , having a signal quality detector for measuring signal quality of uplinks, the allocator using these measurements to allocate sub channels for the uplink.  
     
     
         8 . The base station of  claim 1 , arranged to adapt modulation and/or coding of the sub channels.  
     
     
         9 . A user equipment for communicating with a base station of a wireless network over multiple channels, at least some of the channels having sub channels distinguishable by spatial separation of transmitters of the respective sub channels, the user equipment having a signal quality detector for measuring the signal quality of sub channels, and being arranged to use subchannels selected from more than one of the channels.  
     
     
         10 . The user equipment of  claim 9  arranged to compare sub channels from different base stations.  
     
     
         11 . The user equipment of  claim 9  arranged to compare sub channels from different sectors of a base station.  
     
     
         12 . The user equipment of  claim 9  arranged to send signal quality measurements of the sub channels to the base station.  
     
     
         13 . An allocator for the base station of  claim 1 , in the form of software.  
     
     
         14 . A method of allocating sub channels in a wireless network having multiple channels between a base station and multiple user equipments, at least some of the channels having sub channels distinguishable by spatial separation of transmitters of the respective sub channels, the method having the steps of receiving an indication of signal qualities of the sub channels, and allocating the different subchannels of a given one of the channels to different user equipments according to the signal qualities.  
     
     
         15 . A method of offering a data transmission service over a wireless network using the base station of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         16 . A base station for a wireless network for communicating over one or more channels to multiple user equipments, at least one of the channels having sub channels distinguishable by spatial separation of transmitters of the respective sub channels, the base station having an allocator for allocating more than one of the channels to a given one of the user equipments.  
     
     
         17 . The base station of  claim 16 , further arranged to cooperate with other base stations to allocate channels from more than one base station to the given user equipment.  
     
     
         18 . A user equipment for communicating with a base station of a wireless network over multiple channels, at least some of the channels having sub channels distinguishable by spatial separation of transmitters of the respective sub channels, the user equipment having a signal quality detector for measuring the signal quality of sub channels, and being arranged to use more than one of the channels simultaneously.