Method and circuit for controlling an antenna system

• US 7,088,288 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2003
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xilinx, Inc. (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Xilinx, Inc. (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Watson, James A., Margolese, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US10/340,006
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 342/377, 342/371, 342/372, 455/562.1
• US Class Current: 342/377
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2605 Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays

Abstract

A method of controlling an antenna system of a wireless communication network having a plurality of cells is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining antenna weights to enable communication between a wireless communication network and the wireless communication device within the wireless communication network; storing the antenna weights in a programmable memory associated with the wireless communication network; and providing predetermined stored antenna weights to the antenna system based upon a location of the wireless communication device. A circuit and wireless communication network for controlling an antenna system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an antenna system of a wireless communication network having a plurality of cells, said method comprising the steps of:

determining antenna weights of an antenna array to enable communication between a base station within a sector of said wireless communication network and said wireless communication device within said wireless communication network;

storing said antenna weights in a remotely programmable memory associated with said base station of said wireless communication network;

programming a modulator/demodulator in programmable logic of a programmable logic device of said base station;

applying predetermined stored antenna weights to said antenna array of said base station based upon a location of said wireless communication device;

detecting multi-path interference within said sector of said wireless communication network;

recalculating antenna weights for said sector based upon said multi-path interference within said sector of said wireless communication network;

remotely downloading said recalculated antenna weights to said base station of said wireless communication network;

updating said antenna weights stored in said remotely programmable memory with said recalculated weights; and

enabling reprogramming said modulator/demodulator in said programmable logic of said programmable logic device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of dividing a cell of said wireless communication network accessible by said antenna system into a plurality of sectors.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of designating each sector by a distance location from a base station and an angle location.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising a step of calculating for each sector a set of antenna weights.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of storing said antenna weights in a remotely programmable memory comprises storing said antenna weights in a memory associated with a programmable logic device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of determining a distance location of said wireless communication device from a base station in said wireless communication network.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising a step of determining an angle location of said wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising a step of assigning said wireless communication device to a sector based upon a determined distance location and angle location.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising a step of applying predetermined antenna weights to said antenna array.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said predetermined antenna weights are associated with said sector.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of enabling communication between the wireless communication device and the wireless communication network.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of monitoring adjacent cells for signal quality.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising a step of enabling a handoff.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising a step of applying a new set of antenna weights after said handoff.

15. A method of controlling an antenna system of a wireless communication network having a plurality of cells, said method comprising the steps of:

dividing each cell of said plurality of cells into a plurality of sectors;

determining antenna weights of an antenna array to enable communication between a base station within a sector of said wireless communication network and a wireless communication device within each sector of said plurality of sectors;

storing said antenna weights in a remotely programmable memory associated with said base station of said wireless communication network;

programming a modulator/demodulator in programmable logic of a programmable logic device of said base station;

determining a location of a wireless communication device in said wireless communication network;

applying predetermined antenna weights to said antenna array based upon said location of said wireless communication device;

detecting multi-path interference within said sector of said wireless communication network;

recalculating antenna weights for said sector based upon said multi-path interference within said sector of said wireless communication network;

remotely downloading said recalculated antenna weights to said base station of said wireless communication network;

updating said antenna weights stored in said remotely programmable memory with said recalculated antenna weights; and

enabling reprogramming said modulator/demodulator in said programmable logic of said programmable logic device.

16. A method of controlling an antenna system of a wireless communication network having a plurality of cells, said method comprising the steps of:

determining antenna weights to apply to an antenna array of said antenna system when a wireless communication device is within a cell of said plurality of cells;

providing antenna weights to a base station within a sector of said wireless communication network from a location remote from said base station;

storing said antenna weights in a remotely programmable memory of said base station of said wireless communication network;

programming a modulator/demodulator in programmable logic of a programmable logic device of said base station;

detecting multi-path interference within said sector of said wireless communication network;

recalculating antenna weights for said sector based upon said multi-path interference within said sector of said wireless communication network;

remotely downloading said recalculated antenna weights to said base station of said wireless communication network;

updating said antenna weights stored in said remotely programmable memory with said recalculated antenna weights; and

enabling reprogramming said modulator/demodulator in said programmable logic of said programmable logic device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising a step of dividing a cell of said wireless communication network accessible by said antenna system into a plurality of sectors.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising a step of designating each sector by a distance location from said base station and angle location.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising a step of determining a distance location of said wireless communication device to said base station.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising a step of determining an angle location of said wireless communication device.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising a step of assigning said wireless communication device to a sector based upon a determined distance and angle.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising a step of applying predetermined antenna weights to an antenna array of said base station.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising a step of enabling communication between the wireless communication device and the wireless communication network.

24. A method of controlling an antenna system of a wireless communication network having a plurality of cells, said method comprising the steps of:

dividing a cell of said wireless communication network into a plurality of sectors;

determining a sector within said cell occupied by said wireless communication device;

determining antenna weights to apply to an antenna array when said wireless communication device is within said sector;

providing antenna weights to a base station of said wireless communication network from a location remote from said base station;

storing said antenna weights in a remotely programmable memory of said base station of said wireless communication network;

programming a modulator/demodulator in programmable logic of a programmable logic device of said base station;

detecting multi-path interference within said sector of said wireless communication network;

recalculating antenna weights for said sector based upon said multi-path interference within said sector of said wireless communication network;

remotely downloading said recalculated antenna weights to said base station of said wireless communication network;

updating said antenna weights stored in said remotely programmable memory with said recalculated antenna weights; and

enabling reprogramming said modulator/demodulator in said programmable logic of said programmable logic device.

25. A method of controlling an antenna system of a wireless communication network having a plurality of cells, said method comprising the steps of:

dividing a cell of said wireless communication network into a plurality of sectors;

storing antenna weights associated with each sector of said plurality of sectors in a remotely programmable memory of a base station of said wireless communication network;

programming a modulator/demodulator in programmable logic of a programmable logic device of said base station;

determining a sector within which a wireless communication device is located;

providing predetermined antenna weights to an antenna array of said antenna system of said base station depending upon said sector within which said wireless communication device is located;

detecting multi-path interference within said sector of said wireless communication network;

recalculating antenna weights for said sector based upon said multi-path interference within said sector of said wireless communication network;

remotely downloading said recalculated antenna weights to said base station of said wireless communication network;

updating said antenna weights stored in said remotely programmable memory with said recalculated antenna weights; and

enabling reprogramming said modulator/demodulator in said programmable logic of said programmable logic device.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising a step of designating each sector by a distance location from a base station and an angle location.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising a step of determining a distance location of a wireless communication device from a base station.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising a step of determining an angle location of said wireless communication device.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising a step of assigning said wireless communication device to a sector based upon a determined distance location and angle location.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising a step of applying predetermined antenna weights to said antenna system.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising a step of applying a new set of predetermined antenna weights after a hand off.

32. A circuit for controlling an antenna system, said circuit comprising:

an antenna array;

a controller associated with a base station of a wireless communication network and coupled to said antenna array, said controller detecting multi-path interference within a sector of a plurality of sectors of said wireless communication network;

a programmable memory coupled to said controller, said programmable memory storing antenna weights associated with a plurality of sectors of a wireless communication network, said programmable memory storing recalculated antenna weights received from a remote location and based upon said multi-path interference detected within a sector of said plurality of sectors;

a location circuit coupled to said control circuit, said location circuit receiving location information from a wireless communication device; and

a modulator/demodulator coupled to said programmable memory and receiving antenna weights, said modulator/demodulator implemented in programmable logic of a programmable logic device, wherein said modulator/demodulator is able to be reprogrammed by way of said programmable logic of said programmable logic device.

33. The circuit of claim 32 wherein said control circuit comprises a microprocessor.

34. The circuit of claim 32 wherein said location circuit comprises a separate receiver.

35. The circuit of claim 34 further comprising an antenna coupled to said receiver for receiving said location information from a wireless communication device.

36. The circuit of claim 32 wherein said location information is transmitted at a first data rate.

37. The circuit of claim 36 wherein said antenna array receives communication signals at a second data rate.

38. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said circuit is incorporated in a single integrated circuit.

39. A circuit for controlling an antenna system, said circuit comprising:

a control circuit associated with a base station of a wireless communication network, said control circuit detecting multi-path interference within a sector of a plurality of sectors of said wireless communication network;

a programmable memory coupled to said control circuit, said programmable memory storing said antenna weights associated with said plurality of sectors, said programmable memory storing recalculated antenna weights received from a remote location and based upon said multi-path interference detected within a sector of said plurality of sectors;

a location circuit coupled to said control circuit, said location circuit having first receiver for receiving location information from a wireless communication device;

an antenna array coupled to said control circuit and receiving communication signals; and

a modulator/demodulator coupled to said antenna array and applying said antenna weights, said modulator/demodulator implemented in programmable logic of a programmable logic device, wherein said modulator/demodulator is able to be reprogrammed by way of said programmable logic of said programmable logic device.

40. A wireless communication network having an adaptive antenna system, said wireless communication network comprising:

an antenna array;

a base station controller coupled to said antenna array, said base station controller detecting multi-path interference within a sector of a plurality of sectors of said wireless communication network;

a remotely programmable memory associated with a base station, said remotely programmable memory storing antenna weights associated with a plurality of sectors;

a modulator/demodulator implemented in programmable logic of a programmable logic device of said base station, wherein said modulator/demodulator is able to be reprogrammed by way of said programmable logic of said programmable logic device; and

a communication link coupled to said remotely programmable memory, said communication link enabling the transfer of recalculated antenna weights from a remote location to be stored in said remotely programmable memory, said recalculated antenna weights being based upon said multi-path interference detected within a sector of said plurality of sectors.

41. The wireless communication network of claim 40 wherein said antenna array receives communication signals at a first data rate.

42. The wireless communication network of claim 40 wherein said remotely programmable memory is incorporated in a programmable logic array.

43. The wireless communication network of claim 40 further comprising a second antenna.

44. The wireless communication network of claim 43 further comprising a location circuit coupled to said second antenna.

45. The wireless communication network of claim 44 wherein said second antenna is adapted to receive location data at a second data rate.