System for facilitating beam training

• US 8,116,694 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kasslin, Mika, Kaaja, Harald, Laine, Tuomas
• Primary Examiner(s): LAUTURE, JOSEPH J
• Application Number:
  US12/343,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20100159845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 455/70, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/67.14, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/63.4, 455/561, 455/562.1, 455/507, 370/328, 370/314, 370/320, 370/342
• US Class Current: 455/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/088 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection

Abstract

A system for configuring antenna systems for selecting directional communication signals corresponding to other apparatuses. Apparatuses having activities that require directional wireless communication may search for other apparatuses that can fulfill these requirements. This search may include, for example, the transmission of wireless messages requesting a set of communication beams usable for beam training (for example, one or more beam training sequences). Other apparatuses that are able to satisfy the requirements of the searching apparatus may respond to the request message by transmitting a message that comprises at least information usable for configuring beam training configuration in the apparatus.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying a communication requirement in an apparatus;

discovering wireless networks in communication range of the apparatus using at least one request message transmitted from the apparatus;

receiving a message at the apparatus, the message containing configuration information in response to the at least one request message, the configuration information indicating at least a reduced number of communication beam training sequences that will be transmitted following the received message;

receiving the communication beam training sequences at the apparatus; and

selecting at least one preferred communication beam from the communication beam training sequences received at the apparatus using a training process based on the configuration information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request message explicitly requests a beam training sequence.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the response message is dedicated to informing receiving apparatuses of information about one or more communication beam training sequences that will follow the response message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information instead indicates that a complete set of communication beam training sequences will be sent.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a signaling message identifying the at least the one preferred communication beam.

6. A method, comprising:

receiving a message at an apparatus, the message requesting communication;

estimating the direction from which the wireless signal that carried the request message arrived at the apparatus;

if the estimation is determined to be acceptable by the apparatus, transmitting a response message from the apparatus, the response message containing configuration information indicating at least a reduced number of communication beam training sequences that will be transmitted from the apparatus following the response message;

transmitting the reduced number of communication beam training sequences indicated in the configuration information from the apparatus;

receiving a signaling message at the apparatus, the signaling message identifying at least one preferred communication beam; and

responding to the signaling message by transmitting a directional message from the apparatus in accordance with the preferred communication beam.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the estimate is acceptable if the wireless signal that carried the request message satisfies a required quality level.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the configuration information instead indicates that a complete set of communication beam training sequences will be sent.

9. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable medium, comprising:

computer executable program code configured to identify a communication requirement in an apparatus;

computer executable program code configured to discover wireless networks in communication range of the apparatus using at least one request message transmitted from the apparatus;

computer executable program code configured to receive a message at the apparatus, the message containing configuration information in response to the at least one request message, the configuration information indicating at least a reduced number of communication beam training sequences that will be transmitted following the received message;

computer executable program code configured to receive the communication beam training sequences at the apparatus; and

computer executable program code configured to select at least one preferred communication beam from the communication beam training sequences received at the apparatus using a training process based on the configuration information.

10. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable medium, comprising:

computer executable program code configured to receive a message at an apparatus, the message requesting communication;

computer executable program code configured to estimate the direction from which the wireless signal that carried the request message arrived at the apparatus;

computer executable program code configured to, if the estimation is determined to be acceptable by the apparatus, transmit a response message from the apparatus, the response message containing configuration information indicating at least a reduced number of communication beam training sequences that will be transmitted from the apparatus following the response message;

computer executable program code configured to transmit the reduced number of communication beam training sequences indicated in the configuration information from the apparatus;

computer executable program code configured to receive a signaling message at the apparatus, the signaling message identifying at least one preferred communication beam; and

computer executable program code configured to respond to the signaling message by transmitting a directional message from the apparatus in accordance with the preferred communication beam.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor, the processor being configured to;

identify a communication requirement;

discover wireless networks in communication range using at least one request message;

receive a message containing configuration information in response to the at least one request message, the configuration information indicating at least a reduced number of communication beam training sequences that will be transmitted following the received message;

receive the communication beam training sequences; and

select at least one preferred communication beam from the received communication beam training sequences using a training process based on the configuration information.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the request message explicitly requests a beam training sequence.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the response message is dedicated to informing receiving apparatuses of information about one or more communication beam training sequences that will follow the response message.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the configuration information instead indicates that a complete set of communication beam training sequences will be sent.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising transmitting a signaling message identifying the at least the one preferred communication beam.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor, the processor being configured to;

receive a message requesting communication;

estimate the direction from which the wireless signal that carried the request message arrived;

if the estimation is acceptable, transmit a response message containing configuration information indicating at least a reduced number of communication beam training sequences that will be transmitted following the response message;

transmit the reduced number of communication beam training sequences indicated in the configuration information;

receive a signaling message identifying at least one preferred communication beam; and

respond to the receiving message by transmitting a directional message in accordance with the preferred communication beam.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the estimate is acceptable if the wireless signal that carried the request message satisfies a required quality level.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the configuration information instead indicates that a complete set of communication beam training sequences will be sent.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

means for identifying a communication requirement;

means for discovering wireless networks in communication range using at least one request message;

means for receiving a message containing configuration information in response to the at least one request message, the configuration information indicating at least a reduced number of communication beam training sequences that will be transmitted following the response message;

means for receiving the communication beam training sequences; and

means for selecting at least one preferred communication beam from the received communication beam training sequences using a training process based on the configuration information.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a message requesting communication;

means for estimating the direction from which the wireless signal that carried the request message arrived;

means for, if the estimation is acceptable, transmitting a response message containing configuration information indicating at least a reduced number of communication beam training sequences that will be transmitted following the response message;

means for transmitting the reduced number of communication beam training sequences indicated in the configuration information;

means for receiving a signaling message identifying at least one preferred communication beam; and

means for responding to the signaling message by transmitting a directional message in accordance with the preferred communication beam.