Method for radio communication in a wireless local area network and transceiving device

• US 20110096757A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airgain Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Airgain Incorporated
• Inventors: Kirdin, Aleksandr Nikolaevich, Sukharnikov, Yury Pavlovich, Abramov, Oleg Yurievich
• Granted Patent: US 8,423,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/242 Circumferential scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0602 using antenna switching H04B7/0686 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Method for radio communication in a wireless local area network and transceiving device refers to wireless local area networks (WLAN) consisting of a multitude of transceiving devices of users (14, 15, 16 . . . N). Implies simultaneous scanning by their antenna beams in different directions by transceiving devices (with said transceiving devices being in reception mode) and transmission of an omnidirectional signal in the form of calibration signal and data package by one of the transceiving devices of said network (with said transceiving device being in transmission mode), reception of the signal by transceiving devices operating in reception mode and subsequent orientation of their antenna beams in the direction of signal source. Said recognition and orientation is performed during the period of reception of said calibration signal. The Method increases the range of a WLAN, reduces the transmission time and improves quality and reliability of communication. Each transceiving device (1) includes at least one directional antenna (3) featuring a controllable directional pattern, switched-over by unit (4), reception/transmission mode switch (5), receiver (8), transmitter (10) and controller (11). Additionally a unit for signal detection (13) is incorporated in the device.

Claims

1. A method for radio communication in a wireless local area network consisting of multiple transceiving devices, wherein said method implies simultaneous scanning by antenna beam in different directions by means of transceiving devices of said network (with said transceiving devices being in reception mode), transmission of omnidirectional a signal (in the form of calibration signal and data package) by one of the transceiving devices of said network (with said transceiving device being in transmission mode), reception of the signal as a result of said scanning by transceiving devices and subsequent orientation of their antenna beams in the direction of said transceiving device being in transmission mode (said recognition and orientation being performed in the course of the reception of calibration signal) and subsequent reception of one or several said data packages from the direction at which the antenna beam has been oriented.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said scanning is performed by azimuth bearing or/and by the elevation angle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said scanning is performed step-by step.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein step-by-step scanning is performed in the part of radio space that was determined in advance and that offers better conditions for signal reception.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the scanning is performed by switching the antenna directional pattern.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the scanning and orientation of antenna beams of transceivers in the direction of said transceiving device being in the transmission mode is performed when transmitting each data package.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the energy-related parameters of a signal received from said transceiving device being in the transmission mode is measured in the course of scanning and the antenna beams of transceivers are oriented in the direction corresponding to the best or specified quality of at least one of the measured energy-related parameters of said signal being received.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the level of said signal being received or signal-to-noise ratio is measured as one of the energy-related parameters.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the energy- related parameters of the signal being received from the transceiving device being in the transmission mode is measured in the course of data package reception, and when the value of this parameter turns out to be below a specified threshold value the scanning is resumed.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the level of said signal being received or signal-to-noise ratio is chosen as said energy-related parameter.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein following the completion of transmission said transceiver is switched to reception mode with scanning being performed by antenna beam in different directions.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein prior to the beginning of data package transmission the radio space is scanned to avoid collision of signals.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the preamble of a data package to be transmitted is used as said calibration signal.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the recognition of said signal is performed in the course of said signal reception.

15. A transceiving device for use in a WLAN including at least one direction-agile antenna, a unit for switching the directional pattern of said antenna, a reception/transmission mode switch, a receiver, a transmitter, a unit for measuring signal quality, a unit for signal detection and a controller, wherein said antenna is connected (via the unit for switching its directional pattern) with the first input port (it serves as the first input port when operating in the reception mode;

and when operating in the transmission mode this port serves as the first output port) of the reception/transmission mode switch, the second output port of which is connected to the input port of the receiver, and the second input port of which is connected to the output port of the transmitter, the output port of the receiver is connected simultaneously to the first input port of the controller, to the input port of signal quality measurement unit and to the input port of the signal detection unit, the output port of the signal quality measurement unit is connected to the second input port of the controller, to the third input port of which the output port of signal detection unit is connected, the first output port of the controller is connected to the unit for switching said directional pattern, the second output port of the controller is connected to the input port of the transmitter, and the third output port of the controller is designed to connect it to a device intended for the reception and/or transmission of information.

16. The transceiving device of claim 15 wherein it is equipped with at least one said antenna having at least two radiators with directional patterns that, taken together, cover no less than 360°

by azimuth bearing or by the elevation angle.

17. The transceiving device of claim 15 wherein it is equipped with at least one said antenna having at least two radiators with directional patterns that, taken together, cover the sphere by azimuth bearing and by the angle of elevation.

18. The transceiving device of claim 15 wherein it is equipped with at least one said antenna having three radiators with directional patterns that, taken together, cover no less than the hemisphere by azimuth bearing and by the angle of elevation.

19. The transceiving device of claim 15 wherein it is equipped with at least two said antennas, with each antenna having only one radiator, and taken together, directional patterns of these radiators cover no less than 360°

by azimuth bearing or by the elevation angle.

20. The transceiving device of claim 15 wherein it is equipped with at least three said antennas, with each antenna having only one radiator, and taken together, directional patterns of these radiators cover the hemisphere by azimuth bearing and the angle of elevation.

21. The transceiving device of claim 15 wherein it is equipped with at least two said antennas, with each antenna having only one radiator, and at least four said antennas, each of which having at least two radiators, and, taken together, directional patterns of all these radiators cover the sphere by azimuth bearing and by the angle of elevation.