GB2503533A

GB2503533A - Uplink transmit antenna selection for a UE on the basis of downlink fading conditions or motion characteristics of the UE

Info

Publication number: GB2503533A
Application number: GB201301486A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Seppo Rousu; Marko Tapio Autti
Original assignee: Renesas Mobile Corp
Current assignee: Renesas Electronics Corp
Priority date: 2013-01-28
Filing date: 2013-01-28
Publication date: 2014-01-01
Also published as: GB201301486D0

Abstract

At user equipment (UE), at least two radio wave signals are received 102, preferably on different respective UE antennas. Fading conditions in relation to the received signals are detected 104 or one or more motion related characteristics are detected 100. This detection information is transmitted to a network entity such as a base station (BTS). The network entity also extracts network reception information from an uplink signal transmitted by the UE. For example, the network reception information could take the form of a measurement of uplink signal quality 108. Closed-loop uplink transmit antenna selection for the UE is performed by a network entity such as a BTS on the basis of the detection information and the network reception information.

Description

Antenna Control

Technical Field

The present invention relates to antenna control. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to methods, apparatus, computer software and computer program products for controlling uplink antenna selection th a user equipment comprising at least two antennas.

Background

Signal propagation conditions alter according to fading conditions. In radio paths. fading conditions call be divided into line of sight conditions (LOS) and rich scattering fading conditions (NLOS, not line of sight). From a terminal uplink performance point of view, it is desirable to achieve good cell coverage and data throughput. Operating at cell edges, especially in rural areas, can lead to a situation where an uplink connection to a base station is dropped. In some cases, objects may be located between a TX antenna and a BTS within a cell, which leads to a counterpart received signal being attenuated close to or below sensitivity level. It would therefore be desirable to provide improved TX antenna directivity towards base stations.

In 30, 1-ISPA, LTE and LTE CA terminah there is typically one TX (i.e. UL) antenna allowed conculTently according to 3GPP TS 36.213 chapter 8.7. Typical implementation is two RX antennas for diversity and MIMO reception.

According to 3GPP TS 36.2 13 chapter 8.7, if a UE transmit antenna selection is disabled or not supported by the UE the TIE shall transmit from UE port 0, if closed-loop TIE transmit antenna selection is enabled by higher layers the UE shall perform transmit antenna selection in response to the most recent command received via DCI Format 0, and if a UE is configured with more than one serving cell the UE may assume the same transmit antenna port value is indicated in each DCI format 0 PDCCH grant in a given subframe. If open-loop TIE transmit antenna selection is enabled by higher layers, the transmit antenna to be selected by the TIE is not specified.

An automotive environment is particularly challenging from a radio link performance point of view because vehicles such as cars tend to move reasonably fast in environments such as urban environments, in some cases, a vehicle cabin may attenuate radio wave propagation.

With regard to vehicles, it has been proposed to place diversity RX antennas in the side (or wing') mirrors of a vehicle, but a problem exists in how to control TX antenna selection. If a single TX antenna is placed in a fixed position in one side mirror of the vehicle, then there is an uplink problem with alternate BTSs on the other side of the vehicle. If two TX antennas are employed conveying TX uplink signals between alternate TX antennas, then there is a problem in how to select the optimal TX antenna for UL during operation.

Some prior art systems select the TX antenna according to DL signal strength, but selecting the appropriate TX antenna on the basis of RSSI can be unreliable.

In TDD radio communication systems, TX and RX are conducted at the same frequency, but in FDD, TX and RX are conducted at different frequencies which can impact on path losses. In the time domain, LOS conditions alter slowly, because there is typically a direct link between BTSs and UEs. On the other hand, NLOS radio conditions alter rapidly due to multiple reflections, for example in urban canyons.

From an UL antenna selection point of view, a problem exists in that signal reflections may arrive at angles of 360 degrees around a vehick so selection on the basis of DL RSSI is umeliable. Operating in rich scatterthg environments, such as urban canyons, can lead to a situation where optimal data throughput is not achieved in UL, because all information is not received at the BTS with a high enough SNR or the call may drop.

It would therefore be desirable to provide improved ways to control TX antenna selection.

Summary

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for use in controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas, the method comprising, at the user equipment: receiving at least two radio wave signals; detecting at least one of fading conditions in relation to the received at least two radio wave signals, and one or more motion-related characteristics of the user equipment; transmitting detection information associated with the at least one of detected fading conditions and one or more detected motion-related characteristics towards a network entity; and receiving uplink antenna selection control information from the network entity, the control information having been generated by the network entity at least on the basis of the detection information transmitted to the network entity and network reception information extracted by the network entity from at least one radio wave signal transmitted from the user equipment to the network entity.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for use in controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas, the apparatus being adapted to, at the user equipment: receive at least two radio wave signals; detect at least one of: fading conditions in relation to the received at least two radio wave signals, and one or more motion-related characteristics of the user equipment; transmit detection information associated with the at least one of detected fading conditions and one or more detected motion-related characteristics towards a network entity; and receive uplink antenna selection control information from the network entity, the control information having been generated by the network entity at least on the basis of the detection information transmitted to the network entity and network reception information extracted by the network entity from at least one radio wave signal transmitted from the user equipment to the network entity.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided computer software adapted to perfoirn a method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two uplink antennas according to the first aspect of the present invention.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, the computer readable instructions being executable by a computerized device to cause the computerized device to perform a method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two uplink antennas according to the first aspect of the present invention.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for use in controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas, the method comprising, at a network entity: receiving detection information transmitted from the user equipment associated with at least one of: fading conditions detected by the user equipment in relation to at least two radio wave signals received at the user equipment, and one or more motion-related characteristics of the user equipment detected by the user equipment; extracting network reception information from at least one radio wave signal received from the user equipment; generating uplinlc antenna selection control information at least on the basis of the received detection information and the extracted network reception information; and transmitting the generated uplinlc antenna selection control information to the user equipment.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for use in controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas, the apparatus being adapted to, at a network entity: receive detection information transmitted from the user equipment associated with at least one of: fading conditions detected by the user equipment in relation to at least two radio wave signals received at the user equipment, and one or more motion-related characteristics of the user equipment detect by the user equipment; extract network reception information from at least one radio wave signal received from the user equipment; generate uplink antenna selection control information at least on the basis of the received detection information and the extracted network reception information; and transmit the generated uplink antenna selection control information to the user equipment.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided computer software adapted to perform a method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two uplink antennas according to the fifth aspect of the present invention.

In accordance with an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, the computer readable instructions being executable by a computerized device to cause the computerized device to perform a method of controfling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two uplink antennas according to the fifth aspect of the present invention.

In accordance with first embodiments, there is provided a method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas, the method comprising, at the user equipment: receiving at least two radio wave signals; detecting fading conditions in relation to the received at least two radio wave signals; and controlling uplink antenna selection in the user equipment at least on the basis of the detected fading conditions.

in accordance with second embodiments, there is provided apparatus for use in controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas, the apparatus being adapted to, at the user equipment: receive at least two radio wave signals; detect fading conditions in relation to the received at least two radio wave signals; and control uplink antenna selection in the user equipment at least on the basis of the detected fading conditions.

In accordance with third embodiments, there is provided computer software adapted to peiform a method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two uplink antennas according to the first embodiments.

in accordance with fourth embodiments, there is provided a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, the computer readable instructions being executable by a computerized device to cause the computerized device to perform a method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two uplink antennas according to the first embodiments.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the foflowing description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a flowchart according to embodiments of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a flowchart according to embodiments of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a flowchart according to embodiments of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a flowchart according to embodiments of the present invention; Figure 5 shows a flowchart according to embodiments of the present invention; and Figure 6 shows a functional block diagram of apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention provide terminal UL antenna (i.e. UE TX antenna) selection control on the basis of fading conditions. UE TX antenna selection is controlled according to information available from modem DL receivers about current andlor historical DL fading conditions in reception. Information which represents current fading conditions can be extracted from a modern DL receiver/s and used to control UE TX antenna selection according to fading conditions.

Embodiments comprise modem selection where in a vehicle such as a car, a first antenna/modem is located in a right wing mirror of the car and a second antennal modem is located in a left wing mirror of the vehicle.

In embodiments, an UL TX antenna is preferentially selected to be the antenna where the RX signal is first received. If a signal is first received at a particular RX, then this can indicate that the particular RX has the shortest distance to a BTS.

Signals which are received later may have been subject to rnore reflections than earlier received signals.

In embodiments, LOS and NLOS fading conditions are detected from the delay spread between at least two radio wave signals received at a UE.

With LOS conditions, the probability for reflections is low and the vehicle may be located at a cell edge or in radio shadow within a cell. Therefore in embodiments, if an alternate TX antenna starts to capture radio signals before a current TX antenna, then the TX antenna can be changed to the alternate TX antenna to improve the uplink.

In NLOS conditions, the received signals have a delay spread but the BTS is expected to be close. Therefore in embodiments, the TX antenna need not be altered continuously according to the delay spread.

In embodiments,vchicle gyroscope or steering sensor information associated with vehicle rotation is used as information input to the UL antenna selection process.

In embodiments, fading delay history is used as information input to the UL antenna selection process.

in embodiments, a UE modem extracts information about current fading conditions in one or more radio communication links to the UE.

In embodiments, such fading conditions, as well as one or more of SNR, SIR, UL/DL signal powers (such as RSSI), antenna parameters, lookup table information are used as information input to the UL antenna selection process in order to improve UL data throughput in good SNR conditions and improve cell coverage in weak signal conditions (such as at a cell edge or radio shadow). According to need, optimal TX antenna selection controls are generated and conveyed for signal path selection.

In embodiments, one or more processors may continuously follow radio link parameters and select new UL antenna controls accordingly.

In embodiments, information associated with road design data, such as whether the current or upcoming road is straight or not, its radius, clothoid parameters etc., from a navigation device and/or the cloud and/or vehide sensor or travel plan / destination information may be used as information input to the UL antenna selection control process.

Embodiments include a method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas. The method comprises, at the user equipment, receiving at least two radio wave signals, detecting fading conditions in relation to the received at least two radio wave signals, and controfling uplink antenna selection in the user equipment at least on the basis of the detected fading conditions.

By controlling uplink antenna selection according to fading conditions, embodiments provide performance advantages in different fading conditions. The uplink antenna selection control of embodiments provides improved communication quality and/or increased bitrates.

In embodiments, detecting the fading conditions comprises determining the signal delay spread between the received at least two radio wave signals.

in embodiments, detecting the fading conditions comprises determining which of the received at least two radio wave signals is received first.

In embodiments, detecting the fading conditions comprises determining a predefined fading scenario and the controlling comprises controlling uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the determined fading scenario.

in embodiments, the predefined fading scenario comprises one or more of a line-of-sight scenario (or scenarios) and a scattering scenario (or scenarios).

In embodiments, detecting the fading conditions comprises measuring at least one fading-related reception parameter and the controlling comprises controfling uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the measured at least one fading-related reception parameter.

In embodiments, the at least one fading-related reception parameter comprises at least one parameter indicative of signal propagation conditions on a radio link between the user equipment and a communication counterpart.

In embodiments, the at least one fading-related reception parameter comprises at least one parameter indicative of one or more of a fading delay, a Doppler, an angle of arrival, and a polarization.

Embodiments comprise detecting one or more motion-related characteristics of the user equipment and the controlling comprises controlling uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the detected one or more motion-related characteristics.

In embodiments, the one or more motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of speed andlor direction characteristics of the user equipment.

In embodiments, the one or more motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of an angle, a magnitude, a vector, a speed, move/non-move information, a destination, a travel route, and a historical average speed.

Motion-rdated characteristics can be useful, for example in embodiments where the UE is comprised in a vehicle such as a car. When a car is not moving, historical data of radio path properties can be used for a longer time than when the car is moving. When a car is moving, then historical data of radio path properties can be used according to the speed of the car. When the car is moving at a high speed, using historical data of radio path properties can lead to poor results and thus would typically not be employed, for example above a certain speed threshold.

Embodiments comprise detecting one or more incoming signal quality parameters associated with at least one radio wave signal received at the user equipment and the controlling comprises controlling uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the detected one or more incoming signal quality parameters.

in embodiments, the one or more incoming signal quality parameters comprise one or more of a received signal strength indicator, a fading received signal strength indicator, a fading duration, a bit error rate, a quality of service parameter, a signal to noise ratio, and a signal to interference ratio.

Embodiments comprise detecting one or more uplink quality parameters of network signalling associated with at least one radio wave signal transmitted from the user equipment, and the controlling comprises controlling uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the detected one or more uplink quality parameters.

In embodiments, the one or more detected uplink quality parameters comprise at least one parameter indicative of one or more of a power level, a modulation, and a data class, a MIMO class, a carrier aggregation combination, and active antenna information.

Embodiments comprise controlling uplink antenna selection in the user equipment at least on the basis of historical fading conditions associated with two or more radio wave signals received at the user equipment.

In embodiments, the method is operable at or by an apparatus which is mounted or mountable on a mobile device operable in communication with at least one of an access point of a communication system and another mobile device, wherein the mobile device comprises at least one of a vehicle, a computer, a satellite, a communication equipment, a communication terminal equipment, a consumer communication device, a military communication device and a public safety communication device.

Figure i shows a flowchart according to embodiments of the present invention. In particular, Figure 1 shows steps carried out at a user equipment for enabling uplink antenna selection control where the user equipment comprises at least two antennas.

in step 102, at least two radio wave signals are received.

in step 104, fading conditions in relation to the received at least two radio wave signals are detected.

In step 110, uplink antenna selection is controlled in the user equipment at least on the basis of the detected fading conditions.

in optional step 100, one or more motion-related characteristics of the user equipment are detected and the controlling comprises controlling uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the detected one or more motion-related characteristics.

In optional step 104a, detecting the fading conditions comprises determining a predefined fading scenario In optional step iO4b, detecting the fading conditions comprises measuring at least one fading-related reception parameter.

In optional step 106, one or more incoming signal quality parameters associated with at least one radio wave signal received at the user equipment are detected and the controlling comprises controffing uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the detected one or more incoming signal quality parameters. The reliability of the above parameters can be taken into account according to how much the frequency separation is between RX frequency/ies and TX frequency/ies. In a TDD communication system, TX and RX are typically at the same frequency. In some embodiments, TDD may be implemented with some frequency separation between TX and RX frequencies, for example to decrease adjacent channel power leakage to neighbor radio access technology communication band(s).

In optiona] step 1 08, one or more uplink quality parameters of network signalling associated with at least one radio wave signal transmitted from the user equipment are detected and the controlling comprises controlling uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the detected one or more uplink quality parameters.

Figure 2 shows a flowchart according to embodiments of the present invention. In particular, Figure 2 shows steps carried out at a user equipment for enabling TX antenna selection control in the user equipment. At step 200, one or more LIE operational parameters are detected. At step 202, one or more LIE DL and/or UL quality properties are defined. At step 204, delay spread properties for different RX antennas are defined. At step 206, radio wave signal arrival times for different RX antennas are defmed. At step 208, corrected radio wave signal arrival moments in different RX antennas are defined to account for HW path delays, for example on the basis of BW. AGC settings, etc. At step 2i0, it is determined whether the current DL is LOS or NLOS.

At step 212, UL transmission power command history data is processed.

Transmission power commands (TPC) relate to a BTS requesting more or requesting less output transmit power of a UE. If BTS TPC command steps request continuously more power then the UL path is degrading, for example due to the UE moving to a point where the BTS receiver is seeing a fading notch. Alternatively, the UE may be moving closer to a cell edge or there is an object in the signal path which causes attenuation in the UL.

If processing of the UL transmission power command histoiy indicates that the current TX is a poor selection, then a swap to an alternate TX antenna is carried out in step 214 and the control process proceeds on to step 238.

If processing of the UL transmission power command history indicates that the current TX is not a poor selection, then optimisation according to LOS and NLOS conditions is performed in step 216. If all of the antennas are in the LOS category as per step 218, then a TX antenna is promoted according to the best LOS, RSSI or QoS metric in step 224. If the antennas indude both LOS and NLOS category antennas as per step 220, then a DL LOS antennas is promoted for TX in step 226. If all of the antennas are in the NLOS category as per step 222, then a hysteresis avoidance process is carried out in step 228. resulting in either the TX antenna not being swapped in step 230 or the TX antenna being swapped in step 232.

The hysteresis avoidance process is carried out in order to avoid a ping-pong' effect of repeated switching between different TX antennas; this process can involve TX antenna selection being carried out according to a history log and/or predefined switching threshold.

In step 234.UL antenna selection is carried out.

TX antenna selection controls are then applied in step 236 and the process moves on to step 238, In step 238, TX antenna selection control either continues in step 200 or ends.

Embodiments described above can be referred to as open-loop' embodiments because no information from a BTS about UL signal path properties is fed back to the UE for use in UL antenna selection control.

Embodiments described below can be referred to as closed-loop' embodiments because information relating to UL signal reception is fed back to the UE from the BTS for use in UL antenna selection control.

In such closed-loop embodiments, UP transmit antenna selection is carried out according to fading condition information. In embodiments, a preferred UE uplink antenna selection is indicated to the BTS in uplink signalling. In embodiments, the BTS determines a preferred transmit antenna of the terminal device from a terminal classification communicated from the UE to the BTS in connection with registering the UP in the cellular network. For example. a number of alternate TX UL antennas may be communicated from the UE to the BTS in UECapabilitylnformation which is a UMTS LTE IE comprising a ue-CapabilityRAT-Container calTying an UE-EUTRA-Capability IE. This IE carries RF Parameters and MeasParameters fields and can be used by the UP device to indicate a preferred TX antenna and any necessary measurement parameters.

In embodiments, the BTS commands a UP transmit antenna port number change to the terminal device.

In embodiments, when the UE transmits information frames or control information or an ACK/NACK to UL, the BTS receives this information. From modem reception at the BTS, information relating to UL frequency signal path properties can be extracted. One or more of the extracted parameters can be shared to the UP or the BTS may proceed to analyse the extracted parameters and share the outcome of the analysis back to the UE. The UE can then use the fed-back information to improve/match subsequent transmissions to the UL signal path.

Embodiments comprise a method for use in controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas. The method comprises, at the user equipment, receiving at least two radio wave signals, detecting at least one of fading conditions in relation to the received at least two radio wave signals and one or more motion-r&ated characteristics of the user equipment, transmitting detection information associated with the at least one of detected fading conditions and one or more detected motion-related characteristics towards a network entity, and receiving uplink antenna selection control information from the network entity, the control information having been generated by the network entity at least on the basis of the detection information transmitted to the network entity and network reception information extracted by the network entity from at least one radio wave signal transmitted from the user equipment to the network entity.

Embodiments comprise controlling uplink antenna selection in the user equipment at least on the basis of the received uplink antenna selection control information.

In embodiments, the one or more detected motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of speed andlor direction characteristics of the user equipment.

In embodiments, the one or more motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of an angle, a magnitude. a vector, a speed, move/non-move information, a destination, a travel route, and a historical average speed.

In embodiments, the received uplink antenna selection control information defines an uplink antenna port associated with one of the at least two uplink antennas via which upfink communication should be conducted by the user equipment.

In embodiments, detecting the fading conditions comprises detecting the signal delay spread between the received at least two radio wave signals.

In embodiments, detecting the fading conditions comprises detecting which of the received at least two radio wave signals is received first.

In embodiments, detecting the fading conditions comprises determining a predefined fading scenario.

In embodiments, the predefined fading scenario comprises one or more of a line-of-sight scenario and a scattering scenario.

In embodiments, detecting the fading conditions comprises measuring at least one fading-related reception parameter.

In embodiments, the extracted network reception information is associated with one or more of a user equipment antenna port, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI). a fading received signa] strength indicator (RSSI), a fading duration, a delay, a Doppler, an angle of arrival, a polarization, a user equipment movement, a user equipment antenna count, active antenna information, a signal to noise ratio (SNR), a signal to interference ratio (SIR), a bit error rate, and a quality of service.

Embodiments comprise transmitting an indication of a preferred uplink antenna selection to the network entity, the control information having been generated by the network entity at least on the basis of the preferred uplink antenna selection indicated by the user equipment.

In embodiments, the indication of a preferred uplink antenna selection is transmitted from the user equipment in a URCapabilityinformation message.

In embodiments, the method is operable at or by an apparatus which is mounted or mountable on a mobile device operable in communication with at least one of an access point of a communication system and another mobile device, wherein the mobile device comprises at least one of a vehicle, a computer, a satellite, a communication equipment, and a communication terminal equipment.

Figure 3 shows a flowchart according to embodiments of the present invention. In particular, Figure 3 shows steps carried out at a user equipment for enabling uplink antenna selection control where the user equipment comprises at least two antennas.

in step 300, at least two radio wave signals are received.

in step 302, at least one of fading conditions in relation to the received at least two radio wave signals and one or more motion-related characteristics of the user equipment are detected.

In step 304, detection information associated with the at least one of detected fading conditions and one or more detected motion-related characteristics is transmitted towards a network entity.

In step 306. uplink antenna selection control information is received from the network entity, the control information having been generated by the network entity at least on the basis of the detection information transmitted to the network entity and network reception information extracted by the network entity from at least one radio wave signal transmitted from the user equipment to the network entity.

Embodiments comprise a method for use in controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas. The method comprises, at a network entity, receiving detection information transmitted from the user equipment associated with at least one of fading conditions detected by the user equipment in relation to at least two radio wave signals received at the user equipment and one or more motion-rdated characteristics of the user equipment detected by the user equipment, extracting network reception information from at least one radio wave signa' received from the user equipment. generating uplink antenna selection control information at least on the basis of the received detection information and the extracted network reception information, and transmitting the generated uplink antenna selection control information to the user equipment.

In embodiments, the extracted network reception information is extracted from one or more of the following associated with the at least one radio wave signal received from the user equipment payload information, control information, at least one acknowledgement (ACK) message, at least one negative acknowledgement (MACK) message, broadcast information, a channel quality indicator KCQI). a modulation. and an automatic repeat request ARQ).

In embodiments, the extracted network reception information is associated with one or more of a user equipment antenna port, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a fading received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a delay, a Doppler, an angle of arrival, a polarization, a user equipment movement, a user equipment antenna count, active antenna information, a signal to noise ratio (SNR), a signal to thterference ratio (SIR), a bit error rate, and a quality of service.

Embodiments comprise transmitting the extracted network reception information to the user equipment.

Embodiments comprise receiving an indication of a preferred uplink antenna selection from the user equipment and the generating comprises generating the uplink antenna selection control information at least on the basis of the preferred upfink antenna selection indicated by the user equipment.

In embodiments, the indication of a preferred uplink antenna selection is received from the user equipment in a UECapabilitylnformation message.

In embodiments, the one or more detected motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of speed and/or direction characteristics of the user equipment.

In embodiments, the generated uplink antenna selection control information defhies an uplthk antenna port associated with one of the at least two uplink antennas via which upfink communication should be conducted by the user equipment.

In embodiments, the method is operable at or by an apparatus comprised in one or more base stations or access nodes of a communication system.

Figure 4 shows a flowchart according to embodiments of the present invention. In particular, Figure 4 shows steps carried out at a network entity for enabling uplink antenna selection control in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas.

In step 400, detection information transmitted from the user equipment is received. The detection information is associated with at least one of fading conditions detected by the user equipment in relation to at least two radio wave signals received at the user equipment and one or more motion-related characteristics of the user equipment detected by the user equipment.

in step 402, network reception information is extracted from at least one radio wave signal received from the user equipment.

In step 404, uplink antenna selection control information is generated at least on the basis of the received detection information and the extracted network reception information.

in step 406, the generated uplink antenna selection control information is transmitted to the user equipment.

Figure 5 shows a flowchart according to embodiments of the present invention. In particular, Figure 5 shows steps carried out at a network entity for enabling TX antenna selection control in a user equipment.

At step 500, UE DL signal delay spread properties in different antennas are defined. At step 502, signal arrival times in different antennas are defined. At step 504, corrected signal arrival moments in different antennas to account for HW path delays, for example BW, are defined. At step 506. the BTS is informed by the UP about DL antennas delay spread and signal arrival orders in different antennas. At step 508, the BTS receives the information sent by the UP. At step 510, the BTS detects its own RX information. At step 512, the BTS combines the information received from the UP and its own detected RX information. At step 514, the BTS defines the next antenna UL port and sends this information to the UE. At step 516, the UP receives the next UL port information transmitted from the BTS and the UP is thus aNe to apply UL antennae selection controls for the next period.

The next period' refers to a period from one antenna selection to the next antenna selection decision point, where antenna selection is carried out in a repeating loop. Alternatively, the next period' may define that the next n frames shouM be sent from antenna port x and then swap back to transmit from antenna port y or suchlike, Reference is now made to Figure 6 which illustrates a simplified block diagram of various electronic devices and apparatus that are suitable for use in a wireless communications network according to embodiments. Figure 6 includes a network entity apparatus 600 adapted for communication over wireless link 621 with an apparatus 700 such as a mobile terminal or termed more generally as a user equipment IJE.

Network entity 600 may comprise one or more of a base station, a base transceiver station, a node B (UMTS) or an e-NodeB (LTE).

Network entity 600 may be further communicatively coupled via a link (not shown) to one or more higher network nodes (not shown), for example including a radio network controller (RNC) in the case of the UMTS system or a mobility management entity/serving gateway MME/S-GW in the case of the LTE system.

As shown in Figure 6, UE apparatus 700 according to embodiments of the present invention comprises an antenna unit 710 and a processing unit 720. The processing unit 720 comprises a modem/transceiver 720a and a controller 72Db.

Antenna unit 710 comprises one or more RX andlor TX antennas (not shown).

The antenna unit is for example applicable for use as or in an antenna module or an antenna module with electronics or a vehicle factory assembly part, or a vehicle after sale assembly part, or a vehicle service upgrade part, or the like according to embodiments of the present invention.

Controlling unit 72Db is configured to perform TX antenna selection control according to embodiments of the present invention, as described above, i.e. the procedures as exemplified with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Component 720a may be realized by a feeding/communication unit which may comprise at least one of a modem and a transceiver unit (in the case of a transmit/receive antenna or corresponding usage). Component 72Db may be realized by a processing system or processor or, as illustrated, by an arrangement of a processor 730, a memory 740 and an interface 750, which are connected by a link or bus 760. Memory 740 may store respective programs assumed to include program instructions or computer program code that, when executed by the processor 730, enable the respective electronic device or apparatus to operate in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention.

For examp'e, memory 740 may store a computer-readable implementation of a control procedure as illustrated in any of Figures 1 to 3. Further, memory 740 may store one or more look-up tables for implementing the control of the TX antenna selection with respect to the one or more parameters used in this regard, such as look-up tables for different combinations of conceivable parameters such as fading scenario and/or fading-related reception parameter/parameters and/or auxiliary data.

Embodiments of this invention may be implemented at least in part by computer software stored in memory 740 which is executable by processor 730; or by a processing system; or by hardware, or by a combination of tangibly stored software and hardware (and tangibly stored firmware).

According to embodiments of the present invention, all (or some) circuitries required for the aforementioned functionalities may be embedded in the same circuitry. a system in package, a system on chip, a module, a LTCC (Low temperature co-fired ceramic) or the like, as indicated by the dashed line of UE 700 in Figure 6.

Irrespective of the illustration of Figure 6, an apparatus (or electronic device) according to embodiments of the present invention may comprise processing unit 720 only, which is connectable to the antenna unit 7i0, or an apparatus (or electronic device) according to embodiments of the present invention may comprise controlling unit 72Db only, which is connectable to antenna unit 710 (via modem/transceiver 720a or not).

According to embodiments of the present invention, the control procedure as illustrated in any of Figures 1 to 3 may be executed in/by processing unit 720 (i.e. in cooperation between modern/transceiver 720a and controller 720b) or in/by controller 72Db as such.

As shown in Figure 6, network entity apparatus 600 according to embodiments of the present invention comprises an antenna unit 610 and a processing unit 620, wherein the processing unit 620 comprises a modem/transceiver 620a and a controller 62Db.

Antenna unit 610 comprises one or more RX and/or TX antennas (not shown).

The antenna unit is for example applicable for use as or in an antenna module or an antenna module with electronics or the like according to embodiments of the present invention.

Controlling unit 62Db is configured to perform TX antenna selection control according to embodiments of the present invention, as described above, i.e. the procedures as exemplified with reference to Figures 4 to 5. Component 620a may be realized by a feeding/communication unit which may comprise at least one of a modern and a tnmsceiver unit (in the case of a transmit/receive antenna or corresponding usage). Component 62Db may be realized by a processing system or processor or, as illustrated, by an arrangement of a processor 630, a memory 640 and an interface 650, which are connected by a link or bus 660. Memory 640 may store respective programs assumed to include program instructions or computer program code that, when executed by the processor 630, enable the respective electronic device or apparatus to operate in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention.

For example, memory 640 may store a computer-readable implementation of a control procedure as illustrated in any of Figures 4 to 5. Further, memory 640 may store one or more look-up tables for implementing the control of the TX antenna selection with respect to the one or more parameters used in this regard, such as look-up tables for different combinations of conceivable parameters such as fading scenario and/or fading-related reception parameter/parameters and/or auxiliary data.

Embodiments of this invention may be implemented at least in part by computer software stored in memory 640 which is executable by processor 630; or by a processing system; or by hardware, or by a combination of tangibly stored software and hardware (and tangibly stored firmware).

According to embodiments of the present invention, all (or some) circuitries required for the aforementioned funetionalities may be embedded in the same circuitry, a system in package, a system on chip, a module, a LTCC (Low temperature co-fired ceramic) or the like, as indicated by the dashed line of network entity 600 in Figure 6.

Irrespective of the illustration of Figure 6, network entity apparatus 600 (or electronic device) according to embodiments of the present invention may comprise processing unit 620 only, which is connectable to the antenna unit 610, or an apparatus (or electronic device) according to embodiments of the present invention may comprise controlling unit 620b only, which is connectable to antenna unit 610 (Ivia modern/transceiver 620a or not).

According to embodiments of the present invention, the control procedure as illustrated in any of Figures 4 to 5 may be executed in/by processing unit 620 (i.e. in cooperation between modern/transceiver 620a and controller 620b) or in/by controller 620b as such.

The communication counterpart of various claims to which UE apparatus 700 is to transmit and/or from which UE apparatus 700 is to receive, may be any entity operable to communicate with the apparatus. In embodiments, the communication counterpart comprises network entity 600 which may comprise a base station or any other access point of a communication system and a mobile device (when the wireless path corresponds to a downlink wireless link) or any mobile device (when the wireless path corresponds to a D2D, V21, V2V, V2R wireless link).

Electronic devices implementing embodiments of the invention need not be the entire UE 700, or network entity 600, but embodiments may be implemented by one or more components of same such as the above described tangibly stored software, hardware, firmware and DP, or a system-on-a-chip Soc or an application specific integrated circuit ASIC or a digital signal processor DSP or a modem or a subscriber identity module (such as a SIM card).

Various embodiments of UE 600 may indude, but are not limited to: mobile (br cellular') telephones (including so-called "smart phones"), data cards, USB dongles, personal portable digital devices having wireless communication capabilities including but not limited to laptop/palmtop/tablet computers, digital cameras and music devices, sensor network components and Internet appliances. User equipment may also be referred to as a user terminal or endpoint device.

Various embodiments of memories 640, 740 include any data storage technology type which is suitable for the local technical environment, including but not limited to semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, removable memory, disc memory, flash memory, DRAM, SRAM, EEPROM and the like. Various embodiments of processors 630, 730 include but are not limited to microprocessors, digital signa' processors (DSPs), multi-core processors, general purpose computers, and special purpose computers.

It will be understood that any of processors 630, 730 or processing system or circuitry referred to herein may in practice be provided by a single chip or integrated circuit or plural chips or integrated circuits, optionally provided as a chipset, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. The chip or chips may comprise circuitry (as well as possibly firmware) for embodying at least one or more of a data processor or processors, a digital signal processor or processors, baseband circuitry and radio frequency circuitry, which are configurable so as to operate in accordance with embodiments. In this regard, embodiments may be implemented at least in part by computer software stored in (non-transitory) memory and executable by the processor, or by hardware, or by a combination of tangibly stored software and hardware (and tangibly stored firmware).

Although at least some aspects of the embodiments described herein with reference to the drawings comprise computer processes performed in processing systems or processors, the invention also extends to computer software, computer programs, particularly computer programs on or in a catTier, adapted for putting embodiments into practice. The program may be in the form of non-transitory source code, object code, a code intermediate source and object code such as in partially compiled form, or in any other non-transitoty form suitable for use in the implementation of processes according to the invention. The carrier may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. For example, the carrier may comprise a storage medium, such as a solid-state drive (SSD) or other semiconductor-based RAM; a ROM, for examp'e a CD ROM or a semiconductor ROM; a magnetic recording medium, for example a floppy disk or hard disk; optical memory devices in general; etc. The following numbered clauses set forth various embodiments of the invention: 1. A method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas, the method comprising, at the user equipment: receiving at least two radio wave signals; detecting fading conditions in relation to the received at least two radio wave signals; and controlling uplink antenna selection in the user equipment at least on the basis of the detected fading conditions.

2. A method accordiiig to clause I, whereth detecting the fading conditions comprises deterrniniiig the signal delay spread between the received at least two radio wave signals.

3. A method according to clause I or 2, wherein detecting the fading conditions comprises determining which of the received at least two radio wave signals is received first.

4. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein: detecting the fading conditions comprises determining a predefined fading scenario, and the controlling comprises controlling uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the determined fading scenario.

5. A method according to clause 4, wherein the predefined fading scenario comprises one or more of a line-of-sight scenario and a scattering scenario.

6. A method according to any preceding clause, whereim detecting the fading conditions comprises measuring at least one fading-related reception parameter, and the controlling comprises controlling uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the measured at least one fading-related reception parameter.

7. A method according to clause 6, wherein the at least one fading-related reception parameter comprises at east one parameter indicative of signal propagation conditions on a radio link between the user equipment and a communication counterpart.

8. A method according to clause 6 or 7. wherein the at least one fading-related reception parameter comprises at least one parameter indicative of one or more of: a fading delay, a Doppler, an angle of arrival, and a polarization.

9. A method according to any preceding clause, comprising detecting one or more motion-related characteristics of the user equipment, wherein the controlling comprises controlling uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the detected one or more motion-related characteristics.

10. A method according to clause 9, wherein the one or more motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of speed and/or direction characteristics of the user equipment.

11 A method according to clause 8 or 9, wherein the one or more motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of: an angle, a magnitude.

a vector, a speed, move/non-move information, a destination, a travel route, and a historical average speed.

12. A method according to any preceding dause, comprising detecting one or more incoming signal quality parameters associated with at least one radio wave signal received at the user equipment, wherein the controlling comprises controlling uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the detected one or more incoming signal quality parameters.

13. A method according to clause 12, wherein the one or more incoming signal quality parameters comprise one or more of: a received signal strength indicator.

a fading received signal strength indicator, a fading duration, a bit error rate, a quality of service parameter, a signal to noise ratio, and a signal to interference ratio.

14. A method according to any preceding clause, comprising detecting one or more uplink quality parameters of network signalling associated with at least one radio wave signal transmitted from the user equipment.

wherein the controlling comprises controlling uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the detected one or more uplink quality parameters.

15. A method according to clause 14, wherein the one or more detected uplink quality parameters comprises at least one parameter indicative of one or more of: a power level, a modulation a data class, a MIMO class, a carrier aggregation combination, and active antenna information.

16. A method according to any preceding clause, comprising controlling uplink antenna selection in the user equipment at least on the basis of historical fading conditions associated with two or more radio wave signals received at the user equipment.

17. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein the method is operable at or by an apparatus which is mounted or mountable on a mobfle device operable in communication with at least one of an access point of a conrnmnication system and another mobile device, wherein the mobile device comprises at least one of a vehicle, a computer, a satellite, a communication equipment, a communication terminal equipment, a consumer communication device, a military communication device and a public safety communication device.

18. Apparatus for use in controlling uplinlc antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas, the apparatus being adapted to, at the user equipment: receive at least two radio wave signals; detect fading conditions in relation to the received at least two radio wave signals; and control uplink antenna selection in the user equipment at least on the basis of the detected fading conditions.

19. Apparatus according to clause 18, the apparatus being adapted to detect the fading by determining the signal delay spread between the received at least two radio wave signals.

20. Apparatus according to clause 18 or 19, the apparatus being adapted to detect the fading conditions by determining which of the received at least two radio wave signals is received first.

21. Apparatus according to any of clauses 18 to 20, the apparatus being adapted to: detect the fading conditions by determining a predefined fading scenario; and controlling the uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the determined fading scenario.

22. Apparatus according to clause 21, wherein the predefined fading scenario comprises one or more of a line-of-sight scenario and a scattering scenario.

23. Apparatus according to any of clauses 18 to 22, the apparatus being adapted to: detect the fading conditions by measuring at least one fading-related reception parameter; and controlling the uplink antenna selection at east on the basis of the measured at least one fading-related reception parameter.

24. Apparatus according to clause 23, wherein the at least one fading-related reception parameter comprises at east one parameter indicative of signal propagation conditions on a radio link between the user equipment and a communication counterpart.

25. Apparatus according to clause 23 or 24, wherein the at kast one fading-related reception parameter comprises at least one parameter indicative of one or more of: a fading delay, a Doppler, an angle of arrival. and a polarization.

26. Apparatus according to any of clauses 18 to 25, the apparatus being adapted to: detect one or more motion-related characteristics of the user equipment; and control the uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the detected one or more motion-related characteristics.

27. Apparatus according to clause 26, wherein the one or more motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of speed and/or direction characteristics of the user equipment.

28. Apparatus according to clause 26 or 27, wherein the one or more motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of: an angle, a magnitude, a vector, a speed, move/non-move information, a destination, a travel route, and a historical average speed.

29. Apparatus according to any of clauses 18 to 28, the apparatus being adapted to: detect one or more incoming signal quality parameters associated with at least one radio wave signal received at the user equipment; and control the uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the detected one or more incoming signal quality parameters.

30. Apparatus according to clause 29, wherein the one or more incoming signal quality parameters comprise one or more of: a received signal strength indicator.

31. Apparatus according to any of clauses 18 to 30, the apparatus being adapted to: detect one or more uplink quality parameters of network signalling associated with at least one radio wave signal transmitted from the user equipment; and control the uplink antenna selection at least on the basis of the detected one or more uplink quality parameters.

32. Apparatus according to clause 31, wherein the one or more detected uplinlc quality parameters comprises at least one parameter indicative of one or more of: a power level, a modulation, adataclass, a MIMO class.

a camer aggregation combination, and active antenna information.

33. Apparatus according to any of clauses i8 to 32, the apparatus being adapted to control uplink antenna selection in the user equipment at least on the basis of histoncal fading conditions associated with two or more radio wave signals received at the user equipment.

34. Apparatus according to any of clauses 18 to 33, wherein the apparatus is mounted or mountable on a mobile device operable in communication with at least one of an access point of a communication system and another mobile device, wherein the mobile device comprises at least one of a vehicle, a computer, a satellite, a communication equipment, a communication terminal equipment, a consumer communication device, a military communication device and a public safety conmiunication device.

35. Apparatus according to any of clauses 18 to 34, wherein the apparatus comprises a chipset.

36. Apparatus according to any of clauses 18 to 35, wherein the at least two antennas are located in different sides of a vehicle.

37. Computer software adapted to perform a method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two uplink antennas according to any of clauses 1 to 17.

38. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, the computer readable instructions being executable by a computerized device to cause the computerized device to perform a method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two uplink antennas according to any of clauses 1 to 17.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention.

which is defined in the accompanying claims.

List of acronyms and abbreviations: 3G 3rd generation 3GPP 3rd generation partnership project ACK acknowledgement BTS base transceiver station DCI downlink control information DL downlink FDD frequency division duplex HSPA high speed packet access IE information element LOS line of sight LTE long term evolution LTE CA long term evolution carrier aggregation MIMO multiple input multiple output NACK negative acknowledgement NLOS non line of sight PDCCH physical downlink control channel QoS quality of service RSSI received signal strength indicator RX receiver SIR signal to interference ratio SNR signal to noise ratio TX transmitter TDD time division duplex UE user equipment UL uplink UMTS universal mobile telecommunications service

Claims

Claims 1. A method for use in controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas, said method comprising, at said user equipment: receiving at least two radio wave signals; detecting at least one of: fading conditions in relation to said received at least two radio wave signals, and one or more motion-related characteristics of said user equipment; transmitting detection information associated with said at least one of detected fading conditions and one or more detected motion-related characteristics towards a network entity; and receiving uplink antenna selection control information from said network entity, said control information having been generated by said network entity at least on the basis of said detection information transmitted to said network entity and network reception information extracted by said network entity from at least one radio wave signal transmitted from said user equipment to said network entity.
2. A method according to claim 1, comprising controlling uplink antenna selection in said user equipment at least on the basis of said received uplink antenna selection control information.
3. A method according to claim i or 2, wherein said one or more detected motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of speed and/or direction characteristics of said user equipment.
4. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said one or more motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of: an angle, a magnitude, a vector, a speed, move/non-move information, a destination, a travel route, and a historical average speed.
5. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said received uplink antenna selection control information defines an uplink antenna port associated with one of said at east two uplink antennas via which upfinlc communication should be conducted by said user equipment.
6. A method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein detecting said fading conditions comprises detecting the signal delay spread between said received at least two radio wave signa's.
7. A method according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein detecting said fading conditions comprises detecting which of said received at least two radio wave signals is received first.
8. A method according to any of claims I to 7, wherein detecting said fading conditions comprises determining a predefined fading scenario.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the predefined fading scenario comprises one or more of a line-of-sight scenario and a scattering scenario.
10. A method according to any of claims I to 9. wherein detecting said fading conditions comprises measuring at least one fading-related reception parameter.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one fading-related reception parameter comprises at least one parameter indicative of signal propagation conditions on a radio link between said user equipment and a communication counterpart.
12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the at least one fading-related reception parameter comprises at least one parameter indicative of one or more of: a fading delay, a Doppler, an angle of arrival. and a polarization.
13. A method according to any of claims I to i2, wherein said extracted network reception information is associated with one or more of: a user equipment antenna port, a received signal strength indicator RSSI), a fading received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a fading duration, a delay, a Doppler, an angle of arrival, a polarization, a user equipment movement, a user equipment antenna count, active antenna information, a signal to noise ratio (SNR), a signal to interference ratio (SIR), a bit error rate, and a quality of service.
14. A method according to any of claims I to 13, comprising controlling uplink antenna selection in said user equipment at least on the basis of historical fading conditions associated with two or more radio wave signals received at said user equipment.
15. A method according to any of claims 1 to 14, comprising transmitting an indication of a preferred uplink antenna selection to said network entity, said control information having been generated by said network entity at least on the basis of said preferred uplink antenna selection indicated by said user equipment.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said indication of a preferred uplink antenna selection is transmitted from said user equipment in a UECapabilitylnforrnation message.
17. A method according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the method is operable at or by an apparatus which is mounted or mountable on a mobfle device operable in communication with at least one of an access point of a communication system and another mobile device, wherein the mobile device comprises at least one of a vehicle, a computer, a satellite, a communication equipment. and a communication terminal equipment.
18. Apparatus for use in controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas, said apparatus being adapted to, at said user equipment: receive at least two radio wave signals; detect at least one of: fading conditions in relation to said received at least two radio wave signah, and one or more motion-related characteristics of said user equipment; transmit detection information associated with said at least one of detected fading conditions and one or more detected motion-related characteristics towards a network entity; and receive uplink antenna selection control information from said network entity, said control information having been generated by said network entity at least on the basis of said detection information transmitted to said network entity and network reception information extracted by said network entity from at least one radio wave signal transmitted from said user equipment to said network entity.
19. Apparatus according to claim 18, said apparatus being adapted to control uplink antenna selection in said user equipment at least on the basis of said received uplink antenna selection control information.
20. Apparatus according to claim 18 or 19, wherein said one or more detected motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of speed and/or direction characteristics of said user equipment.
21. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 20, wherein said one or more motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of: an angle, a magnitude, a vector, a speed, move/non-move information, a destination, a travel route, and a historical average speed.
22. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 21, wherein said received uplink antenna selection control information defines an uplink antenna port associated with one of said at least two uplink antennas via which uplink communication should be conducted by said user equipment.
23. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 22, wherein detecting said fading conditions comprises detecting the signal delay spread between said received at least two radio wave signals.
24. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 23, wherein detecting said fading conditions comprises detecting which of said received at least two radio wave signals is received first.
25. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 24, wherein detecting said fading conditions comprises determining a predefined fading scenario.
26. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the predefined fading scenario comprises one or more of a line-of-sight scenario and a scattering scenario.
27. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 26, wherein detecting said fading conditions comprises measuring at least one fading-related reception parameter.
28. Apparatus according to claim 27. wherein the at least one fading-related reception parameter comprises at kast one parameter indicative of signal propagation conditions on a radio link between said user equipment and a communication counterpart.
29. Apparatus according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the at least one fading-related reception parameter comprises at least one parameter indicative of one or more of: a fading delay, a Doppler, an angle of arrival, and a polarization.
30. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 29, wherein said extracted network reception information is associated with one or more of: a user equipment antenna port, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a fading received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a fading duration, a delay, a Doppler, an angle of alTival, a polarization, a user equipment movement, a user equipment antenna count, active antenna information, a signal to noise ratio (SNR), a signal to interference ratio (SIR), a bit error rate, and a quality of service.
31. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 30. said apparatus being adapted to control uplink antenna selection in said user equipment at least on the basis of historical fading conditions associated with two or more radio wave signals received at said user equipment.
32. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 31, said apparatus being adapted to transmit an indication of a preferred uplink antenna sdection to said network entity, said control information havthg been generated by said network entity at least on the basis of said preferred uplink antenna selection indicated by said user equipment.
33. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said indication of a preferred uplink antenna selection is transmitted from said user equipment in a UECapabilitylnformation message.
34. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 33, wherein the apparatus is mounted or mountable on a mobile device operable in communication with at least one of an access point of a communication system and another mobile device, wherein the mobile device comprises at least one of a vehicle, a computer, a satellite, a communication equipment, and a communication terminal equipment.
35. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 34, wherein the apparatus comprises a chipset.
36. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 35, wherein said at least two antennas are located indifferent sides of a vehicle.
37. Computer software adapted to perform a method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two uplink antennas according to any of claims Ito 17.
38. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, the computer readable instructions being executable by a computerized device to cause the computerized device to perform a method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two uplink antennas according to any of claims Ito 17.
39. A method for use in controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas, said method comprising, at a network entity: receiving detection information transmitted from said user equipment associated with at least one ot fading conditions detected by said user equipment in relation to at least two radio wave signals received at said user equipment, and one or more motion-related characteristics of said user equipment detected by said user equipment; extracting network reception information from at least one radio wave signal received from said user equipment; generating uplink antenna selection control information at least on the basis of said received detection information and said extracted network reception information; and transmitting said generated uplink antenna selection control information to said user equipment.
40. A method according to claim 39, wherein said extracted network reception information is extracted from one or more of the foflowing associated with said at least one radio wave signal received from said user equipment: payload information, control information.at least one acknowledgement (ACK) message.at least one negative acknowledgement (NACK) message, broadcast information.a channel quality indicator (CQI), a modulation, and an automatic repeat request (ARQ).
41. A method according to claim 39 or 40, wherein said extracted network reception information is associated with one or more of: a user equipment antenna port, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a fading received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a fading duration, a delay, a Doppler, an angle of arrival, a polarization, a user equipment movement, a user equipment antenna count, active antenna information, a signal to noise ratio (SNR).a signal to interference ratio (SIR), a bit error rate, and a quality of service.
42. A method according to any of claims 39 to 41, comprising transmitting said extracted network reception information to said user equipment.
43. A method according to any of claims 39 to 42, comprising receiving an indication of a preferred uplink antenna selection from said user equipment, wherein said generating comprises generating said uplink antenna selection control information at least on the basis of said preferred uplink antenna selection indicated by said user equipment.
44. A method according to claim 43. wherein said indication of a preferred uplink antenna selection is received from said user equipment in a UECapabilitylnformation message.
45. A method according to any of claims 39 to 44, wherein said one or more detected motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of speed and/or direction characteristics of said user equipment.
46. A method according to any of claims 39 to 45, wherein said one or more motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of: an angle, a magnitude.a vector, a speed, move/non-move information, a destination, a travel route, and a historical average speed.
47. A method according to any of claims 39 to 46, wherein said generated uplink antenna selection control information defines an uplink antenna port associated with one of said at least two uplink antennas via which uplink communication should be conducted by said user equipment.
48. A method according to any of claims 39 to 47, wherein the method is operable at or by an apparatus comprised in one or more base stations or access nodes of a communication system.
49. Apparatus for use in controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two antennas, said apparatus being adapted to, at a network entity: receive detection information transmitted from said user equipment associated with at least one of: fading conditions detected by said user equipment in relation to at least two radio wave signals received at said user equipment, and one or more motion-related characteristics of said user equipment detect by said user equipment; extract network reception information from at least one radio wave signal received from said user equipment; generate uplink antenna selection control information at least on the basis of said received detection information and said extracted network reception information; and transmit said generated uplink antenna selection control information to said user equipment.
50. Apparatus according to claim 49. said apparatus being adapted to extract said network reception information from one or more of the following associated with said at least one radio wave signal received from said user equipment: payload information, control information, at least one acknowledgement (ACK) message, at least one negative acknowledgement (NACK) message, broadcast information, a channel quality indicator (CQI), a modulation, and an automatic repeat request IARQ).
51. Apparatus according to claim 49 or 50. wherein said extracted network reception information is associated with one or more of: a user equipment antenna port, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a fading received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a fading duration, a delay, a Doppler, an angle of arrival, a polarization, a user equipment movement, a user equipment antenna count, active antenna information, a signal to noise ratio (SNR), a signal to interference ratio (SIR), a bit error rate, and a quality of service.
52. Apparatus according to any of claims 49 to 51, said apparatus being adapted to transmit said extracted network reception information to said user equipment.
53. Apparatus according to any of claims 49 to 52, said apparatus being adapted to: receive an indication of a preferred uplink antenna selection from said user equipment; and generate said uplink antenna selection control information at least on the basis of said preferred uplink antenna selection indicated by said user equipment.
54. Apparatus according to claim 53, said apparatus being adapted to receive said indication of a preferred uplink antenna selection from said user equipment in a UECapabilitylnformation message.
55. Apparatus according to any of claims 49 to 54, wherein said one or more detected motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of speed and/or direction characteristics of said user equipment.
56. Apparatus according to any of claims 49 to 55, wherein said one or more motion-related characteristics comprise one or more of: an angle, a magnitude.a vector, a speed, move/non-move information, a destination, a travel route, and a historical average speed.
57. Apparatus according to any of claims 49 to 56, wherein said generated uplink antenna selection control information defines an uplink antenna port associated with one of said at least two uplink antennas via which uplink communication should be conducted by said user equipment.
58. Apparatus according to any of claims 49 to 57. wherein the apparatus is comprised in one or more base stations or access nodes ofa communication system.
59. Apparatus according to any of claims 49 to 58, wherein the apparatus comprises a chipset.
60. Apparatus according to any of claims 49 to 59, wherein said at least two antennas are located in different sides of a vehicle.
61. Computer software adapted to perform a method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two uplink antennas according to any of claims 39 to 48.
62. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, the computer readable instructions being executable by a computerized device to cause the computerized device to perform a method of controlling uplink antenna selection in a user equipment comprising at least two uplink antennas according to any of claims 39 to 48.