METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE BEAM PLACEMENT IN WIRELESS SYSTEMS

• US 20160021650A1
• Filed: 07/15/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blue Danube Systems, Inc. (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Blue Danube Systems, Inc. (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Poticny, David M., Banu, Mihai, Chembil-Palat, Ramesh, Feng, Yiping, Pinto, Mark R.
• Application Number:
  US14/799,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20160021650A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method for operating a phased array antenna for a wireless communication system serving an area in which communications demands from a plurality of mobile communication devices change as a function of time, the method involving: for each time of a plurality of successive times, (1) obtaining information indicative of a total mobile communications demand density as a function of beam direction for that time; and (2) with the phased array antenna, electronically generating a communication beam directed in a direction for which total mobile communications demand density is high for that time relative to other beam directions.

Claims

1. A method for operating a phased array antenna for a wireless communication system serving an area in which communications demands from a plurality of mobile communication devices change as a function of time, said method comprising:

for each time of a plurality of successive times,

(1) obtaining information indicative of a total mobile communications demand density as a function of beam direction for that time; and

(2) with the phased array antenna, electronically generating a communication beam directed in a direction for which total mobile communications demand density is high for that time relative to other beam directions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining information indicative of the total mobile communications demand density as a function of beam direction comprises scanning a probe beam over a range of directions and measuring the total mobile communications demand as a function of probe beam direction.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the probe beam is a narrow beam

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the range of directions over which the probe beam is scanned vary both in azimuth and elevation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining information indicative of the total mobile communications demand density as a function of beam direction comprises referencing a database that provides information about expected geographical distribution of mobile communication devices as a function of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining information indicative of the total mobile communications demand density as a function of beam direction comprises obtaining information about a geographical distribution of the plurality of mobile communication devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining information indicative of the total mobile communications demand density as a function of beam direction comprises scanning a probe beam over a range of directions and measuring instantaneous spectrum efficiency as a function of probe beam direction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining information indicative of the total mobile communications demand density as a function of beam direction comprises referring to stored source of information that indicates instantaneous spectrum efficiency as a function of beam direction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication beam is a narrow beam.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication beam has a shape that is selected based on details concerning clustering of the total mobile communications demand density.

11. The method of claim 1, where the generated communication beam is a transmit beam.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated communication beam is a receive beam.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

with the phased array antenna, and for each time of the plurality of successive times, electronically generating a plurality of communication beams each directed toward a plurality of different directions for which total mobile communications demand density is high for that time relative to other beam directions, wherein the first-mentioned communication beam is among the plurality of communication beams.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

with the phased array antenna, and for each time of the plurality of successive times, electronically generating a plurality of communication beams each directed toward a plurality of different directions for which total mobile communications demand density exhibits clustering, wherein the first-mentioned communication beam is among the plurality of communication beams.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein shapes of beams of the plurality of communication beams are selected to match the shapes of the clusters.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein obtaining information indicative of the total mobile communications demand density as a function of beam direction comprises scanning a probe beam over a range of directions and measuring the total mobile communications demand as a function of probe beam direction.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the probe beam is a narrow beam.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the range of directions over which the probe beam is scanned vary both in azimuth and elevation.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein obtaining information indicative of the total mobile communications demand density as a function of beam direction comprises referencing a database that provides information about expected geographical distribution of mobile communication devices as a function of time.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein obtaining information indicative of the total mobile communications demand density as a function of beam direction comprises obtaining information about a geographical distribution of the plurality of mobile communication devices.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein obtaining information indicative of the total mobile communications demand density as a function of beam direction comprises scanning a probe beam over a range of directions and measuring instantaneous spectrum efficiency as a function of probe beam direction.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein obtaining information indicative of the total mobile communications demand density as a function of beam direction comprises referring to stored source of information that indicates instantaneous spectrum efficiency as a function of beam direction.