Method for hybrid precoding and communication device

1. A method implemented at a communication device in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of signals associated with a pilot from a plurality of antennas of a further communication device in the wireless communication system over a wireless channel;

determining angle-domain characteristics of the wireless channel based on the plurality of signals; and

determining spatial correlation characteristics of the wireless channel based on the determined angle-domain characteristics;

wherein a bandwidth of the wireless communication system includes a first set of sub-carriers;

wherein a first number of the first set of sub-carriers exceeds a second number of time-domain samples included in each of the signals.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the angle-domain characteristics of the wireless channel comprises:

determining a gain of the wireless channel in at least one direction of departure of the plurality of signals.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein determining the gain of the wireless channel in the at least one direction of departure of the plurality of signals comprises:

determining a direction indicated by a plurality of orthogonal beamforming vectors as the direction of departure, the plurality of orthogonal beamforming vectors being predefined by the communication device and the further communication device for beamforming of a signal to be sent at the further communication device; and

determining the gain of the wireless channel in the direction indicated by the beamforming vectors.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of orthogonal beamforming vectors include common vectors of a discrete Fourier transform matrix.

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

sending an indication of the determined spatial correlation characteristics to the further communication device.

6. A method implemented at a communication device in a wireless communication system, a bandwidth of the wireless communication system including a first set of sub-carriers, the communication device including a plurality of antennas, the method comprising:

generating, using digital precoding processing, a plurality of frequency-domain signals associated with a pilot and corresponding to a plurality of radio frequency chains, the plurality of frequency-domain signals being mapped to a second set of sub-carriers, a first number of the first set of sub-carriers exceeding a third number of the second set of sub-carriers;

generating a plurality of time-domain signals based on the plurality of frequency-domain signals by using frequency-time domain transformation, a second number of time-domain samples included in each of the time-domain signals being less than the first number of the first set of sub-carriers;

mapping, using analogue precoding processing, the plurality of time-domain signals to a plurality of antennas; and

sending the plurality of time-domain signals to a further communication device in the wireless communication system via the plurality of antennas over a wireless channel.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein mapping the plurality of time-domain signals to the plurality of antennas comprises:

beamforming the plurality of time-domain signals with a plurality of orthogonal beamforming vectors.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving an indication of spatial correlation characteristics of the wireless channel from the further communication device; and

adjusting weights of the beamforming vectors based on the spatial correlation characteristics.

9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the first number of the first set of sub-carriers is above two times as large as the third number of the second set of sub-carriers.

10. A communication device operable in a wireless communication system, the communication device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a plurality of signals associated with a pilot from a plurality of antennas of a further communication device in the wireless communication system over a wireless channel; and

a controller configured to:

determine angle-domain characteristics of the wireless channel based on the plurality of signals; and

determine spatial correlation characteristics of the wireless channel based on the determined angle-domain characteristics;

wherein a bandwidth of the wireless communication system includes a first set of sub-carriers;

wherein a first number of the first set of sub-carriers exceeds a second number of time-domain samples included in each of the signals.

11. The communication device according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to:

determine a direction indicated by a plurality of orthogonal beamforming vectors as a direction of departure of the plurality of signals, the plurality of orthogonal beamforming vectors being predefined by the communication device and the further communication device for beamforming of a signal to be sent at the further communication device; and

determine the gain of the wireless channel in the direction indicated by the beamforming vectors.

12. The communication device according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of orthogonal beamforming vectors include common vectors of a discrete Fourier transform matrix.

13. The communication device according to claim 10 , further comprising:

a transmitter configured to send an indication of the determined spatial correlation characteristics to the further communication device.

14. The communication device according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a gain of the wireless channel in at least one direction of departure of the plurality of signals.

15. A communication device operable in a wireless communication system, a bandwidth of the wireless communication system including a first set of sub-carriers, the communication device comprising:

a plurality of antennas; and

a transmitter including:

a digital precoder configured to generate, using digital preceding processing, a plurality of frequency-domain signals associated with a pilot and corresponding to a plurality of radio frequency chains, the plurality of frequency-domain signals being mapped to a second set of sub-carriers, a first number of the first set of sub-carriers exceeding a third number of the second set of sub-carriers;

a frequency-time domain transformer configured to generate a plurality of time-domain signals based on the plurality of frequency-domain signals by using frequency-time domain transformation, a second number of time-domain samples included in each of the time-domain signals being less than the first number of the first set of sub-carriers; and

an analogue precoder configured to map, using analogue precoding processing, the plurality of time-domain signals to a plurality of antennas,

wherein the plurality of antennas are configured to send the plurality of time-domain signals to a further communication device in the wireless communication system over a wireless channel.

16. The communication device according to claim 15 , wherein the analogue precoder is configured to beamform the plurality of time-domain signals with a plurality of orthogonal beamforming vectors.

17. The communication device according to claim 16 , further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an indication of spatial correlation characteristics of the wireless channel from the further communication device; and

wherein the analogue precoder is further configured to adjust weights of the beamforming vectors based on the spatial correlation characteristics.

18. The communication device according to claim 15 , wherein the first number of the first set of sub-carriers is above two times as large as the third number of the second set of sub-carriers.