Downlink Scheduling in Network MIMO Using Two-Stage Channel State Feedback

In this paper, we propose a user scheduling scheme which is based merely on the ergodic rate. We derive the ergodic rate of each user for our network MIMO system from the average Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and the covariance of prediction error. Further more, we design a joint precoding for the selected users. The precoding matrices are contrived according to the predicted Channel State Information at Transmitter (CSIT) in the future time slot to reduce the deviation caused by delay. Such a network MIMO system is under consideration, where the users are cooperatively served by multiple Base Stations (BSs). User scheduling and joint precoding are executed by a central unit connected to all BSs. Both the above functions require the CSIT which is acquired by an uplink feedback overhead. Simulation results demonstrate a conspicuous improvement in user spectral efficiency with reduced feedback.