Beamforming codebook optimization in a wireless communication system (WCS)
Beamforming codebook optimization in a wireless communication system (WCS) is provided. In a WCS, a wireless node (e.g., base station) simultaneously emits multiple reference beams in a coverage area based on a set of codewords that is optimized for a specific number (a full or a partial set) of antenna elements in an antenna array. The wireless node is configured to determine a different set(s) of codewords that are fine-tuned for forming the reference beams from a different number of the antenna elements in the antenna array and steer the reference beams toward identical directions. During deployment of the wireless node, there may be dead zones or low coverage zones. Aspects of the present disclosure facilitate the discovery of these low-coverage zones using feedback from multiple deployed Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Based on the feedback, the codebook of codewords may be optimized to reduce or eliminate such low coverage zones. Such an approach reduces reliance on manual walk-throughs and complicated iterative processes currently in use.
1. A wireless node, comprising:
an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements and configured to emit a predetermined number of radio frequency (RF) beams in a coverage area; and
a codeword synthesis circuit configured to:
send a first beam formed by a first codeword in a default codebook;
send measurements, responsive to the first beam, from sensors in a coverage area to a remote server;
iterate through multiple beams and send measurements from the multiple beams to the remote server;
receive a new codebook from the remote server;
store the new codebook in a memory, test codewords in the new codebook, generate new measurements from the sensors, and send the new measurements to the remote server, wherein the new codebook comprises at least one new codeword based on the measurements.
2. The wireless node of claim 1 , further comprising a beamformer circuit coupled to the antenna array.
3. The wireless node of claim 1 , wherein the measurements comprise signal strength measurements.
4. The wireless node of claim 1 , wherein the sensors comprise Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
5. A method for optimizing a codebook for radio frequency (RF) beamforming in a wireless communication system (WCS), comprising:
distributing sensors in a coverage area;
sending, using an antenna array, a first beam formed by a first codeword in a default codebook;
sending measurements, responsive to the first beam, from the sensors in the coverage area to a remote server; and
receiving a new codebook from the remote server.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising initially turning off all antenna elements in the antenna array.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising sending additional beams by iterating through codewords in the codebook.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising sending measurements for additional codewords to the remote server.
9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising storing the new codebook in a memory.
10. A method for optimizing a codebook for radio frequency (RF) beamforming in a wireless communication system (WCS), comprising:
sending, using an antenna array, a first beam formed by a first codeword in a default codebook;
sending measurements, responsive to the first beam, from sensors in a coverage area to a remote server;
determining if the measurements exceed a threshold; and
receiving a new codebook from the remote server.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising generating a new codeword when the measurements do not exceed the threshold.