Abstract: The present invention provides a method for implementation in a first functional entity in a wireless communication system that includes a first plurality of base stations for providing wireless connectivity to at least one mobile unit. In one embodiment of the method includes receiving, at the first functional entity, channel state information associated with a plurality of wireless communication channels between the first plurality of base stations and the mobile unit. Selection of a second plurality of base stations from the first plurality of base stations is performed jointly with resource allocation to the second plurality of base stations using the channel state information. The first functional entity then communicates information indicative of the selected second plurality of base stations and the allocated resources to the selected second plurality of base stations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for feeding back channel state information are disclosed. The method of providing channel state information for a wireless communications channel provided between a first network node having at least one transmission antenna and a second network node having at least one reception antenna comprises the steps of: estimating a current value of at least a first type of channel state information for at least one sub-channel within the channel from signals received by the at least one reception antenna over the channel from the at least one transmission antenna; determining whether the current value of the first type of channel state information varies from previously-transmitted value for the first type of channel state information by at least a predetermined amount; and if so, transmitting an indicator indicative of the current value for the first type of channel state information to the first network node.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods implemented in a base station having a plurality of antennas and one or more user terminals. One embodiment of the method includes receiving feedback from at least one user in response to transmitting a first frame to said at least one user. The first frame is formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using at least one first code word selected from at least one first code book associated with the at least one user. The method also includes transmitting at least one second frame to the user(s). The second frame(s) are pre-coded using at least one second codeword selected from at least one second codebook. The second codebook(s) determined based on the feedback and the first codeword(s).

Abstract: A relay operable to relay data between a base station and user equipment of a wireless communications system, a relay-base station pair, methods and computer program products are disclosed. The relay comprises: queuing logic operable, for each user equipment supported by the relay, to form a pending data queue associated with that user equipment, the pending data queue storing received data intended for that user equipment which has yet to be transmitted by the relay over a communications channel between that user equipment and the relay; and scheduling logic operable to schedule transmissions of pending data to each user equipment based on at least one of a size of the pending data queue associated with each user equipment, priority of pending data and channel state information of the communications channel between each user equipment and the relay.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods implemented in a base station having a plurality of antennas and one or more user terminals. One embodiment of the method includes receiving feedback from at least one user in response to transmitting a first frame to said at least one user. The first frame is formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using at least one first code word selected from at least one first code book associated with the at least one user. The method also includes transmitting at least one second frame to the user(s). The second frame(s) are pre-coded using at least one second codeword selected from at least one second codebook. The second codebook(s) determined based on the feedback and the first codeword(s).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods implemented in a base station having a plurality of antennas and one or more user terminals. One embodiment of the method includes receiving feedback from at least one user in response to transmitting a first frame to said at least one user. The first frame is formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using at least one first code word selected from at least one first code book associated with the at least one user. The method also includes transmitting at least one second frame to the user(s). The second frame(s) are pre-coded using at least one second codeword selected from at least one second codebook. The second codebook(s) determined based on the feedback and the first codeword(s).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for implementation in a first functional entity in a wireless communication system that includes a first plurality of base stations for providing wireless connectivity to at least one mobile unit. In one embodiment of the method includes receiving, at the first functional entity, channel state information associated with a plurality of wireless communication channels between the first plurality of base stations and the mobile unit. Selection of a second plurality of base stations from the first plurality of base stations is performed jointly with resource allocation to the second plurality of base stations using the channel state information. The first functional entity then communicates information indicative of the selected second plurality of base stations and the allocated resources to the selected second plurality of base stations.

Abstract: A method is provided, in a wireless communications network comprising a source node, a destination node and at least one relay node, of selecting spatial subchannels for use. The method comprising the steps of: spatially decomposing channels into spatial subchannels; and selecting a subset of the subchannels for use that at least approximately maximises predicted throughput rate.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods implemented in a base station having a plurality of antennas and one or more user terminals. One embodiment of the method includes receiving feedback from at least one user in response to transmitting a first frame to said at least one user. The first frame is formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using at least one first code word selected from at least one first code book associated with the at least one user. The method also includes transmitting at least one second frame to the user(s). The second frame(s) are pre-coded using at least one second codeword selected from at least one second codebook. The second codebook(s) determined based on the feedback and the first codeword(s).

Abstract: In a method for transmitting data, data intended for each user in a set of users is simultaneously transmitted on a plurality of spatial using common time and frequency resources during a first transmission time interval. At a user, a data stream transmitted is received on a plurality of spatial channels, wherein the plurality of spatial channels share common time and frequency resources during a given transmission interval.