MMSE precoding for multiuser MISO downlink transmission with non-homogeneous user SNR conditions

This paper is concerned with linear precoding designs for multiuser downlink transmissions. We consider a multiple-input single-output (MISO) system with multiple single-antenna user equipment (UE) experiencing non-homogeneous average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. The first part of this work examines different precoding schemes with perfect channel state information (CSI) and average SNR at the base-station (eNB). We then propose a weighted minimum mean squared error (WMMSE) precoder, which takes advantage of the non-homogeneous SNR conditions. Given in a closed-form solution, the proposed WMMSE precoder outperforms other well-known linear precoders, such as zero-forcing (ZF), regularized ZF (RZF), while achieving a close performance to the locally optimal iterative WMMSE (IWMMSE) precoder, in terms of the achievable network sum-rate. In the second part of this work, we consider the non-homogeneous multiuser system with limited and quantized channel quality indicator (CQI) and channel direction indicator (CDI) feedbacks. Based on the CQI and CDI feedback models proposed for the Long-Term Evolution Advanced standard, we then propose a robust WMMSE precoder in a closed-form solution which takes into account the quantization errors. Simulation shows a significant improvement in the achievable network sum-rate by the proposed robust WMMSE precoder, compared to non-robust linear precoder designs.