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 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: 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: 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: A system and method for generating weight values based on maximum data rate for weighting elements included within signal weighting and combining arrangements used in various multi-antenna transmitter and receiver structures is disclosed herein. Weighting values for a given signal combining arrangement are set so as to maximize an output data rate of the applicable multi-antenna system in the presence of adaptive bit loading of the subcarriers of a transmitted signal. The disclosed techniques may be employed to maximize a data rate of a multi-antenna communication system by using adaptive bit loading and RF and baseband weighting schemes. In this case a search is conducted over various combinations of RF and baseband weights in order to find the weight combination which, when adaptive bit loading is also employed, maximizes the data rate.

Abstract: A method and communication system for selecting a mode for encoding data for transmission in a wireless communication channel between a transmit unit and a receive unit. The data is initially transmitted in an initial mode and the selection of the subsequent mode is based on a selection of first-order and second-order statistical parameters of short-term and long-term quality parameters. Suitable short-term quality parameters include signal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), power level and suitable long-term quality parameters include error rates such as bit error rate (BER) and packet error rate (PER). The method of the invention can be employed in Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), Multiple Input Single Output (MISO), Single Input Single Output (SISO) and Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) communication systems to make subsequent mode selection faster and more efficient.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of optimizing a transmission mode of wirelessly transmitted data. The method includes selecting a first transmission mode based on a predetermined channel database and a first channel characterization. The first channel characterization can be based upon signals transmitted in an initial mode. An error factor is generated based on a difference between an estimated performance characteristic, and an expected performance characteristic. A subsequent transmission mode is selected based upon the predetermined channel database, the error factor and a subsequent channel characterization. The predetermined channel database can include a predetermined look-up-table that provides transmission mode selections based upon the channel characterizations. The look-up-table generally includes a plurality of quality parameter thresholds that determine the selection of a transmission mode.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of wirelessly transmitting data between a base station and a plurality of users. The method includes determining a transmission link quality between a user and the base station. A class type is assigned to the user based upon the transmission link quality. A channelization mode is set for transmission with the user based upon the class type. The channelization mode can be used to determine a quantity of frequency spectrum allocated for transmission between the user and the base station. Further, the quantity of frequency spectrum allocated can be for the duration of a particular transmission time slot. The allocated frequency spectrum can include contiguous frequency slots or non-contiguous frequency slots. The frequency slots can include multi-carrier or single carrier signals. The invention can also include communicating the class type of the user to a media access controller (MAC) scheduler.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of optimizing a transmission mode of wirelessly transmitted data. The method includes selecting a first transmission mode based on a predetermined channel database and a first channel characterization. The first channel characterization can be based upon signals transmitted in an initial mode. An error factor is generated based on a difference between an estimated performance characteristic, and an expected performance characteristic. A subsequent transmission mode is selected based upon the predetermined channel database, the error factor and a subsequent channel characterization. The predetermined channel database can include a predetermined look-up-table that provides transmission mode selections based upon the channel characterizations. The look-up-table generally includes a plurality of quality parameter thresholds that determine the selection of a transmission mode.