DUAL MODE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WITH REMOTE RADIO HEAD AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH

• US 20190123442A1
• Filed: 10/19/2017
• Published: 04/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vannucci, Giovanni, Henry, Paul Shala, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,714,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/40 with phasing matrix

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a communication device includes a dual-band antenna array configured to transmit first radio frequency (RF) signals to a remote device in an RF band and to transmit first millimeter wave (MMW) signals to the remote device in a MMW frequency band, wherein the MMW frequency band is above the RF band. A base transceiver station is configured to generate a consolidated steering matrix in accordance with the transmission of the first RF signals to the remote device in the RF band. A remote radio head is configured to convert the consolidated steering matrix to a converted steering matrix that facilitates the transmission of the first MMW signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band, and further configured to generate the first MMW signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a dual-band antenna array configured to transmit first radio frequency (RF) signals to a remote device in an RF band and to transmit first millimeter wave (MMW) signals to the remote device in a MMW frequency band, wherein the MMW frequency band is above the RF band;

a base transceiver station configured to generate a consolidated steering matrix in accordance with the transmission of the first RF signals to the remote device in the RF band; and

a remote radio head (RRH) configured to convert the consolidated steering matrix to a converted steering matrix that facilitates the transmission of the first MMW signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band, and further configured to generate the first MMW signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the RRH includes a conversion processor and a plurality of front ends, wherein the conversion processor is configured to convert the consolidated steering matrix to the converted steering matrix, and wherein the plurality of front ends is configured to generate the first MMW signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dual-band antenna array is switchable in response to a control signal between an operation in the RF band and an operation in the MMW frequency band.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the RRH is further configured to receive second RF signals, via the dual-band antenna array, from the remote device in the RF band and to recover a feedback matrix from the second RF signals;

and

wherein the base transceiver station generates the consolidated steering matrix based on the feedback matrix.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the consolidated steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the dual-band antenna array corresponding to an operation in the RF band.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the converted steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the dual-band antenna array corresponding to an operation in the MMW frequency band.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the RRH operates in accordance with a fourth generation (4G) wireless protocol in the RF band and the RRH operates in accordance with a fifth-generation (5G) wireless protocol in the MMW frequency band.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the RF band is a fourth-generation wireless frequency band.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the RRH is further configured to receive second MMW signals from the remote device in the MMW frequency band via the dual-band antenna array, in accordance with the converted steering matrix.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the RRH is further configured to adjust the converted steering matrix, based on the second MMW signals received from the remote device.

11. A method, comprising:

generating, via a base transceiver station, a consolidated steering matrix in accordance with transmission of first radio frequency (RF) signals to a remote device in an RF band;

converting, via a remote radio head (RRH), the consolidated steering matrix to a converted steering matrix that facilitates transmission of first millimeter wave (MMW) signals to the remote device in a MMW frequency band, wherein the MMW frequency band is above the RF band;

generating, via the RRH, the first MMW signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix; and

transmitting, via an antenna, the first MMW signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the antenna is a dual-band antenna array configurable to selectively transmit to, and receive from, the remote device in the RF band.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

switching the dual-band antenna array between an operation in the RF band and an operation in the MMW frequency band.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving second RF signals from the remote device in the RF band;

recovering a feedback matrix from the second RF signals; and

generating the consolidated steering matrix based on the feedback matrix.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the consolidated steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna corresponding to an operation in the RF band.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the converted steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna corresponding to an operation in the MMW frequency band.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the RRH operates in accordance with a fourth generation (4G) wireless protocol in the RF band and the RRH operates in accordance with a fifth-generation (5G) wireless protocol in the MMW frequency band.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving second MMW signals from the remote device in the MMW frequency band, in accordance with the converted steering matrix.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

adjusting the converted steering matrix, based on the second MMW signals received from the remote device.

20. A communication device, comprising:

an antenna array configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals to a remote device in an RF band and to transmit millimeter wave (MMW) signals to the remote device in a MMW frequency band, wherein the MMW frequency band is above the RF band;

a base transceiver station configured to generate a consolidated steering matrix in accordance with the transmission of the RF signals with the remote device in the RF band; and

a remote radio head (RRH) including a conversion processor and a plurality of front ends, wherein the conversion processor is configured to convert the consolidated steering matrix to a converted steering matrix that facilitates the transmission of the MMW signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band, and wherein the plurality of front ends is configured to generate the MMW signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix.