Beamforming using subset of antenna array
First Claim
1. A radio communication system comprising:
- multiple antenna elements divided into subgroups, each subgroup including at least two of the multiple antenna elements; and
multiple line cards operable to employ spatial processing techniques, each line card coupled to a subgroup such that the line card may transmit and receive signals using the subgroup,wherein one of the multiple antenna elements belongs to at least two subgroups, andwherein each of the multiple line cards includes;
multiple radio frequency components such that each radio frequency component is coupled to an antenna element of the subgroup; and
a signal processing component coupled to the multiple radio frequency components, the signal processing component operable to employ spatial processing techniques.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radio communication system including multiple antenna elements divided into subgroups of at least two antenna elements, and multiple line cards operable to employ spatial processing techniques. Each line card is coupled to a subgroup such that the line card may transmit and receive signals using the subgroup. A base station for use in a radio communication system includes one or more line cards. Each line card includes an antenna interface used to couple the line card to a subgroup of multiple antenna elements, a radio frequency component coupled to the antenna interface, and a signal processing component coupled to the radio frequency component such that the line card is operable to transmit and receive radio frequency communications. A method for providing increased capacity in a radio communication system includes dividing an antenna array, creating N subgroups of antenna elements, and for each of the N subgroups of antenna elements, coupling a line card to the subgroup of antenna elements. Each line card is operable to communicate using its coupled subgroup of antenna elements.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A radio communication system comprising:
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multiple antenna elements divided into subgroups, each subgroup including at least two of the multiple antenna elements; and multiple line cards operable to employ spatial processing techniques, each line card coupled to a subgroup such that the line card may transmit and receive signals using the subgroup, wherein one of the multiple antenna elements belongs to at least two subgroups, and wherein each of the multiple line cards includes; multiple radio frequency components such that each radio frequency component is coupled to an antenna element of the subgroup; and a signal processing component coupled to the multiple radio frequency components, the signal processing component operable to employ spatial processing techniques. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A radio communication system comprising:
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multiple antenna elements divided into subgroups, each subgroup including at least two of the multiple antenna elements; and multiple line cards operable to employ spatial processing techniques, each line card coupled to a subgroup such that the line card may transmit and receive signals using the subgroup; wherein the multiple antenna elements are disposed about multiple faces, wherein at least one subgroup includes an antenna element that is not situated on the corresponding face of the subgroup, and wherein each subgroup corresponds to one of the multiple faces.
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6. A base station for use in a radio communication system, the base station comprising:
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a line card comprising; an antenna interface used to couple the line card to a subgroup of multiple antenna elements; a radio frequency component coupled to the antenna interface; a signal processing component coupled to the radio frequency component such that the line card is operable to transmit and receive radio frequency communications; and a radio frequency combiner coupled to a subgroup of the multiple antenna elements such that the line card is coupled to the subgroup of the multiple antenna elements through the radio frequency combiner, wherein the base station is operable to receive an additional line card so as to increase the capacity of the base station. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for providing increased capacity in a radio communication system, the method comprising:
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dividing an antenna array, creating N subgroups of antenna elements; for each of the N subgroups of antenna elements, coupling a line card to the subgroup of antenna elements; and dividing available spectrum, creating M subgroups of the available spectrum such that each line card is operable to service a subgroup of the available spectrum; wherein capacity of the radio communication system is increased by configuring multiple line cards to service different subgroups of the available spectrum using the same subgroup of antenna elements, and wherein each line card is operable to communicate using its coupled subgroup of antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification