Method and apparatus for allocating feedback channel in multiple antenna communication system

1. A method of operating a Base Station (BS) for allocating a feedback channel in a Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) communication system, the method comprising:

measuring, by the BS, a MU-MIMO transmission environment;

determining, by the BS, an amount of feedback information for each of a plurality of Mobile Stations (MSs) according to the MU-MIMO transmission environment; and

allocating, by the BS, a feedback channel according to the amount of the feedback information,

wherein the MU-MIMO transmission environment is measured based on at least one of a number of the MSs, a Quality of Service (QoS) of each MS, and interference.

2. A method of operating a Base Station (BS) for allocating a feedback channel in a Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) communication system, the method comprising:

measuring a number of Mobile Stations (MSs); and

if the number of MSs is greater than a preset threshold, allocating a feedback channel for a single data stream.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein, if the number of MSs is less than the preset threshold, allocating the feedback channel for a plurality of data streams.

4. A method of operating a Base Station (BS) for allocating a feedback channel in a Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) communication system, the method comprising:

measuring a Quality of Service (QoS) of a Mobile Station (MS); and

if the QoS of the MS is greater than a preset threshold, allocating a feedback channel for a single data stream.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein, if a transfer rate required by the MS is less than the preset threshold, allocating the feedback channel for a plurality of data streams.

6. A method of operating a Base Station (BS) for allocating a feedback channel in a Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) communication system, the method comprising:

measuring an interference level; and

if the interference level is greater than a present threshold, allocating a feedback channel for a single data stream.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein, if the interference level is less than the preset threshold, allocating the feedback channel for a plurality of data streams.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the measured interference level comprises an Interference Over Thermal (IOT).

9. A method of operating a Mobile Station (MS) for allocating a feedback channel in a Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) communication system, the method comprising:

feeding back, by the MS, channel information depending on a MU-MIMO transmission environment, through a feedback channel allocated by a Base Station (BS) for the MS, according to an amount of feedback information determined by the BS for the MS.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising configuring the feedback information.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein, the configuring of the feedback information comprises:

determining the feedback format;

if the feedback format supports MU-MIMO, transmitting, by the MS, at least one of a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI), a column index, and a codebook index; and

transmitting, by the MS, additional information for dynamically operating Single User (SU)/MU-MIMO and an additional CQI for SU.

12. A Base Station (BS) apparatus for allocating a feedback channel in a Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) communication system, the BS apparatus comprising:

a transmission environment measuring unit for measuring a MU-MIMO transmission environment;

a feedback determining unit for determining an amount of feedback information for each of one or more Mobile Stations (MSs) according to the MU-MIMO transmission environment; and

a feedback channel allocating unit for allocating a feedback channel according to the feedback amount,

wherein the MU-MIMO transmission environment is measured based on at least one of a number of the MSs, a Quality of Service (QoS) of each MS, and interference.

13. A Base Station (BS) apparatus for allocating a feedback channel in a Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a transmission environment measuring unit for measuring a number of Mobile Stations (MSs); and

a feedback channel allocating unit for allocating a feedback channel for a single data stream if the number of MSs is greater than a preset threshold.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the feedback channel allocating unit allocates the feedback channel for a plurality of data streams if the number of MSs is less than the preset threshold.

15. A Base Station (BS) apparatus for allocating a feedback channel in a Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a transmission environment measuring unit for measuring a Quality of Service (QoS) of a Mobile Station (MS); and

a feedback channel allocating unit for allocating a feedback channel for a single data stream if the QoS of the MS is greater than a preset threshold.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the feedback channel allocating unit allocates the feedback channel for a plurality of data streams if a transfer rate required by the MS is less than the preset threshold.

17. A Base Station (BS) apparatus for allocating a feedback channel in a Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a transmission environment measuring unit for measuring an interference environment; and

a feedback channel allocating unit for allocating a feedback channel for a single data stream if the interference level is greater than a present threshold.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the feedback channel allocating unit allocates the feedback channel for a plurality of data streams if the interference level is less than the preset threshold.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the measured interference level is an Interference Over Thermal (IOT).