Optimized Training and Feedback for MIMO Downlink Channels

Abstract: We consider a MIMO fading broadcast channel where channel state information is acquired at user terminals via downlink training and channel feedback is used to provide transmitter channel state information (CSIT) to the base station. The feedback channel (the corresponding uplink) is modeled as an AWGN channel, orthogonal across users. The total bandwidth consumed is the sum of the bandwidth/resources used for downlink training, channel feedback, and data transmission. Assuming that the channel follows a block fading model and that zeroforcing beamforming is used, we optimize the net achievable rate for unquantized (analog) and quantized (digital) channel feedback. The optimal number of downlink training pilots is seen to be essentially the same for both feedback techniques, but digital feedback is shown to provide a larger net rate than analog feedback.