Enhanced Connection Acquisition Using an Array Antenna

• US 20080194204A1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lou, Yuang, Duet, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/63.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

An array antenna is utilized to enhance the adaptive acquisition capability of a communication connection with one or more wireless subscribers. Subscribers who are located outside the omnidirectional range of the array antenna are acquired by using adaptive beamforming techniques to create an acquisition beam dedicated to acquiring new connections with wireless subscribers. The acquisition beam may sweep through the coverage of the array antenna seeking subscribers who lie beyond the omni range of the array antenna, but fall within the acquisition range using adaptive beamforming.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing acquisition of a connection to a wireless subscriber, the method comprising:

allocating a beam of an array antenna for use as an acquisition beam;

defining a coverage area for the acquisition beam;

directing the acquisition beam to move within the coverage area; and

determining whether a service request signal is received from the wireless subscriber at the array antenna.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising provisioning the connection to the wireless subscriber in response to determining that the service request signal was received.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the service request signal is received from the wireless subscriber comprises receiving the service request signal from the wireless subscriber, the wireless subscriber being located within a range of the acquisition beam but beyond an omnidirectional range of the array antenna.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an identifier of the wireless subscriber as a part of the service request signal.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein provisioning the connection to the wireless subscriber comprises:

determining a location of the wireless subscriber based on the service request signal; and

utilizing the location of the wireless subscriber to create a beam for enabling ongoing communication with the wireless subscriber.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allocating a plurality of beams of the array antenna for use as acquisition beams;

defining the coverage area by the plurality of acquisition beams;

directing each of the plurality of acquisition beams to move within the coverage area; and

determining whether a service request signal is received from the wireless subscriber at the array antenna, wherein the wireless subscriber is within the coverage area.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising provisioning the connection to the wireless subscriber in response to determining that the service request signal was received.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that provisioning the connection to the wireless subscriber will require a beam for providing an ongoing connection; and

reallocating one of the plurality of acquisition beams for providing the ongoing connection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a service request signal is received from the wireless subscriber at the array antenna comprises utilizing a WiMAX communication standard to communicate with the wireless subscriber.

10. A system for enhancing acquisition of a connection to a wireless subscriber, the method comprising:

means for allocating a beam of an array antenna for use as an acquisition beam;

means for defining a coverage area for the acquisition beam;

means for directing the acquisition beam to move within the coverage area; and

means for determining whether a service request signal is received at the array antenna from the wireless subscriber.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for provisioning the connection to the wireless subscriber following determining that the service request signal was received.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein means for provisioning the connection to the wireless subscriber comprises:

means for determining a location of the wireless subscriber utilizing the service request signal; and

means for utilizing the location of the wireless subscriber to allocate a beam for enabling ongoing communication with the wireless subscriber.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein means for determining whether the service request signal is received at the array antenna from the wireless subscriber comprises means for receiving the service request signal from the wireless subscriber, the wireless subscriber being located within a range of the beam but beyond an omnidirectional range of the array antenna.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

means for allocating a plurality of beams of the array antenna for use as a plurality of acquisition beams;

means for defining the coverage area by the plurality of acquisition beams;

means for directing each of the plurality of acquisition beams to move within the coverage area; and

means for determining whether a service request signal is received from the wireless subscriber at the array antenna, wherein the wireless subscriber is within the coverage area.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for provisioning the connection to the wireless subscriber in response to the means for determining that the service request signal was received.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for determining that provisioning the connection to the wireless subscriber will require a beam for providing an ongoing connection; and

means for reallocating one of the plurality of acquisition beams for providing the ongoing connection.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein means for provisioning the connection to the wireless subscriber comprises:

means for determining a location of the wireless subscriber; and

means for creating a beam for enabling ongoing communication with the wireless subscriber utilizing the location of the wireless subscriber.

18. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, are operative to:

allocate a beam of an array antenna for use as an acquisition beam;

define a coverage area for the acquisition beam;

direct the acquisition beam to move within the coverage area; and

determine whether a service request signal is received at the array antenna from the a wireless subscriber.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the wireless subscriber is located within a range of the beam, but beyond the omnidirectional range of the array antenna.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions are further operative to:

determine a location of the wireless subscriber utilizing the service request signal; and

create a beam for enabling ongoing communication with the wireless subscriber utilizing the location of the wireless subscriber.