SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WIRELESS BACKHAUL TRANSPORT
First Claim
1. A wireless communications module for communicating with a wireless device, comprising:
- a packet processing function (PPF) configured to exchange communications between the wireless device and a network,wherein the PPF is configured to exchange frames between the module and the wireless device, andwherein the PPF is configured to communicatively couple with at least one other module at a first node;
a wireless MAC layer component, coupled to the PPF, and configured to forward frames across beamformed wireless communication links to a second node; and
a millimeter wave (30 GHz-300 GHz) physical layer and radio transceiver component coupled to the wireless MAC layer component,wherein the physical layer and radio transceiver component includes a multi-element antenna array configured to provide the beamformed wireless links to the second node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for providing wireless backhaul transport. One element of the system is a highly integrated radio transceiver, including an integrated antenna. The radio transceiver may operate in the millimeter wave range (between 30 GHz and 300 GHz), and due to the small wavelengths, it is possible to integrate the antenna, which would typically compromise a number of antenna elements, with the radio transceiver in a single integrated circuit (IC) package, commonly referred to as a system-in-package (SiP) and/or antenna-in-package (AiP) format. In some implementations, the band that a hardware module can exploit is the unlicensed 60 GHz band, which is generally available globally.
69 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A wireless communications module for communicating with a wireless device, comprising:
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a packet processing function (PPF) configured to exchange communications between the wireless device and a network, wherein the PPF is configured to exchange frames between the module and the wireless device, and wherein the PPF is configured to communicatively couple with at least one other module at a first node; a wireless MAC layer component, coupled to the PPF, and configured to forward frames across beamformed wireless communication links to a second node; and a millimeter wave (30 GHz-300 GHz) physical layer and radio transceiver component coupled to the wireless MAC layer component, wherein the physical layer and radio transceiver component includes a multi-element antenna array configured to provide the beamformed wireless links to the second node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A network node for communicating with a wireless device, comprising:
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a housing; at least two wireless communications modules within the housing, wherein each wireless communications module includes; a PPF configured to communicate with the wireless device, wherein the PPF is configured to exchange frames between the module and the wireless device, and wherein the PPF is configured to couple with at least one other module at the node; a wireless MAC layer component, coupled to the PPF, and configured to forward frames across beamformed wireless communication links to another node; and a millimeter wave (30 GHz-300 GHz) physical layer and radio transceiver component coupled to the wireless MAC layer component, wherein the physical layer and radio transceiver component includes a multi-element antenna array configured to provide the beamformed wireless links to the other node. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for communicating with a wireless device, comprising:
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packet processing function means for exchanging packets or frames between the wireless device and a network; MAC layer means, coupled to the packet processing function means, for forwarding frames across beamformed wireless communication links to a node; and a millimeter wave (30 GHz-300 GHz) physical layer and radio transceiver means, coupled to the MAC layer means for providing the beamformed wireless links to the node.
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20. A wireless communications module for communicating with a wireless device, comprising:
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a packet processing function (PPF) configured to exchange communications between the wireless device and a network, wherein the PPF is configured to exchange frames between the module and the wireless device, and wherein the PPF is configured to communicatively couple with at least one other module at a first node; a wireless MAC layer component, coupled to the PPF, and configured to forward frames across beamformed wireless communication links to a second node, and a millimeter wave (30 GHz-300 GHz) physical layer and radio transceiver component coupled to the wireless MAC layer component, wherein the physical layer and radio transceiver component includes a multi-element antenna array configured to provide the beamformed wireless links to the second node, wherein the physical layer and radio transceiver component includes an RFIC that interfaces directly with the MAC layer, wherein the physical layer and radio transceiver component includes a baseband processing engine; wherein the wireless MAC layer is configured to drive the baseband processing engine and the RFIC concurrently based at least in part on a beam configuration specified by the MAC layer.
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21. A method of controlling beamforming of an RFIC, the method performed by a processor executing instructions stored in a memory, the method comprising:
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maintaining a mapping that associates antenna weight vector (AWV) identifiers (IDs) or antenna element map (AEM) IDs with nodes, maintaining a mapping that associates AWV IDs with a phase shift and amplitude gain or AEM IDs with a vector or array element configuration parameter; receiving an indication to create a beamformed wireless link with a node; identifying an AWV ID or an AEM ID associated with the node based on the mapping; identifying vector or array element configuration parameters associated with the AEM ID or a phase shift and amplitude gain associated with the AWV ID; and configuring an antenna beam for the beamformed wireless link with the node by; applying the vector or array element configuration parameters to an antenna element array transmitting a signal; and
/ordriving the antenna element array to generate the signal modified by the phase shift and/or amplitude gain associated with the AWV ID. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification