Synchronization method, mobile station apparatus and base station apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016227501-A1
Application number	US-201414916588-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 2, 2014
Priority date	Sep 6, 2013
Publication date	Aug 4, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention is designed to allow a communication system employing massive-MIMO to optimize its performance. A mobile station apparatus transmits a synchronization signal by controlling the transmission direction of the transmitting beam for the synchronization signal by means of beamforming using a plurality of antenna elements, and has a synchronization signal processing section ( 62 ) that generates the synchronization signal including identification information of the mobile station apparatus, and changes the beamforming weight for the synchronization signal at predetermined time intervals, and a transmitting section ( 63 ) that transmits the synchronization signals generated in accordance with each beamforming weight on the uplink.

First claim

1 . A synchronization method for transmitting a synchronization signal by controlling a transmission direction of a transmitting beam for the synchronization signal by means of beamforming using a plurality of antenna elements provided in a mobile station apparatus, the synchronization method comprising:
a synchronization signal processing step of generating the synchronization signal including identification information of the mobile station apparatus, and changing a beamforming weight for the synchronization signal at predetermined time intervals; and a transmitting step of transmitting the synchronization signals generated in accordance with each beamforming weight on uplink.

2 . The synchronization method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a connection request step of transmitting, from the mobile station apparatus, a connection request signal for requesting a communication apparatus that manages control information, including whether or not there is a base station apparatus located around the mobile station apparatus, to connect with the base station apparatus; and a control information receiving step of receiving the control information from the communication apparatus in the mobile station apparatus, wherein, in the synchronization signal processing step, when information to indicate the presence of the base station apparatus is included in the control information received from the communication apparatus, the synchronization signal is generated, and the beamforming weight for the synchronization signal is changed at predetermined time intervals.

3 . The synchronization method according to claim 2 , wherein, when the information to indicate the presence of the base station apparatus is not included in the control information received from the communication apparatus, the connection request step and the control information receiving step are repeated.

4 . The synchronization method according to claim 2 , wherein, in the synchronization signal processing step, when location information of the base station apparatus is included in the control information received from the communication apparatus, the transmission direction of the synchronization signal is controlled by using a beamforming weight to match the location information of the base station apparatus.

5 . The synchronization method according to claim 2 , wherein, in the synchronization signal processing step, when priority information regarding the transmission direction of the synchronization signal is included in the control information received from the communication apparatus, the transmission direction of the synchronization signal is controlled by using a beamforming weight to match the priority information.

6 . A mobile station apparatus that transmits a synchronization signal by controlling a transmission direction of a transmitting beam for the synchronization signal by means of beamforming using a plurality of antenna elements, the mobile station apparatus comprising:
a synchronization signal processing section that generates the synchronization signal including identification information of the mobile station apparatus, and changes a beamforming weight for the synchronization signal at predetermined time intervals; and a transmitting section that transmits the synchronization signals generated in accordance with each beamforming weight on uplink.

7 . The mobile station apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a connection request transmitting section that transmits a connection request signal for requesting a communication apparatus that manages control information, including whether or not there is a base station apparatus located around the mobile station apparatus, to connect with the base station apparatus; and a control information receiving section that receives the control information from the communication apparatus, wherein, when information to indicate the presence of the base station apparatus is included in the control information received from the communication apparatus, the synchronization signal processing section generates the synchronization signal, and changes the beamforming weight for the synchronization signal at predetermined time intervals.

8 . The mobile station apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein, when the information to indicate the presence of the base station apparatus is not included in the control information received from the communication apparatus, the transmission of the connection request signal by the connection request transmitting section and the receipt of the control information by the control information receiving section are repeated.

9 . A base station apparatus that transmits a transmitting signal by controlling a transmission direction of a transmitting beam by means of beamforming using a plurality of antenna elements, the base station apparatus comprising:
a receiving section that receives a synchronization signal including identification information of a mobile station apparatus; an acquiring section that acquires terminal information, including the identification information of the mobile station apparatus, from the synchronization signal; and a transmitting signal processing section that controls the transmission direction of the transmitting signal by using a beamforming weight to match the terminal information.

10 . The base station apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a control information receiving section that receives control information from a communication apparatus that manages the control information, including location information of a mobile station apparatus that is located around the base station apparatus,
wherein the receiving section controls a receiving direction of the synchronization signal by using a receiving weigh to match the location information of the mobile station apparatus included in the control information.

Assignees

• Ntt Docomo Inc

Inventors

• Shen Jiyun
• Suyama Satoshi
• Okumura Yukihiko

Classifications

• H04B7/0617

  for beam forming · CPC title

• H04W56/00

  Synchronisation arrangements · CPC title

• H04B7/0413

  MIMO systems · CPC title

• H04W16/28

  using beam steering · CPC title

• H04W56/0015 Primary

  one node acting as a reference for the others · CPC title