Multiple-in-multiple-out network-coded amplify-and-forward relaying scheme for three node bidirectional cooperation

1. A method for operation of a bi-directional communication system making use of a relay node, said method comprising:

receiving, by said relay node, a first signal including first data in a first time slot of a first channel;

receiving, by said relay node, a second signal including second data in a second time slot of a second channel, wherein said first signal and said second signal are exchanged between a source node and a destination node communicating with each other via said relay node;

determining, by said relay node, a first pre-coding matrix to maximize a joint channel capacity of the first channel;

determining, by said relay node, a second pre-coding matrix to maximize a joint channel capacity of the second channel;

applying, by said relay node, said first pre-coding matrix to said first data to produce pre-coded first data, wherein said applying is accomplished by matrix multiplication;

applying, by said relay node, said second pre-coding matrix to said second data to produce pre-coded second data, wherein said applying is accomplished by matrix multiplication;

generating, by said relay node, a third signal by combining said pre-coded first data and said pre-coded second data, wherein said combining is accomplished by matrix addition; and

multicasting, by said relay node, said third signal on said first channel and said second channel.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said third signal further comprises a training sequence prepended to said third signal.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising generating, by said relay node, a first estimated channel matrix for said first channel and a second estimated channel matrix for said second channel.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising inserting, by said relay node, said first pre-coding matrix times said first estimated channel matrix and said second pre-coding matrix times said second estimated channel matrix between said training sequence of said third signal.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising quantizing, by said relay node, said first pre-coding matrix times said first estimated channel matrix and quantizing said second pre-coding matrix times said second estimated channel matrix before said insertion.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said training sequence includes a first training sequence and a second training sequence, said first training sequence is for said first channel and said second training sequence is for said second channel.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first signal includes a training sequence and data.

8. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said second signal includes a training sequence and data.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by said relay node, a first beamforming matrix;

determining, by said relay node, a second beamforming matrix; and

applying, by said relay node, said first beamforming matrix to said first data and applying said second beamforming matrix to said second data before generating said third signal.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising applying, by said relay node, said first beamforming matrix to said first pre-coded matrix times said first estimated channel matrix and applying said second beamforming matrix to said second pre-coded matrix times said second estimated channel matrix before inserting said first pre-coded matrix times said first estimated channel matrix and said second pre-coded matrix times said second estimated channel matrix between said training sequence of said third signal.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first channel and said second channel are orthogonal.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said second time slot is a reverse direction granted by a node which used said first time slot.

13. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a first signal including first data in a first time slot of a first channel;

means for receiving a second signal including second data in a second time slot of a second channel, wherein said first signal and said second signal are exchanged between a source node and a destination node communicating with each other via said relay node;

means for determining a first pre-coding matrix to maximize a joint channel capacity of the first channel;

means for determining a second pre-coding matrix to maximize a joint channel capacity of the second channel;

means for applying said first pre-coding matrix to said first data to produce pre-coded first data, wherein said applying is accomplished by matrix multiplication;

means for applying said second pre-coding matrix to said second data to produce second pre-coded data, wherein said applying is accomplished by matrix multiplication;

means for generating a third signal by combining said pre-coded first data and said pre-coded second data, wherein said combining is accomplished by matrix addition; and

means for multicasting said third signal of said first channel and on said second channel, wherein said apparatus is a relay node of a bi-directional communications system.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said third signal further comprises a training sequence prepended to said third signal.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising means for generating a first estimated channel matrix for said first channel and a second estimated channel matrix for said second channel.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising means for inserting said first pre-coding matrix times said first estimated channel matrix and said second pre-coding matrix times said second estimated channel matrix between said training sequence of said third signal.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising means for quantizing said first pre-coding matrix times said first estimated channel matrix and means for quantizing said second pre-coding matrix times said second estimated channel matrix before said means for inserting is executed.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein said training sequence includes a first training sequence and a second training sequence, said first training sequence is for said first channel and said second training sequence is for said second channel.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said first signal includes a training sequence and data.

20. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said second signal includes a training sequence and data.

21. The apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising:

means for determining a first beamforming matrix;

means for determining a second beamforming matrix; and

means for applying said first beamforming matrix to said first data and applying said second beamforming matrix to said second data before generating said third signal.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 , further comprising means for applying said first beamforming matrix to said first pre-coded matrix times said first estimated channel matrix and means for applying said second beamforming matrix to said second pre-coded matrix times said second estimated channel matrix before inserting said first pre-coded matrix times said first estimated channel matrix and said second pre-coded matrix times said second estimated channel matrix between said training sequence of said third signal.

23. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said first channel and said second channel are orthogonal.

24. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said second time slot is a reverse direction granted by a node which used said first time slot.