Application driven joint uplink-downlink optimization in wireless communications

This paper introduces a new mathematical framework which is used to derive joint uplink/downlink achievable rate regions for multi-user spatial multiplexing between one base station and multiple terminals. The framework consists of two models: the first one is a simple transmission model for uplink (UL) and downlink (DL), which is capable to give a lower bound on the capacity for the case that the transmission is subject to imperfect channel state information (CSI). A detailed model for concrete channel estimation and feedback schemes provides the parameter input to the former model and covers the most important aspects such as pilot design optimization, linear channel estimation, feedback delay, and feedback quantization. We apply this framework to determine optimal pilot densities and CSI feedback quantity, given that a weighted sum of UL and DL throughput is to be maximized for a certain user velocity. We show that for low speed, and if DL throughput is of particular importance, a significant portion of the UL should be invested into CSI feedback. At higher velocity, however, DL performance becomes mainly affected by CSI feedback delay, and hence CSI feedback brings little gain considering the inherent sacrifice of UL capacity. We further show that for high velocities, it becomes beneficial to use no CSI feedback at all, but apply random beamforming in the DL and operate in time-division multiplex.