Systems and methods for uplink coverage adaptation

Abstract

Systems and methods relating to adjusting uplink coverage in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a network node to adjust uplink coverage for one or more cells in a cellular communications network comprises determining that there is a need to adjust uplink beam transformations for one or more cells of a plurality of cells in a cellular communications network. For each cell of the one or more cells, the uplink beam transformation for the cell is a transformation of received uplink signals for the cell from an antenna domain to a beam domain. The method further comprises, upon determining that there is a need to adjust the uplink beam transformations for the one or more cells, determining new uplink beam transformations for the one or more cells and applying the new uplink beam transformations for the one or more cells.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operation of a network node to adjust uplink coverage for one or more cells in a cellular communications network, comprising:
 determining that there is a need to adjust uplink beam transformations for one or more cells of a plurality of cells in a cellular communications network, wherein, for each cell of the one or more cells, the uplink beam transformation for the cell is a transformation of received uplink signals for the cell from an antenna domain to a beam domain; and   upon determining that there is a need to adjust the uplink beam transformations for the one or more cells:
 determining new uplink beam transformations for the one or more cells; and 
 applying the new uplink beam transformations for the one or more cells.