Method and Apparatus for Combined Adaptive Beamforming and MIMO in Indoor Wireless LAN

• US 20140086077A1
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Safavi, Saeid
• Granted Patent: US 9,226,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A wireless local area network (WLAN) device comprising a processor, a transceiver coupled to the processor, a switching mechanism coupled to the transceiver, a beamforming antenna assembly coupled to the switching mechanism, and a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) antenna assembly coupled to the switching mechanism. Included is an apparatus comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that cause the processor to calibrate a WLAN device, select an optimal antenna configuration, track the WLAN device performance, and wait for a triggering event. Also included is an adaptive antenna method comprising calibrating a WLAN device, selecting an optimal antenna configuration, tracking the WLAN device performance, and waiting for a triggering event.

Claims

1. A wireless local area network device comprising:

a processor;

a transceiver coupled to the processor;

a switching mechanism coupled to the transceiver;

a beamforming antenna assembly coupled to the switching mechanism; and

a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna assembly coupled to the switching mechanism.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the switching mechanism is configured to activate the beamforming antenna assembly or the MIMO antenna assembly but not both simultaneously per communication link or channel based on a statistical analysis.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless local area network device is configured to employ two or more communication channels or links to communicate with two or more clients, wherein the wireless local area network device simultaneously employs a first communication link generated by the beamforming antenna assembly and a second communication link generated by the MIMO antenna assembly.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the beamforming antenna assembly comprises a plurality of non-directional antennas.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the beamforming antenna assembly comprises a plurality of directional antennas.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that cause the processor to;

calibrate a wireless local area network (WLAN) device;

select an optimal antenna configuration;

track the WLAN device performance; and

wait for a triggering event.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein selecting the optimal antenna configuration for a client is based on a spectral analysis.

8. An adaptive antenna method comprising:

calibrating a wireless local area network (WLAN) device;

selecting an optimal antenna configuration;

tracking the WLAN device performance; and

waiting for a triggering event.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein calibrating the WLAN device comprises selecting a frequency spectrum band.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein calibrating the WLAN device further comprises implementing a plurality of directional antenna radio frequency (RF) beams and measuring a power spectrum for a client for each of the directional antenna RF beams.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein calibrating the WLAN device further comprises performing a statistical analysis on the power spectrum of the client.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting the optimal antenna configuration for the client is based on the statistical analysis.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein selecting the optimal antenna configuration is based on a minimum averaged received power of an interference source.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein selecting the optimal antenna configuration is based on a minimum averaged received power of a noise source.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein selecting the optimal antenna configuration is based on a maximum overall signal to interference plus noise ratio.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein tracking the WLAN device performance comprises performing a statistical analysis on the power spectrum of the client.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein selecting the optimal antenna configuration comprises activating a beamforming antenna assembly or a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna assembly but not both simultaneously per communication link or channel.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the triggering event comprises waiting for a predetermined amount of time.

19. The method of claim 8, wherein the triggering event comprises receiving a control signal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the control signal is in response to a quality of service falling below a lower threshold.