Systems and Methods for Scheduling Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output (MIMO) High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) Pilot Channels

Abstract

Transitioning from basic higher order MIMO channel estimation to enhanced higher order MIMO channel estimation (and vice-versa) can be accomplished through the signaling of high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) shared control channel (HS-SCCH) orders to next-generation user equipments (UEs). A base station can be configured to send an HS-SCCH order indicating activation of scheduled pilot channels, and then begin transmitting the scheduled pilot channels after receiving an ACK message from at least one next-generation UE. A base station can also be configured to send an HS-SCCH order indicating de-activation of scheduled pilot channels to next-generation UEs scheduled for downlink transmission, and then stop transmitting the scheduled pilot channels after receiving ACK messages from each next-generation UE. Alternatively, scheduled pilot channels may be activated/de-activated without receiving an ACK message from some or all of the next-generation UEs scheduled for downlink transmission.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for communicating pilot signaling, the method comprising:
 transmitting, by an node B (NodeB), common pilots to at least one user equipment (UE) on a plurality of first antenna ports;   transmitting, by the NodeB, a high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) shared control channel (HS-SCCH) order to the at least one UE, the HS-SCCH order indicating that the NodeB will begin transmitting scheduled pilots;   receiving an acknowledgment (ACK) message from the at least one UE; and   responsive to receiving the ACK message, transmitting, by the NodeB, the scheduled pilots on at least one second antenna port to the at least one UE.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 ceasing, by the NodeB, transmission of the scheduled pilots when pilot channel signaling has been de-activated through the HS-SCCH orders.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the scheduled pilots comprises:
 transmitting de-modulation common pilot channel (D-CPICH) signaling on the at least one second antenna port.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the HS-SCCH order includes orders for activating or deactivating de-modulation common pilot channel (D-CPICH) signaling. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the HS-SCCH orders for activating or deactivating the D-CPICH signaling are UE-specific. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein activating or deactivating the D-CPICH signaling comprises:
 sending, by the NodeB, an HS-SCCH frame containing an order for activating or deactivating the D-CPICH signaling.   
     
     
         7 . A node B (NodeB) adapted to operate in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) mode with four transmit antennas operating in a High-Speed Downlink Shared channel (HS-DSCH) a cell, the NodeB comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions for:
 transmitting common pilots to at least one user equipment (UE) on a plurality of first antenna ports; 
 transmitting a high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) shared control channel (HS-SCCH) order to the at least one UE, the HS-SCCH order indicating that the NodeB will begin transmitting scheduled pilots; 
 receiving an acknowledgment (ACK) message from the at least one UE; and 
 responsive to receiving the ACK message, transmitting the scheduled pilots on at least one second antenna port to the at least one UE. 
   
     
     
         8 . The NodeB of  claim 7 , wherein the programming further comprises instructions for:
 ceasing, by the NodeB, transmission of the scheduled pilots when pilot channel signaling has been de-activated through the HS-SCCH orders.   
     
     
         9 . The NodeB of  claim 7 , wherein transmitting the scheduled pilots comprises:
 transmitting de-modulation common pilot channel (D-CPICH) signaling on the at least one second antenna port.   
     
     
         10 . The NodeB of  claim 7 , wherein the HS-SCCH order includes orders for activating or deactivating de-modulation common pilot channel (D-CPICH) signaling. 
     
     
         11 . The NodeB of  claim 10 , wherein the HS-SCCH orders for activating or deactivating the D-CPICH signaling are UE-specific. 
     
     
         12 . The NodeB of  claim 11 , wherein activating or deactivating the D-CPICH signaling comprises:
 sending, by the NodeB, an HS-SCCH frame containing an order for activating or deactivating the D-CPICH signaling.   
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer instructions for execution in a an node B (NodeB), that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
 transmitting common pilots to at least one user equipment (UE) on a plurality of first antenna ports;   transmitting a high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) shared control channel (HS-SCCH) order to the at least one UE, the HS-SCCH order indicating that the NodeB will begin transmitting scheduled pilots;   receiving an acknowledgment (ACK) message from the at least one UE; and   responsive to receiving the ACK message, transmitting the scheduled pilots on at least one second antenna port to the at least one UE.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
 ceasing, by the NodeB, transmission of the scheduled pilots when pilot channel signaling has been de-activated through the HS-SCCH orders.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 13 , wherein transmitting the scheduled pilots comprises:
 transmitting de-modulation common pilot channel (D-CPICH) signaling on the at least one second antenna port.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 13 , wherein the HS-SCCH order includes orders for activating or deactivating de-modulation common pilot channel (D-CPICH) signaling. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 16 , wherein the HS-SCCH orders for activating or deactivating the D-CPICH signaling are UE-specific. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 17 , wherein activating or deactivating the D-CPICH signaling comprises:
 sending, by the NodeB, an HS-SCCH frame containing an order for activating or deactivating the D-CPICH signaling.