MASSIVE MIMO CHANNEL ESTIMATION

1 . A method of channel estimation, comprising:

determining, in a first transceiver, a parametric model for a channel between the first transceiver and a second transceiver; and

transmitting a pilot signal to the second transceiver, wherein the second transceiver is configured to determine a parameter of the parametric model based at least on the pilot signal and to estimate a channel transfer function coefficient for the channel based on the parameter and the parametric model.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

disseminating the parametric model and a characteristic of the pilot signal from the first transceiver to the second transceiver.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the disseminating comprises:

transmitting a response of an antenna array of the first transceiver to the second transceiver.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the disseminating comprises:

signalling a geometry of an antenna array of the first transceiver and a deviation from a theoretical response associated with the geometry to the second transceiver.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter is at least one of a complex amplitude associated with a path between the first and second devices, an azimuth angle of the path, or an elevation angle of the path.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the parametric model is expressed as

H=Σ j=1 N ∝ j W (θ j ,φ j ), wherein:

H is the estimate of the channel transfer function coefficient,

∝ j is a complex amplitude of a jth path between the first and second devices,

W( ) is an array manifold associated with an antenna array of the first device,

θ j is an azimuth angle of the jth path, and

φ j is an elevation angle of the jth path.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises:

determining a theoretical response of an antenna array of the first transceiver.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises:

calibrating an antenna array of the first transceiver at a plurality of azimuth angles and at a plurality of elevation angles.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting an antenna of an antenna array of the first transceiver to transmit the pilot signal.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting a plurality of pilot signals to the second transceiver, the plurality of pilot signals including the pilot signal, the method further comprising:

selecting a plurality of antennas of an antenna array of the first transceiver to transmit the plurality of pilot signals; and

transmitting a signal that identifies the plurality of antennas to the second transceiver.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the parameter from the second transceiver.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

estimating a channel transfer function coefficient for a second channel between the first and second transceivers.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the estimating comprises:

receiving a second pilot signal from the second transceiver;

determining a second parameter of the parametric model based on the second pilot signal.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the estimating comprises:

mapping a received channel estimate to a channel estimate for the second channel.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the parametric model is expressed as a complex weighted sum of two or more antenna array manifolds.

16 . A method of channel estimation, comprising:

receiving at a second transceiver, a parametric model from a first transceiver:

receiving a pilot signal from the first transceiver;

determining a parameter of a parametric model of a channel between the first transceiver and the second transceiver based on the received pilot signal; and

estimating, at the second transceiver, a channel transfer function coefficient for the channel based at least on the parameter and the parametric model.

17 . (canceled)

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the receiving comprises:

receiving a geometry of an antenna array of the first transceiver.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the parametric model is expressed as:

H=Σ j=1 N ∝ j ∝ j W (θ j ,φ j ), wherein:

H is the estimate of the channel transfer function coefficient,

∝ j is a complex amplitude of a jth path between the first and second transceivers,

W( ) is an array manifold associated with an antenna array of the first transceiver,

θ j is an azimuth angle of the jth path, and

φ j is an elevation angle of the jth path.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

transmitting the estimate of the channel transfer function coefficient to the first transceiver.

21 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the parametric model is expressed as a complex weighted sum of two or more antenna array manifolds.