Closed-loop multiple-input-multiple-output scheme for wireless communication based on hierarchical feedback

1. A method implemented in a base station having a plurality of antennas, comprising:

associating at least one user with at least one first code word selected from at least one first code book wherein associating said at least one user with said at least one first codeword selected from said at least one first codebook comprises:

transmitting a plurality of pilot signals from the plurality of antennas;

receiving information indicative of said at least one first code word and said at least one first code book from said at least one user in response to transmitting the plurality of pilot signals; and

selecting said at least one user based on a sum weight criterion;

receiving feedback from at least one user in response to transmitting a first frame to said at least one user, the first frame formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using at least one first code word selected from at least one first code book associated with said at least one user; and

transmitting at least one second frame to said at least one user, said at least one second frame being pre-coded using at least one second codeword selected from at least one second codebook, said at least one second codebook being determined based on the feedback and said at least one first codeword.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving feedback from said at least one user comprises receiving information indicative of said at least one second codeword and said at least one second codebook, said at least one first code book and said at least one second codebook being different levels in the codebook hierarchy, the first and second codebooks comprising first and second pluralities of discrete Fourier transform matrices, respectively.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one codeword belongs to both the first and second codebooks.

4. A method implemented in a base station haying a plurality of antennas, comprising:

receiving feedback from at least one user in response to transmitting a first frame to said at least one user, the first frame formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using at least one first code word selected from at least one first code book associated with said at least one user;

transmitting at least one second frame to said at least one user over a channel, said at least one second frame being pre-coded using at least one second codeword selected from at least one second codebook that is part of a previously explored subtree of a codebook hierarchy that includes the first and second codebooks based on the feedback; and

pre-coding said at least one second frame using said at least one second codeword selected from said at least one second codebook in a lower level of the codebook hierarchy when said at least one codeword is still optimum.

5. A method implemented in a base station having a plurality of antennas, comprising:

receiving feedback from at least one user in response to transmitting a first frame to said at least one user, the first frame formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using at least one first code word selected from at least one first code book associated with said at least one user;

transmitting at least one second frame to said at least one user over a channel, said at least one second frame being pre-coded using at least one second codeword selected from at least one second codebook that is part of a previously explored subtree of a codebook hierarchy that includes the first and second codebooks based on the feedback;

pre-coding said at least one second frame using at least one second codeword selected from at least one second codebook in a next higher level of the codebook hierarchy when relatively slow fading causes relatively small changes in the channel; and

pre-coding said at least one second frame using at least one second codeword selected from at least one second codebook that is more than one level higher in the codebook hierarchy than said at least one first codebook when relatively fast fading causes relatively large changes in the channel.

6. The method of claim 4 or 5 , comprising associating said at least one user with said at least one first code word selected from said at least one first code book.

7. The method of claims 1 , 4 , or 5 , wherein receiving feedback from said at least one user comprises receiving information indicative of said at least one second codeword and said at least one second codebook, said at least one first code book and said at least one second codebook being different levels in the codebook hierarchy, the first and second codebooks comprising first and second pluralities of discrete Fourier transform matrices, respectively.

8. The method of claims 1 , 4 , or 5 , wherein receiving feedback from said at least one user comprises receiving a plurality of bits indicative of said at least one second code word and said at least one second codebook.

9. The method of claims 1 , 4 , or 5 , wherein the feedback indicates the channel is changing.

10. The method of claim 1 , 4 , or 5 , wherein at least one codeword belongs to both the first and second codebooks.

11. A method implemented in user terminal configured to communicate with a base station having a plurality of antennas, comprising:

receiving from the base station over a channel, a first frame formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using a first code word selected from a first code book associated with the user terminal,

forming the second codebook based on the first codeword, wherein forming the second codebook comprises forming the second codebook such that the first code book and the second codebook represent different levels in a hierarchy of codebooks, the first and second codebooks comprising first and second pluralities of discrete Fourier transform matrices, respectively,

transmitting information indicative of the second codebook and at least one second codeword selected from the second codebook, wherein the second codebook is part of a previously explored subtree of the codebook hierarchy that includes the first and second codebooks, and wherein the second codebook is determined based on the first codeword, wherein forming the second codebook comprises forming the second codebook such that the second codebook is at a lower level than the first codebook in the codebook hierarchy when said at least one first codeword is still optimal, and wherein said at least one first codeword is in the second codebook.

12. A method implemented in user terminal configured to communicate with a base station having a plurality of antennas, comprising:

receiving, from the base station over a channel, a first frame formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using a first code word selected from a first code book associated with the user terminal;

forming the second codebook based on the first codeword, wherein forming the second codebook comprises forming the second codebook such that the first code book and the second codebook represent different levels in a hierarchy of codebooks, the first and second codebooks comprising first and second pluralities of discrete Fourier transform matrices, respectively;

transmitting information indicative of the second codebook and at least one second codeword selected from the second codebook, wherein the second codebook is part of a previously explored subtree of the codebook hierarchy that includes the first and second codebooks, and wherein the second codebook is determined based on the first codeword, wherein forming the second codebook comprises forming the second codebook such that the second codebook is at a next higher level than the first codebook in the codebook hierarchy when slow fading causes relatively small changes in the channel.

13. A method implemented in user terminal configured to communicate with a base station having a plurality of antennas, comprising:

receiving, from the base station over a channel, a first frame formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using a first code word selected from a first code book associated with the user terminal;

forming the second codebook based on the first codeword, wherein forming the second codebook comprises forming the second codebook such that the first code book and the second codebook represent different levels in a hierarchy of codebooks, the first and second codebooks comprising first and second pluralities of discrete Fourier transform matrices, respectively;

transmitting information indicative of the second codebook and at least one second codeword selected from the second codebook wherein the second codebook is part of a previously explored subtree of the codebook hierarchy that includes the first and second codebooks, and wherein the second codebook is determined based on the first codeword, wherein forming the second codebook comprises forming the second codebook such that the second codebook is more than one level higher than the first codebook in the codebook hierarchy when fast fading causes relatively large changes in the channel.

14. The method of claim 11 , 12 , or 13 , wherein forming the second codebook based on the first codeword, comprises:

receiving a plurality of pilot signals from the plurality of antennas; and

forming the second codebook based on the first codeword and the plurality of pilot signals.

15. The method of claim 11 , 12 , or 13 , wherein transmitting information indicative of the second codebook and said at least one second codeword comprises transmitting a plurality of bits indicative of said at least one second code word and the second codebook.

16. The method of claim 11 , 12 , or 13 , comprising receiving, from the base station, at least one second frame that was pre-coded using said at least one second codeword selected from the second codebook.

17. The method of claim 11 , 12 , or 13 , wherein said second codebook is part of the previously explored subtree when the channel is changing.

18. The method of claim 11 , 12 , or 13 , wherein at least one codeword belongs to both the first and second codebooks.

19. A method implemented in user terminal configured to communicate with a base station having a plurality of antennas, comprising:

receiving, from the base station, a first frame formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using a first code word selected from a first code book associated with the user terminal;

selecting said at least one second codeword from a second codebook that is at a higher level in a hierarchical codebook than the first codebook wherein selecting said at least one second codeword from the second codebook at the higher levels in the hierarchical codebook comprises selecting said at least one second codeword from a previously formed second codebook;

transmitting information indicative of the second codebook and said at least one second codeword selected from the second codebook, the second codebook being determined based on the first codeword.