Method of operating multi-antenna wireless data processing system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a radio frequency (RF) signal processing circuit comprising:
- establishing a wireless communications channel between a first access point and a second access point in accordance with a communications protocol;
monitoring transmission conditions in said wireless communications channel, including an available data rate, to determine whether a first transmission mode or a second transmission mode should be used;
performing a first set of signal processing operations at said first access point on a single received RF signal from said second access point when said first transmission mode is used;
performing a second set of signal processing operations, including at least one operation not included in said first set of signal processing operations, at said first access point on M independent RF received signals from said second access point when said second mode of operation is used;
wherein data transmissions between said first access point and said second access point are compliant with said communications protocol in both said first transmission mode and said second transmission mode.
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Abstract
A method of operating a wireless data processing system to selectively enable a multi-antenna processor to demodulate N separate data signals from M separate antennas simultaneously. The multi-antenna processor is adapted to respond to changing channel conditions between two access points, so that it selectively kicks in if there is noise, interference, frequency fading, a need for an enhanced data rate, a need for an increased operating range, etc.
85 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of operating a radio frequency (RF) signal processing circuit comprising:
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establishing a wireless communications channel between a first access point and a second access point in accordance with a communications protocol; monitoring transmission conditions in said wireless communications channel, including an available data rate, to determine whether a first transmission mode or a second transmission mode should be used; performing a first set of signal processing operations at said first access point on a single received RF signal from said second access point when said first transmission mode is used; performing a second set of signal processing operations, including at least one operation not included in said first set of signal processing operations, at said first access point on M independent RF received signals from said second access point when said second mode of operation is used; wherein data transmissions between said first access point and said second access point are compliant with said communications protocol in both said first transmission mode and said second transmission mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of performing multi-antenna radio frequency (RF) communications comprising:
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performing data transmissions during a first operating mode in a channel at a first access point using a first baseband processor; performing data transmissions during a second operating mode in said channel at said first access point using a multi-antenna signal processing circuit that is not used in said first operating mode, including the following; receiving M independent RF modulated input signals from a second access point; processing said M independent RF modulated input signals using a channel mixing matrix to extract N independent data signals transmitted by said second access point; wherein said first operating mode and said second operating mode are automatically selected based on a transmission condition in said channel. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of transmitting and receiving data in a 802.11 compatible communications channel using a plurality of radio frequency (RF) received signals comprising:
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operating a first baseband processor to handle data transmissions in a first mode between a first access point and a second access point in accordance with an 802.11 protocol, based on a first channel transmission condition; operating a multi-signal processor to handle data transmissions in a second mode between said first access point and said second access point in accordance with an 802.11 protocol under a second channel transmission condition, wherein during said second mode said multi-signal processor;
i) receives M independent RF modulated input signals from said second access point;
ii) processes said M independent RF modulated input signals using a channel mixing matrix to extract N independent data signals transmitted by said second access point;transmitting an RF modulated signal to said second access point using a point coordination function (PCF) mode associated with said 802.11 protocol so as to maintain timing compatibility; wherein said multi-signal processor operates with said first baseband processor, in said second mode, to receive and transmit RF signals in a channel between said first access point and said second access point. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method comprising:
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establishing a communications channel between a first access point and a second access point; monitoring transmission conditions in the communications channel; determining whether a first transmission mode or a second transmission mode should be used, and using a result of said determining to select between the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode; performing a first set of signal processing operations at the first access point on a received signal from the second access point when the first transmission mode is used; and performing a second set of signal processing operations, including at least one signal processing operation not included in said first set of signal processing operations, at the first access point on M independent received signals from the second access point when the second transmission mode is used. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method comprising:
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performing data transmissions during a first operating mode in a channel at a first access point; performing data transmissions during a second operating mode in the channel at a first access point, wherein said second operating mode includes at least one operation not performed in said first operating mode; receiving M independent modulated input signals from a second access point; processing the M independent modulated input signals using a channel mixing matrix; extracting N independent data signals transmitted by the second access point; selecting the first operating mode and the second operating mode based on a transmission condition in the channel. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. An apparatus comprising:
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means for establishing a communications channel between a first access point and a second access point; means for monitoring transmission conditions in the communications channel; means for determining whether a first transmission mode or a second transmission mode should be used and for selecting between the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode; means for performing a first set of signal processing operations at the first access point on a received signal from the second access point when the first transmission mode is used; and means for performing a second set of signal processing operations, including at least one signal processing operation not included in said first set of signal processing operations, at the first access point on M independent received signals from the second access point when the second transmission mode is used. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. An apparatus comprising:
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means for performing data transmissions during a first operating mode in a channel at a first access point; means for performing data transmissions during a second operating mode in the channel at a first access point point, wherein said second operating mode includes at least one operation not performed in said first operating mode; means for receiving M independent modulated input signals from a second access point; means for processing the M independent modulated input signals using a channel mixing matrix; means for extracting N independent data signals transmitted by the second access point; means for selecting the first operating mode and the second operating mode based on a transmission condition in the channel. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification