Dual mode communications device with remote device feedback and methods for use therewith

• US 10,231,136 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2018
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vannucci, Giovanni, Henry, Paul Shala, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Pablo N
• Application Number:
  US16/025,497
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/40 with phasing matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/30 Arrangements for providing operation on different wavebands
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a communication device includes an antenna array configured to receive first millimeter wave (MMW) signals from a remote device in a millimeter wave (MMW) frequency band and to transmit second millimeter wave (MMW) signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band. A base transceiver station is configured to generate a consolidated steering matrix in accordance in a radio frequency (RF) band based on a consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with the RF band, wherein the MMW frequency band is above the RF band. A remote radio head is configured to: process the first MMW wave signals received from the remote device to recover an original feedback matrix in accordance with the MMW frequency band; convert the original feedback matrix in accordance with the MMW frequency band to the consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with the RF band; convert the consolidated steering matrix to a converted steering matrix that facilitates the transmission of the second MMW signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band, and is further configured to generate the second MMW signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

an antenna array configured to receive first millimeter wave (MMW) signals from a remote device in a millimeter wave (MMW) frequency band and to transmit second millimeter wave (MMW) signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band;

a base transceiver station configured to generate a consolidated steering matrix in accordance with a radio frequency (RF) band based on a consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with the RF band, wherein the consolidated feedback matrix is received from a remote radio head (RHH), and wherein the base transceiver station is further configured to send the consolidated steering matrix to the RRH; and

wherein the RRH is configured to;

process the first MMW signals received from the remote device to recover an original feedback matrix in accordance with the MMW frequency band;

convert the original feedback matrix in accordance with the MMW frequency band to the consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with the RF band;

convert the consolidated steering matrix to a converted steering matrix that facilitates transmission of the second MMW signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band; and

generate the second MMW signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the RRH includes a conversion processor and a plurality of front ends, wherein the conversion processor is configured to convert the consolidated steering matrix to the converted steering matrix and to convert the original feedback matrix to the consolidated feedback matrix, and wherein the plurality of front ends is configured to generate the second MMW signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix and to process the first MMW signals received from the remote device to recover the original feedback matrix.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the antenna array is switchable in response to a control signal between an operation in the RF band and an operation in the MMW frequency band.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the consolidated steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna array corresponding to an operation in the RF band.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the converted steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna array corresponding to an operation in the MMW frequency band.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the consolidated feedback matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna array corresponding to an operation in the RF band.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the original feedback matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna array corresponding to an operation in the MMW frequency band.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the RRH operates in accordance with a fourth generation (4G) wireless protocol in the RF band and the RRH operates in accordance with a fifth-generation (5G) wireless protocol in the MMW frequency band.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the RF band is a fourth-generation wireless frequency band.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the RRH is further configured to receive third MMW signals from the remote device in the MMW frequency band via the antenna array, in accordance with the converted steering matrix.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving, via an antenna, first millimeter wave (MMW) signals from a remote device in a millimeter wave (MMW) frequency band;

processing, via a remote radio head (RRH), the first MMW signals received from the remote device to recover an original feedback matrix in accordance with the MMW frequency band;

converting, via the RRH, the original feedback matrix in accordance with the MMW frequency band to a consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with a radio frequency (RF) band, wherein the MMW frequency band is above the RF band;

sending, via the RRH, the consolidated feedback matrix to a base transceiver station;

receiving, via the RRH, a consolidated steering matrix in accordance with the RF band generated by the base transceiver station in response to the consolidated feedback matrix;

converting, via the RRH, the consolidated steering matrix to a converted steering matrix that facilitates transmission of second MMW signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band;

generating, via the RRH, the second MMW signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix; and

transmitting, via the antenna, the second MMW signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the antenna is a dual-band antenna array configurable to selectively transmit to, and receive from, the remote device in the RF band.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

switching the dual-band antenna array between an operation in the RF band and an operation in the MMW frequency band.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the consolidated steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna corresponding to an operation in the RF band.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the converted steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna corresponding to an operation in the MMW frequency band.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the consolidated feedback matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna corresponding to an operation in the RF band.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the original feedback matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna corresponding to an operation in the MMW frequency band.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the RRH operates in accordance with a fourth generation (4G) wireless protocol in the RF band and the RRH operates in accordance with a fifth-generation (5G) wireless protocol in the MMW frequency band.

19. A communication device, comprising:

a dual-band antenna array configurable in accordance with a first mode of operation, to receive first millimeter wave (MMW) signals from a remote device in a millimeter wave (MMW) frequency band, to transmit second millimeter wave (MMW) signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band, wherein the dual-band antenna array is configurable in accordance with a second mode of operation, to operate in a radio frequency (RF) band;

a base transceiver station configured to generate a consolidated steering matrix in accordance with the RF band based on a consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with the RF band, wherein the consolidated feedback matrix is received from a remote radio head (RHH), and wherein the base transceiver station is further configured to send the consolidated steering matrix to the RRH; and

wherein the RRH is configured to;

process the first MMW signals received from the remote device to recover an original feedback matrix in accordance with the MMW frequency band;

convert the original feedback matrix in accordance with the MMW frequency band to the consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with the RF band;

convert the consolidated steering matrix to a converted steering matrix that facilitates transmission of the second MMW signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band; and

generate the second MMW signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix.

20. The communication device of claim 19, wherein the consolidated steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the dual-band antenna array corresponding to an operation in the RF band;

wherein the converted steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the dual-band antenna array corresponding to an operation in the MMW frequency band;

wherein the consolidated feedback matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the dual-band antenna array corresponding to the operation in the RF band; and

wherein the original feedback matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the dual-band antenna array corresponding to the operation in the MMW frequency band.