Antenna training and tracking protocol

• US 10,177,831 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• 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:
  US14/693,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20160050008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 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 device including a memory and one or more processors, the one or more processors including circuitry, the circuitry having logic to:

provide a request to train (RTT) frame, to be transmitted to a destination device, to initiate an antenna training procedure with the destination device;

process a clear to train (CTT) frame, received from the destination device in response to transmission of the RTT frame, that indicates that the destination device is able to engage in the antenna training procedure, wherein the RTT frame and the CTT frame each include an antenna training information element (ATIE) that includes a continuation bit to indicate whether a continuation of a previous training session is requested; and

announce antenna capabilities using an antenna capabilities information element (ACIE), wherein the RTT frame and the CTT frame are to be transmitted over a discovery channel, wherein subsequent to receiving the CTT frame, the device is to exchange training control (TRN) frames over the discovery channel with the destination device to perform the antenna training procedure, wherein the CTT frame is to be received in an amount of time equal to at least a short interframe space (SIFS) after transmission of the RTT frame, and wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit at least one TRN frame a SIFS after receiving a TRN frame, including training sequences from the destination device, and wherein an acknowledgement (ACK) is not transmitted prior to transmitting the at least one TRN frame.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit an antenna feedback information element (AFIE) in at least one TRN frame.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the ATIE includes a status field to indicate a request for training.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the ATIE includes a request feedback bit to indicate whether antenna training feedback is requested.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to operate in a 60 GHz network.

6. The device of claim 1, further including at least one trainable antenna (NTA) and at least one non-trainable antenna.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by one or more processors, the instructions to configure the one or more processors to:

provide a request to train (RTT) frame, to a destination device and over a discovery channel, to initiate an antenna training procedure with the destination device;

process a clear to train (CTT) frame, received from the destination device in response to transmission of the RTT frame, that indicates that the destination device is able to engage in the antenna training procedure, wherein the CTT frame is to be received within an amount of time at least equal to a short interframe space (SIFS) after transmission of the RTT frame, and wherein the RTT frame and the CTT frame each include an antenna training information element (ATIE) that includes a continuation bit to indicate whether a continuation of a previous training session is requested; and

subsequent to receiving the CTT frame, exchange training control (TRN) frames including training sequences over the discovery channel with the destination device to perform the antenna training procedure for a number of iterations as indicated in at least one of the RTT frame, the CTT frame and a TRN frame, wherein the instructions are to further configure the one or more processors to transmit at least one TRN frame a SIFS after receiving a TRN frame, and wherein an acknowledgement (ACK) is not transmitted prior to transmitting the at least one TRN frame.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 7, the operations to further configure the one or more processors to perform operations including:

announcing antenna capabilities using an antenna capabilities information element (ACIE).

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the ATIE includes:

a status field to indicate a request for training; and

a request feedback bit to indicate whether antenna training feedback is requested.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 7, the operations to further configure the one or more processors to perform operations including:

receive an antenna feedback information element (AFIE) in at least one TRN frame from the destination device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 10, wherein the AFIE includes a feedback type field to indicate the type of feedback included in the AFIE.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 10, wherein the AFIE includes a quantized weight for at least one transmitter antenna element.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless communication device including a radio, a processor, and a memory, the wireless communication device to;

provide a request to train (RTT) frame, to be transmitted by the wireless communication device over a discovery channel, to initiate an antenna training procedure with a peer destination device; and

process a clear to train (CTT) frame, received from the destination device in response to transmission of the RTT frame, that indicates that the destination device is able to engage in the antenna training procedure, wherein the RTT frame and the CTT frame each include an antenna training information element (ATIE) that includes a continuation bit to indicate whether a continuation of a previous training session is requested, wherein subsequent to receiving the CTT frame, the wireless communication device is configured to exchange training control (TRN) frames over the discovery channel with the destination device to perform the antenna training procedure, wherein the CTT frame is to be received in an amount of time equal to at least a short interframe space (SIFS) after transmission of the RTT frame, wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit at least one TRN frame a SIFS after receiving a TRN frame including training sequences from the destination device, and wherein an acknowledgement (ACK) is not transmitted prior to transmitting the at least one TRN frame.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication device is further configured to:

announce antenna capabilities using an antenna capabilities information element (ACIE); and

provide an antenna feedback information element (AFIE) in at least one TRN frame.

15. The apparatus of claim 13;

wherein the ATIE includes;

a request feedback bit to indicate whether antenna training feedback is requested.