Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) layer control for wireless user equipment

A wireless access node controls Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) layers for a User Equipment (UE). A radio wirelessly exchanges user data with other UEs and exchanges the user data with baseband circuitry. The baseband circuitry exchanges the user data with network elements over backhaul links. The baseband circuitry determines a status of the backhaul links. The baseband circuitry identifies the radio band status for the UE. The baseband circuitry receives user data for the UE from the network elements over the backhaul links. The baseband circuitry selects a number of MIMO layers for the UE based on the radio band status and the backhaul status. The baseband circuitry precodes the user data into precoded data for the selected number of MIMO layers and transfers the precoded data to the radio. The radio wirelessly transmits the precoded data to the UE over the selected number of MIMO layers.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Wireless communication networks provide wireless data services to wireless user devices. Exemplary wireless data services include machine-control, internet-access, media-streaming, and social-networking. Exemplary wireless user devices comprise phones, computers, vehicles, robots, and sensors. The wireless communication networks have wireless access nodes which exchange wireless signals with the wireless user devices using wireless network protocols. Exemplary wireless network protocols include Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR), Millimeter Wave (mmW), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI), and Low-Power Wide Area Network (LP-WAN).

The wireless user devices have various characteristics. The wireless user devices have radio band characteristics like signal strength and quality that characterize their wireless connections to the wireless access nodes. The wireless user devices may have emergency status when users calls 911 or the like. The wireless user devices may have relay status when the wireless user device accepts wireless attachments of other wireless user devices and then wirelessly couples the attached user devices to the wireless access nodes. The wireless user devices may have capabilities for 5GNR or mmW. The wireless user devices may be mobile or stationary. The wireless access nodes also have characteristics. The wireless access nodes have backhaul status that characterizes their connections to core data communication networks. The wireless access node have error rates that characterizes their communication performance with the wireless user devices. The wireless access nodes have other characteristics like user device loads and uplink noise rises.

The wireless access nodes and the wireless user devices use Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) to optimize their wireless communications. MIMO precodes data into independent data layers for parallel wireless transmission. MIMO precoding comprises digital beamforming by the physical layer to maintain isolation between the MIMO data layers. Wireless reliability is improved when different MIMO layers carry redundant data to increase multipath transmit diversity. Wireless data rate is improved when the MIMO layers carry different data that is isolated by spatial multiplexing. The wireless access nodes control the number of MIMO layers for a UE based on frequency band characteristics like signal strength and quality. Unfortunately, the wireless access nodes do not efficiently and effectively optimize the number of MIMO layers for a UE based a larger set of characteristics for the wireless user devices and the wireless access nodes.

TECHNICAL OVERVIEW

A wireless access node controls Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) layers for a User Equipment (UE). A radio in a wireless access node wirelessly exchanges user data with other UEs and exchanges the user data with baseband circuitry. The baseband circuitry exchanges the user data with network elements over backhaul links. The baseband circuitry determines the status of the backhaul links. The baseband circuitry identifies the radio band status for the UE. The baseband circuitry receives user data for the UE from the network elements over the backhaul links. The baseband circuitry selects a number of MIMO layers for the UE based on the radio band status and the backhaul status. The baseband circuitry precodes the user data into precoded data for the selected number of MIMO layers and transfers the precoded data to the radio. The radio wirelessly transmits the precoded data over the selected number of MIMO layers to the UE.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates wireless communication network100to control the amount of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) layers for User Equipment (UE)101. Wireless communication network100delivers wireless data services like internet-access, video-calling, media-streaming, augmented-reality, machine-control, and/or some other wireless networking product. Wireless communication network100comprises wireless UEs101-105, wireless access node120, and network elements130. Wireless access node120comprises radio121and baseband circuitry122. UE101is wirelessly linked to wireless access node120over radio band110by MIMO layers111-114. UEs102-105are wirelessly linked to wireless access node120over wireless links that are not shown for clarity. The number of UEs and access nodes onFIG. 1has been restricted for clarity, and wireless communication network100typically has more UEs and access nodes than that shown.

Various examples of network operation and configuration are described herein. In some examples, UEs102-105and radio121wirelessly exchange user data over wireless links (not shown). Radio121and baseband circuitry122exchange the user data over interface links123. Baseband circuitry122and network elements130exchange the user data over backhaul links124. Network elements130may exchange the user data with external systems like the internet, enterprise networks, or some other data systems. Baseband circuitry122determines the backhaul status of backhaul links124. Backhaul status may indicate average throughput, percent-of-capacity, latency, and/or the like. Contemporaneously, baseband circuitry122receives user data for UE101from network elements130over backhaul links124. UE101determines band status for radio band110and transfers the band status to baseband circuitry122over radio121. Baseband circuitry122selects the number of MIMO layers for UE101based on the band status, backhaul status, and possibly additional factors. In this example, baseband circuitry122selects four MIMO layers111-114, although different numbers of layers are typically selected over time. Baseband circuitry122precodes the user data for the selected number of MIMO layers for UE101. Baseband circuitry122transfers precoded data to radio121over interface links123. Radio121wirelessly transmits the precoded data to UE101over selected MIMO layers111-114.

UE101has radio band characteristics like signal strength and quality that characterize radio band110. UE101may have an emergency status when the user calls/texts to 911 or another emergency code. UE101may have a relay status when UE101accepts the wireless attachments of other UEs and wirelessly couples these UEs to wireless access node120. UE101may have the capability to use advanced wireless technologies like 5GNR and mmW. UE101may be mobile or stationary. UE101may have a Multiple User MIMO (MU-MIMO) status where it shares the same time/frequency resources with other UEs. For example, MIMO layers111-114may comprise a subset of 16 total MIMO layers that are transmitted by wireless access node120and that are shared by UEs101-104at four layers per UE.

Wireless access node120has backhaul status that characterizes the performance of backhaul links124. Wireless access node120has an error rate that characterizes the communication performance of radio band110. Wireless access node120has user loads like the number of Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected UEs. Wireless access node120has a varying uplink noise rise which comprises the total interference power divided by the background noise power.

Baseband circuitry122may use at least some of the additional characteristics to select the amount of MIMO layers for UE101. For UE101, baseband circuitry122may determine emergency status, Multiple User MIMO (MU-MIMO) status, UE capabilities, relay status, mobility factor, and/or some other data. For wireless access node120, baseband circuitry122may determine uplink noise rise, downlink error rate, RRC-Connected UE load, and/or some other data. Baseband circuitry122may process one or more of these additional factors in combination with band/backhaul status to select the number of MIMO layers for UE101. Baseband circuitry122decreases the amount of MIMO layers in response to: decreased band quality, decreased backhaul quality, increased uplink noise rise, increased UE load, increased downlink error rate, non-emergency status, Single-User (SU) MIMO status, non-relay status, legacy UE capabilities, and increased UE mobility. Baseband circuitry122increases the amount of MIMO layers in response to: increased band quality, increased backhaul quality, decreased uplink noise rise, decreased UE load, decreased downlink error rate, emergency status, Multiple-User (MU) MIMO status, relay status, advanced UE capabilities, and decreased UE mobility. In some scenarios, the changes to some factors offset the changes to other factors as multiple factors are processed in combination to select the amount of MIMO layers for UE101. Advantageously, wireless access node120optimizes downlink wireless communications for UE101by efficiently and effectively controlling the number of MIMO layers based a potentially large set of characteristics for UE101and wireless access node120.

UEs101-105wirelessly communicate with wireless access node110over radio band110using Radio Access Technologies (RATs) like Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR), millimeter Wave (mmW), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI), Low-Power Wide Area Network (LP-WAN), and/or some other wireless protocol. Radio band110uses electromagnetic frequencies in the low-band, mid-band, high-band, or some other portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Links123-124use metal, glass, air, or some other media. Links123-124use IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet), Time Division Multiplex (TDM), Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS), Internet Protocol (IP), 5GC, 5GNR, LTE, WIFI, virtual switching, inter-processor communication, bus interfaces, and/or some other data communication protocols.

Although UEs101-105are depicted as smartphones, UEs101-105might instead comprise computers, robots, vehicles, or some other data appliances with wireless communication circuitry. Radio121is depicted on a tower, but radio121may use other mounting structures or no mounting structure at all. Wireless access node110may comprise gNodeBs, eNodeBs, hot-spots, base-stations, and/or some other form of wireless network transceiver. Network elements130comprise Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMFs), User Plane Functions (UPFs), millimeter wave controllers, Mobility Management Entities (MMEs), Gateways (GWs), Internet-of-Things (IoT) application servers, Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) servers, and/or some other form of wireless network apparatus. In some examples, network elements130comprise Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) in a Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI).

UEs101-105and radio121comprise antennas, amplifiers, filters, modulation, analog/digital interfaces, microprocessors, software, memories, transceivers, bus circuitry, and the like. Baseband circuitry122and network elements130comprise microprocessors, memories, software, transceivers, bus circuitry, and the like. The microprocessors comprise Digital Signal Processors (DSP), Central Processing Units (CPU), Graphical Processing Units (GPU), Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC), and/or the like. The memories comprise Random Access Memory (RAM), flash circuitry, disk drives, and/or the like. The memories store software like operating systems, user applications, radio applications, network applications, and management applications. The microprocessors retrieve the software from the memories and execute the software to drive the operation of wireless communication network100as described herein.

FIG. 2illustrates an exemplary operation of wireless communication network100to control the amount of MIMO layers for UE101. The illustrated operation may vary fromFIG. 2in other examples. Radio121wirelessly exchanges user data with UEs102-105and exchanges the user data with baseband circuitry122(201). Baseband circuitry122exchanges the user data with network elements130over backhaul links124(202). Baseband circuitry122receives user data for UE101from network elements130over backhaul links124(203). Baseband circuitry122determines the backhaul status of backhaul links124(204). Baseband circuitry122receives band status for radio band110from UE101over radio121(205). Baseband circuitry122selects the number of MIMO layers for UE101based on the band status and the backhaul status (206). Baseband circuitry122selects a high number of MIMO layers when band quality and backhaul quality are relatively high. Baseband circuitry122selects a low number of MIMO layers when band quality and backhaul quality are relatively low. Baseband circuitry122selects a medium number of MIMO layers when band quality and backhaul quality are near the middle or offset one another. Good backhaul quality and poor band quality tend to offset, as do poor backhaul quality and good band quality. Baseband circuitry122precodes the user data for the selected number of MIMO layers for UE101and transfers precoded data to radio121(207). Radio121wirelessly transmits the precoded data to UE101over the selected number of MIMO layers (208). The operation repeats (201).

FIG. 3illustrates another exemplary operation of wireless communication network100to control the amount of MIMO layers for UE101. The illustrated operation may vary fromFIG. 3in other examples. UEs102-105and radio121wirelessly exchange user data. Radio121and baseband circuitry122exchange the user data. Baseband circuitry122and network elements130exchange the user data. Network elements130exchange the user data with external systems. UE101transfers signaling to radio121that indicates emergency status, band status, and UE capabilities. Radio121transfers the signaling to baseband circuitry122. For UE101, baseband circuitry122determines emergency status, band status, UE capabilities, and MU-MIMO status. For wireless access node120, baseband circuitry122determines backhaul status, uplink noise rise, downlink error rate, and RRC-Connected UE load.

Baseband circuitry122selects an amount of MIMO layers for UE101based on the band status and at least one of: emergency status, MU-MIMO status, UE capabilities, backhaul status, uplink noise rise, downlink error rate, and RRC-Connected UE load. For the uplink, UE101wirelessly transfers user data to radio121, and radio121transfers the user data to baseband circuitry122. Baseband circuitry122transfers the user data to network elements130, and network elements130transfer the user data to external systems. For the downlink, network elements130receive user data from the external systems and transfer the user data to baseband circuitry122. Baseband circuitry122precodes the user data for the selected number of MIMO layers for UE101. Baseband circuitry122transfers precoded data to radio121. Radio121wirelessly transmits the precoded data to UE101over the selected number of MIMO layers.

FIG. 4illustrates Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) gNodeB420to control the number of MIMO layers for 5GNR UE401in Fifth Generation (5G) wireless communication network400. 5G communication network400comprises an example of wireless communication network100, although network100may differ. 5G communication network400comprises UE401, 5GNR gNodeB420, and Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI)430. 5GNR gNodeB420comprises an example of wireless access node110, although access node110may differ. 5GNR gNodeB420comprises 5GNR radio401and 5GNR BBU402. 5GNR radio401comprises antennas, amplifiers, filters, modulation, analog-to-digital interfaces, DSP, memory, and transceivers that are coupled over bus circuitry. 5GNR BBU402comprises memory, CPU, and transceivers that are coupled over bus circuitry. The memory in 5GNR BBU402stores an operating system and 5GNR network applications like Physical Layer (PHY), Media Access Control (MAC), Radio Link Control (RLC), Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), Service Adaptation Application Protocol (SDAP), and Radio Resource Control (RRC).

In this example, UE401is wirelessly coupled to the antennas in 5GNR radio601over 16 5GNR MIMO layers. A transceiver in 5GNR radio401is coupled to a transceiver in 5GNR BBU402over enhanced CPRI (eCPRI) links. A transceiver in 5GNR BBU402is coupled to NFVI420over backhaul links. The CPU in 5GNR BBU402executes the operating system, PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP, SDAP, and RRC to exchange 5GNR signaling and data with UE401and to exchange 5G Core (5GC) signaling and data with NFVI420and other NodeBs. 5GNR BBU402may be physically separated into a Distributed Unit (DU) and a Centralized Unit (CU) that each resemble BBU402. The CU and DU would each host a portion of the software in BBU402. The CU and DU would be coupled over transceivers and fronthaul links.

In 5GNR radio401, the antennas receive wireless 5GNR signals from UEs401that transport uplink 5GNR signaling and data. The antennas transfer corresponding electrical uplink signals through duplexers to the amplifiers. The amplifiers boost the received uplink signals for filters which attenuate unwanted energy. Demodulators down-convert the uplink signals from their carrier frequency. The analog/digital interfaces convert the analog uplink signals into digital uplink signals for the DSPs. The DSPs recover uplink symbols from the uplink digital signals. In 5GNR BBU402, the CPU executes the network applications to process the uplink symbols and recover the uplink signaling and the uplink data. The network applications processes the uplink 5GNR signaling and downlink 5GC signaling to generate new X2 signaling, new uplink 5GC signaling, and new downlink 5GNR signaling. The RRC transfers the new uplink 5GC signaling to NFVI430and the X2 signaling to other NodeBs. The SDAP transfers corresponding 5GC data to NFVI430and other NodeBs.

In 5GNR BBU402, the RRC receives the 5GC signaling from NFVI430and X2 signaling from other NodeBs. The SDAP receives 5GC data from NFVI420and other NodeBs. The 5GNR network applications process the 5GNR signaling and data to generate corresponding downlink symbols that carry the 5GNR signaling and data—including MIMO precoding for the selected number of MIMO layers. In 5GNR radio401, the DSP processes the downlink symbols to generate corresponding digital MIMO layers for the analog-to-digital interfaces. The analog-to-digital interfaces convert the digital MIMO layers into analog MIMO layers for modulation. Modulation up-converts the analog MIMO layers to their carrier frequency. The amplifiers boost the modulated MIMO layers for the filters which attenuate unwanted out-of-band energy. The filters transfer the filtered MIMO layers through duplexers to the antennas. The electrical MIMO layers drive the antennas to emit corresponding wireless 5GNR MIMO layers to UEs401that transport the downlink 5GNR signaling and data.

In operation, a set of UEs (that not shown for clarity) wirelessly exchange 5GNR data and signaling with 5GNR radio401. 5GNR radio401and 5GNR BBU402exchange the 5GNR data and signaling over the eCPRI links. 5GNR BBU402and NFVI430exchange corresponding 5GC data and signaling over the backhaul links. In 5GNR BBU402, the SDAP determines average backhaul throughput and notifies the PHY. The MAC determines the wireless downlink error rate for gNodeB420, determines the MU-MIMO status for UE401, and notifies the PHY. The RRC determines RRC-Connected UE load and notifies the PHY. The RRC also receives Channel State Information (CSI), emergency status, relay status, and UE capabilities from UE401over 5GNR radio401and notifies the PHY.

In 5GNR BBU402, the PHY selects the number of MIMO layers for UE401based on the CSI in combination with one or more of the emergency status, relay status, MU-MIMO status, UE capabilities, backhaul status, uplink noise rise, downlink error rate, and RRC-Connected UE load. For example, 5GNR BBU402maximizes the number of MIMO layers for the CSI when an emergency status, relay status, MU-MIMO status, 5GNR UE capability, or mmW UE capability is identified. 5GNR BBU402reduces the number of MIMO layers for a given CSI when the backhaul quality suffers, the uplink noise rise increases, the downlink error rate increases, and/or the RRC-Connected UE load is excessive. BBU402may increase the number of MIMO layers for the given CSI when backhaul quality improves, the uplink noise rise decreases, the downlink error rate decreases, and/or the RRC-Connected UE load normalizes.

In this example, the PHY in 5GNR BBU402selects 16 layers for UE401, although different numbers of MIMO layers are selected for UE401over time as conditions change. The PHY in 5GNR BBU402precodes the user data and signaling into symbols for the 16 MIMO layers for UE401. The PHY in 5GNR BBU402transfers the 16 layers of precoded data to 5GNR radio401over the eCPRI link. 5GNR radio401wirelessly transmits the 16 MIMO layers of data to UE401. The 16 MIMO layers may increase data throughput with spatial multiplexing or improve reliability with transmit diversity.

FIG. 5illustrates 5GNR UE401that has its number of MIMO layers controlled by 5GNR gNodeB420in 5G wireless communication network400. UE401comprises an example of UEs101, although UEs101may differ. UE401comprises 5GNR radio501and user circuitry502. 5GNR radio501comprises antennas, amplifiers, filters, modulation, analog-to-digital interfaces, DSP, memory, and transceivers that are coupled over bus circuitry. User circuitry502comprises memory, CPU, and transceivers that are coupled over bus circuitry. The memory in user circuitry502stores an operating system, user applications (USER), and 5GNR network applications for PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP, SDAP, and RRC. The antennas in 5GNR radio501are wirelessly coupled to the antennas in 5GNR gNodeB411—over 16 MIMO layers in this example. A transceiver in 5GNR radio501is coupled a transceiver in user circuitry502. A transceiver in user circuitry502is coupled to external user systems. The CPU in user circuitry502executes the operating system, PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP, SDAP, and RRC to exchange 5GNR signaling and data with 5GNR gNodeB420.

In 5GNR radio501, the antennas receive wireless signals from 5GNR gNodeB420that transport downlink 5GNR signaling and data over the 16 MIMO layers. The antennas transfer corresponding electrical MIMO layers through duplexers to the amplifiers. The amplifiers boost the received MIMO layers for filters which attenuate unwanted energy. Demodulators down-convert the MIMO layers from their carrier frequency. The analog/digital interfaces convert the analog MIMO layers into digital MIMO layers for the DSPs. The DSPs transfer the digital MIMO layers to user circuitry502over the transceivers. In user circuitry502, the CPU executes the network applications to process the MIMO layers and recover the downlink 5GNR signaling and data. The network applications receive new uplink signaling and data from the user applications. The network applications process the uplink user signaling the downlink 5GNR signaling to generate new downlink user signaling and new uplink 5GNR signaling. The network applications transfer the new downlink user signaling to the user applications. The network applications transfer the downlink user data to the user applications.

The network applications process the new uplink 5GNR signaling and user data to generate corresponding uplink 5GNR symbols that carry the uplink 5GNR signaling and data. In radio501, the DSP processes the uplink symbols to generate corresponding digital signals for the analog-to-digital interfaces. The analog-to-digital interfaces convert the digital uplink signals into analog uplink signals for modulation. Modulation up-converts the uplink signals to their carrier frequency. The amplifiers boost the modulated uplink signals for the filters which attenuate unwanted out-of-band energy. The filters transfer the filtered uplink signals through duplexers to the antennas. The electrical uplink signals drive the antennas to emit corresponding wireless 5GNR signals to 5GNR NodeB420that transport the uplink 5GNR signaling and data.

In operation, the PHY in UE401determines CSI during channel estimation/equalization. The RRC determines emergency status, relay status, and UE capabilities. The RRC reports the CSI, emergency status, relay status, and UE capabilities to 5GNR gNodeB420. The PHY receives and isolates the received 5GNR signaling and data into the 16 MIMO layers. The PHY soft-combines layers for transmit diversity and demultiplexes layers for spatial multiplexing. The PHY may also support MU-MIMO where the PHY shares individual 5GNR resource blocks and the MIMO layers in the individual blocks with other UEs.

FIG. 7illustrates an exemplary operation of 5G wireless communication network400to control the number of MIMO layers from 5GNR gNodeB420to 5GNR UE401. The illustrated operation is exemplary and may vary fromFIG. 7in other examples. The 5GNR RRC in UE401attaches to the 5GNR RRC in 5GNR gNodeB420. The 5GNR RRC in gNodeB420exchanges 5GC signaling with the AMF in NFVI430. The AMF interacts with the AUSF and UDM to authenticate and authorize UE401for services. The AMF interacts with the NSSI, SMF, and PCF to select QoS, network addressing, and the like for UE401. The SMF directs a UPF to serve UE401over 5GNR gNodeB420. The AMF signals the RRC in 5GNR gNodeB420to serve UE401per the QoS and network addresses. The RRC in 5GNR gNodeB420signals the RRC in UE401indicating the selected services, QoS, and network addresses. The user applications in UE401exchange user signaling with the RRC over the operating system and exchange user data with the SDAP over the operating system. The RRC in UE401and the RRC in 5GNR gNodeB420exchange 5GNR signaling to establish the selected services per the QoS. The SDAP in UE401and the SDAP in 5GNR gNodeB420exchange the user data to deliver the selected services per the QoS. The SDAP in 5GNR gNodeB420and the UPF in NFVI430exchange the user data to deliver the selected services per the QoS. The UPF in NFVI430and external systems exchange the user data to deliver the selected services per the QoS

The PHY in UE401determines CSI during channel estimation/equalization. The RRC in UE401determines emergency status, relay status, and UE capabilities. The RRC in UE401reports the CSI, emergency status, relay status, and UE capabilities to the RRC in 5GNR gNodeB420. In 5GNR gNodeB420, the SDAP determines average backhaul throughput and notifies the PHY. The MAC determines the downlink Block Error Rate (BLER) for gNodeB420, determines the MU-MIMO status for UE401, and notifies the PHY. The RRC determines RRC-Connected UE load and notifies the PHY. The RRC also receives the CSI, emergency status, relay status, and UE capabilities from UE401and notifies the PHY.

In 5GNR gNodeB420, the PHY selects the number of MIMO layers for UE401based on the CSI in combination with one or more of the emergency status, relay status, MU-MIMO status, UE capabilities, backhaul status, uplink noise rise, downlink BLER, and RRC-Connected UE load. For example, UE401may be engaged in a non-emergency and non-relay data session when using a 5GNR UE capability—and UE401is not using MU-MIMO at the time. The PHY in 5GNR gNodeB420selects an initial number of MIMO layers based on the CSI and the 5GNR UE capability—perhaps through a data translation. The PHY reduces the initial number of MIMO layers based on poor backhaul quality, bad uplink noise rise, the high downlink error rate, or excessive RRC-Connected UE load. For example, the PHY may translate the initial number of layers and the current uplink noise rise into a lower number of layers. The PHY may translate the initial number of layers and a heavy RRC-Connected UE load into a lower number of layers.

In this example, the PHY in 5GNR gNodeB420selects 16 layers for UE401, although different numbers of MIMO layers are selected for UE401over time as conditions change. The PHY in 5GNR gNodeB420precodes the user data and signaling into the 16 MIMO layers for UE401. The PHY in 5GNR gNodeB420transfers the 16 MIMO layers of precoded data to the PHY in UE401. The PHY in UE401processes the precoded data to isolate and recover the 16 different layers of data and signaling. The 16 MIMO layers may be used to increase data throughput with spatial multiplexing and/or improve reliability with transmit diversity. The PHY soft-combines layers for transmit diversity and demultiplexes layers for spatial multiplexing. If MU-MIMO were in use, the PHY would only use some of the MIMO layers in the individual 5GNR resource blocks and allow PHYs in other UEs to use the other MIMO layers in the same 5GNR resource blocks.

The wireless data network circuitry described above comprises computer hardware and software that form special-purpose network circuitry to control the number of MIMO layers that are used to wirelessly serve UEs. The computer hardware comprises processing circuitry like CPUs, DSPs, GPUs, transceivers, bus circuitry, and memory. To form these computer hardware structures, semiconductors like silicon or germanium are positively and negatively doped to form transistors. The doping comprises ions like boron or phosphorus that are embedded within the semiconductor material. The transistors and other electronic structures like capacitors and resistors are arranged and metallically connected within the semiconductor to form devices like logic circuitry and storage registers. The logic circuitry and storage registers are arranged to form larger structures like control units, logic units, and Random-Access Memory (RAM). In turn, the control units, logic units, and RAM are metallically connected to form CPUs, DSPs, GPUs, transceivers, bus circuitry, and memory.