Antenna beam training and tracking protocol for 60 GHz operation

• US 10,135,515 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2015
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Cordeiro, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Liao, Hsin-Chun
• Application Number:
  US14/863,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20160013854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/21 for calibration; for correcting measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0613 using simultaneous transmission H04B7/0686 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/063 Parameters other than those covered in groups H04B7/0623 - H04B7/0634, e.g. channel matrix rank or transmit mode selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0684 using different training sequences per antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0837 using pre-detection combining H04B7/0868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0851 using training sequences or error signal minimizing error signal H04B7/0854
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

A particular communications protocol is used for antenna training to accomplish directional communications in a wireless communications network. In some embodiments, pertinent information for various requests, responses, and status reports, is included in information elements.

Claims

1. A wireless device for a user station (STA) including a memory;

and one or more processors configured to;

provide a request frame for antenna training the request frame having a physical layer convergence protocol (PLOP) header that includes an indication of the presence of antenna training sequences, the request frame to initiate antenna training for operation in a 60 GHz band;

process a response frame to the request frame, the response frame including an indication of an antenna training sequence on which a responding STA received a highest quality signal;

determine one or more directionality setting for antenna tracking using the response frame; and

generate a second frame for antenna tracking the second frame to include an indication of a number of training sequences requested for the antenna tracking.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the request is separated from a preceding response by at least a short interframe space (SIFS) interval.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the response includes an indication of a type of feedback provided with the response.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the response includes feedback, within a feedback information element, indicating a quality of a transmission measured in the antenna training sequence.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the request and the response repeat for a number of iterations to refine antenna beam weight values.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes an indication of a length of an antenna training sequence.

7. The device of claim 1, further including at least one phased array antenna.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by one or more processors of a user station (STA) to perform operations comp rising:

provide a request frame for antenna training, the request frame having a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) header that includes an indication of the presence of antenna training sequences, the request frame to initiate antenna training for operation in a 60 GHz band;

process a response frame to the request frame, the response frame including an indication of an antenna training sequence on which a responding STA received a highest quality signal, wherein the response frame includes an indication of a type of feedback provided with the response frame;

determine one or more directionality settings for antenna tracking using the response frame; and

generate a second frame for antenna tracking, the second frame to include an indication of a number of training sequences requested for the antenna tracking.

9. A user station (STA), comprising:

a wireless communication device including a radio, a processor, and a memory, the wireless communication device to operate in a 60 GHz or higher frequency band to;

provide a request frame for antenna training, the request frame having a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) header that includes an indication of the presence of antenna training sequences, the request frame to initiate antenna training for operation in a 60 GHz band;

process a response frame to the request frame, the response frame including an indication of an antenna training sequence on which a responding STA received a highest quality signal and the response frame further including an indication of a type of feedback provided with the response;

determine one or more directionality settings for antenna tracking using the response frame; and

generate a second frame for antenna tracking the second frame to include an indication of a number of training sequences requested for the antenna tracking.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least two antennas.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the at least two antennas is a non-trainable antenna.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the request is separate from a preceding response by at least a short interframe space (SIFTS) interval.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the response includes feedback, within a feedback information element (IE), indicating a quality of a transmission measured in the antenna training sequence.

14. A device including a memory and one or more processors, the one or more processors including circuitry, the circuitry having logic to:

configure the device to receive a request frame for antenna training, the request frame having a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) header that includes an indication of the presence of antenna training sequences, the request frame to initiate antenna training for operation in a 60 GHz band;

provide a response frame to the request frame, for determining one or more directionality settings for antenna tracking, within a short interframe space (SIFS) of receiving the request frame, wherein the response frame includes an indication of an antenna training sequence on which a responding STA received a highest quality signal; and

configure the device to receive a second frame for antenna tracking, the second frame to include an indication of a number of training sequences requested for the antenna tracking.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the indication is provided within a feedback information element (IE) that indicates a quality of a transmission measured in the antenna training sequence.