Intelligent backhaul system

• US 8,300,590 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: COMS IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: CBF Networks, Inc. (COMSovereign Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Negus, Kevin J., Duffy, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Preval, Lionel
• Application Number:
  US13/415,778
• Time in Patent Office: 236 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/235, 370/347, 370/503, 455/11.1
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0469 taking special antenna structures, e.g. cross polarized antennas into account
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0691 using subgroups of transmit antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0874 using subgroups of receive antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1469 using time-sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

A intelligent backhaul system is disclosed to manage and control multiple intelligent backhaul radios within a geographic zone. The intelligent backhaul system includes multiple intelligent backhaul radios (IBRs) that are able to function in both obstructed and unobstructed line of sight propagation conditions, one or more intelligent backhaul controllers (IBCs) connecting the IBRs with other network elements, and an intelligent backhaul management system (IBMS). The IBMS may include a private and/or public server and/or agents in one or more IBRs or IBCs.

Claims

1. An intelligent backhaul system comprising:

a plurality of intelligent backhaul radios, wherein a first intelligent backhaul radio of said plurality of intelligent backhaul radios comprises;

a plurality of receive RF chains;

one or more transmit RF chains;

an antenna array comprising a plurality of directive gain antenna elements, wherein each directive gain antenna element is couplable to at least one receive RF chain or transmit RF chain;

a radio resource controller, wherein the radio resource controller sets or causes to be set a certain RF carrier frequency or channel bandwidth for at least one receive RF chain or transmit RF chain;

an intelligent backhaul management system agent coupled to the radio resource controller, wherein said intelligent backhaul management system agent sets or causes to be set certain operational parameters, wherein at least one of said certain operational parameters relates to said certain RF carrier frequency or channel bandwidth for at least one receive RF chain or transmit RF chain, and wherein said intelligent backhaul management system agent is in communication with a server configured to manage or control the first intelligent backhaul radio, and wherein said communication provides for a determination of the certain operational parameters based upon service level agreement requirements stored at the server.

2. The intelligent backhaul system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first intelligent backhaul controller, wherein the first intelligent backhaul controller provides a synchronization reference for the first intelligent backhaul radio, wherein said certain operational parameters relate to a synchronization methodology associated with said synchronization reference, said first intelligent backhaul controller comprising;

a plurality of network interfaces;

a host controller; and

a first managed switch coupled to the plurality of network interfaces; and

,

wherein said first intelligent backhaul radio further comprises;

a media access controller to exchange data to and from a data network via coupling to at least the first managed switch and to and from at least a second intelligent backhaul radio of said plurality of intelligent backhaul radios.

3. The intelligent backhaul system of claim 2, further comprising a second intelligent backhaul controller which provides a synchronization reference for the second intelligent backhaul radio, and wherein the second intelligent backhaul controller comprises a second managed switch.

4. The intelligent backhaul system of claim 3, wherein the second intelligent backhaul controller further functions as an IEEE1588v2 boundary clock.

5. The intelligent backhaul system of claim 3, wherein the second intelligent backhaul controller utilizes said exchange of data to and from said first intelligent backhaul radio to provide said synchronization reference.

6. The intelligent backhaul system of claim 5, wherein said second intelligent backhaul controller operates as an IEEE 1588v2 boundary clock that has the ability to determine latency between the second intelligent backhaul controller and another IEEE 1588v2 boundary clock or transparent clock device within the network based on delays determined between such devices.

7. The intelligent backhaul system of claim 6, wherein said first intelligent backhaul controller comprises said another IEEE 1588v2 boundary clock or transparent clock device within the network.

8. The intelligent backhaul system of claim 4, wherein the second intelligent backhaul controller comprises at least one network port, and further wherein said second intelligent backhaul controller further functions as an IEEE1588v2 boundary clock relative to said at least one network port.

9. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 1, wherein the intelligent backhaul management system agent in the first intelligent backhaul radio exchanges information with other intelligent backhaul management system agents within other radios of the plurality of intelligent backhaul radios or with the server.

10. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 1, wherein the intelligent backhaul management system agent reports operational parameters to the server.

11. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of operational parameters comprise channel frequency, channel bandwidth, antenna selection, radiation orientation and maximum transmit power.

24. The intelligent backhaul system of claim 1, wherein the first intelligent backhaul radio determines at least one of the certain operational parameters based upon said communication with said server.

25. The intelligent backhaul system of claim 1, wherein the first intelligent backhaul radio receives the certain operational parameters utilizing said communication with the server, wherein the server determines at least one of the certain operational parameters.

26. The intelligent backhaul system of claim 1, wherein at least one intelligent backhaul radio comprises an intelligent backhaul controller.

27. The intelligent backhaul system of claim 2, wherein the first intelligent backhaul radio comprises the first intelligent backhaul controller.

12. A server comprising:

memory; and

a processor configured to manage or control a plurality of intelligent backhaul radios, wherein the processor stores data received from the plurality of intelligent backhaul radios in the memory, stores operational parameters used to configure, manage and control the plurality of intelligent backhaul radios in the memory, and generates operational parameters for at least one of the plurality of intelligent backhaul radios, wherein said operational parameters are based upon or derived from service level agreement requirements, and wherein said operational parameters include one or more of a channel frequency parameter, a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) index parameter, a transmit power control (TPC) value, a signal to noise ratio (SNR) or signal to noise and interference ratio (SINR), a superframe timing parameter, an observed interferer parameter, a location parameter, an antenna configuration parameter, and an antenna orientation parameter.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to be a topology coordinator.

14. The server of claim 13, wherein said topology coordinator is further involved in the configuration of synchronization methodologies.

15. The server of claim 14, wherein said synchronization methodology operates according to the IEEE1588v2 standard.

16. The server of claim 15, wherein said server provides for the configuration of said operational parameters associated with a first and a second intelligent backhaul radio such that a boundary clock functionality is provided at said second backhaul radio based upon estimated timing delays from said first intelligent backhaul radio.

17. The server of claim 12, wherein the processor analyzes information related to one or more of traffic flows, performance metrics, interference and RF spectrum coordination parameters, redundancy and fail-over and load balancing.

18. The server of claim 17, wherein the processor further modifies polices used to configure, manage and control the plurality of intelligent backhaul radios.

19. The server of claim 12, wherein the processor further generates a configuration file for at least one of the plurality of intelligent backhaul radios.

20. The server of claim 12, wherein the processor further determines network traffic shaping and classifying policies for at least one of the plurality of intelligent backhaul radios.

21. The server of claim 12, wherein the processor further enforces provisions of service level agreements.

22. The server of claim 12, wherein the server is at least one of a private server and a global server.

23. The server of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to be a superframe timing coordinator.