Smart antenna system and method

• US 7,346,365 B1
• Filed: 04/16/2002
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zarbana Digital Fund LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Faulkner Interstices LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hovers, Omri, Kagan, Shahar
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming; William D.
• Application Number:
  US10/124,540
• Time in Patent Office: 2,163 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/276.1, 342/382, 342/372, 342/378
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• 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: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A smart antenna apparatus including a receiving system, one or more beam analysis modules, a control channel monitoring module, a processing system, and a receiving beam switch is provided. The receiving system is operable to receive a plurality of uplink beams, each including traffic signals transmitted by a mobile station. The beam analysis modules are operable to analyze the uplink beams to determine one or more characteristics of each uplink beam. The control channel monitoring module is operable to monitor control channel signals being communicated from a base station transceiver. The control channel signals include synchronization signals. The processing system is operable to synchronize the smart antenna apparatus with the base station transceiver using the synchronization signals received by the control channel monitoring module. The processing system is further operable to determine a selected beam from the plurality of uplink beams based at least in part on the one or more characteristics determined by the beam analysis modules. The receiving beam switch is operable to switch to the selected beam to allow the selected beam to be communicated to the base station transceiver.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a receiving system capable of receiving a plurality of beams to receive traffic signals;

one or more beam analysis modules to analyze one or more of the plurality of beams;

a control channel monitoring module to monitor control channel signals, the control channel signals including synchronization signals;

a processing system to;

synchronize an antenna apparatus with a base station transceiver; and

select one or more beams from the plurality of beams; and

a receiving beam switch.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said one or more beam analysis modules is further capable of determining one or more characteristics of a beam;

said control channel signals including synchronization signals;

said processing system being further capable of determining the selected beam from the plurality of beams based at least in past on the determined one or more characteristics.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said beams are transmitted in a plurality of frames comprising a plurality of time slots;

said beam analysis modules being further capable of analyzing a first time slot of at least one of said beams;

said processing system being further capable of determining the selected beam based at least in part on the analysis of the first time slot; and

the receiving beam switch being further capable of switching to the selected beam.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first time slot is located in a first frame and a second time slot is located in a second frame immediately following the first frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said beams received by the receiving system are transmitted in a plurality of frames partitioned into a plurality of time slots; and

said beam analysis modules further capable of analyzing a first portion of a first time slot; and

said processing system further capable of determining the selected beam based at least in part on the analysis of the first portion of the first time slot of one or more of said beams.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said beams received are transmitted in a plurality of frames partitioned into a plurality of time slots;

said processing system further comprising;

a first beam selection module to determine a first beam selection; and

a second beam selection module to determine a second beam selection;

a selected beam decision module capable of determining a beam selection module for determining the selected beam during a particular time slot.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control channel monitoring module is capable of being coupled to the base station transceiver without substantially modifying the base station transceiver.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control channel monitoring module is capable of being coupled to the base station transceiver via one or more radio frequency cables.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a signaling information monitoring module to;

monitor signaling information being transmitted via an interface; and

extract a subset of the signaling information, and wherein the processing system is further capable of determining the selected beam based at least in part on the subset of signaling information.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the signaling information monitoring module is capable of monitoring the signaling information being transmitted via the interface without substantially modifying the base station transceiver or the base station controller.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the subset of signaling information comprises frequency hopping information.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

said beams received by the receiving system are transmitted in a plurality of frames partitioned into a plurality of time slots; and

said subset of signaling information comprises information identifying a frequency at which the mobile station is capable of receiving traffic signals in a particular time slot.

13. A method comprising:

receiving a plurality of beam transmitting signals;

analyzing one or more of the plurality of beams;

monitoring control channel signals, the control channel signals including synchronization signals;

synchronizing an antenna apparatus with a base station transceiver based at least in part on synchronization signals in order to determine a selected beam;

determining a selected beam from the plurality of beams.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein;

said analyzing each of the plurality of beams further comprises determining one or more characteristics of one or more of said beams;

said synchronizing further comprises determining a selected beam based at least in part on synchronization signals;

said determining the selected beam is based at least in part on the determined characteristics of each beam.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting said beams in a plurality of frames partitioned into a plurality of time slots wherein said analyzing said one or more beams further comprises analyzing a first time slot of one or more beams; and

said determining said selected beam comprises determining said selected beam based at least in part on the analysis of the first time slot of one or more of said beam; and

said transmitting further comprises transmitting a second time slot of the selected beam.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first time slot is located in a first frame and the second time slot is located in a second frame.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting beams in a plurality of frames partitioned into a plurality of time slots;

said analyzing one or more of said plurality of beams further comprises analyzing a first portion of a first time slot of said one or more beams;

determining the selected beam based at least in part on the analysis of the first portion of the first time slot of said one or more of said beam; and

said transmitting further comprises transmitting a second portion of the first time slot of the selected beam.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said monitoring the control channel signals further comprises passive monitoring.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said monitoring the control channel signals further comprises receiving the control channel signals from the base station transceiver via one or more radio frequency cables.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

monitoring signaling information being transmitted via an interface;

extracting a subset of the signaling information; and

said determining the selected beam based at least in part on the subset of signaling information.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said monitoring the signaling information further comprises passive monitoring.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said monitoring the signaling information further comprises receiving the signaling information from the base station transceiver via one or more radio frequency cables.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said monitoring the signaling information further comprises monitoring the interface without substantially affecting the communication of the signaling information.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the subset of signaling information comprises information identifying one or more frequencies at which one or more mobile stations are capable of receiving traffic signals in a frequency hopping channel.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the subset of signaling information comprises information identifying a frequency at which one or more mobile stations are capable of receiving traffic signals in a particular time slot in a frequency hopping channel.

26. A system comprising:

a receiving system capable of receiving a plurality of beams to receive traffic signals;

one or more beam analysis modules to analyze one or more of the plurality of beams;

a control channel monitoring module to monitor control channel signals, the control channel signals including synchronization signals;

a processing system to;

synchronize an antenna apparatus with a base station transceiver; and

select one or more beams from the plurality of beams; and

a receiving beam switch.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein:

said one or more beam analysis modules is further capable of determining one or more characteristics of a beam;

said control channel signals including synchronization signals;

said processing system being further capable of determining the selected beam from the plurality of beams based at least in past on the determined one or more characteristics.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein:

said beams are transmitted in a plurality of frames comprising a plurality of time slots;

said beam analysis modules being further capable of analyzing a first time slot of at least one of said beams;

said processing system being further capable of determining the selected beam based at least in part on the analysis of the first time slot; and

the receiving beam switch being further capable of switching to the selected beam.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the first time slot is located in a first frame and a second time slot is located in a second frame immediately following the first frame.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein:

said beams received by the receiving system are transmitted in a plurality of frames partitioned into a plurality of time slots; and

said beam analysis modules further capable of analyzing a first portion of a first time slot; and

said processing system is further capable of determining the selected beam based at least in part on the analysis of the first portion of the first time slot of one or more of said beams.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein:

said beams received are transmitted in a plurality of frames partitioned into a plurality of time slots;

said processing system further comprising;

a first beam selection module to determine a first beam selection; and

a second beam selection module to determine a second beam selection; and

wherein the system further comprises a selected beam decision module capable of determining a beam selection module for determining the selected beam during a particular time slot.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the control channel monitoring module is capable of being coupled to the base station transceiver without substantially modifying the base station transceiver.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the control channel monitoring module is capable of being coupled to the base station transceiver via one or more radio frequency cables.

34. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a signaling information monitoring module to;

monitor signaling information being transmitted via an interface; and

extract a subset of the signaling information, and wherein the processing system is further capable of determining the selected beam based at least in part on the subset of signaling information.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the signaling information monitoring module is capable of monitoring the signaling information being transmitted via the interface without substantially modifying the base station transceiver or the base station controller.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the subset of signaling information comprises frequency hopping information.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein:

said beams received by the receiving system are transmitted in a plurality of frames partitioned into a plurality of time slots; and

said subset of signaling information comprises information identifying a frequency at which the mobile station is capable of receiving traffic signals in a particular time slot.

38. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of beams transmitting signals;

means for analyzing one or more of the plurality of beams;

means for monitoring control channel signals, the control channel signals including synchronization signals;

means for synchronizing an antenna apparatus with a base station transceiver based at least in part on synchronization signals in order to determine a selected beam;

means for determining a selected beam from the plurality of beams.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein;

said means for analyzing each of the plurality of beams further comprises means for determining one or more characteristics of one or more of said beams;

said means for synchronizing further comprises means for determining a selected beam based at least in part on synchronization signals;

said means for determining the selected beam is based at least in part on the determined characteristics of each beam.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

means for transmitting said beams in a plurality of frames partitioned into a plurality of time slots wherein said means for analyzing said one or more beams further comprises means for analyzing a first time slot of one or more beams; and

said means for determining said selected beam comprises means for determining said selected beam based at least in part on the analysis of the first time slot of one or more of said beam; and

said means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting a second time slot of the selected beam.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the first time slot is located in a first frame and the second time slot is located in a second frame.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

means for transmitting beams in a plurality of frames partitioned into a plurality of time slots;

said analyzing one or more of said plurality of beams further comprises means for analyzing a first portion of a first time slot of said one or more beams;

means for determining the selected beam based at least in part on the analysis of the first portion of the first time slot of said one or more of said beam; and

said means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting a second portion of the first time slot of the selected beam.

43. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said means for monitoring the control channel signals further comprises passive monitoring.

44. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said means for monitoring the control channel signals further comprises means for receiving the control channel signals from the base station transceiver via one or more radio frequency cables.

45. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

means for monitoring signaling information being transmitted via an interface;

means for extracting a subset of the signaling information; and

said means for determining the selected beam is based at least in part on the subset of signaling information.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said means for monitoring the signaling information further comprises passive monitoring.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said means for monitoring the signaling information further comprises means for receiving the signaling information from the base station transceiver via one or more radio frequency cables.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said means for monitoring the signaling information further comprises means for monitoring the interface without substantially affecting the communication of the signaling information.

49. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the subset of signaling information comprises information identifying one or more frequencies at which one or more mobile stations are capable of receiving traffic signals in a frequency hopping channel.

50. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the subset of signaling information comprises information identifying a frequency at which one or more mobile stations are capable of receiving traffic signals in a particular time slot in a frequency hopping channel.

51. A smart antenna apparatus comprising:

a receiving system operable to receive a plurality of uplink beams, each uplink beam comprising traffic signals transmitted by a mobile station;

one or more beam analysis modules operable to analyze each of the plurality of uplink beams to determine one or more characteristics of each uplink beam;

a control channel monitoring module operable to monitor control channel signals communicated from a base station transceiver, the control channel signals including synchronization signals;

a processing system operable to;

synchronize the smart antenna apparatus with the base station transceiver using the synchronization signals received by the control channel monitoring module in order to determine a selected beam; and

determine the selected beam from the plurality of uplink beams based at least in part on the determined one or more characteristics; and

a receiving beam switch operable to switch to the selected beam to allow the selected beam to be communicated to the base station transceiver.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein:

the uplink beams received by the receiving system are communicated in a plurality of frames, each frame being divided into a plurality of time slots;

the beam analysis modules are operable to analyze a first time slot of each uplink beam;

the processing system is operable to determine the selected beam based at least in part on the analysis of the first time slot of each uplink beam; and

the receiving beam switch is operable to switch to the selected beam to allow a second time slot of the selected beam to be communicated to the base station transceiver.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the first time slot is located in a first frame and the second time slot is located in a second frame immediately following the first frame.

54. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein:

the uplink beams received by the receiving system are communicated in a plurality of frames, each frame being divided into a plurality of time slots;

the beam analysis modules are operable to analyze a first portion of a first time slot of each uplink beam;

the processing system is operable to determine the selected beam based at least in part on the analysis of the first portion of the first time slot of each uplink beam; and

the receiving beam switch is operable to switch to the selected beam to allow a second portion of the first time slot of the selected beam to be communicated to the base station transceiver in real time.

55. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein:

the uplink beams received by the receiving system are communicated in a plurality of frames, each frame being divided into a plurality of time slots;

the processing system comprises;

a first beam selection module operable to determine a first beam selection; and

a second beam selection module operable to determine a second beam selection in real time;

the system further comprises a selected beam decision module operable to determine whether to use the first beam selection module or the second beam selection module to determine the selected beam during a particular time slot.

56. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the control channel monitoring module is operable to be coupled to the base station transceiver without modifying the base station transceiver.

57. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the control channel monitoring module is operable to be coupled to the base station transceiver via one or more radio frequency cables.

58. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising:

a signaling information monitoring module operable to;

monitor signaling information being communicated via an interface between the base station transceiver and a base station controller; and

extract a subset of the signaling information comprising information regarding the mobile station; and

wherein the processing system is further operable to determine the selected beam based at least in part on the subset of signaling information extracted by the signaling information monitoring module.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the signaling information monitoring module is operable to monitor the signaling information being communicated via the interface without modifying the base station transceiver or the base station controller.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the subset of signaling information comprises frequency hopping information identifying one or more frequencies at which one or more mobile stations are expected to receive traffic signals.

61. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein:

the uplink beams received by the receiving system are communicated in a plurality of frames, each frame being divided into a plurality of time slots; and

the subset of signaling information comprises frequency hopping information identifying a frequency at which the mobile station is expected to receive traffic signals in a particular time slot.

62. A method comprising:

receiving a plurality of uplink beams, each comprising traffic signals transmitted by a mobile station;

analyzing each of the plurality of uplink beams to determine one or more characteristics of each uplink beam;

monitoring control channel signals communicated from a base station transceiver, the control channel signals including synchronization signals;

synchronizing the smart antenna apparatus with the base station transceiver using the synchronization signals in order to determine a selected beam;

determining the selected beam from the plurality of uplink beams based at least in part on the determined characteristics of each uplink beam; and

allowing the selected beam to be communicated to the base station transceiver.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein:

the uplink beams received by the receiving system are communicated in a plurality of frames, each frame being divided into a plurality of time slots;

analyzing each of the plurality of uplink beams comprises analyzing a first time slot of each uplink beam;

the selected beam is determined based at least in part on the analysis of the first time slot of each uplink beam; and

a second time slot of the selected beam is allowed to be communicated to the base station transceiver.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the first time slot is located in a first frame and the second time slot is located in a second frame immediately following the first frame.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein:

the uplink beams received by the receiving system are communicated in a plurality of frames, each frame being divided into a plurality of time slots;

analyzing each of the plurality of uplink beams comprises analyzing a first portion of a first time slot of each uplink beam;

the selected beam is determined based at least in part on the analysis of the first portion of the first time slot of each uplink beam; and

a second portion of the first time slot of the selected beam is allowed to be communicated to the base station transceiver.

66. The method of claim 62, wherein monitoring the control channel signals comprises passive monitoring.

67. The method of claim 62, wherein monitoring the control channel signals comprises receiving the control channel signals from the base station transceiver via one or more radio frequency cables.

68. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

monitoring signaling information being communicated via an interface between the base station transceiver and a base station controller;

extracting a subset of the signaling information comprising information regarding the mobile station; and

determining the selected beam based at least in part on the subset of signaling information.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein monitoring the signaling information comprises passive monitoring.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein monitoring the signaling information comprises receiving the signaling information from the base station transceiver via one or more radio frequency cables.

71. The method of claim 68, wherein monitoring the signaling information comprises monitoring the interface without affecting the communication of the signaling information between the base station transceiver and the base station controller.

72. The method of claim 68, wherein the subset of signaling information comprises frequency hopping information identifying one or more frequencies at which one or more mobile stations are expected to receive traffic signals.

73. The method of claim 68, wherein the subset of signaling information comprises frequency hopping information identifying a frequency at which a mobile stations is expected to receive traffic signals in a particular time slot.