Pilot time slot hopping

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for pilot time slot hopping to mitigate interference-based pilot time slot contamination. Embodiments include generating a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system message frame structure comprising a header comprising a plurality of header time slots, an uplink (UL) time slot (optional), and a downlink (DL) time slot. Generating includes determining, based on a predetermined scheme, allocation of at least one of the plurality of header time slots to at least one user device within a predetermined area.

1 . A method for pilot time slot hopping, the method comprising:
 generating, using a processing device, a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system message frame structure comprising a header comprising a plurality of header time slots, and a downlink (DL) time slot, wherein generating comprises:   determining, based on a predetermined scheme, allocation of at least one of the plurality of header time slots to at least one user device within a predetermined area.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the header is a user device training sequence header. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the header time slots are pilot time slots. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein one of a plurality of base stations (BSs) and/or access points (APs) comprises the processing device; and   wherein each of the plurality of BSs and/or APs are programmed for time synchronization of the frame structure such that each BS and/or AP recognizes when in time the header occurs during MIMO system message transmission.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the MIMO system message frame structure further comprises:
 determining re-allocation, based on the predetermined scheme, periodically of at least one of the plurality of header time slots to at least one user device within the predetermined area.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the re-allocation is determined periodically at least every millisecond. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the processing device, that interference-based pilot time slot contamination mitigation is needed;   wherein generating the MIMO system message frame structure including determining allocation of the at least one of the plurality of header time slots to the at least one user device is performed in response to the determination that interference-based pilot time slot contamination mitigation is needed.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining, by the processing device, that interference-based pilot time slot contamination mitigation is not needed; and   based on the determination that interference-based pilot time slot contamination mitigation is not needed, maintaining present allocation of the at least one of the plurality of header time slots to the at least one user device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 subsequent to generating the MIMO system message frame structure including determining allocation of the at least one of the plurality of header time slots to the at least one user device, detecting, by the processing device, that interference-based pilot time slot contamination is occurring; and   in response to detecting that interference-based pilot time slot contamination is occurring, determining re-allocation, based on the predetermined scheme, of at least one of the plurality of header time slots to at least one user device within the predetermined area in order to mitigate the detected contamination.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of header time slots comprises a first plurality of header time slots and a second plurality of header time slots;   wherein the first plurality of header time slots and the second plurality of header time slots are different; and   wherein determining allocation of at least one of the plurality of header time slots to at least one user device comprises determining allocation of the first plurality of header time slots based on the predetermined scheme and without determining allocation of the second plurality of header time slots based on the predetermined scheme.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein generating the MIMO system message frame structure further comprises:   determining re-allocation, based on a second predetermined scheme, of at least one of the plurality of header time slots to at least one user device within the predetermined area; and   wherein:   the second predetermined scheme is the same as the scheme;   wherein the second scheme is initiated at a second start time different from a start time of the scheme; or   wherein the second scheme and the scheme both utilize the same pseudo-random pattern function but the second scheme utilizes at least one different seed than the scheme; or   the second predetermined scheme is different than the scheme.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein allocation is based on one of a plurality of predetermined schemes;   wherein generating the MIMO system message frame structure further comprises:   dynamically selecting, in order to avoid allocation of the same header time slots to multiple user devices, a different predetermined scheme for each re-allocation of header time slots; and   determining re-allocation periodically and/or as needed to avoid contamination, based on the dynamically selected predetermined scheme, of at least one of the plurality of header time slots to at least one user device within the predetermined area.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for pilot time slot hopping, the apparatus comprising:
 a memory;   a processor; and   a module stored in the memory, executable by the processor, and configured to:   generate a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system message frame structure comprising a header comprising a plurality of header time slots, and a downlink (DL) time slot, wherein generating comprises:   determining, based on a predetermined scheme, allocation of at least one of the plurality of header time slots to at least one user device within a predetermined area.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the apparatus is one of a plurality of base stations (BSs) and/or access points (APs); and   wherein each of the plurality of BSs and/or APs are programmed for time synchronization of the frame structure such that each BS and/or AP recognizes when in time the header occurs during MIMO system message transmission.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein generating the MIMO system message frame structure further comprises:
 determining re-allocation, based on the predetermined scheme, periodically of at least one of the plurality of header time slots to at least one user device within the predetermined area.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the module is further configured to:
 determine that interference-based pilot time slot contamination mitigation is needed;   wherein generating the MIMO system message frame structure including determining allocation of the at least one of the plurality of header time slots to the at least one user device is performed in response to the determination that interference-based pilot time slot contamination mitigation is needed.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the module is further configured to:
 subsequent to generating the MIMO system message frame structure including determining allocation of the at least one of the plurality of header time slots to the at least one user device, detect that interference-based pilot time slot contamination is occurring; and   in response to detecting that interference-based pilot time slot contamination is occurring, determining re-allocation, based on the predetermined scheme, of at least one of the plurality of header time slots to at least one user device within the predetermined area in order to mitigate the detected contamination.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the plurality of header time slots comprises a first plurality of header time slots and a second plurality of header time slots;   wherein the first plurality of header time slots and the second plurality of header time slots are different; and   wherein determining allocation of at least one of the plurality of header time slots to at least one user device comprises determining allocation of the first plurality of header time slots based on the predetermined scheme and without determining allocation of the second plurality of header time slots based on the predetermined scheme.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 ,
 wherein generating the MIMO system message frame structure further comprises:   determining re-allocation, based on a second predetermined scheme, of at least one of the plurality of header time slots to at least one user device within the predetermined area; and   wherein the second predetermined scheme is different than the scheme.   
     
     
         20 . A computer program product for pilot time slot hopping, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of codes for causing a computer to:   generate a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system message frame structure comprising a header comprising a plurality of header time slots, and a downlink (DL) time slot, wherein generating comprises:   determining, based on a predetermined scheme, allocation of at least one of the plurality of header time slots to at least one user device within a predetermined area.