Intelligent base station antenna beam-steering using mobile multipath feedback

• US 7,146,164 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Hunzinger, Jason F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US10/032,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20020094843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,812 Days
• Field of Search: 455/101, 455/133, 455/105, 455/69, 455/562.1, 455/561, 455/423, 455/67.11, 370/337, 370/334, 370/335, 370/252, 375/299, 375/267
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2611 Means for null steering; Adaptive interference nulling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0626 Channel coefficients, e.g. channel state information [CSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0628 Diversity capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0643 Feedback on request

Abstract

This invention relates to wireless communications devices, and more particularly to search processing load reduction methods for wireless communications based on CDMA.

Claims

1. A method for beam steering, comprising:

measuring received signal characteristics of the beam;

providing feedback based on the signal characteristics; and

adapting the beam based on the feedback information;

wherein

the feedback includes relative strength information regarding a first signal with respect to a second signal; and

the feedback is a one-bit punctured on a reverse link channel which indicates whether an earliest received signal is the strongest.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the feedback to indicate quality of a current signal compared to a previous signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the number of multipaths as part of the feedback information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the feedback information on a pre-determined schedule.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the feedback information when requested.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising steering the beam to ensure a strong signal strength.

7. A method of determining a beam transmission path comprising:

transmitting a beam sweep through a sector;

determining signal conditions for the beam throughout the sweep; and

providing feedback based on the signal conditions indicating a preferred transmission path;

wherein

the feedback includes relative strength information regarding a first signal with respect to a second signal; and

the feedback is a one-bit punctured on a reverse link channel which indicates whether an earliest received signal is the strongest.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising correlating the feedback with a sweep schedule.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the feedback includes a relative strength indicator;

and further comprising comparing the relative strength indicator of the signal throughout the beam sweep.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the feedback indicates a quality of a current signal compared to a previous signal.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting a plurality of beam sweeps, wherein a first of the plurality of beam sweeps is for demodulation.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising comparing a relative difference between feedback results to determine a preferred transmission path.

13. A wireless communication system comprising:

a base station which transmits a signal; and

one or more mobile stations which receive the transmitted signal and measures one or more characteristics of the received signal and provide feedback based on the one or more signal characteristics, wherein the base station adapts the beam based on the feedback;

wherein

the feedback includes relative strength information regarding a first signal with respect to a second; and

the feedback is a one-bit punctured on a reverse link channel which indicates whether an earliest received signal is the strongest.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein the feedback indicates a quality of a current signal compared to a previous signal.

15. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein a number of multipaths is provided as part of the feedback information.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein the feedback information is transmitted on a pre-determined schedule.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein the feedback information is transmitted when requested.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein the base station steers the beam to ensure a strong signal strength.