Abstract: Some example embodiments presented herein are directed towards an eNodeB, and corresponding method therein, for establishing beamforming for downlink communications in a multiple antenna system. The eNodeB may transmit a plurality of reference signals, where each reference signal is beamformed into a distinct direction with in at least one correlated domain (e.g., an elevation and/or azimuth domain). The eNodeB may generate beamformed downlink communications for antenna elements and/or subelements based on received signal quality assessments of the plurality of reference signals. Some example embodiments may be directed towards a user equipment, and corresponding methods therein, for establishing beamforming for downlink communications. The user equipment may receive the plurality of reference signals and provide signal assessments of the reference signals based on measurements performed by the user equipment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a network node and a method performed by the network node for controlling communication between a radio base station, RBS, and user equipments, UEs. The RBS has multiple antennas and uses beam forming when communicating with the UEs. The method comprises obtaining (702) information on an expected first propagation path direction interval between the RBS and UEs served by other neighboring RBSs, and obtaining (704) information on an expected second propagation path direction interval between the RBS and served UEs; defining (706) a first communication power limit for each of a plurality of beams according to the obtained information, the first limit being defined to suppress communication power in the first propagation path direction interval, when the plurality of beams are transmitted; and determining (708) antenna weights for each of the plurality of beams based on the defined first communication power limit.

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards an eNodeB, and method therein, for generating downlink communications in a multiple antenna system. The method comprises transmitting, to a number of user equipments, a plurality of reference signals, where each signal is beamformed in a distinct direction within at least one correlated domain (e.g., elevation and/or azimuth). The eNodeB receives at least one CSI report from a specific user equipment and determines a primary reference signal based on, for example, the at least one CSI report. The eNodeB may thereafter generate downlink communication signals for antenna element(s) and/or subelements of the multiple antenna system. The downlink communication signals are beamformed into a transmitting direction that aligns most closely with a beamforming direction of the at least one primary reference signal, as compared to any other beamforming direction of the reference signals.

Abstract: The initialization of the CoMP Resource Management Set for a given mobile terminal is based, at least in part, on an estimation of the mobile terminal's geographical location, which can be estimated using network positioning of the mobile terminal. One example method begins with the acquisition (410) by a network node of a geographical position estimate for the mobile terminal of interest. The network node then selects (420) a set of one or more CSI-RS resources for measurement by the mobile terminal, based on the estimated geographical position of the mobile terminal. Finally, the network node configures the mobile terminal to measure the selected CSI-RS resources by sending (430) control information identifying the set to the mobile terminal.

Abstract: According to one aspect of this disclosure, the configuration of which Interference Measurement Resources, “IMRs”, a given user equipment, “UE”, should measure for Channel State Information, “CSI”, reporting is made more or less invariant to dynamic traffic variations affecting the set of Coordinated Multi-Point, “CoMP”, transmission points used for serving the UE, or to the use of dynamic blanking for those transmission points. These goals are achieved at least in part by configuring one or more of the transmission points to follow a first rule embodying a negative logic. According to the first rule, the transmission point transmits on a given IMR if it has been deemed as being not likely to transmit data at a time relevant to the IMR, and, conversely, to not transmit the IMR if it has been deemed as being likely to transmit data at a time relevant to the IMR.

Abstract: A method in a network node for selecting a beam candidate in a wireless communication network, including acquiring information including information indicative of signal qualities for multiple beam candidates; assigning to each of the multiple beam candidates a factor indicating signal interference generated by the corresponding beam candidate and selecting a beam candidate taking into account at least the associated signal quality and the factor assigned to the selected beam candidate.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method in a radio base station (12) for transmitting a data signal to a user equipment (10) in a radio communications network. The radio base station (12) is connected to an active antenna array of a number of active transmitting antennas and the radio base station (12) serves the user equipment (10) in the radio communications network. Each active transmitting antenna comprises sub elements. The radio base station (12) transforms a precoded data signal using a transformation, which transformation directs signals vertically. Furthermore, the radio base station (12) transmits the transformed data signal over at least one sub element to the user equipment (10). The transmitted data signal is enabled to be directed vertically, and the transformed data signal is limited to be transmitted in a direction within a range of elevation angles.

Abstract: A method in a radio base station for transforming a data transmission signal in a radio communications network. The radio base station is connected to an active antenna array of a first number of active transmitting antennas, which each active transmitting antenna comprises sub elements. The radio base station comprises a precoder codebook comprising precoders for transmitting signals in a diversified manner for a second number of antenna ports. The radio base station precodes the data transmission signal with a precoder selected from the precoder codebook. The radio base station furthermore transforms, linearly, the precoded data transmission signal by neutralizing a direction of the precoded data transmission signal and then directing the precoded data transmission signal vertically. The precoded data transmission signal is thereby enabled to be vertically adjusted towards a user equipment in the radio communications network.

Abstract: Some of the example embodiments presented herein are directed towards an eNodeB (401), and corresponding method therein, for providing data transmission in a multiple antenna system. The eNodeB (401) may be configured to receive a plurality of signal quality assessments and a CSI report from a user equipment. Based on the received data the eNodeB (401) may determine a received power difference between the received data. The eNodeB (401) may further determine a beamforming direction for subsequent data transmissions. Based on the power difference, the eNodeB (401) may account for the received power difference in the subsequent data transmissions, thus improving data communications towards the user equipment.

Abstract: According to one aspect of this disclosure, the configuration of which Interference Measurement Resources, “IMRs”, a given user equipment, “UE”, should measure for Channel State Information, “CSI”, reporting is made more or less invariant to dynamic traffic variations affecting the set of Coordinated Multi-Point, “CoMP”, transmission points used for serving the UE, or to the use of dynamic blanking for those transmission points. These goals are achieved at least in part by configuring one or more of the transmission points to follow a first rule embodying a negative logic. According to the first rule, the transmission point transmits on a given IMR if it has been deemed as being not likely to transmit data at a time relevant to the IMR, and, conversely, to not transmit the IMR if it has been deemed as being likely to transmit data at a time relevant to the IMR.

Abstract: Some of the example embodiments presented herein are directed towards an eNodeB (401), and corresponding method therein, for establishing beamforming for downlink communications in a multiple antenna system. The eNodeB (401) may be configured to transmit a plurality of reference signals, where each reference signal is beamformed into a distinct direction with in at least one correlated domain (e.g., an elevation and/or azimuth domain). The eNodeB (401) may thereafter generate beamformed downlink communications for antenna elements and/or subelements based on received signal quality assessments of the plurality of reference signals. Some example embodiments may be directed towards a user equipment (505), and corresponding methods therein, for establishing beamforming for downlink communications. The user equipment (505) may be configured to receive the plurality of reference signals and provide signal assessments of the reference signals based on measurements performed by the user equipment (505).

Abstract: Some of the example embodiments presented herein are directed towards an eNodeB (401), and corresponding method therein, for providing data transmission in a multiple antenna system. The eNodeB (401) may be configured to receive a plurality of signal quality assessments and a CSI report from a user equipment. Based on the received data the eNodeB (401) may determine a received power difference between the received data. The eNodeB (401) may further determine a beamforming direction for subsequent data transmissions. Based on the power difference, the eNodeB (401) may account for the received power difference in the subsequent data transmissions, thus improving data communications towards the user equipment.

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards an eNodeB (401), and method therein, for establishing beamforming for downlink communications in a multiple antenna system. The eNodeB may be configured to receive, from a user equipment, a plurality of signal quality assessments which correspond to a distinct direction within at least one correlated domain (e.g., an elevation and/or azimuth domain). Based on the signal quality assessments, at least one first and second signal quality assessment may be identified according to a predetermined signal characteristic. Thereafter, a transmission direction may be determined based on the at least one first and second signal quality assessment and associated directions within the at least one correlated domain. Based on the determined transmission direction, downlink communications may be transmitted to the user equipment.

Abstract: The initialization of the CoMP Resource Management Set for a given mobile terminal is based, at least in part, on an estimation of the mobile terminal's geographical location, which can be estimated using network positioning of the mobile terminal. One example method begins with the acquisition (410) by a network node of a geographical position estimate for the mobile terminal of interest. The network node then selects (420) a set of one or more CSI-RS resources for measurement by the mobile terminal, based on the estimated geographical position of the mobile terminal. Finally, the network node configures the mobile terminal to measure the selected CSI-RS resources by sending (430) control information identifying the set to the mobile terminal.

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards an eNodeB, and method therein, for generating downlink communications in a multiple antenna system. The method comprises transmitting, to a number of user equipments, a plurality of reference signals, where each signal is beamformed in a distinct direction within at least one correlated domain (e.g., elevation and/or azimuth). The eNodeB receives at least one CSI report from a specific user equipment and determines a primary reference signal based on, for example, the at least one CSI report. The eNodeB may thereafter generate downlink communication signals for antenna element(s) and/or subelements of the multiple antenna system. The downlink communication signals are beamformed into a transmitting direction that aligns most closely with a beamforming direction of the at least one primary reference signal, as compared to any other beamforming direction of the reference signals.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method in a radio base station (12) for transmitting a data signal to a user equipment (10) in a radio communications network. The radio base station (12) is connected to an active antenna array of a number of active transmitting antennas and the radio base station (12) serves the user equipment (10) in the radio communications network. Each active transmitting antenna comprises sub elements. The radio base station (12) transforms a precoded data signal using a transformation, which transformation directs signals vertically. Furthermore, the radio base station (12) transmits the transformed data signal over at least one sub element to the user equipment (10). The transmitted data signal is enabled to be directed vertically, and the transformed data signal is limited to be transmitted in a direction within a range of elevation angles.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method in a radio base station (12) for transforming a data transmission signal in a radio communications network. The radio base station (12) is connected to an active antenna array of a first number of active transmitting antennas, which each active transmitting antenna comprises sub elements. The radio base station (12) comprises a precoder codebook comprising precoders for transmitting signals in a diversified manner for a second number of antenna ports. The radio base station serves a user equipment in the radio communications network. The radio base station (12) precodes the data transmission signal with a precoder selected from the precoder codebook. The radio base station (12) furthermore transforms, linearly, the precoded data transmission signal by neutralizing a direction of the precoded data transmission signal and then directing the precoded data transmission signal vertically.