Input specific independent sector mapping

• US 6,070,090 A
• Filed: 11/13/1997
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Metawave Communications Corp.
• Inventors: Feuerstein, Martin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC M
• Application Number:
  US08/970,121
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 455/561, 455/562, 455/73, 455/450, 455/129, 455/443, 455/444, 455/422, 455/446, 455/424, 455/560
• US Class Current: 455/561
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2605 Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/38 the phase-shifters being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/40 with phasing matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering

Abstract

A system and method for providing independent sector mapping of signals associated with a first and second service utilizing a same multibeam antenna system is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment switch matrixes associated with each service are manipulated to selectably map sector patterns of each service. Additionally, to mitigate destructive cancellation caused by combining signals of multiple antenna beams having a signal associated with a particular sector, adjustable phase shifters and/or attenuators are provided in the signal paths.

Claims

1. A system for providing independent pattern mapping for signals of a plurality of different services to a multibeam antenna, said system comprising:

means for switchably coupling each signal interface of a plurality of signal interfaces to at least one selected antenna interface of a plurality of antenna interfaces, wherein said plurality of signal interfaces include a first set of signal interfaces associated with a first service of said plurality of services and a second set of signal interfaces associated with a second service of said plurality of services and said coupling means includes a first set of coupling means associated with said first set of signal interfaces and a second set of coupling means associated with said second set of signal interfaces, and wherein each antenna interface of said plurality of antenna interfaces is associated with a predefined antenna beam of said multibeam antenna; and

means for controlling said coupling means, wherein said controlling means includes means for controlling said first set of said coupling means independently from said second set of said coupling means, wherein said first controlling means operates to control said first set of coupling means to define a pattern for said first service as a function of the particular said at least one selected antenna interface ones of said first set of signal interfaces are coupled, and wherein said second controlling means operates to control said second set of coupling means to define a pattern for said second service as a function of the particular said at least one antenna interface ones of said second set of signal interfaces are coupled, and wherein said pattern for said first service and said pattern for said second service are different.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said controlling means utilizes information with respect to communications associated with said first service and said second service in controlling said coupling means.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for adjustably introducing a phase shift between a particular signal interface of said first set of signal interfaces and at least one of said at least one selected antenna interfaces coupled to said particular signal interface by said coupling means.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said phase shift introducing means is adjusted as a function of said particular antenna interfaces ones of said first set of signal interfaces are coupled.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for adjustably introducing an amplitude change in a signal path between a particular signal interface of said first set of signal interfaces and at least one of said at least one selected antenna interfaces coupled to said particular signal interface by said coupling means.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said amplitude change introducing means is adjusted as a function of said particular antenna interfaces ones of said first set of signal interfaces are coupled.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said switchably coupling means includes said amplitude change introducing means, and wherein switchable coupling of said first set of signal interfaces to said plurality of antenna interfaces is provided through attenuation of signals under control of said controlling means.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for adjustably introducing a time delay in a signal path between a particular signal interface of said first set of signal interfaces and at least one of said at least one selected antenna interfaces coupled to said particular signal interface by said coupling means.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said time delay introducing means is adjusted as a function of said particular antenna interfaces ones of said first set of signal interfaces are coupled.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

first means for filtering disposed between each said signal interface of said first set of signal interfaces and each antenna interface of said plurality of antenna interfaces, said first filtering means operable to substantially isolate signals associated with said first service; and

second means for filtering disposed between each said signal interface of said second set of signal interfaces and each antenna interface of said plurality of antenna interfaces, said second filtering means operable to substantially isolate signals associated with said second service.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises:

at least one switch matrix associated with each signal interface of said first set of signal interfaces; and

at least one switch matrix associated with each signal interface of said second set of signal interfaces.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of signal interfaces are associated with wireless base station radio inputs.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of signal interfaces are associated with wireless base station radio outputs.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said first service utilizes a signal protocol selected from the group consisting of:

CDMA;

analogue;

TDMA; and

FDMA.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said second service utilizes a different one of said signal protocols of said group than does said first service.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said first and second services utilize a same one of said signal protocols of said group.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said first and second services use of said same signal protocol are separated in time.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said first and second services use of said same signal protocol are separated in frequency.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said first and second services use of said same signal protocol are separated in code.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein said second service utilizes beam switching of a beam having a strongest attribute with respect to a particular signal.

21. A system for providing independent sector mapping for a plurality of services operating on a same multibeam antenna having a plurality of antenna beam interfaces, wherein each of said services has associated therewith at least one sector signal interface, said system comprising:

first means for switchably coupling each sector signal interface of a first one of said plurality of services to any antenna beam interface of said plurality of antenna beam interfaces;

second means for switchably coupling each sector signal interface of a second one of said plurality of services to any antenna beam interface of said plurality of antenna beam interfaces;

means for dynamically controlling said first coupling means to couple each sector signal interface of said first service to selected ones of said antenna beam interfaces, said sector mapping of said first service being a function of said selected antenna beam interfaces coupled to said sector signal interfaces of said first service; and

means for dynamically controlling said second coupling means to couple each sector signal interface of said second service to selected ones of said antenna beam interfaces, said sector mapping of said second service being a function of said selected antenna beam interfaces coupled to said sector signal interfaces of said second service, wherein said first and second controlling means operate to independently map said first and said second service sectors to thereby provide a multiple beam sector for at least one of said first and said second services.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for shifting a phase of a signal associated with a particular sector signal interface of said first service, said phase shift being selected to mitigate signal cancellation caused by destructive combining of a plurality of signals associated with said particular sector signal interface of said first service.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said sector mapping of said first service is a function of at least one monitored communication attribute with respect to said first service.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said communication attribute includes a measure of a number of users of said first service.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein said communication attribute includes a measurement of a distribution of users of said first service.

26. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for changing an amplitude of a signal associated with a particular sector signal interface of said first service, said amplitude change being selected so as to mitigate signal cancellation caused by destructive combining of a plurality of signals associated with said particular sector signal interface of said first service.

27. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for delaying a signal associated with a particular sector signal interface of said first service, said delay being selected so as to improve reception of at least one of a plurality of signals associated with said particular sector signal interface of said first service.

28. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for filtering signals communicated between each sector signal interface of said first service and said coupled antenna beam interfaces to substantially isolate signals associated with said first service.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein said first coupling means comprises:

a switch matrix associated with a sector signal interface of said first service, said switch matrix adapted to provide switchable coupling between said associated sector signal interface and any combination of ones of said antenna beam interfaces; and

a switch matrix associated with a sector signal interface of said second service, said switch matrix adapted to provide switchable coupling between said associated sector signal interface and any combination of ones of said antenna beam interfaces.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein said first coupling means comprises:

a splitter associated with a sector signal interface of said first service, said splitter providing a split sector signal interface of said first service associated with each of said antenna beam interface of said plurality of antenna beam interfaces;

an attenuator associated with each split sector signal interface of said first service, each said attenuator operable under control of said controlling means to switchably pass a signal;

a splitter associated with a sector signal interface of said second service, said splitter providing a split sector signal interface of said second service associated with each of said antenna beam interface of said plurality of antenna beam interfaces; and

an attenuator associated with each split sector signal interface of said second service, each said attenuator operable under control of said controlling means to switchably pass a signal.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein said plurality of signal interfaces are associated with a cellular base transceiver station radio inputs.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein said plurality of signal interfaces are associated with a cellular base transceiver station radio outputs.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein said first service is digital and said second service is analogue.

34. The system of claim 21, wherein said sector mapping of said first service provides dynamic selection of a sector azimuth of said first service.

35. The system of claim 21, wherein said sector mapping of said first service provides dynamic selection of a sector orientation of said first service.

36. The system of claim 21, wherein said sector mapping of said first service provides dynamic selection of a sector width of said first service.

37. The system of claim 21, wherein said sector mapping of said first service is a function of information from a database with respect to mapping of said first service.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said information is associated with a particular time.

39. The system of claim 21, wherein sector mapping of said first service under control of said first mentioned controlling means operates to provide a plurality of partially overlapping sector radiation patterns associated with said first service, wherein said partially overlapping sector radiation patterns share at least one antenna beam of said multibeam antenna.

40. A method for providing independent sector mapping for a plurality of services using an antenna system providing a plurality of antenna beam interfaces, wherein each of said plurality of services has associated therewith at least one sector signal interface, said method comprising the steps of:

providing switchable connections between each sector signal interface of said plurality of services and at least two antenna beam interfaces of said plurality of antenna beam interfaces, wherein ones of said sector signal interfaces of said plurality of services are simultaneously connectable to a plurality of said at least two antenna beam interfaces;

dynamically controlling said switchable connections to provide signal communication between sector signal interfaces associated with particular services of said plurality of services and selected ones of said antenna beam interfaces, wherein said sector mapping of each said service is a function of said selected antenna beam interfaces coupled to said sector signal interfaces associated with said service, and wherein switchable connections associated with each service of said plurality of services are controlled independently of switchable connections associated with other services of said plurality of services.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of:

shifting a phase of a signal associated with a particular sector signal interface to mitigate signal cancellation caused by destructive combining of said signal with other signals associated with said particular sector signal interface.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said phase shifting step includes the step of:

selecting said phase shift as a function of said selected ones of said antenna beam interfaces switchably coupled to said particular sector signal interface.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of:

changing an amplitude of a signal associated with a particular sector signal interface to mitigate signal cancellation caused by destructive combining of said signal with other signals associated with said particular sector signal interface.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said amplitude changing step comprises the step of:

selecting said amplitude change as a function of a communication attribute of a wireless unit communicating through said particular sector signal interface.

45. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of:

delaying a signal associated with a particular sector signal interface.

46. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of:

filtering signals communicated between each sector signal interface and said coupled antenna beam interfaces to substantially isolate signals of a service associated with said sector signal interface.

47. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of:

transmitting a signal from each of said sector signal interfaces, wherein radiation of each said transmitted signal is substantially isolated to an area defined by said selected ones of said antenna beam interfaces coupled to said sector signal interface.

48. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of:

receiving a signal at each of said sector signal interfaces, wherein origination of each said received signal is substantially isolated to an area defined by said selected ones of said antenna beam interfaces coupled to said sector signal interface.

49. A system for independently synthesizing multiple beam sectors for a plurality of communication systems operating on a same multibeam antenna providing a plurality of substantially non-overlapping antenna beams, said system comprising:

a first plurality of switch matrixes associated with a first one of said communication systems, each switch matrix of said plurality adapted to selectably communicate a sector output signal of a transmitter of said first communication system to any antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams;

a second plurality of switch matrixes associated with a second one of said communication systems, each switch matrix of said plurality adapted to selectably communicate a sector output signal of a transmitter of said second communication system to any antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams;

a processor based system coupled to each switch matrix of said first plurality of switch matrixes and executing instructions to cause said first plurality of switch matrixes to provide communication between ones of said sector output signals of said first communication system and select antenna beams of said plurality of antenna beams, wherein said synthesized multiple beam sectors of said first communication system are a function of said ones of said antenna beams communicating with each sector signal interface of said first communication system; and

a processor based system coupled to each switch matrix of said second plurality of switch matrixes and executing instructions to cause said second plurality of switch matrixes to provide communication between ones of said sector output signals of said second communication system and select antenna beams of said plurality of antenna beams, wherein said synthesized multiple beam sectors of said second communication system are a function of said ones of said antenna beams communicating with each sector signal interface of said second communication system, wherein an orientation and sector width of said synthesized multiple beam sectors of said first communication system are independent of an orientation and sector width of said synthesized multiple beam sectors of said second communication system.

50. The system of claim 49, further comprising:

a third plurality of switch matrixes associated with a third one of said communication systems, each switch matrix of said plurality adapted to selectably communicate a sector output signal of a transmitter of said third communication system to any antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams; and

a processor based system coupled to each switch matrix of said third plurality of switch matrixes and executing instructions to cause said third plurality of switch matrixes to provide communication between ones of said sector output signals of said third communication system and select antenna beams of said plurality of antenna beams, wherein said synthesized sectors of said third communication system are a function of said ones of said antenna beams communicating with each sector signal interface of said third communication system.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein said processor based system coupled to said first plurality of switch matrixes and said processor based system coupled to said second plurality of switch matrixes are a same processor based system.

52. The system of claim 49, further comprising:

variable phase shifters disposed in a signal path between each said sector output signal of said first communication system and each antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams, said variable phase shifters being selectably adjusted to mitigate destructive combining of signals.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein said variable phase shifters are coupled to said processor based system coupled to said first plurality of switch matrixes, said coupled processor based system executing instructions to adjust said variable phase shifters to mitigate destructive combining of signals.

54. The system of claim 49, further comprising:

variable attenuators disposed in a signal path between each said sector output signal of said first communication system and each antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams, said variable attenuators being selectably adjusted to mitigate destructive combining of signals.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein said variable attenuators are coupled to said processor based system coupled to said first plurality of switch matrixes, said coupled processor based system executing instructions to adjust said variable attenuators to mitigate destructive combining of signals.

56. The system of claim 49, further comprising a combiner providing a connection between at least one antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams and a switch matrix of said first plurality of switch matrixes and a switch matrix of said second plurality of switch matrixes.

57. A system for independently synthesizing multiple beam sectors for a first communication system and a second communication system operating on a same multibeam antenna providing a plurality of substantially non-overlapping antenna beams, said system comprising:

a first plurality of switch matrixes associated with said first communication system, each switch matrix of said plurality adapted to selectably communicate signals associated with any antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams to a sector input signal of a receiver of said first communication system;

a second plurality of switch matrixes associated with said second communication system, each switch matrix of said plurality adapted to selectably communicate signals associated with any antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams to a sector input signal of a receiver of said second communication system;

a processor based system coupled to each switch matrix of said first plurality of switch matrixes, said processor based system executing instructions to cause said first plurality of switch matrixes to provide communication between select antenna beams of said plurality of antenna beams and ones of said sector input signals of said first communication system, wherein said synthesized multiple beam sectors of said first communication system are a function of said ones of said antenna beams communicating with each sector signal interface of said first communication system; and

a processor based system coupled to each switch matrix of said second plurality of switch matrixes, said processor based system executing instructions to cause said second plurality of switch matrixes to provide communication between select antenna beams of said plurality of antenna beams and ones of said sector output signals of said second communication system, wherein said synthesized multiple beam sectors of said second communication system are a function of said ones of said antenna beams communicating with each sector signal interface of said second communication, system wherein an orientation and sector width of said synthesized multiple beam sectors of said first communication system are independent of an orientation and sector width of said synthesized multiple beam sectors of said second communication system.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein said processor based system coupled to said first plurality of switch matrixes and said processor based system coupled to said second plurality of switch matrixes are a same processor based system.

59. The system of claim 57, further comprising:

filters disposed in a signal path between each said sector input signal of said first communication system and each antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams, said filters preventing communication of substantially all signals except those associated with said first communication system.

60. The system of claim 57, further comprising a splitter providing a connection between at least one antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams and a switch matrix of said first plurality of switch matrixes and a switch matrix of said second plurality of switch matrixes.