Abstract: A system and method for generating transmit weighting values for signal weighting that may be used in various transmitter and receiver structures is disclosed herein. The weighting values are determined as a function of frequency based upon a state of a communication channel and the transmission mode of the signal. In variations, weighting of the weighted signal that is transmitted through each of a plurality of antennas is carried out with one of a corresponding plurality of transmit antenna spatial weights. In these variations, a search may be conducted over various combinations of transmit weighting values and transmit antenna spatial weights in order to find a weight combination that optimizes a performance measure such as the output signal-to -noise ratio, the output bit error rate or the output packet error rate.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing signals in a receiver are disclosed herein and may include updating a plurality of filter taps utilizing at least one channel response vector and at least one correlation vector, for a plurality of received clusters, based on initialized values related to the at least one channel response vector and the at least one correlation vector. At least a portion of the received signal clusters may be filtered utilizing at least a portion of the updated plurality of filter taps. The update may be repeated whenever a specified signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the received signal clusters is reached. The initialized values may be updated during a plurality of iterations, and the update may be repeated whenever a specified number of the plurality of iterations is reached.

Abstract: Various aspects of a method and a system for a range reduction scheme for user selection in a multiuser MIMO downlink transmission are presented. Aspects of a system for range reduction may comprise a range reduction processor that determines a plurality of channel measurements corresponding to a plurality of signals. The range reduction processor may compute a plurality of channel capacities based on the channel measurements corresponding to a subset of the plurality of signals having channel gain that is greater than a remaining portion of the plurality of signals. Aspects of a method may comprise determining a plurality of channel measurements corresponding to a plurality of signals, and computing a plurality of channel capacities based on said channel measurements corresponding to a subset of the plurality of signals having a channel gain that is greater than a remaining portion of the plurality of signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide channel-adaptive antenna selection in multi-antenna-element communication systems are provided. In one embodiment, a method that selects a subset of receive antennas of a receiver to receive a transmitted RF signal may include, for example, one or more of the following: establishing possible subsets of the receive antennas; determining sets of channel parameter statistics corresponding to the possible subsets of the receive antennas; computing output bit error rates of the receiver, each output bit error rate being computed based on at least one set of channel parameter statistics; selecting a particular possible subset of the receive antennas based upon a criterion predicated on the computed output bit error rates; and connecting one or more RF chains of the receiver to the receive antennas of the selected particular possible subset.

Abstract: A receiver operatively coupled to an antenna structure capable of receiving a first plurality of RF signals is disclosed herein. The receiver includes an RF processing network operative to perform weighting and combining operations within the RF domain using the first plurality of RF signals so as to produce a second plurality of RF signals. Also provided is a downconverter configured to downconvert the second plurality of RF signals into a second plurality of down-converted signals. In alternate implementations certain of the weighting and combining operations are performed at baseband and the remainder effected within the RF domain. A transmitter of corresponding architecture is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and associated system for effectively increasing the number of antenna elements within a multi-element antenna system through computation of a response of “virtual” antenna elements located along an antenna array. The physical elements of the array are positioned sufficiently near each other to enable synthesis of a polynomial or other mathematical expression characterizing the response of the array to receipt of an incident waveform. Values of the responses associated with the virtual antenna elements of the array may then be determined through evaluation of the synthesized polynomial or other expression. The resultant array response values associated with the virtual and physical elements of the array are then provided to an associated receiver for processing.

Abstract: In wireless systems, a method and system for pre-equalization in a single weight (SW) single channel (SC) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system are provided. A first receive antenna and at least one additional receive antenna may receive a plurality of SC communication signals transmitted from at least two transmit antennas. Estimates of the propagation channels between transmit and receive antennas may be performed concurrently and may be determined from baseband combined channel estimates. Channel weights may be determined to modify the signals received by the additional receive antennas. Pre-equalization weight parameters may be determined to modify subsequent signals transmitted from the transmit antennas. The pre-equalization weight parameters may be based on the propagation channel estimates and may be determined by LMS, RLS, DMI, or by minimizing a cost function. Closed loop transmit diversity may also be supported.

Abstract: A method and associated system for effectively increasing the number of antenna elements within a multi-element antenna system through computation of a response of “virtual” antenna elements located along an antenna array. The physical elements of the array are positioned sufficiently near each other to enable synthesis of a polynomial or other mathematical expression characterizing the response of the array to receipt of an incident waveform. Values of the responses associated with the virtual antenna elements of the array may then be determined through evaluation of the synthesized polynomial or other expression. The resultant array response values associated with the virtual and physical elements of the array are then provided to an associated receiver for processing.

Abstract: A method for processing communication signals is disclosed and may include, in a receiver and/or a baseband processor coupled to the receiver, the receiver comprising a plurality of antennas, generating a plurality of RF weighting values based on one or more output bit error rates of the receiver. A plurality of spatially-multiplexed RF signals, which are received by the receiver, may be weighted with the one or more of the generated plurality of RF weighting values, to form a plurality of weighted RF signals. Two or more of the generated plurality of weighted RF signals may be combined to form one or more combined RF signals. Each of the one or more combined RF signals may be processed by a different RF processing chain. The one or more output bit error rates of the receiver may be minimized by the generation of the plurality of RF weighting values.

Abstract: In wireless systems, a method and system for pre-equalization in a single weight (SW) single channel (SC) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system are provided. A first receive antenna and at least one additional receive antenna may receive a plurality of SC communication signals transmitted from at least two transmit antennas. Estimates of the propagation channels between transmit and receive antennas may be performed concurrently and may be determined from baseband combined channel estimates. Channel weights may be determined to modify the signals received by the additional receive antennas. Pre-equalization weight parameters may be determined to modify subsequent signals transmitted from the transmit antennas. The pre-equalization weight parameters may be based on the propagation channel estimates and may be determined by LMS, RLS, DMI, or by minimizing a cost function. Closed loop transmit diversity may also be supported.

Abstract: A method for processing signals is disclosed and may include performing using one or more processor and/or circuits in a receiver that uses a plurality of antennas: receiving via a channel, a plurality of RF signals by one or more of the plurality of antennas. The plurality of received RF signals may be weighted utilizing one or more corresponding RF weighting values to generate a plurality of weighted RF signals. The one or more corresponding RF weighting values may include a frequency-independent weight coefficient that is constant over the channel. At least a portion of the plurality of weighted RF signals may be combined to generate one or more combined RF signals. The one or more corresponding RF weighing values may be selected to maximize an output signal-to-noise ratio of the channel. The output signal-to-noise ratio may be averaged over the channel.

Abstract: A system and method for generating transmit weighting values for signal weighting that may be used in various transmitter and receiver structures is disclosed herein. The weighting values are determined as a function of frequency based upon a state of a communication channel and the transmission mode of the signal. In variations, weighting of the weighted signal that is transmitted through each of a plurality of antennas is carried out with one of a corresponding plurality of transmit antenna spatial weights. In these variations, a search may be conducted over various combinations of transmit weighting values and transmit antenna spatial weights in order to find a weight combination that optimizes a performance measure such as the output signal-to-noise ratio, the output bit error rate or the output packet error rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide channel-adaptive antenna selection in multi-antenna-element communication systems are provided. In one embodiment, a method that selects a subset of receive antennas of a receiver to receive a transmitted RF signal may include, for example, one or more of the following: establishing possible subsets of the receive antennas; determining sets of channel parameter statistics corresponding to the possible subsets of the receive antennas; computing output bit error rates of the receiver, each output bit error rate being computed based on at least one set of channel parameter statistics; selecting a particular possible subset of the receive antennas based upon a criterion predicated on the computed output bit error rates; and connecting one or more RF chains of the receiver to the receive antennas of the selected particular possible subset.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide antenna selection in multi-antenna-element communication systems are provided. In one embodiment, a system that selects N antenna elements in an M-antenna-element transmitter or an M-antenna-element receiver, in which N is less than M, may include, for example, M antenna elements in the M-antenna-element transmitter or the M-antenna-element receiver; N RF chains; and a switch coupled to the N RF chains. The M-antenna-element receiver may determine a bit error rate for each possible N antenna element subset of the M antenna elements. The M-antenna-element receiver may determine the particular N antenna element subset with a lowest bit error rate. In response to the determination of the particular N antenna element subset with the lowest bit error rate, the switch may couple the N RF chains to the particular N antenna element subset with the lowest bit error rate.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the method and system for implementing a single weight spatial multiplexing multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system without insertion loss may comprise receiving a plurality of spatially multiplexed communication signals for processing in a first reference processing path and at least a second processing path. At least one control signal may be generated that controls processing of at least a portion of the received plurality of spatially multiplexed communication signals in at least the second processing path. At least one phase adjustment signal may be generated from outside at least the second processing path. A phase of at least a portion of the received plurality of spatially multiplexed communication signals may be adjusted, which are processed in at least the second processing path via at least one generated phase adjustment signal.

Abstract: In a wireless system, a method and system for channel estimation in a single channel MIMO system comprising two-transmit and multiple-receive antennas for WCDMA/HSDPA are provided. A first receive antenna and at least one additional receive antenna may receive a plurality of SC communication signals transmitted from a first and an additional transmit antennas. Estimates of the propagation channels between transmit and receive antennas may be performed concurrently and may be determined from a baseband combined channel estimate. The integration time may be based on channel estimation accuracy and wireless modem performance. The signals received in the additional receive antennas may be multiplied by a rotation waveform to achieve channel orthogonality. The rotation waveform's amplitude and phase components may be modified based on the channel estimates. Rotation of the received signals in the additional receive antennas may be continuous or periodic.

Abstract: A signal weighting and combining method implemented within a receiver having a plurality of receive antennas is disclosed herein. Each receive antenna is disposed to produce a received RF signal in response to a transmitted RF signal received through a channel. The method includes weighting the plurality of received RF signals produced by the antennas in accordance with a corresponding plurality of RF weighting values selected to maximize an output signal-to-noise ratio of the receiver averaged over the channel, thereby forming a plurality of weighted RF signals. The method further includes combining ones of the plurality of weighted RF signals in order to form one or more combined RF signals. A similar splitting and weighting method capable of being implemented within a transmitter having a plurality of transmit antennas is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for generating transmit weighting values for signal weighting that may be used in various transmitter and receiver structures is disclosed herein. The weighting values are determined as a function of frequency based upon a state of a communication channel and the transmission mode of the signal. In variations, weighting of the weighted signal that is transmitted through each of a plurality of antennas is carried out with one of a corresponding plurality of transmit antenna spatial weights. In these variations, a search may be conducted over various combinations of transmit weighting values and transmit antenna spatial weights in order to find a weight combination that optimizes a performance measure such as the output signal-to-noise ratio, the output bit error rate or the output packet error rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide channel-adaptive antenna selection in multi-antenna-element communication systems are provided. In one embodiment, a method that selects a subset of receive antennas of a receiver to receive a transmitted RF signal may include, for example, one or more of the following: establishing possible subsets of the receive antennas; determining sets of channel parameter statistics corresponding to the possible subsets of the receive antennas; computing output bit error rates of the receiver, each output bit error rate being computed based on at least one set of channel parameter statistics; selecting a particular possible subset of the receive antennas based upon a criterion predicated on the computed output bit error rates; and connecting one or more RF chains of the receiver to the receive antennas of the selected particular possible subset.

Abstract: A signal weighting and combining method implemented within a receiver having a plurality of receive antennas is disclosed herein. Each receive antenna is disposed to produce a received RF signal in response to a transmitted RF signal received through a channel. The method includes weighting the plurality of received RF signals produced by the antennas in accordance with a corresponding plurality of RF weighting values selected to minimize an output bit error rate of the receiver, thereby forming a plurality of weighted RF signals. The method further includes combining ones of the plurality of weighted RF signals in order to form one or more combined RF signals. A similar splitting and weighting method capable of being implemented within a transmitter having a plurality of transmit antennas is also disclosed.