PHASED ARRAY RADIO FREQUENCY NETWORK FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

• US 20190313395A1
• Filed: 06/25/2019
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Stuck, Gary D.
• Granted Patent: US 11,284,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/065 using assembly or disassembly of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/06 based on characteristics of available antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/34 Modification of an existing route
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams

Abstract

Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for routing wireless mobile communication signals using a phased array communication network. In one example, a system includes a plurality of phased array antennas configured to receive an RF modulated data packet. The RF modulated data packet includes a header and payload data. A demodulator circuit is provided to demodulate the header to identify route information while maintaining the payload data in RF modulated format. The phased array antennas are configured to transmit a high bandwidth narrow antenna beam comprising the RF modulated data packet in accordance with the route information. Maintaining the payload data in RF modulated format during the route provides for high bandwidth and high data rate transmission required of today'"'"'s wireless mobile communication networks.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating, by a source device, a data packet comprising a header and payload data, wherein the header identifies the source device and a destination device, wherein the payload data comprises data to be transmitted from the source device to the destination device over a phased array communication network;

modulating, by the source device, the data packet to provide a radio frequency “

RF”

modulated data packet; and

transmitting, by the source device, a phased array antenna beam comprising the RF modulated data packet to an access node of the phased array communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the phased array antenna beam is a first phased array antenna beam, wherein the RF modulated data packet is a first RF modulated data packet, wherein the payload data is first payload data, the method further comprising:

receiving, by a second phased array antenna beam from the access node, a second RF modulated data packet over one of a plurality of RF modulated communication channels provided by the second phased array antenna beam, wherein the second RF modulated data packet comprises second payload data provided by the destination device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second phased array antenna beams provide bi-directional real time communication between the source device and the destination device through the access node.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second payload data comprises voice data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the phased array antenna beam comprises a request to access the phased array communication network;

the phased array antenna beam is a first phased array antenna beam; and

the method further comprises receiving, by a second phased array antenna beam from the access node, a response to the request for access, wherein the response identifies a communication channel associated with the destination device.

6. A device comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of executable instructions;

a processor configured to execute the instructions to generate a data packet comprising a header and payload data, wherein the header identifies the device and a destination device, wherein the payload data comprises data to be transmitted from the device to the destination device over a phased array communication network;

a modulator circuit configured to radio frequency “

RF”

modulate the data packet; and

an antenna configured to transmit a phased array antenna beam comprising the RF modulated data packet to an access node of the phased array communication network.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the phased array antenna beam is a first phased array antenna beam, wherein the RF modulated data packet is a first RF modulated data packet, wherein the payload data is first payload data, the device further comprises:

a second phased array antenna beam received from the access node at the phased array antenna of the device, the second phased array antenna beam comprises a plurality of RF modulated communication channels, wherein a second RF modulated data packet is received over one of the plurality of RF modulated communication channels, wherein the second RF modulated data packet comprises second payload data provided by the destination device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first and second phased array antenna beams provide bi-directional real time communication between the device and the destination device through the access node.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the first and second payload data comprises voice data.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein:

the phased array antenna beam comprises a request to access the phased array communication network;

the antenna is a first antenna;

the phased array antenna beam is a first phased array antenna beam; and

the device further comprises a second antenna configured to receive a second phased array antenna beam from the access node, wherein the second phased array antenna beam comprises a response to the request for access, wherein the response identifies a communication channel associated with the destination device.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, at a control server, a request to access a phased array communication network;

allocating, by the control server, a communication channel;

identifying, by the control server, route information associated with the communication channel; and

transmitting, by the control server to an access node of the phased array communication network, a response to the request, wherein the response identifies the communication channel and the route information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting comprises passing, by a control channel provided by the control server, the response.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

updating, by the control server, the route information by identifying at least one different access node to reduce a transmission delay associated with the access nodes identified by the route information; and

transmitting, by the control channel, the updated route information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the route information comprises identifying a plurality of access nodes providing the communication channel between a source and a destination device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the communication channel is associated with a source device and a destination device in communication with the phased array communication network.

16. A control server comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of executable instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to;

process a request to access a phased array communication network;

allocate a communication channel;

identify route information associated with the communication channel; and

transmit to an access node of the phased array communication network, a response to the request, wherein the response identifies the communication channel and the route information.

17. The control server of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to provide a control channel and transmit the response by the control channel.

18. The control server of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:

identify at least one different access node to reduce a transmission delay associated with the access nodes identified by the route information;

update the route information based on the identified at least one different access node; and

transmit, by the control channel, the updated route information.

19. The control server of claim 18, wherein the route information comprises a plurality of access nodes from a source device to a destination device.

20. The control server of claim 16, wherein the communication channel is associated with a source device and a destination device in communication with the phased array communication network.