Predicting SINR conditions in mobile MIMO-OFDM systems by interpolation techniques

Channel adaptive transmission in multi-user MIMO systems is seen as a promising concept to achieve high spectral efficiencies in future radio networks: Based on feedback on actual channel conditions, the base station allocates transmission resources to the user terminals where they can support high data rates. However, due to the delay between evaluation of the channels at the terminals and application of the resource allocation decision, the concept operates conveniently only under quasi-static channel conditions. In case user terminals are moving, the channel may vary and thus the adaptive concept may suffer strong performance degradations. For a channel-adaptive transmission concept based on evaluation of SINR conditions, we propose a solution to predict future SINR conditions based on channel interpolation techniques. For a limited prediction interval depending on the receive antenna spacing, the technique significantly diminishes potential SINR losses.