Selecting between MIMO and carrier aggregation
Monitoring a MIMO pairing efficiency of a sector to determine whether or not to enable/disable inter-band carrier aggregation. If the pairing efficiency (whether predicted or actual) is high, inter-band carrier aggregation is disabled, and if the pairing efficiency is low, then inter-band carrier aggregation is enabled. The inter-band carrier aggregation utilizes a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier and a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier. The MIMO mode of operation utilizes the high-frequency carrier for control transmissions.
1. A method for selecting between a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) mode of operation and an inter-band carrier aggregation mode of operation in a wireless network, the method comprising:
determining that a MIMO pairing efficiency of a sector in the wireless network falls below a threshold; and
enabling the inter-band carrier aggregation mode of operation in the sector.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disabling the MIMO mode of operation.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the MIMO pairing efficiency is based on one or more of: a quantity of MIMO-eligible wireless devices within the sector, a size of MIMO groups within the sector, a spectral efficiency of MIMO groups within the sector, or historical trends of MIMO pairing efficiency within the sector.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising generating a MIMO pairing efficiency metric, and comparing the MIMO pairing efficiency metric to the threshold.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inter-band carrier aggregation mode of operation utilizes a low-frequency carrier and a high-frequency carrier.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein, in the inter-band carrier aggregation mode of operation, control transmissions use the low-frequency carrier and, in the MIMO operating mode, control transmissions use the high-frequency carrier.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the MIMO pairing efficiency is periodically monitored using a time period.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising determining, after the time period, that the MIMO pairing efficiency meets the threshold; and disabling the inter-band carrier aggregation mode of operation in the sector.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising enabling the MIMO mode of operation.
10. A method for selecting between a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) mode of operation and an inter-band carrier aggregation mode of operation in a wireless network, the method comprising:
determining that a MIMO pairing efficiency of a sector in the wireless network meets a threshold; and
disabling the inter-band carrier aggregation mode of operation in the sector.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the MIMO pairing efficiency comprises a predicted MIMO pairing efficiency, the method further comprising enabling the MIMO mode of operation.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the predicted MIMO pairing efficiency is based on one or more of: a quantity of MIMO-eligible wireless devices within the sector, a potential size of MIMO groups within the sector, a predicted spectral efficiency of MIMO groups within the sector, or historical trends of MIMO pairing efficiency within the sector.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising generating a MIMO pairing efficiency metric, and comparing the MIMO pairing efficiency metric to the threshold.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the inter-band carrier aggregation mode of operation utilizes a low-frequency carrier and a high-frequency carrier.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein, in the inter-band carrier aggregation mode of operation, control transmissions use the low-frequency carrier and, in the MIMO operating mode, control transmissions use the high-frequency carrier.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the MIMO pairing efficiency is periodically monitored using a time period.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising determining, after the time period, that the MIMO pairing efficiency falls below the threshold; and enabling the inter-band carrier aggregation mode of operation in the sector.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising disabling the MIMO mode of operation.