Beamforming using predefined spatial mapping matrices

1. A method comprising:

transmitting data packets to a receiver, the transmitting using predefined spatial mapping matrices stored in a memory and continuing until each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices is used;

receiving, from the receiver, a quality of reception for each the predefined spatial mapping matrices;

comparing the quality of reception for each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices;

selecting, based on a highest quality of reception, one of the predefined spatial mapping matrices; and

transmitting, using the selected predefined spatial mapping matrix, additional data packets to the receiver.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the quality of reception for each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices is a measurement of a packet error rate for each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the quality of reception for each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices is a measurement of a data rate for each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acts of transmitting the data packets and transmitting the additional data packets are performed without a sounding procedure.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring the quality of reception for the selected predefined spatial mapping matrix; and

responsive to the quality of reception for the selected predefined spatial mapping matrix failing to meet a reception quality metric threshold, transmitting subsequent data packets to the receiver, the transmitting continuing until each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices is used.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the reception quality metric threshold is a minimum data rate or a maximum packet error rate.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined spatial mapping matrices are stored in a codebook at a transmitter, and wherein the codebook is maintained by the memory.

8. A method comprising:

receiving data packets at a receiver, the data packets transmitted using predefined spatial mapping matrices, the receiving performed without channel training;

determining a quality of reception for each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices used to transmit the data packets; and

providing feedback to a transmitter, the feedback indicating a predefined spatial mapping matrix with a highest quality of reception.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the predefined spatial mapping matrix with the highest quality of reception is determined by comparing the quality of reception for each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices used to transmit the data packets.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the feedback is an index associated with the predefined spatial mapping matrix with the highest quality of reception.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the quality of reception for each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices is a measurement of a packet error rate or a data rate for each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the receiver is embodied as a mobile phone, mobile computing device, set-top box, media playback device, or television.

13. An apparatus comprising:

one or more antennas configured for directional transmissions;

memory configured to maintain a codebook having predefined spatial mapping matrices; and

a transmission controller configured to:

directionally transmit, via the one or more antennas, data packets to a receiver, the transmitting using the predefined spatial mapping matrices and performed without a sounding procedure;

select, from the predefined spatial mapping matrices used, a predefined spatial mapping matrix with a highest reception quality metric; and

transmit, using the selected predefined spatial mapping matrix, additional data packets to the receiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the act of transmitting the data packets continues until each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices in the codebook is used.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the predefined spatial mapping matrix with the highest reception quality metric is determined by comparing a reception quality metric for each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the reception quality metric for each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices is a measurement of a packet error rate or a data rate for each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the reception quality metric for each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices is received from the receiver.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the predefined spatial mapping matrix with the highest reception quality metric is selected based on feedback from the receiver indicating the predefined spatial mapping matrix with the highest reception quality metric.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the transmission controller is further configured to:

monitor a reception quality metric for the selected predefined spatial mapping matrix; and

responsive to the reception quality metric for the selected predefined spatial mapping matrix failing to meet a reception quality metric threshold, transmit subsequent data packets to the receiver, the transmitting continuing until each of the predefined spatial mapping matrices in the codebook is used.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the reception quality metric threshold is a minimum data rate or a maximum packet error rate.