System and method for switching an antenna in a relay station

• US 8,224,236 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Socionext Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Sukiasyan, Aram, Bedard, Claude Edwin, Gilbertson, Chad Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Tan
• Application Number:
  US12/505,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20110014864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/13.4, 455/101, 455/562.1, 455/575.7, 455/427, 455/25, 455/21, 455/15, 455/561, 455/454, 455/450, 455/422.1, 455/502, 455/412.1, 455/432.1, 455/426.2, 455/403, 455/13.3, 455/63.4, 370/315, 370/312, 370/352, 370/469, 370/332
• US Class Current: 455/7
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1555 Selecting relay station antenna mode, e.g. selecting omnidirectional -, directional beams, selecting polarizations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations

Abstract

A relay station for use in a relay network may include an antenna, a radio, and an electronic circuit. The antenna may include a plurality of prongs. The radio may be configured to transmit and receive radio data using the antenna. The electronic circuit may be configured to select between a first mode of operation for the antenna and a second mode of operation for the antenna. The first mode of operation of the antenna may include an omni-directional mode of operation. The second mode of operation may include a directional mode of operation.

Claims

1. A relay station for use in a relay network, the relay station comprising:

an antenna with a plurality of prongs;

a radio configured to transmit and receive radio signals using the antenna;

an electronic circuit configured to select between a first mode of operation for the antenna and a second mode of operation for the antenna, wherein the first mode of operation of the antenna includes an omni-directional mode of operation and the second mode of operation includes a directional mode of operation; and

a processor operable to;

determine a value for a wireless quality parameter of a link between a base station and the relay station using each of the plurality of prongs;

compare the values for each link associated with each of the plurality of prongs to determine which provides the best value; and

control the electronic circuit to use the prong providing the best value during the second mode of operation.

2. A relay station according to claim 1, wherein the wireless quality parameter is effective spectrum efficiency.

3. A relay station according to claim 1, wherein the wireless quality parameter is a received signal strength indicator.

4. A relay station according to claim 1, wherein the wireless quality parameter is a Carrier to Interference-plus-Noise Ratio.

5. A relay station according to claim 1, wherein the antenna includes four prongs.

6. A relay station according to claim 1, wherein the first mode of operation of the antenna is used to transmit and receive radio signals with a mobile station.

7. A multi-hop relay network comprising:

a fixed station;

an endpoint configured for wireless communication with the fixed station; and

a relay station configured to transmit wireless communication between the fixed station and the endpoint, the relay station comprising;

an antenna with a plurality of prongs;

a radio configured to transmit and receive radio signals using the antenna;

an electronic circuit configured to select between a first mode of operation for the antenna and a second mode of operation for the antenna; and

a processor operable to;

determine a value for a wireless quality parameter of a link between the fixed station and the relay station using each of the plurality of prongs;

compare the values for each link associated with each of the plurality of prongs to determine which provides the best value; and

control the electronic circuit to use the prong providing the best value during the second mode of operation;

wherein the first mode of operation of the antenna includes an omni-directional mode of operation and the second mode of operation includes a directional mode of operation.

8. A relay station according to claim 7, wherein the wireless quality parameter is effective spectrum efficiency.

9. A relay station according to claim 7, wherein the wireless quality parameter is a received signal strength indicator.

10. A relay station according to claim 7, wherein the wireless quality parameter is a Carrier to Interference-plus-Noise Ratio.

11. A relay station according to claim 7, wherein the antenna includes four prongs.

12. A relay station according to claim 7, wherein the first mode of operation of the antenna is used to transmit and receive radio signals with the mobile station.

13. A method for operation of a relay station in a multi-hop relay network, the method comprising:

selecting a first mode of operation for an antenna having a plurality of prongs, the first mode of operation including an omni-directional mode of operation;

communicating radio signals between the relay station and an endpoint using the first mode of operation;

selecting a second mode of operation for the antenna, the second mode of operation including a directional mode of operation; and

communicating radio signals between the relay station and a fixed station using the second mode of operation, wherein communicating the radio signals comprises;

determining a value for a wireless quality parameter of a link between the fixed station and the relay station using each of the plurality of prongs;

compare the values for each link associated with each of the plurality of prongs to determine which provides the best value; and

control the electronic circuit to use the prong providing the best value during the second mode of operation.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the wireless quality parameter is effective spectrum efficiency.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the wireless quality parameter is a received signal strength indicator.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the wireless quality parameter is a Carrier to Interference-plus-Noise Ratio.