Antenna Beam Control

• US 20150264583A1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Sundstrm, Lars, Hui, Dennis, Reial, Andres, Arajo, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,080,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/086 using weights depending on external parameters, e.g. direction of arrival [DOA], predetermined weights or beamforming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

Spatial sensor data, such as position, movement and rotation, which is provided by a sensor in a wireless communication device in a wireless communication system is used. By using the spatial sensor data it is possible to calculate predicted spatial data for use in controlling antenna beams for transmission as well as reception in the wireless communication system.

Claims

1. A method performed by a node of a wireless communication system, for performing an iterative process, wherein the iterative process comprises:

receiving, from a first wireless communication device, spatial sensor data relating to the first wireless communication device;

recording the received spatial sensor data such that a time sequence of historical and current spatial sensor data relating to the first wireless communication device is maintained; and

calculating, using data of the time sequence of historical and current spatial sensor data relating to the first wireless communication device, predicted spatial data for use in controlling at least one antenna beam in the wireless communication system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial sensor data comprises any one or more of:

position data,

translation data,

rotation data, and

where the spatial sensor data are absolute values or values that are relative between the node and the first wireless communication device or a combination of said absolute and relative values.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising:

calculating, using the predicted spatial data, a prediction of beam forming antenna weights for use in controlling a direction of at least one antenna beam in the node.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the calculation of a prediction of beam forming antenna weights comprises an extrapolation procedure.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the calculation of a prediction of beam forming antenna weights comprises a stochastic linear prediction procedure.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the calculation of a prediction of beam forming antenna weights comprises a Kalman filtering procedure.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the calculated prediction of beam forming antenna weights is used during the iterative process in the node for controlling an antenna beam to point in a direction from the node to the first wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising:

calculating, using the predicted spatial data, a prediction of beam forming antenna weights for use in controlling a shape of at least one antenna beam in the node.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising:

calculating an uncertainty metric that indicates a weighted sum of an angular velocity of direction to the first wireless communication device as seen from the node and an angular velocity of orientation of the node, and

mapping the calculated uncertainty metric to a beam shape metric, and

wherein the calculation of the beam forming antenna weights further comprises using the beam shape metric.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the iterative process further comprises:

sending at least a subset of the predicted spatial data to the first wireless communication device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the iterative process further comprises:

receiving, from a second wireless communication device, spatial sensor data relating to the second wireless communication device,

recording the received spatial sensor data such that a time sequence of historical and current spatial sensor data relating to the second wireless communication device is maintained, and wherein the calculation of predicted spatial data for use in controlling at least one antenna beam further comprises using data of the time sequence of historical and current spatial sensor data relating to the second wireless communication device, and

sending, to the first wireless communication device, at least a subset of the calculated predicted spatial data for controlling an antenna beam to point in a direction from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable comprising stored thereupon a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method of claim 1.

12. A method performed by a first wireless communication device of a wireless communication system, for performing an iterative process, wherein the iterative process comprises:

obtaining, from at least one sensor in the first wireless communication device, spatial sensor data relating to the first wireless communication device,

sending, to a node in the wireless communication system, the obtained spatial sensor data relating to the first wireless communication device, and

calculating, using data of the time sequence of historical and current spatial sensor data relating to the first wireless communication device, predicted spatial data for use in controlling at least one antenna beam in the first wireless communication device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the spatial sensor data comprises any one or more of:

position data,

translation data,

rotation data, and

where the spatial sensor data are absolute values or values that are relative between the node and the first wireless communication device or a combination of said absolute and relative values.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising:

calculating, using the calculated predicted spatial data, a prediction of beam forming antenna weights for use in controlling a direction of at least one antenna beam in the first wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising:

calculating, using the calculated predicted spatial data, a prediction of beam forming antenna weights for use in controlling a shape of at least one antenna beam in the first wireless communication device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the calculation of a prediction of beam forming antenna weights comprises an extrapolation procedure.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the calculation of a prediction of beam forming antenna weights comprises a stochastic linear prediction procedure.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the calculation of a prediction of beam forming antenna weights comprises a Kalman filtering procedure.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the calculated prediction of beam forming antenna weights is used during the iterative process in the first wireless communication device for controlling an antenna beam to point in a direction from the first wireless communication device to the node.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the iterative process further comprises:

receiving, from the node, predicted spatial data relating to a second wireless communication device, and wherein the calculation of a prediction of beam forming antenna weights comprises;

calculating, using the received predicted spatial data relating to a second wireless communication device, a prediction of beam forming antenna weights for use in controlling a direction of at least one antenna beam to point in a direction from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device.

24. The method of claim 22, comprising:

calculating, using the received predicted spatial data, a prediction of beam forming antenna weights for use in controlling a shape of at least one antenna beam in the first wireless communication device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the iterative process further comprises receiving, from the node, predicted spatial data relating to a second wireless communication device, and wherein the calculation of a prediction of beam forming antenna weights comprises calculating, using the received predicted spatial data relating to a second wireless communication device, a prediction of beam forming antenna weights for use in controlling a direction of at least one antenna beam to point in a direction from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device;

the method further comprising;

calculating an uncertainty metric that indicates a weighted sum of an angular velocity of direction to the node as seen from the first wireless communication device and an angular velocity of orientation of the first wireless communication device,

mapping the calculated uncertainty metric to a beam shape metric, and

wherein the calculation of the beam forming antenna weights further comprises using the beam shape metric.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the iterative process further comprises receiving, from the node, predicted spatial data relating to a second wireless communication device, and wherein the calculation of a prediction of beam forming antenna weights comprises calculating, using the received predicted spatial data relating to a second wireless communication device, a prediction of beam forming antenna weights for use in controlling a direction of at least one antenna beam to point in a direction from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device;

the method further comprising;

calculating an uncertainty metric that indicates a weighted sum of an angular velocity of direction to the second wireless communication device as seen from the first wireless communication device and an angular velocity of orientation of the first wireless communication device,

mapping the calculated uncertainty metric to a beam shape metric, and

wherein the calculation of the beam forming antenna weights further comprises using the beam shape metric.

16. A method performed by a first wireless communication device of a wireless communication system, for performing an iterative process, wherein the iterative process comprises:

obtaining, from at least one sensor in the first wireless communication device, spatial sensor data relating to the first wireless communication device,

sending, to a node in the wireless communication system, the obtained spatial sensor data relating to the first wireless communication device, and

receiving, from the node, predicted spatial data, for use in controlling at least one antenna beam in the first wireless communication device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the spatial sensor data comprises any one or more of:

position data,

translation data,

rotation data, and

where the spatial sensor data are absolute values or values that are relative between the node and the first wireless communication device or a combination of said absolute and relative values.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising:

calculating, using the received predicted spatial data, a prediction of beam forming antenna weights for use in controlling a direction of at least one antenna beam in the first wireless communication device.

27. A node comprising radio circuitry, a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said node is operative to:

receive, from a wireless communication device, spatial sensor data relating to the wireless communication device,

record the received data such that a time sequence of historical and current spatial sensor data relating to the wireless communication device is maintained, and

calculate, using data of the time sequence of historical and current spatial sensor data relating to the wireless communication device, predicted spatial data for use in controlling at least one antenna beam in the wireless communication system.

30. A wireless communication system comprising a node according to claim 27 and further comprising:

a wireless communication device comprising radio circuitry, a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said wireless communication device is operative to;

obtain, from at least one sensor in the wireless communication device, spatial sensor data relating to the first wireless communication device,

send, to the node, the obtained spatial sensor data relating to the wireless communication device, and

calculate, using data of the time sequence of historical and current spatial sensor data relating to the first wireless communication device, predicted spatial data for use in controlling at least one antenna beam in the wireless communication device.

33. A wireless communication system comprising a node according to claim 27 and further comprising:

a wireless communication device comprising radio circuitry, a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said wireless communication device is operative to;

obtain, from at least one sensor in the wireless communication device, spatial sensor data relating to the wireless communication device,

send, to the node, the obtained spatial sensor data relating to the wireless communication device, and

receive, from the node, predicted spatial data, for use in controlling at least one antenna beam in the wireless communication device.

28. A wireless communication device comprising radio circuitry, a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said wireless communication device is operative to:

obtain, from at least one sensor in the wireless communication device, spatial sensor data relating to the wireless communication device,

send, to a node in the wireless communication system, the obtained spatial sensor data relating to the wireless communication device, and

calculate, using data of the time sequence of historical and current spatial sensor data relating to the wireless communication device, predicted spatial data for use in controlling at least one antenna beam in the wireless communication device.

29. A wireless communication device comprising radio circuitry, a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said wireless communication device is operative to:

obtain, from at least one sensor in the wireless communication device, spatial sensor data relating to the wireless communication device,

send, to a node in the wireless communication system, the obtained spatial sensor data relating to the wireless communication device, and

receive, from the node, predicted spatial data, for use in controlling at least one antenna beam in the wireless communication device.

32. (canceled)