Network controlled feedback for MIMO systems

1. A method implemented by a receiving station in a mobile communication network of controlling feedback load on an uplink channel, said method comprising:

providing channel quality feedback to a multiple antenna transmitting station for a first downlink transmission mode corresponding to a first antenna configuration;

generating a performance metric; and

if the performance metric exceeds a first threshold, providing channel quality feedback to said transmitting station for one or more additional downlink transmission modes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said performance metric is indicative of the expected performance in said first downlink transmission mode.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein channel quality feedback for each additional downlink transmission mode is sent if said performance metric is met.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein channel quality feedback for each additional downlink transmission mode up to a designated maximum mode is sent if said performance metric is met.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein providing channel quality feedback for one or more additional downlink transmission modes to said transmitting station comprises:

computing an expected rate increase for one or more additional downlink transmission modes; and

providing channel quality feedback for each additional downlink transmission mode for which the expected rate increase exceeds a rate increment threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a performance metric comprises generating performance metrics for one or more of said additional downlink transmission modes, and wherein providing channel quality feedback for one or more additional downlink transmission modes comprises providing channel quality feedback for each additional downlink transmission mode for which the corresponding performance metric meets said threshold.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a performance metric comprises generating performance metrics for one or more of said additional downlink transmission modes, and wherein providing channel quality feedback for one or more additional downlink transmission modes comprises providing channel information for each additional downlink transmission mode for which the corresponding performance metric meets said threshold.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said performance metric is one of a channel quality metric or rate metric.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said performance metric comprises one of a signal to interference plus noise ratio and a channel quality indication.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said performance metric comprises an expected rate increase from a first mode to a higher mode.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving station includes a plurality of successive interference cancellation stages and wherein said performance metric comprises a signal to interference plus noise ratio for a first stage of said receiving station when the receiving station is configured for the first downlink transmission mode.

12. A receiving station in a mobile communication network comprising:

a receiver to receive signals from a multiple antenna transmitting station;

a transmitter to transmit signals to the transmitting station; and

a controller operatively connected to the receiver and transmitter for controlling the receiver and transmitter, said controller operative to:

provide channel quality feedback to the transmitting station for a first downlink transmission mode corresponding to a first antenna configuration;

generate a performance metric; and

provide channel quality feedback for one or more additional downlink transmission modes to said transmitting station if the performance metric exceeds a first threshold.

13. The receiving station of claim 12 wherein said performance metric is indicative of the expected performance in said first downlink transmission mode.

14. The receiving station of claim 13 wherein the controller provides channel quality feedback for each additional downlink transmission mode if said performance metric is met.

15. The receiving station of claim 13 wherein the controller provides channel quality feedback for each additional downlink transmission mode up to a designated maximum mode if said performance metric is met.

16. The receiving station of claim 13 wherein the controller computes an expected rate increase for one or more additional downlink transmission modes, and provides channel quality feedback for each additional downlink transmission mode for which the expected rate increase exceeds a rate increment threshold if the first threshold is met.

17. The receiving station of claim 12 wherein generating a performance metric comprises generating performance metrics for one or more of said additional downlink transmission modes, and wherein providing channel quality feedback for one or more additional downlink transmission modes comprises providing channel quality feedback for each additional downlink transmission mode for which the corresponding performance metric meets said threshold.

18. The receiving station of claim 12 wherein generating a performance metric comprises generating performance metrics for one or more of said additional downlink transmission modes, and wherein providing channel quality feedback for one or more additional downlink transmission modes comprises providing channel information for each additional downlink transmission mode for which the corresponding performance metric meets said threshold.

19. The receiving station of claim 12 wherein said performance metric is one of a channel quality metric or rate metric.

20. The receiving station of claim 19 wherein said performance metric comprises one of a signal to interference plus noise ratio and a channel quality indication.

21. The receiving station of claim 19 wherein said performance metric comprises an expected rate increase from a first mode to a higher mode.

22. The receiving station of claim 12 wherein said receiving station includes a plurality of successive interference cancellation stages and wherein said performance metric comprises a signal to interference plus noise ratio for a first stage of said receiving station.

23. A base station in a mobile communication network comprising:

a controller configured to generate a feedback threshold based on conditions associated with a downlink channel for one or more remote stations; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the feedback threshold to one or more of the remote stations to control an amount of channel quality feedback received at a multiple antenna transmitting station from the remote stations.

24. The base station of claim 23 wherein the controller generates the feedback threshold based on at least one of a system capacity and a resource utilization of the mobile communication network.

25. The base station of claim 23 wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a maximum mode indicator to one or more of the remote stations to control the amount of channel quality feedback received from the remote stations.

26. The base station of claim 23 wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a rate increment threshold to one or more of the remote stations to control the amount of channel quality feedback received from the remote stations.

27. A method for controlling an amount of channel quality feedback received at a base station from one or more remote stations in a mobile communication network, the method comprising:

generating a feedback threshold based on conditions associated with downlink channels between a base station and one or more remote stations; and

transmitting the feedback threshold from the base station to one or more of the remote stations to control an amount of channel quality feedback received at a multiple antenna transmitting station from the remote stations.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein generating the feedback threshold comprises generating the feedback threshold based on at least one of a system capacity and a resource utilization of the mobile communication network.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising transmitting a maximum mode indicator to one or more of the remote stations to control the amount of channel quality feedback received from the remote stations.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising transmitting a rate increment threshold to one or more of the remote stations to control the amount of channel quality feedback received from the remote stations.