MOBILE STATION, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20090253438A1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chater-Lea, David J., Lucas, Richard C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,396,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering

Abstract

A mobile station (101) for use in a wireless communication system includes a steerable antenna, means for obtaining location information relating to a current location of the mobile station and a steering controller for controlling a pointing direction of the steerable antenna using the location information and characterised in that the mobile station includes a memory holding a database of optimal pointing directions of the steerable antenna for given locations and the steering controller is operable to steer the antenna to the optimal pointing direction indicated in the database for the current location. Also described is a system and a method in which the mobile station operates.

Claims

1. A mobile station for use in a wireless communication system comprising:

a steerable antenna;

means for obtaining location information relating to a current location of the mobile station;

a steering controller for controlling a pointing direction of the steerable antenna using the location information;

a memory comprising a database of optimal antenna pointing directions for given locations;

a detector for detecting updates required to data stored in the database; and

a transmitter for sending, by wireless communication, to a terminal of the system corresponding updates to data stored in a database of the system,

wherein the controller is operable to steer the antenna to the optimal pointing direction indicated in the database for the current location.

2. The mobile station according to claim 1 further comprising a receiver for receiving updates to the database sent from a transmitter of the system obtained from the database of the system, and wherein the memory stores the updates in the database of the mobile station.

3. The mobile station according to claim 1 wherein the optimal pointing direction is to provide a link to a base station of the system currently serving the mobile station.

4. The mobile station according to claim 1 wherein the optimal pointing direction is to provide receipt of a signal from a base station other than a base station of the system currently serving the mobile station.

5. The mobile station according to claim 1 further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver operable to derive the location information.

6. The mobile station according to claim 1 further comprising a processor operable to compute the current location of the mobile station using signals from one or more transmitters of the system.

7. The mobile station according to claim 1 further comprising a receiver for receiving from its current serving base station or from another terminal of the system, a signal giving, for a particular location of the mobile station, a preferred base station to provide service to the mobile station at that location.

8. The mobile station according to claim 1 further comprising:

a receiver for receiving, from its current serving base station or from another terminal of the system, a signal giving, for a particular location of the mobile station, an expected signal strength or quality from the current serving base station or another terminal of the system;

means for measuring a received signal strength or quality; and

a comparator for comparing the received signal strength or quality with the expected signal strength or quality.

9. The mobile station according to claim 8 wherein the steering controller is operable to adjust the pointing direction of the steerable antenna when a difference between the expected signal strength or quality and the received signal strength or quality is found, in order to improve the received signal strength or quality.

10. The mobile station according to claim 9 wherein the transmitter is operable to send to its current serving base stations or another terminal of the system, a signal providing information indicating a difference for a given location between an antenna pointing direction stored in the database of the memory of the mobile station and an antenna pointing direction used to give an improved signal strength or quality.

11. The mobile station according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of independently steerable antennas.

12. The mobile station according to claim 11 further comprising a plurality of radio frequency transceivers, each operably coupled to one of the steerable antennas.

13. A wireless communication system comprising:

a base station; and

one or more mobile stations each comprising a steerable antenna,

wherein the base station is operably connected to a memory comprising a database of information relating to optimal pointing directions to be used by each of the mobile stations to point the steerable antenna of the mobile station toward a target terminal, and wherein the base station is operable to send to the one or more mobile stations signals comprising information stored in the memory and to receive from the one or more mobile stations updates to data stored in the database.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein the memory is included within the base station.

15. The system according to claim 13 wherein the target terminal is the base station.

16. The system according to claim 13 further comprising a plurality of base stations, and wherein the information stored in the memory and sent to the one or more mobile stations relates to optimal pointing directions to be used by the one or more mobile stations when in a particular location to point the steerable antenna of the one or more mobile stations toward each of the base stations.

17. The system according to claim 13 which comprises an ad hoc network, a local area network, a safety critical communication network or a cellular radio communication network.

18. The system according to claim 17 which comprises a TETRA or an APCO or a GSM communication network.

19. A method of operation in a wireless communication system comprising a base station, and one or more mobile stations each including a steerable antenna, the method comprising, at the base station:

receiving information relating to optimal pointing directions to be used by the one or more mobile stations to point the steerable antenna of the one or more mobile stations toward a target terminal; and

sending the information to the one or more mobile stations;

receiving by wireless communication from at least one of the mobile stations, an update to the information; and

storing the update to the information in a database.

21. The method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of broadcasting the update to the information to the one or more mobile stations.

20. (canceled)