Node role assignment in networks

• US 10,231,139 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2016
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airspan IP Holdco LLC (Airspan Networks Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Airspan Networks Inc.
• Inventors: Dudzinski, Krzysztof, Sarao, Honey Kanwar Singh, Eva, Jonathan Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Choudhury, Faisal
• Application Number:
  US15/187,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20160381574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 370254
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/06 allowing pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/24 Acquisition or tracking or demodulation of signals transmitted by the system synchronisation aspects of direct sequence spread spectrum modulation H04B1/7073
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/53 Determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/043 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/14 Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction aerial arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00; combinations of different interacting aerial units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q21/29; aerials or aerial systems providing at least two radiation patterns H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0247 Determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/02 Arrangements for de-icing; Arrangements for drying-out ; Arrangements for cooling; Arrangements for preventing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1228 on a boom
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1257 using the received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 : providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/005 : providing two patterns of opposite direction; back to back antennas H01Q25/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/02 : using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 : for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/10 : to produce a conical or spiral scan
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/12 : using mechanical relative movement between primary active elements and secondary devices of antennas or antenna systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 : varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• 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 3/2611 : Means for null steering; Adaptive interference nulling
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/36 : with variable phase-shifters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0456 : Selection of precoding matrices or codebooks, e.g. using matrices antenna weighting
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 : for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0621 : Feedback content
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0691 : using subgroups of transmit antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0695 : using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0817 : with multiple receivers and antenna path selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/086 : using weights depending on external parameters, e.g. direction of arrival [DOA], predetermined weights or beamforming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0874 : using subgroups of receive antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/088 : using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 : for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 : the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 : Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 : using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 : Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 : Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0236 : radio quality, e.g. interference, losses or delay
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 : using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0284 : detecting congestion or overload during communication monitoring arrangements H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 : Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 : using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 : based on traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 : using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 : Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 : using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 : adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20 : Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating

Abstract

There is provided a node for use in a network, the node comprising: communication circuitry to communicate with a management server. Bootstrap circuitry initially identifies an intermediate node from at least one available node in the network in response to the communication circuitry being unable to communicate with the management server directly. The communication circuitry is arranged to communicate with the management server indirectly via the intermediate node when unable to communicate with the management server directly. Role assignment circuitry assigns a role to be performed by the node in the network based on whether the communication circuitry communicates with the management server directly, or indirectly via an intermediate node.

Claims

1. A node for use in a network, the node comprising:

communication circuitry to communicate with a management server, including wireless communication circuitry to communicate with intermediate nodes wirelessly, and in response to the node communicating with the management server, the node receives configuration data from the management server;

bootstrap circuitry to initially identify an intermediate node from at least one available node in the network in response to the communication circuitry being unable to communicate with the management server directly, wherein the communication circuitry is arranged to communicate with the management server indirectly via the intermediate node when unable to communicate with the management server directly;

role assignment circuitry to assign a role to be performed by the node in the network based on whether the communication circuitry communicates with the management server directly, or indirectly via an intermediate node, wherein

the role assignment circuitry assigns the node a role of intermediate node when the communication circuitry communicates with the management server directly; and

the role assignment circuitry assigns the node a role of feeder terminal when the communication circuitry communicates with the management server indirectly via an intermediate node; and

wherein

the wireless communication circuitry is rotatable;

the configuration data comprises direction data; and

the wireless communication circuitry is to rotate based on the direction data.

2. The node according to claim 1, the node further comprising:

storage circuitry to store a list of intermediate nodes and associated priorities received from the management server in response to the node communicating with the management server indirectly;

selection circuitry to select the intermediate node from the prioritised list of intermediate nodes based on the associated priorities, wherein

the communication circuitry is to perform further communication with the management server indirectly via the intermediate node selected from the prioritised list of intermediate nodes.

3. The node according to claim 1, wherein

the wireless communication circuitry is an antenna array.

4. The node according to claim 1, the communication circuitry comprising:

wired communication circuitry to communicate directly with the management server.

5. The node according to claim 1, wherein

the configuration data comprises firmware.

6. The node according to claim 1, wherein

the configuration data comprises an indicator of whether the node should act as a point-to-point node or as a point-to-multipoint node.

7. The node according to claim 1,

wherein

the configuration data comprises an indication of an RF frequency;

and

the wireless communication circuitry is to operate in accordance with the RF frequency.

8. The node according to claim 1,

wherein

the configuration data comprises an indication of beam width;

and

the wireless communication circuitry is to shape a transmission beam width based on the beam width.

9. The node according to claim 1, wherein

the role assignment circuitry selects and assigns the role to be performed by the node based on whether the communication circuitry communicates with the management server directly, or indirectly via an intermediate node.

10. The node according to claim 1, wherein

the role assignment circuitry assigns the role to be performed by the node in response to a control signal from the management server;

and

the control signal is based on whether the communication circuitry communicates with the management server directly, or indirectly via an intermediate node.

11. The node according to claim 1, wherein

the bootstrap circuitry initially identifies the intermediate node from the at least one available node in the network based on at least one of:

a cell id, a communication direction, a received signal strength indicator, a carrier to noise and interference ratio, a multiple input and multiple output mode, a multiple input and multiple output rank, a signal to noise ratio equivalent rate, and an average bandwidth in relation to each of the at least one available node in the network.

12. The node according to claim 1, wherein

the node comprises a location receiver to receive a signal indicative of a location of the location receiver;

and

in response to the node communicating with the management server, the node transmits the location of the location receiver to the management server.

13. The node according to claim 12, wherein

the role assignment circuitry is to assign the role to be performed by the node in the network further based on the location of the location receiver.

14. The node according to claim 1, wherein

the role assignment circuitry is to assign the role to be performed by the node in the network further based on an id of the node.

15. The node according to claim 1, wherein the node is to provide wireless backhaul to items of end-user equipment.

16. The node according to claim 1, wherein

when the role assigned to the node is intermediate node, the node is to provide wireless backhaul to a further node having a role of feeder terminal;

and

when the role assigned to the node is feeder terminal, the node is to provide the wireless backhaul from the intermediate node to an access base station to which items of end-user equipment connect.

17. A network comprising:

a plurality of nodes according to claim 1; and

the management server, wherein

the plurality of nodes includes the intermediate node to directly communicate with the management server; and

the plurality of nodes includes a further node to indirectly communicate with the management server via the intermediate node.

18. A method of operating a node, the method comprising the steps:

attempting to communicate with a management server directly;

in response to the node being unable to communicate with the management server directly, identifying an intermediate node from at least one available node in the network and communicating with the management server indirectly wirelessly via an intermediate node using rotatable wireless communication circuitry;

assigning a role to be performed by the node in the network based on whether the node communicates with the management server directly, or indirectly via an intermediate node, wherein

said assigning a role includes assigning the node a role of intermediate node when the communication circuitry communicates with the management server directly; and

said assigning a role includes assigning the node a role of feeder terminal when the communication circuitry communicates with the management server indirectly via an intermediate node;

receiving configuration data comprising direction data from the management server; and

rotating the wireless communication data based on the direction data.

19. A node for use in a network, the node comprising:

communication means for communicating with a management server, including rotatable wireless communication means for communicating with an intermediate node wirelessly, and wherein in response to the node communicating with the management server, the node receives configuration data from the management server;

bootstrap means for initially identifying an intermediate node from at least one available node in the network in response to the communication means being unable to communicate with the management server directly, wherein the communication means is arranged to communicate with the management server indirectly via the intermediate node when unable to communicate with the management server directly; and

role assignment means for assigning a role to be performed by the node in the network based on whether the communication means communicates with the management server directly, or indirectly via an intermediate node, wherein

the role assignment means assigns the node a role of intermediate node when the communication circuitry communicates with the management server directly; and

the role assignment means assigns the node a role of feeder terminal when the communication circuitry communicates with the management server indirectly via an intermediate node; and

wherein

the configuration data comprises direction data; and

the rotatable wireless communication means is to rotate based on the direction data.