Multi-sector antenna apparatus
First Claim
1. A wireless system for transmitting and receiving a plurality of data packets, the system comprising:
- a plurality of directional antenna sectors each having a respective three-dimensional region for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals;
a plurality of access control units each having a baseband processor;
an antenna control unit;
wherein each said directional antenna sector transmits an electromagnetic signal in a predefined region in three-dimensional space when coupled to a selected one of the access control units with baseband processors;
wherein selected ones of the directional antenna sectors are coupled to at least one selected one of the access control units for receiving data packets and for measuring at least one received electromagnetic signal characteristics;
wherein selected ones of the at least one said received electromagnetic signal characteristics are transferred to the antenna control unit; and
wherein the antenna control unit selects at least one of the access control units within a first predefined time interval prior to the transmission of at least one data packet responsive to the received electromagnetic signal characteristics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for constructing multi-sector antenna for packet-by-packet transmission. The transmission of each packet can be performed by a different antenna sector. The system can consist of a plurality of various antenna types: flat panel, parabolic dish, slotted, omni, planar, micro-strip, Yagi, beam-forming, adaptive, and electro-mechanical moveable. The direction of transmission is selected responsive to the direction in which the best signal reception was received. Switching logic is coupling the out going transmission signal to selected ones from the plurality of the antenna sectors. The antenna design in this invention is aimed at increasing the gain and minimizing the interfering signals with respect large number of users who are concurrently and continuously tracking and communicating with their access points, and consequently, increasing the bit rate of each transmission and the aggregate capacity of the wireless system.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. A wireless system for transmitting and receiving a plurality of data packets, the system comprising:
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a plurality of directional antenna sectors each having a respective three-dimensional region for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals;
a plurality of access control units each having a baseband processor;
an antenna control unit;
wherein each said directional antenna sector transmits an electromagnetic signal in a predefined region in three-dimensional space when coupled to a selected one of the access control units with baseband processors;
wherein selected ones of the directional antenna sectors are coupled to at least one selected one of the access control units for receiving data packets and for measuring at least one received electromagnetic signal characteristics;
wherein selected ones of the at least one said received electromagnetic signal characteristics are transferred to the antenna control unit; and
wherein the antenna control unit selects at least one of the access control units within a first predefined time interval prior to the transmission of at least one data packet responsive to the received electromagnetic signal characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A wireless system for transmitting and receiving a plurality of data packets via at least one of a plurality of wireless channels, the system comprising:
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a first device comprising at least one receiving controller;
at least one transmitting controller; and
a plurality of directional antenna sectors each having a respective three-dimensional region for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals;
wherein each of the directional antenna sectors transmits electromagnetic signals in a predefined region responsive to coupling to a selected one of said at least one transmitting controller of the first device;
wherein the selected one of said at least one transmitting controller of the first device is selectively coupled to at least one of the directional antenna sectors in order to transmit a first signal to a second device via a selected one of the wireless channels;
wherein the second device measures electromagnetic characteristics of the first signal and responsive thereto sends information back to the first device;
wherein, prior to the transmission of at least one data packet, a selected one of the receiving controllers of the first device selects at least one of the directional antenna sectors, responsive to the information received from the second device; and
wherein a selected one of the transmitting controllers is selectively coupled to a at least one of the directional antenna sectors of the first device in order to transmit at least one data packet via at least one of the directional antenna sectors as selected by the receiving controller of the first device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An antenna system for transmitting and receiving a plurality of data packets, the system comprising:
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an antenna control unit;
a plurality of directional antenna sectors each associated with a respective region of space for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals;
at least one receiving controller;
wherein each said directional antenna sector is at least one of the following;
a flat panel, a planar, a parabolic dish, a slotted, a micro-strip, omni and a Yagi;
wherein the antenna control unit selects the manner in which each of selected ones of said directional antenna sectors is coupled to the transmitted signal prior to transmitting of at least one data packet;
wherein, prior to receiving of at least one data packet the antenna control unit selects the manner in which each of said selected ones of said directional antenna sectors is coupled to the received signal; and
wherein a selected one of the at least one said receiving controller measures electromagnetic characteristics of the received signal from the selected ones of the plurality of directional antenna sectors. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An antenna apparatus comprising:
a self-contained antenna structure comprising;
a plurality of flat panel directional antennas, wherein each of said plurality of flat panel directional antennas is comprised of a plurality of patches arranged in a pattern;
a support structure for attaching the plurality of said flat panel directional antennas; and
an antenna control system, coupled to each of said plurality of said flat panel directional antennas, for selectively coupling and communicating data packets to at least one selected one of said plurality of flat panel directional antennas in accordance with predefined criteria determined on a packet by packet basis. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A communications method, comprising:
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transmitting and receiving a plurality of data packets to and from an antenna control unit;
transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals to and from a plurality of directional antenna sectors each associated with a respective region of space, responsive to the transmitting and receiving from the antenna control unit;
providing for at least one receiving controller, responsive to the transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals;
providing for at least one of the following;
a flat panel, a planar, a parabolic dish, a slotted, a micro-strip, omni and a Yagi for each said directional antenna sector;
selecting, prior to transmitting of at least one data packet via the antenna control unit, the manner in which selected ones of said directional antenna sectors are coupled to the transmitted signal responsive to the transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals;
selecting, prior to receiving of at least one data packet via the antenna control unit, the manner in which selected ones of said directional antenna sectors are coupled to the received signal responsive to the transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals; and
measuring electromagnetic characteristics of the received signal from selected ones of the plurality of directional antenna sectors via said at least one said receiving controller. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method for constructing a self-contained antenna apparatus, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of flat panel directional antennas;
arranging a plurality of patches in a predefined pattern in each of said plurality of flat panel directional antennas;
attaching the plurality of said flat panel directional antennas via an antenna support structure;
coupling an antenna control system to each of the said plurality of said flat panel directional antennas;
providing predefined criteria for coupling communicating data packets via said antenna control system;
determining said predefined criteria on a packet by packet basis; and
selectively coupling communicating data packets to at least one selected one of said plurality of flat panel directional antennas, responsive to the determining of the predefined criteria. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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Specification