FDD Massive MIMO Uplink and Downlink Channel Reciprocity Properties: Full or Partial Reciprocity?

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the reciprocity properties of FDD massive MIMO channels, proving that only partial reciprocity holds and providing experimental verification and standardization suggestions.

Contribution

It offers a theoretical proof that full reciprocity does not exist in FDD massive MIMO channels and proposes revisions to 5G channel models based on partial reciprocity.

Findings

Full reciprocity does not hold for FDD massive MIMO channels.

Partial reciprocity property is valid and can be utilized.

Experimental results verify the theoretical analysis.

Abstract

One challenge for FDD massive MIMO communication system is how to obtain the downlink channel state information (CSI) at the base station. Except for traditional codebook feedback through uplink pilot transmission, some channel reciprocity properties can be utilized through uplink channel estimation and channel parameter estimation algorithms. In this paper, the uplink and downlink channel reciprocity properties are analyzed. It is theoretically proved that not all multipath parameters for FDD downlink and uplink channels are equivalent. Therefore, the so called full reciprocity property does not hold while the partial reciprocity property holds. Moreover, the channel measurement campaign is conducted to verify our theoretical analysis. Finally, in order to support the partial reciprocity property, the revision for the standardization 5G channel model is proposed as well. With the contribution of this paper, the FDD massive MIMO system transmission scheme design could be led to the right direction.