Methods and apparatus for providing a communication scheme with reduced feed-back delay
View Patent ↗An apparatus for providing reduced feedback delay may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least selecting a frame format to be applied for configuring transmission and reception of data. The frame format may be selected from options including a downlink only format, an uplink only format and a downlink and uplink format. The apparatus may be further configured for communicating the frame format to a transceiver to enable configuration of the transceiver for transmission and reception of data according to the frame format selected. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided.
1. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
select, based at least in part on uplink and/or downlink transmission requirements for the apparatus, a format of a subframe for transmission and reception of data, wherein the subframe consists of a plurality of data blocks, wherein each of the plurality of data blocks is preceded by a cyclic prefix, wherein the selected format of the subframe is selected from a group of options, the group including a first format comprising downlink blocks, uplink blocks, and at least one guard portion to provide switching time between transmission and reception phases, wherein the at least one guard portion is dynamically placed among the plurality of data blocks based at least in part on the uplink and/or downlink transmission requirements; and
communicate the format of the subframe to a transceiver to enable configuration of the transceiver for transmission and reception of data according to the selected frame format.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
select the format of the subframe dynamically based on control signals transmitted between the transceiver and an associated device.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
select the format of the subframe such that a length of the at least one guard portion within a given frame corresponds to a duration of one of the plurality of data blocks together with one of the preceding cyclic prefixes.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
adjust a ratio between a downlink portion of the selected format of the subframe and an uplink portion of the selected format of the subframe by changing a position of the at least one guard portion within a frame sequence.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
select at least one of the plurality of data blocks of each subframe to have a structure enabling orthogonalization of downlink and uplink control or reference signals.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
select the format of the subframe such that the subframe includes a variable number of guard portions, wherein each of the at least one guard portion indicates a link direction change.
7. A method comprising:
selecting, via a processor and based at least in part on uplink and/or downlink transmission requirements for the processor, a format of a subframe for transmission and reception of data, wherein the subframe consists of a plurality of data blocks, wherein each of the plurality of data blocks is preceded by a cyclic prefix, wherein the selected format of the subframe is selected from a group of options, the group including a first format comprising downlink blocks, uplink blocks, and at least one guard portion to provide switching time between transmission and reception phases, wherein the at least one guard portion is dynamically placed among the plurality of data blocks based at least in part on the uplink and/or downlink transmission requirements; and
communicating the format of the subframe to a transceiver to enable configuration of the transceiver for transmission and reception of data according to the selected frame format.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein selecting the format of the subframe comprises selecting the format of the subframe dynamically based on control signals transmitted between the transceiver and an associated device.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein selecting the format of the subframe comprises selecting the format of the subframe such that a length of the at least one guard portion within a given frame corresponds to a duration of one of the plurality of data blocks together with one of the preceding cyclic prefixes.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein selecting the format of the subframe further comprises adjusting a ratio between a downlink portion of the selected format of the subframe and an uplink portion of the selected format of the subframe by changing a position of the at least one guard portion within a frame sequence.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein selecting the format of the subframe further comprises selecting at least one of the plurality of data blocks of each subframe to have a structure enabling orthogonalization of downlink and uplink control or reference signals.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein selecting the format of the subframe further comprises selecting the format of the subframe such that the subframe includes a variable number of guard portions, wherein each of the at least one guard portion indicates a link direction change.
13. A non-transitory computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instruction comprising:
program code instructions for selecting, via a processor and based at least in part on uplink and/or downlink transmission requirements for the processor, a format of a subframe for transmission and reception of data, wherein the subframe consists of a plurality of data blocks, wherein each of the plurality of data blocks is preceded by a cyclic prefix, wherein the selected format of the subframe is selected from a group of options, the group including a first format comprising downlink blocks, uplink blocks, and at least one guard portion to provide switching time between transmission and reception phases, wherein the at least one guard portion is dynamically placed among the plurality of data blocks based at least in part on the uplink and/or downlink transmission requirements; and
program code instructions for communicating the format of the subframe to a transceiver to enable configuration of the transceiver for transmission and reception of data according to the selected frame format.
14. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 13 , wherein program code instructions for selecting the frame format include instructions for selecting the format of the subframe dynamically based on control signals transmitted between the transceiver and an associated device.
15. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 13 , wherein program code instructions for selecting the frame format include instructions for selecting the frame format such that a length of the at least one guard portion within a given frame corresponds to a duration of one of the plurality of data blocks together with one of the preceding cyclic prefixes.
16. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 15 , wherein program code instructions for selecting the frame format include instructions for adjusting a a ratio between a downlink portion of the selected format of the subframe and an uplink portion of the selected format of the subframe by changing a position of the at least one guard portion within a frame sequence.
17. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 13 , wherein program code instructions for selecting the frame format include instructions for selecting at least one of the plurality of data blocks of each subframe to have a structure enabling orthogonalization of downlink and uplink control or reference signals.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the group of options further includes:
a second format comprising downlink blocks and no uplink blocks; and
a third format comprising uplink blocks and no downlink blocks.
19. The method of claim 7 , wherein the group of options further includes:
a second format comprising downlink blocks and no uplink blocks; and
a third format comprising uplink blocks and no downlink blocks.
20. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the group of options further includes:
a second format comprising downlink blocks and no uplink blocks; and
a third format comprising uplink blocks and no downlink blocks.