Method and system for utilizing out of band signaling for calibration and configuration of a mesh network of EHF transceivers/repeaters

• US 10,420,008 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza, Rofougaran, Maryam
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Agureyev, Vladislav Y
• Application Number:
  US14/665,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20160286458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,639 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A plurality of repeater devices, each of which may enable forwarding extreme high frequency (EHF) communication between EHF-enabled wireless devices, may form a repeater mesh network. Some or all of the plurality of repeater devices may utilize non-extremely high frequency (non-EHF) control connection in communicating with other repeater devices in the repeater mesh network. The non-EHF control connections may be utilized in establishing, configuring, and/or managing the repeater mesh network. The non-EHF control connections may be also be utilized to enable sending, requesting, and/or receiving periodic and/or dynamic control information. The non-EHF control connections may also be utilized while forming, and/or managing forwarding routes of EHF communication via the repeater mesh network, to enable negotiating and/or setting different isolation techniques among the repeater devices, such as polarization isolation, spatial isolation, and/or use of different frequencies.

Claims

1. A repeater device for wireless communication, the repeater device comprising:

circuitry configured to;

utilize a first interface to forward extremely high frequency (EHF) signals communicated between wireless devices;

utilize a second interface, which is different from the first interface, to coordinate control connections with at least one other repeater device in order to facilitate the forwarding of the EHF signals; and

coordinate, via the control connections, use of at least polarization isolation techniques on the EHF signals forwarded from each of the repeater device and the other repeater device to reduce interference.

2. The repeater device according to claim 1, wherein the repeater device and the at least one other repeater device establish a repeater mesh network.

3. The repeater device according to claim 1, wherein the EHF signals include 60 GHz signals.

4. The repeater device according to claim 1, wherein the control connections include non-extremely high frequency (non-EHF) connections.

5. The repeater device according to claim 4, wherein the non-EHF connections include Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, and/or ultra-wideband (UWB) connections.

6. The repeater device according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to exchange control and/or configuration information with the at least one other repeater device.

7. The repeater device according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is further configured to perform the exchange of control and/or configuration information during an initial configuration of a mesh network.

8. The repeater device according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is further configured to perform the exchange of control and/or configuration information periodically.

9. The repeater device according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is further configured to perform the exchange of control and/or configuration information dynamically based on an occurrence of events and/or conditions.

10. The repeater device according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine, via the second interface, a presence and/or an availability of other repeater devices within a mesh network.

11. The repeater device according to claim 1, wherein the isolation techniques include coordinating the use of different EHF frequencies for forwarding the EHF signals from each of the repeater device and the other repeater device.

12. The repeater device according to claim 1, wherein coordinating the use of at least the polarization isolation techniques includes transmitting, via the control connections, an assignment of a polarization to be used by the other repeater device when forwarding the EHF signals.

13. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:

utilizing, via circuitry of a repeater device, a first interface to forward extremely high frequency (EHF) signals communicated between wireless devices;

utilizing, via the circuitry of the repeater device, a second interface, which is different from the first interface, to coordinate control connections with at least one other repeater device in order to facilitate the forwarding of the EHF signals; and

coordinating, via the control connections, use of at least polarization isolation techniques on the EHF signals forwarded from each of the repeater device and the other repeater device to reduce interference.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the EHF signals include 60 GHz signals.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the control connections include non-extremely high frequency (non-EHF) connections.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the non-EHF connections include Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, and/or ultra-wideband (UWB) connections.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program recorded thereon, the computer program configured to perform a method when executed on a computer, the method comprising:

utilizing a first interface to forward extremely high frequency (EHF) signals communicated between wireless devices;

utilizing a second interface, which is different from the first interface, to coordinate control connections with at least one repeater device in order to facilitate the forwarding of the EHF signals; and

coordinating, via the control connections, use of at least polarization isolation techniques on the EHF signals forwarded from each of the repeater device and the other repeater device to reduce interference.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the EHF signals include 60 GHz signals.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the control connections include non-extremely high frequency (non-EHF) connections.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the non-EHF connections include Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, and/or ultra-wideband (UWB) connections.