Method and apparatus for high throughput multiple radio sectorized wireless cell

• US 20070066234A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Woodbury Wireless LLC
• Original Assignee: Rotani, Inc.
• Inventors: Spenik, John, Woodbury, Brian, Lastinger, Roc
• Application Number:
  US11/591,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20070066234A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.110
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2605 Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/382 for resource allocation, admission control or handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/022 Site diversity; Macro-diversity using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0491 using two or more sectors, i.e. sector diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0495 using overlapping sectors in the same base station to implement MIMO for antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/00 Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/02 Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/12 Fixed resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for high throughput wireless cells, capable of functioning as access points, are described. The wireless cells may be equipped with multiple radios to increase the amount of throughput available through a single wireless cell. Multiple antennas attached to the radios through RF switches may enable the wireless cell to service multiple clients simultaneously. The physical sectors of the antennas may overlapped to form virtual sectors that provide greater flexibility in client load management and in simultaneously servicing multiple clients. Attenuators may reduce interference from foreign wireless cells or clients. Systems and methods for assigning minimally interfering channels to either physical sectors or to radios to reduce interference between adjacent sectors and overlapping sectors are also disclosed. An antenna horn may also allow any antenna to be used as a directional antenna and may enable the antenna'"'"'s angle of coverage to be adjusted. The use of multiple antennas on a client to reduce interferences is also described.

Claims

1. A method performed by a first wireless cell for performing of an active scan, the method comprising:

setting each radio of the first wireless cell to a preliminary channel, wherein the first wireless cell comprises at least two radios and at least two antennas, wherein each one of the antennas is coupled to at least one of the radios, wherein each antenna transmits and receives radio signals within a respective physical sector, wherein the antennas are positioned in such a way that the physical sector of at least one of the antennas of the first wireless cell overlaps the physical sector of at least one of the other antennas of the first wireless cell;

collecting a signal quality information for the preliminary channel through each one of the antennas;

recording the signal quality information;

changing the channel of each radio to a next channel;

repeating the collecting step, the recording step, and the changing step until all channels have been tested;

assigning each one of the radios to the channel that provides a signal quality greater than a threshold signal quality.

2. The methods of claim 1 wherein assigning further comprises assigning at least a portion of the radios to the same channel, wherein the physical sectors of the antennas coupled to the radios that are assigned the same channel at least partially overlap.

3. The methods of claim 1 wherein assigning further comprises assigning each one of at least a portion of the radios to different channels, wherein the physical sectors of the antennas coupled to the radios that are assigned different channels at least partially overlap.

4. The methods of claim 1 further comprising probing for a client that transmits a control information to the first wireless cell.

5. The methods of claim 4 wherein the control information comprises at least one of signal quality information, desired data throughput, and buffer fullness.

6. The methods of claim 1 further comprising receiving a control information from a client.

7. The methods of claim 1 wherein the assigning step further comprises assigning a channel that provides a client with at least one of a signal quality greater than a threshold signal quality and a desired data throughput.

8. A method performed by a first wireless cell for initializing, the method comprising:

ascertaining a configuration mode of the first wireless cell, wherein the first wireless cell comprises at least two radios and at least two antennas, wherein each one of the antennas is coupled to at least one of the radios, wherein each antenna transmits and receives radio signals within a respective physical sector, wherein the antennas are positioned in such a way that the physical sector of at least one of the antennas of the first wireless cell overlaps the physical sector of at least one of the other antennas of the first wireless cell, then,

if the mode is static, retrieving a predetermined configuration data, assigning each one of the radios to a channel, and entering a background loop;

if the mode is not static, performing an active scan and probing for a client that sends a control information to the wireless cell, then;

if probing detects the client, receiving the control information from the client, assigning each one of the radios to a channel, and entering background loop; and

if probing does not detect the client, assigning each one of the radios to a channel that provides a signal quality greater than a threshold signal quality, and entering a background loop.

9. The methods of claim 8 wherein assigning further comprises assigning at least a portion of the radios to the same channel, wherein the physical sectors of the antennas coupled to the radios that are assigned the same channel at least partially overlap.

10. The methods of claim 8 wherein assigning further comprises assigning each one of at least a portion of the radios to different channels, wherein the physical sectors of the antennas coupled to the radios that are assigned different channels at least partially overlap.

11. A method performed by a first wireless cell for performing background functions, the method comprising:

ascertaining a configuration mode of the first wireless cell, wherein the first wireless cell comprises at least two radios and at least two antennas, wherein each one of the antennas is coupled to at least one of the radios, wherein each antenna transmits and receives radio signals within a respective physical sector, wherein the antennas are positioned in such a way that the physical sector of at least one of the antennas of the first wireless cell overlaps the physical sector of at least one of the other antennas of the first wireless cell, then,

if the mode is static, starting performance of a housekeeping function;

if the mode is not static, performing a passive scan and probing for a second wireless cell, then;

if the second wireless cell is not detected, starting performance of the housekeeping function;

if the second wireless cell is detected, detecting the channel used by the second wireless cell, comparing the channel used by the second wireless cell to the channels assigned to the radios of the first wireless cell, determining if a new channel assignment is needed;

then

if a new channel assignment is not needed, starting performance of the housekeeping function;

if a new channel assignment is needed, assigning each one of the radios a channel and starting performance of the housekeeping function; and

upon completion of the housekeeping function, repeating the ascertaining step.

12. The methods of claim 11 wherein assigning further comprises assigning at least a portion of the radios to the same channel, wherein the physical sectors of the antennas coupled to the radios that are assigned the same channel at least partially overlap.

13. The methods of claim 11 wherein assigning further comprises assigning each one of at least a portion of the radios to different channels, wherein the physical sectors of the antennas coupled to the radios that are assigned different channels at least partially overlap.

14. The methods of claim 11 wherein the assigning step further comprises assigning the radio that detected the second wireless cell to a channel different from the channel used by the second wireless cell.