Polarization control for cell telecommunication system

• US 8,306,479 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: MetroPCS Wireless Incorporated (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Lorang, Malcolm M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jain, Ankur
• Application Number:
  US13/543,233
• Time in Patent Office: 123 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0673 using feedback from receiving side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/241 taking into account channel quality metrics, e.g. SIR, SNR, CIR, Eb/lo
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/42 in systems with time, space, frequency or polarisation diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A base station for use in a wireless communications system is disclosed, including transceiver circuitry for transmitting and receiving with at least one mobile device over at least one communications channel. Polarization control logic is included for controlling a polarization of signals transmitted over the at least one communications channel. The polarization control logic adjusts a polarization of the signal transmitted on the at least one communications channel responsive to at least one parameter received from the mobile device relating to a quality of signal received on the at least one communications channel.

Claims

1. A method for improving a connection parameter relating to a connection between a base station and at least one mobile station, comprising:

detecting receipt of a first phase change command at the base station from the at least one mobile station;

changing a phase of transmissions from the base station to the at least one mobile station in a first direction responsive to the first phase change command;

detecting receipt of a second phase change command at the base station from the at least one mobile station after changing the phase of the transmissions from the base station to the at least one mobile station;

changing the phase of transmissions from the base station to the at least one mobile station responsive to the second phase change command, wherein the second phase change command indicates a phase change in the first direction or in the second direction;

maintaining the phase of transmissions from the base station to the at least one mobile station responsive to the second phase change command comprising a finish command;

determining whether a value of the connection parameter increased or decreased responsive to transmissions from the base station having the phase changed in the first direction;

generating the second phase change command to change the phase of transmissions in the first direction and second direction responsive to a determination that the value of the connection parameter decreased and increased, respectively; and

repeating the determining and generating steps until a minimum value of the value of the connection parameter is determined.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of changing the phase of transmissions from the base station to the at least one mobile station responsive to the second phase change command further comprises the step of further changing the phase of transmissions from the base station to the at least one mobile station in the first direction responsive to the second phase change command.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of changing the phase of transmissions from the base station to the at least one mobile station responsive to the second phase change command further comprises the step of changing the phase of transmissions from the base station to the mobile station in a second direction responsive to the second phase change command.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of changing the phase of transmissions from the base station to the at least one mobile station in the first direction responsive to the first phase change command further comprises the steps of:

aggregating the first phase change command from the at least one mobile station; and

determining the first direction for the phase change responsive to the aggregation of the first phase change command.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of detecting further comprise detecting on a command channel between the base station and the at least one mobile station.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of changing further comprise the step of changing the phase of transmissions on a communications channel from the base station to the at least one mobile station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection parameter comprises a bit error rate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection parameter comprises a frequency error rate.

9. A method for improving a connection parameter relating to a connection between a base station and a mobile station, comprising:

measuring a value of the connection parameter at the mobile station;

generating a plurality of phase change commands to request the base station change a phase of transmissions from the base station to the mobile station in a determined direction until the value of the connection parameter reaches a minimum value;

transmitting a finish command to the base station responsive to the measured value of the connection parameter reaching the minimum value;

wherein the step of generating further comprises the steps of;

(a) generating a first phase change command to request the base station change the phase of transmissions from the base station to the mobile station in a first direction;

(b) determining whether the value of the connection parameter increased or decreased responsive to the transmissions from the base station having the phase changed in the first direction;

(c) generating a second phase change command to request the base station change the phase of the transmissions from the base station to the mobile station in the first direction responsive to a determination that the value of the connection parameter decreased;

(d) generating the second phase change command to request the base station change the phase of the transmissions from the base station to the mobile station in the second direction responsive to a determination that the value of the connection parameter increased; and

(e) repeating steps (b)-(d) until the minimum value of the value of the connection parameter is determined.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of generating further comprises generating the plurality of phase change commands on a command channel between the base station and the at least one mobile station.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of measuring further comprises the step of measuring the phase of transmissions on a communications channel from the base station to the at least one mobile station.