Channel estimation for a very large-scale multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) system

摘要

A transmitter, receiver, and method for channel estimation for a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communication system in which the transmitter includes a multiplicity of transmit antennas spaced such that spacing between adjacent antennas provides a spatial correlation coefficient greater than a threshold level. The transmitter selects a subset of the multiplicity of transmit antennas for transmitting the pilot reference signals. The pilot reference signals are transmitted only from the selected subset of transmit antennas to the receiver. The receiver includes a channel estimator configured to derive a channel estimation for all of the multiplicity of transmit antennas using the received pilot reference signals and known or estimated spatial correlation among the multiplicity of transmit antennas.

主权项

1. A method of channel estimation for a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communication system in which a transmitter utilizes a plurality of transmit antennas, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving by a receiver, pilot reference signals transmitted only from a selected subset of the plurality of transmit antennas; obtaining knowledge of a known or estimated spatial correlation coefficient for the plurality of transmit antennas; and deriving a channel estimation for all of the plurality of transmit antennas using the spatial correlation coefficient for the plurality of transmit antennas, wherein the deriving step includes utilizing an estimator to interpolate the channel for transmit antennas that do not transmit the pilot reference signals.