Using directional antennas to mitigate the effects of interference in wireless networks

• US 7,130,586 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Barkley, Warren V., Corbett, Christopher J., Hassan, Amer Aref
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Matthew D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Tuan
• Application Number:
  US10/449,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20040242274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 455/63.4, 455/562.1, 455/404.2, 455/561, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 455/63.4
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The principles of the present invention provides for using directional antennas to mitigate the effects of interference in a wireless network. An antenna device includes an omni-directional antenna and at least one directional antenna. Each directional antenna (e.g., an electronically steered phased array antenna) can have one or more feeds for directing beams at wireless devices. The antenna device utilizes the omni-directional antenna to send and receive control data that facilitates locating wireless devices and determining when a wireless device is to send program data to or receive program data from the antenna device. The antenna device utilizes directional antennas to send program data to and receive program data from wireless devices. Since directional antennas use directional beams, directional antennas can be tuned channels with reduced interference based on the location of wireless devices relative to the antenna device.

Claims

1. In an antenna device that includes an omni-directional antenna and at least one directional antenna, the omni-directional antenna and the at least one directional antenna utilizing a specified frequency spectrum to facilitate communication with other wireless devices on a wireless network, a method for mitigating interference associated with the wireless reception of program data via the wireless network, the method comprising the following:

an act of the omni-directional antenna receiving a data notification signal from a wireless device configured for wireless communication in the specified frequency spectrum on the wireless network, the data notification signal being indicative of the wireless device having program data to send to the antenna device over the wireless network;

an act of causing a directional beam of a directional antenna to be directed towards the location of the wireless device in response to the omni-directional antenna receiving the data notification signal from the wireless device such that reception of program data from the wireless device is transitioned from the omni-directional antenna to the directional antenna;

an act of the antenna device detecting usage across different portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device in response to the omni-directional antenna receiving the data notification signal from the wireless device;

an act of the antenna device identifying a portion of the specified frequency spectrum having reduced usage relative to other portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device;

an act of the antenna device tuning the directional beam of the directional antenna to the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum to configure the antenna device to mitigate degrading communication effects of interference in the direction of the wireless device; and

an act of the antenna device using the tuned directional beam of the directional antennae to receive program data from the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum in response to the omni-directional antenna having received the data notification signal from the wireless device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of the omni-directional antenna receiving a data notification signal from the wireless device comprises an act of the omni-directional antenna receiving a ready to send signal.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of the antenna device detecting current usage of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of detecting frequency usage in a 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of the antenna device detecting current usage of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of detecting frequency usage in a 5 GHz frequency spectrum.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of the antenna device detecting current usage of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of the omni-directional antenna detecting usage of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of the antenna device detecting current usage of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of the directional antennae detecting usage of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of the antenna device detecting current usage of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of the detecting frequency spectrum usage that could potentially interfere with the antenna device sufficiently receiving the program data from the wireless device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of the antenna device identifying a portion of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of selecting a channel that is mapped to the identified frequency in the specified frequency spectrum.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the act of selecting a channel that is mapped to the identified frequency in the specified frequency spectrum comprises an act of selecting a channel that is mapped to a specified frequency in a 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the act of selecting a channel that is mapped to the identified frequency in the specified frequency spectrum comprises an act of selecting a channel that is mapped to a specified frequency in a 5 GHz frequency spectrum.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of the antenna device identifying a portion of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of selecting a channel that has reduced interference in the direction of the wireless device.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of the antenna device using the tuned directional beam of the directional antennas to receive program data from the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum comprises an act of receiving program data that was transported in accordance with the Internet Protocol.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of the antenna device using the tuned directional beam of the directional antennas to receive program data from the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum comprises an act of using an electronically steered phased array antenna to receive program data from the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an act of the antenna device simultaneously using another of the at least one directional antennas to communicate with a second wireless device over a second different portion of the specified frequency spectrum during reception of the program data from the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of the antenna device detecting current usage of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of the omni-directional antenna and the directional antenna together detecting usage of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of the antenna device detecting current usage of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of the detecting noise emissions from non-communicative interfering devices that do not implement protocols the antenna device and the wireless device use for communicating on the wireless network.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of the antenna device identifying a portion of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of identifying portion of the specified frequency spectrum based on the detected noise emitted into different portions of the specified frequency spectrum from non-communicative interfering devices, the selected portion of the specified frequency spectrum being selected to mitigate communication degradation due to non-communicative interfering devices in the direction of the wireless device.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of causing a directional beam of a directional antenna to be directed towards the location of the wireless device in response to the omni-directional antenna receiving the data notification signal comprises an act of detecting that the omni-directional antenna has does not have sufficient signal strength to receive program data from the wireless device.

19. In an antenna device that includes an omni-directional antenna and at least one directional antenna, the omni-directional antenna and the at least one directional antenna utilizing a specified frequency spectrum to facilitate communication with other wireless devices on a wireless network, a method for mitigating interference associated with the wireless reception of program data via the wireless network, the method comprising the following:

an act of the omni-directional antenna receiving a data notification signal from a wireless device configured for wireless communication in the specified frequency spectrum on the wireless network, the data notification signal being indicative of the wireless device having program data to send to the antenna device over the wireless network;

an act of causing a directional beam of a directional antenna to be directed towards the location of the wireless device in response to the omni-directional antenna receiving the data notification signal from the wireless device such that reception of program data from the wireless device is transitioned from the omni-directional antenna to the directional antenna;

a step for configuring the directional antennae to receive data on an identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum based on interference in the specified frequency spectrum, the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum having reduced interference as compared to at least one other portion of the specified frequency spectrum;

an act of the antenna device tuning the directional beam of the directional antenna to the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum to configure the antenna device to mitigate degrading communication effects of interference in the direction of the wireless device; and

an act of the antenna device using the tuned directional beam of the directional antennae to receive program data from the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum in response to the omni-directional antenna having received the data notification signal from the wireless device.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the act of the antenna device using tuned directional beam of the directional antennae to send program data to the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum comprises an act of sending program data that is to be transported in accordance with the Internet Protocol.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the act of the antenna device using tuned directional beam of the directional antenna to send program data to the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum comprises an act using an electronically steered phased array antenna to send program data to the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum.

22. In an antenna device that includes an omni-directional antenna and at least one directional antenna, the omni-directional antenna and the at least one directional antenna utilizing a specified frequency spectrum to facilitate communication with other wireless devices on a wireless network, a method for mitigating interference associated with the wireless transmission of data via the wireless network, the method comprising the following:

an act of the omni-directional antenna transmitting a location request, the location request requesting the location of a wireless device configured for communication in the specified frequency spectrum on the wireless network;

an act of the omni-directional antenna receiving a location signal from the wireless device, the location signal indicating the location of the wireless device;

an act of causing a directional beam of a directional antenna to be directed towards the location of the wireless device in response to the omni-directional antenna receiving the location signal from the wireless device such that transmission of further data to the wireless device is transitioned from the omni-directional antenna to the directional antenna;

an act of the antenna device detecting usage across different portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device in response to the omni-directional antenna receiving the location signal from the wireless device;

an act of the antenna device identifying a portion of the specified frequency spectrum having reduced usage relative to other portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device;

an act of the antenna device tuning the directional beam of the directional antenna to the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum to configure the antenna device to mitigate degrading communication effects of interference in the direction of the wireless device; and

an act of the antenna device using the tuned directional beam of the directional antennae to send program data to the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum in response to the omni-directional antenna having received the location signal from the wireless device.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

an act of receiving an indication that an application has program data to send to the wireless device.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of the omni-directional antenna receiving a location signal from the wireless device comprises an act of the omni-directional antenna receiving a clear to send signal.

25. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of the omni-directional antenna receiving a location signal from the wireless device comprises an act of the omni-directional antenna receiving location data indicating the location of the wireless device.

26. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of the antenna device detecting usage across different portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of detecting frequency usage in a 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum.

27. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of the antenna device detecting usage across different portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of detecting frequency usage in a 5 GHz frequency spectrum.

28. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of the antenna device detecting usage across different portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of the omni-directional antenna detecting usage of the specified frequency spectrum.

29. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of the antenna device detecting usage across different portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of the directional antennae detecting usage of the specified frequency spectrum.

30. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of the antenna device detecting usage across different portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device comprises an act of detecting frequency spectrum usage that could potentially interfere with the antenna device sending the program data to the wireless device.

31. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of the antenna device identifying a in portion of the specified frequency spectrum for use in sending program data to the wireless device comprises an act of selecting a channel that is mapped to the identified frequency in the specified frequency spectrum.

32. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein the act of selecting a channel that is mapped to the identified frequency in the specified frequency spectrum comprises an act of selecting a channel that is mapped to a specified frequency in a 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum.

33. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein the act of selecting a channel that is mapped to the identified frequency in the specified frequency spectrum comprises an act of selecting a channel that is mapped to a specified frequency in a 5 GHz frequency spectrum.

34. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of the antenna device identifying a portion of the specified frequency spectrum for use in sending program data to the wireless device comprises an act of selecting a channel that has reduced interference in the direction of the wireless device.

35. In an antenna device that includes an omni-directional antenna and at least one directional antenna, the omni-directional antenna and the at least one directional antenna utilizing a specified frequency spectrum to facilitate communication with other wireless devices on a wireless network, a method for mitigating interference associated with the wireless transmission of data via the wireless network, the method comprising the following:

an act of the omni-directional antenna transmitting a location request, the location request requesting the location of wireless device configured for communication in the specified frequency spectrum on the wireless network;

a step for configuring a directional antennae to send program data on an identified portion of a specified frequency spectrum based on interference in the specified frequency spectrum, the portion of the specified frequency spectrum having reduced interference as compared to at least one other portion of the specified frequency spectrum;

an act of the antenna device tuning the directional beam of the directional antenna to the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum to configure the antenna device to mitigate degrading communication effects of interference in the direction of the wireless device; and

an act of the antenna device using the tuned directional beam of the directional antennae to send program data to the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum in response to the omni-directional antenna having received a location signal from the wireless device.

36. A computer program product for use in an antenna device that includes an omni-directional antenna and at least one directional antenna, the omni-directional antenna and the at least one directional antenna utilizing a specified frequency spectrum to facilitate communication with other wireless devices on a wireless network, the computer program product for implementing a method for mitigating interference associated with the wireless reception of program data via the wireless network, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the antenna device to perform the following:

the omni-directional antenna receiving a data notification signal from a wireless device configured for wireless communication in the specified frequency spectrum on the wireless network, the data notification signal being indicative of the wireless device having program data to send to the antenna device over the wireless network;

causing a directional beam of a directional antenna to be directed towards the location of the wireless device in response to the omni-directional antenna receiving the data notification signal from the wireless device such that reception of program data from the wireless device is transitioned from the omni-directional antenna to the directional antenna;

detect usage across different portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device in response to the omni-directional antenna receiving the data notification signal from the wireless device;

identify a portion of the specified frequency spectrum having reduced usage relative to other portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device;

tune the directional beam of the directional antenna to the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum to configure the antenna device to mitigate degrading communication effects of interference in the direction of the wireless device; and

use the tuned directional beam of the directional antenna to receive program data from the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum in response to the omni-directional antenna having received the data notification signal from the wireless device.

37. The computer program product as recited in claim 36, wherein the one or more computer-readable media are physical media.

38. The computer program product as recited in claim 36, wherein the one or more computer-readable media include system memory.

39. A computer program product for use in an antenna device that includes an omni-directional antenna and at least one directional antenna, the omni-directional antenna and the at least one directional antenna utilizing a specified frequency spectrum to facilitate communication with other wireless devices on a wireless network, the computer program product for implementing a method for mitigating interference associated with the wireless transmission of data via the wireless network, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the antenna device to perform the following:

the omni-directional antenna transmitting a location request, the location request requesting the location of a wireless device configured for communication in the specified frequency spectrum on the wireless network;

the omni-directional antenna receive a location signal from the wireless device, the location signal indicating the location of the wireless device;

cause a directional beam of a directional antenna to be directed towards the location of the wireless device in response to the omni-directional antenna receiving the location signal from the wireless device such that transmission of further data to the wireless device is transitioned from the omni-directional antenna to the directional antenna;

detect usage across different portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device in response to the omni-directional antenna receiving the location signal from the wireless device;

identify a portion of the specified frequency spectrum having reduced usage relative to other portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of to the wireless device;

tune the directional beam of the directional antenna to the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum to configure the antenna device to mitigate degrading communication effects of interference in the direction of the wireless device; and

use the tuned directional beam of the directional antenna to send program data to the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum in response to the omni-directional antenna having received the location signal from the wireless device.

40. The computer program product as recited in claim 39, wherein the one or more computer-readable media are physical media.

41. The computer program product as recited in claim 39, wherein the one or more computer-readable media include system memory.

42. An antenna device configured to wirelessly communicate with wireless devices comprising the following:

an omni-directional antenna;

one or more directional antennas, each directional antenna having one or more feeds for directing beams at wireless devices;

one or more processing units; and

one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a control module, the control module being configured to;

exchange control data with the omni-directional antenna, the control data indicating that a wireless device is to exchange program data with the antenna device;

cause a directional beam of a directional antenna to be directed towards the location of the wireless device in response to the omni-directional antenna receiving the control data from the wireless device such that exchange of further data between the antenna device and the wireless device is transitioned from the omni-directional antenna to the directional antenna;

detect usage across different portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of the wireless device in response to the omni-directional antenna receiving the control data from the wireless device;

identify a portion of the specified frequency spectrum having reduced usage relative to other portions of the specified frequency spectrum in the direction of to the wireless device;

tune the directional beam of the directional antenna to the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum to configure the antenna device to mitigate degrading communication effects of interference in the direction of the wireless device; and

use the tuned directional beam of the directional antenna to exchanged program data with the wireless device over the identified portion of the specified frequency spectrum in response to the the omni-directional antenna having received the control data.