Pre-coder selection based on resource block grouping

Abstract

The present invention provides a receiver. In one embodiment, the receiver includes a receive portion employing transmission signals from a transmitter having multiple antennas and capable of providing channel estimates. The receiver also includes a feedback generator portion configured to provide to the transmitter a pre-coder selection for data transmission that is based on the channel estimates, wherein the pre-coder selection corresponds to a grouping of frequency-domain resource blocks. The present invention also provides a transmitter having multiple antennas. In one embodiment, the transmitter includes a transmit portion coupled to the multiple antennas and capable of applying pre-coding to a data transmission for a receiver. The transmitter also includes a feedback decoding portion configured to decode a pre-coder selection for the data transmission that is fed back from the receiver, wherein the pre-coder selection corresponds to a grouping of frequency-domain resource blocks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A receiver, comprising:
 a receive portion employing transmission signals from a transmitter having multiple antennas and capable of providing channel estimates; and   a feedback generator portion configured to provide a pre-coder selection for data transmission to the transmitter that is based on the channel estimates; wherein the pre-coder selection corresponds to a grouping of frequency-domain resource blocks.   
     
     
         2 . The receiver as recited in  claim 1  wherein the pre-coder selection provides a single pre-coder for each group of contiguous resource blocks. 
     
     
         3 . The receiver as recited in  claim 2  wherein a number of contiguous resource blocks corresponding to each group is varied and configured by the transmitter employing signaling to the receiver via a broadcast or a common control channel. 
     
     
         4 . The receiver as recited in  claim 2  wherein a number of contiguous resource blocks corresponding to each group is varied and configured by a network employing signaling to the receiver via a higher layer signaling. 
     
     
         5 . The receiver as recited in  claim 1  wherein the pre-coder selection provides a set of pre-coders corresponding to a subgroup of resource blocks contained in each group of contiguous resource blocks. 
     
     
         6 . The receiver as recited in  claim 1  wherein the pre-coder selection provides a set of pre-coders corresponding to a combination of groups of contiguous resource blocks. 
     
     
         7 . The receiver as recited in  claim 1  wherein the pre-coder selection is jointly encoded to achieve feedback transmission compression. 
     
     
         8 . The receiver as recited in  claim 1  wherein the pre-coder selection is jointly encoded with a channel quality indicator. 
     
     
         9 . The receiver as recited in  claim 1  wherein the pre-coder selection is based on one selected from the group consisting of:
 a sum throughput; 
 a worst case throughput; and 
 a specified maximum error rate. 
 
     
     
         10 . The receiver as recited in  claim 1  wherein the grouping of the resource blocks is variable or fixed based on signaling support. 
     
     
         11 . The receiver as recited in  claim 1  wherein the receiver operates in an OFDM or OFDMA system. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a receiver, comprising:
 providing channel estimates employing transmission signals from a transmitter having multiple antennas; and   feeding back a pre-coder selection for data transmission to the transmitter that is based on the channel estimates; wherein the pre-coder selection corresponds to a grouping of frequency-domain resource blocks.   
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the pre-coder selection provides a single pre-coder for each group of contiguous resource blocks. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13  wherein a number of contiguous resource blocks corresponding to each group is varied and configured by the transmitter employing signaling to the receiver via a broadcast or a common control channel. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 13  wherein a number of contiguous resource blocks corresponding to each group is varied and configured by a network employing signaling to the receiver via a higher layer signaling. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the pre-coder selection provides a set of pre-coders corresponding to a subgroup of resource blocks contained in each group of contiguous resource blocks. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the pre-coder selection provides a set of pre-coders corresponding to a combination of groups of contiguous resource blocks. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the pre-coder selection is jointly encoded to achieve feedback transmission compression. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the pre-coder selection is jointly encoded with a channel quality indicator. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the pre-coder selection is based on one selected from the group consisting of:
 a sum throughput; 
 a worst case throughput; and 
 a specified maximum error rate.