Method and apparatus for coverage and throughput enhancement in a wireless communication system

• US 20040259558A1
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bandspeed, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Skafidas, Efstratios, Jones, Ben, Ekambaram, Natarajan, Mammoser, Douglas A., Morton, John "Jack", Do, Duy Khuong, Benson, Mark William, Glick, James, Fesas, Nestor, Broe, Kevin Sean, Rusnak, Richard John, Kelly, Neil Patrick, Cheng, Lei, Gibson, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 7,136,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0491 using two or more sectors, i.e. sector diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference

Abstract

A multiple access wireless communications architecture provides selective, simultaneous communications with wireless devices located in different sections of a spatial area around a communications apparatus referred to as “sectors”. In one embodiment, channel allocation techniques for increasing one or more of throughput and coverage in a wireless communications environment. In one embodiment, a mode of operation is selected from a plurality of modes of operation, enabling a wireless communications transmitter to be dynamically configured to reach a wireless communications devices at a greater distance from the transmitter without increased interference between communications channels (“range mode”) or to provide wireless communications to a greater number of wireless communications devices within a relatively closer distance to the wireless transmitter (“capacity mode”) or to provide wireless communications using a single channel to provide wireless communications at a relatively greatest distance from the transmitter (“super range mode”).

Claims

1. A method for determining an assignment of wireless communications channels to a plurality of wireless communications transmitters, comprising:

receiving an input specifying a mode of operation;

determining a plurality of available wireless communications channels based upon a number of wireless communications transmitters in the plurality of wireless transmitters and the mode of operation; and

determining a wireless communications channel assignment based upon the plurality of available wireless communications channels and a number of wireless communications transmitters in the plurality of wireless transmitters that provides the specified mode of operation.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mode of operation provides greater range of coverage relative to other modes of operation and wherein determining a wireless communications channel assignment based upon the plurality of available wireless communications channels and a number of wireless communications transmitters in the plurality of wireless transmitters further comprises:

determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest frequency separation relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest frequency separation relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels, further comprises:

assigning a plurality of wireless communications transmitters to a shared wireless communications channel; and

wherein wireless communications transmitters assigned to the shared wireless communications channel use a multiple access communications protocol to determine availability of the shared wireless channel prior to transmitting on the shared wireless communications channel.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the multiple access communications protocol comprises at least one of a carrier sense, carrier detect and an energy detect mechanism.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest frequency separation relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels, further comprises:

determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels do not overlap.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mode of operation provides greater throughput relative to other modes of operation and wherein determining a wireless communications channel assignment based upon the plurality of available wireless communications channels and a number of wireless communications transmitters in the plurality of wireless transmitters further comprises:

determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest bandwidth relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest bandwidth relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels, further comprises:

assigning each one of the plurality of wireless communications transmitters to an individual wireless communications channel, if available, otherwise assigning a plurality of wireless communications transmitters to a shared wireless communications channel; and

wherein wireless communications transmitters assigned to the wireless communications channel use a multiple access communications protocol to determine availability of the wireless channel assigned to the wireless communications transmitter prior to transmitting on the wireless communications channel.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the multiple access communications protocol comprises at least one of a carrier sense, carrier detect and an energy detect mechanism.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest bandwidth relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels, further comprises:

determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which at least two of the wireless communications channels overlap.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mode of operation provides greatest range of coverage relative to other modes of operation and wherein determining a wireless communications channel assignment based upon the plurality of available wireless communications channels and a number of wireless communications transmitters in the plurality of wireless transmitters further comprises:

determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which a single wireless communications channel having a minimal interference relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which a single wireless communications channel having a minimal interference relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels, further comprises:

assigning a plurality of wireless communications transmitters to the single wireless communications channel.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein wireless communications channels are selected from a frequency band specified by one of the IEEE 802.13(a), (b), (g), the 802.17(x), 802.18(x) and 802.22(x) wireless communications standards.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one wireless communications transmitter is assigned a wireless communications channel for establishing a backhaul wireless communications with a wireless backhaul system.

14. A method for determining an assignment of wireless communications channels to a plurality of wireless communications transmitters, comprising:

receiving an input specifying a mode of operation;

if the mode of operation is a range mode, determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest frequency separation relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels; and

if the mode of operation is a capacity mode, determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest bandwidth relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

if the mode of operation is a super range mode, determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which a singe wireless communications channel is used to obtain a greatest range relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest frequency separation relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels, further comprises:

assigning a plurality of wireless communications transmitters to a shared wireless communications channel; and

wherein wireless communications transmitters assigned to the shared wireless communications channel use a multiple access communications protocol to determine availability of the shared wireless channel prior to transmitting on the shared wireless communications channel.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the multiple access communications protocol comprises at least one of a carrier sense, carrier detect and an energy detect mechanism.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest frequency separation relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels, further comprises:

determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels do not overlap.

19. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest bandwidth relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels, further comprises:

assigning each one of the plurality of wireless communications transmitters to an individual wireless communications channel, if available, otherwise assigning a plurality of wireless communications transmitters to a shared wireless communications channel; and

wherein wireless communications transmitters assigned to the wireless communications channel use a multiple access communications protocol to determine availability of the wireless channel assigned to the wireless communications transmitter prior to transmitting on the shared wireless communications channel.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the multiple access communications protocol comprises at least one of a carrier sense, carrier detect and an energy detect mechanism.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest bandwidth relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels, further comprises:

determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which at least two of the wireless communications channels overlap.

22. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein wireless communications channels are selected from a frequency band specified by one of the IEEE 802.13(a), (b), (g), the 802.18(x), 802.19(x) and 802.23(x) wireless communications standards.

23. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one wireless communications transmitter is assigned a wireless communications channel for establishing a backhaul wireless communications with a wireless backhaul system.

24. A wireless access point, comprising:

an antenna configured to send and receive communications signals on a first wireless communications channel within a first section of a spatial area and to send and receive communications signals on a second wireless communications channel within a second section of the spatial area; and

a management mechanism configured to assign the first and second wireless communications channels to the first and second sections of the spatial area in accordance with a channel sector assignment determined from a set of, potential channel assignments for available channels by selecting based upon a mode of operation comprising one of a range mode configuration, in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest frequency separation relative to available wireless communications channels; and

a capacity mode configuration, in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest bandwidth relative to available wireless communications channels.

25. The wireless access point as recited in claim 24, wherein the management mechanism is further configured to use a multiple access communications protocol to determine availability of a wireless communications channel prior to transmitting on the wireless communications channel, thereby enabling reduced interference between the first section and the second section of the spatial area.

26. A wireless communications system comprising:

a first antenna arrangement having a first transceiver configured to transmit and receive communications signals on a communications channel within a first section of a spatial area around the wireless communications apparatus;

a second antenna arrangement having a second transceiver configured to transmit and receive communications signals on the communications channel within a second section of the spatial area around the wireless communications apparatus; and

wherein wireless communications channels are allocated to each of the sections based upon a mode of operation comprising one of a range mode configuration, in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest frequency separation relative to available wireless communications channels; and

a capacity mode configuration, in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest bandwidth relative to available wireless communications channels.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving an input specifying a mode of operation;

means for determining a plurality of available wireless communications channels based upon a number of wireless communications transmitters in the plurality of wireless transmitters and the mode of operation; and

means for determining a wireless communications channel assignment based upon the plurality of available wireless communications channels and a number of wireless communications transmitters in the plurality of wireless transmitters that provides the specified mode of operation.

28. An apparatus, comprising:

,

means for receiving an input specifying a mode of operation;

means for determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which wireless communications channels have a greatest frequency separation relative to a plurality of available wireless communications channels if the mode of operation is a range mode;

otherwise, if the mode of operation is a capacity mode, determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest bandwidth relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels;

otherwise if the mode of operation is a super range mode, determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which a singe wireless communications channel is used to obtain a greatest range relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels.

29. A computer readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for determining an assignment of wireless communications channels to a plurality of wireless communications transmitters, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

receiving an input specifying a mode of operation;

determining a plurality of available wireless communications channels based upon a number of wireless communications transmitters in the plurality of wireless transmitters and the mode of operation; and

determining a wireless communications channel assignment based upon the plurality of available wireless communications channels and a number of wireless communications transmitters in the plurality of wireless transmitters that provides the specified mode of operation.

30. A computer readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for determining an assignment of wireless communications channels to a plurality of wireless communications transmitters, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

receiving an input specifying a mode of operation;

determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest frequency separation relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels, if the mode of operation is a range mode; and

determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which the wireless communications channels have a greatest bandwidth relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels, if the mode of operation is a capacity mode.

31. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 30, further comprising instructions for carrying out the step of:

determining a wireless communications channel assignment in which a singe wireless communications channel is used to obtain a greatest range relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels if the mode of operation is a super range mode.

32. A method for determining an assignment of wireless communications channels to a plurality of available wireless communications antenna arrangements, wherein each antenna arrangement from the plurality of antenna arrangements is configured to transmit and receive communications signals within a different section of a spatial area, the method comprising:

assigning a single wireless communications channel to be shared by at least two wireless communications antenna arrangements such that each of the at least two wireless communications antenna arrangements transmit and receive within different sections of the spatial area on the shared wireless communications channel;

wherein each of the at least two wireless communications antenna arrangements determine availability of the shared wireless communications channel using a multiple access communications protocol prior to transmitting on the shared wireless communications channel to conduct wireless communications in different sections of the spatial area substantially contemporaneously using the shared wireless communications channel; and

assigning remaining wireless communications channels from the plurality of available wireless communications channels to remaining wireless communications antenna arrangements.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

transmitting at a first power setting at a first antenna arrangement of the at least two wireless communications antenna arrangements; and

transmitting at a second power setting at a second antenna arrangement of the at least two wireless communications antenna arrangements;

wherein the first power setting and the second power setting are different.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

determining a wireless communications channel assignment wherein the wireless communications channels have a greatest frequency separation relative to the plurality of available wireless communications channels.

35. A wireless access point, comprising:

an antenna configured to send and receive communications signals on a first wireless communications channel within a first section of a spatial area around the wireless access point and to send and receive communications signals on a second wireless communications channel within a second section of the spatial area around the wireless access point; and

a management mechanism configured to assign the first and second communications channel to the first and second spatial areas in accordance with a channel sector assignment determined from a set of potential channel to sector assignments for available channels;

wherein a portion of the communications signals are sent and received on a shared wireless communications channel using a multiple access communications protocol to determine availability of the shared wireless channel prior to transmitting on the shared wireless communications channel, thereby enabling wireless communications to be conducted substantially contemporaneously in the first section of the spatial area and the second section of the spatial area using the shared wireless communications channel.

36. A wireless communications apparatus comprising:

a plurality of antenna arrangements, wherein each antenna arrangement from the plurality of antenna arrangements is configured to transmit and receive communications signals within a different section of a spatial area around the wireless communications apparatus;

a management mechanism coupled to the plurality of antenna arrangements and configured to assign communications channels to be used by each of the plurality of antenna arrangements, wherein the management mechanism is configured to determine whether a communications channel is currently being used to carry communication signals before transmitting any communication signals onto the communications channel, and wherein the management mechanism is further configured to assign a particular communications channel to two or more of the plurality of antenna arrangements and to cause the two or more of the plurality of antenna arrangements to transmit communications signals on the particular communications channel substantially simultaneously.

37. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 36, wherein the management mechanism assigns a particular communications channel to two or more adjacent ones of the plurality of antenna arrangements.

38. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 36, wherein the management mechanism assigns a particular communications channel to two or more non-adjacent ones of the plurality of antenna arrangements.

39. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 36, wherein the management mechanism causes a first antenna arrangement of the two or more of the plurality of antenna arrangements to transmit at a first power setting and the and a second antenna arrangement of the two or more of the plurality of antenna arrangements to transmit at a second power setting, and wherein the first power setting and the second power setting are different.

40. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 39;

thereby enabling the first sector and the second sector to have different radii.

41. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 36, wherein the management mechanism causes a first antenna arrangement of the two or more of the plurality of antenna arrangements to transmit at a first angle and a second antenna arrangement of the two or more of the plurality of antenna arrangements to transmit at a second angle;

thereby enabling the first sector and the second sector to have different widths.