METHOD AND SYSTEM OF USING SMART ANTENNAS FOR BACKHAULING

• US 20090303935A1
• Filed: 08/18/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ozluturk, Faith M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,369,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/026 Co-operative diversity, e.g. using fixed or mobile stations as relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0695 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/42 Centralised routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/06 based on characteristics of available antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/322 Power control of broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/14 between access point controllers and backbone network device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for utilizing smart antenna in transmission of messages between nodes are disclosed. A wireless communication system includes a plurality of nodes, and each node is capable of being connected to each other node. At least a portion of the nodes are provided with a smart antenna configured to generate a plurality of directional beams. Each node maintains a list of other nodes and beam configuration information to be used in transmission of messages to other nodes. When a source node is required to transmit to a target node, the source node retrieves the beam configuration information and transmits with a directional beam directed to the target node.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system for utilizing at least one smart antenna for establishing a backhaul network, the system comprising:

a plurality of nodes, each node connected to at least one neighbor node, each node comprising;

a smart antenna configured to generate a plurality of directional beams;

a memory configured to store a list of neighbor nodes having connections and beam configuration information to be used in transmission of messages to the neighbor nodes; and

a controller configured to;

update the list stored in the memory by monitoring signals received from the neighbor nodes and determining configurations for transmitting data to the neighbor nodes and

select a particular directional beam for transmitting a particular message to another node using the updated list stored in the memory,

at least one of the plurality of nodes being a hybrid node that further comprises a wired backhaul connection to a core network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the hybrid node of claim 1 further comprises a wired backhaul connection to at least neighbor node.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the generated plurality of directional beams are selected from a set of predetermined positions.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the generated plurality of directional beams are dynamically selected and directed in real time.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the directional beams are configured to provide the best performance in terms of system capacity, data throughput, and interference.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the nodes are configured to transmit backhaul information over the wired backhaul connection.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the hybrid node is configured to receive and transmit backhaul information to another node with a wireless backhaul connection while the hybrid node receives and transmits backhaul information to the core network.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of nodes comprise a mesh network.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of nodes comprise a cellular network.

10. A wireless communication node for use in a wireless communication system comprising:

a smart antenna configured to generate a plurality of directional beams;

a memory configured to store a list of neighbor nodes and beam configuration information to be used in transmission of messages to the neighbor nodes; and

a controller configured to;

update the list stored in the memory by monitoring signals received from the neighbor nodes and determining optimum configurations for transmitting data to the neighbor nodes and

select a particular directional beam for transmitting a particular message to another node using the updated list stored in the memory for establishing a backhaul network.

11. The wireless communication node of claim 10 further comprising a wired backhaul connection to a core network.

12. The wireless communication node of claim 11 wherein the node is configured to receive and transmit backhaul information to another node with a wireless backhaul connection while the node receives and transmits backhaul information to the core network.

13. The wireless communication node of claim 10 further comprising a wired backhaul connection to at least one other node.

14. The wireless communication node of claim 10 wherein the generated plurality of directional beams are selected from a set of predetermined positions.

15. The wireless communication node of claim 10 wherein the generated plurality of directional beams are dynamically selected and directed in real time.

16. The wireless communication node of claim 15 wherein the directional beams are selected to provide the best performance in terms of system capacity, data throughput, and interference.

17. The wireless communication node of claim 10 wherein the node is configured to transmit backhaul information over the wired backhaul connection.

18. The wireless communication node of claim 10 configured for use in a wireless mesh network.

19. The wireless communication node of claim 10 configured for use in a cellular network.

20. A method for utilizing smart antennas in a wireless communication system comprising a plurality of nodes, at least two of the plurality of nodes each having a smart antenna which generates at least one directional beam for connection to at least one neighbor node, the method comprising:

each node transmitting a beacon signal carrying a beacon message to neighbor nodes wherein the beacon message includes configuration information;

measuring and storing a list of neighbor nodes having connections and beam direction and configuration information to be used in transmission of messages to the neighbor nodes;

generating a directional beam for transmitting a particular message to a target node in accordance with the beam direction and configuration information; and

transmitting the message to the target node with the generated directional beam.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein each node is connected using more than one beam, whereby a beam is adaptively switched between the provided beams for the connection.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of updating the list reflecting a change or modification of the network.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of obtaining information regarding traffic load condition and capabilities of neighbor nodes and selecting proper paths for transmitting the message to another node based on the information.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the plurality of nodes comprise a mesh network.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein the plurality of nodes comprise a cellular network.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein one node among the plurality of nodes is designated as a controlling node, and the controlling node collects information regarding traffic load condition and capabilities of each node and controls path determination in each node.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein each node utilizes the beacon message in selecting a proper path for transmitting messages to other nodes.