Method for radio communication in a wireless local area network and transceiving device

• US 8,423,084 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airgain Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Airgain Incorporated
• Inventors: Abramov, Oleg Yurievich, Kirdin, Aleksandr Nikolaevich, Sukharnikov, Yury Pavlovich
• Primary Examiner(s): Batista, Marcos
• Application Number:
  US10/494,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20110096757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,820 Days
• Field of Search: 455/562.1, 370330-350
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/242 Circumferential scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0602 using antenna switching H04B7/0686 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Method for radio communication in a wireless local area network and transceiving device refers to wireless local area networks (WLAN) consisting of a multitude of transceiving devices of users (14, 15, 16 . . . N). Simultaneous scanning by their antenna beams in different directions by the transceiving devices (with the transceiving devices being in reception mode) and transmission of an omnidirectional signal in the form of calibration signal and data package by one of the transceiving devices of the network (with the transceiving device being in transmission mode), reception of the signal by the transceiving devices operating in reception mode and subsequent orientation of their antenna beams in the direction of signal source. The recognition and orientation is performed during the period of reception of the calibration signal. The Method increases the range of a WLAN, reduces the transmission time and improves quality and reliability of communication. Each transceiving device (1) includes at least one directional antenna (3) featuring a controllable directional pattern, switched-over by unit (4), reception/transmission mode switch (5), receiver (8), transmitter (10) and controller (11). Additionally a unit for signal detection (13) is incorporated in the device.

Claims

1. A method for radio communication in a wireless local area network including a plurality of transceiving devices, the method comprising:

scanning simultaneously by each of a plurality of transceiving devices of a wireless local area network, the scanning performed by a direction-agile antenna of each of the plurality of transceiving devices operating in a scanning directional mode, each of the plurality of transceiving devices having means for operating the direction-agile antenna in the scanning direction mode, an omni-directional mode and a stationary directional mode;

transmitting an omni-directional signal in the form of a calibration signal by a transmitting device of the plurality of transceiving devices of the wireless local area network, the transmitting device operating in an omni-directional mode;

receiving the calibration signal as a result of the scanning by the plurality of transceiving devices in the scanning directional mode;

orienting the direction-agile antenna of each of the plurality of transceiving devices operating in the scanning directional mode in the direction of the transmitting device operating in omni-directional mode wherein a recognition and the orientation of the direction-agile antenna of each of the plurality of transceiving devices operating in the scanning directional mode is performed in the course of the reception of the calibration signal and each of the plurality of transceiving devices operate in a stationary directional mode;

transmitting a data package from the transmitting device in the omni-directional mode; and

receiving the data package from the direction at which the direction-agile antenna of each of the plurality of transceiving devices operating in the stationary directional mode has been oriented.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the scanning is performed by azimuth bearing or/and by the elevation angle of the antenna of each of the plurality of transceiving devices in a reception mode.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the scanning is performed step-by step by the antenna of each of the plurality of transceiving devices in a reception mode.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein step-by-step scanning is performed in the part of radio space that was determined in advance and that offers better conditions for signal reception.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the scanning is performed by switching an antenna directional pattern of each of the plurality of transceiving devices in a reception mode.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the scanning and orientation of the antenna beam of each of the plurality of transceiving devices in a reception mode in the direction of the transceiving device in the transmission mode is performed when transmitting each data package.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of a plurality of energy-related parameters of a signal received from the transceiving device in the transmission mode is measured in the course of scanning and the antenna beams of transceivers are oriented in the direction corresponding to the best or specified quality of at least one of the measured energy-related parameters of the signal being received.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the level of the signal being received or signal-to-noise ratio is measured as one of the plurality of energy-related parameters.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of a plurality of energy-related parameters of the signal received from the transceiving device in the transmission mode is measured in the course of data package reception, and when the value of the at least one energy-parameter of the plurality of energy-related parameters turns out to be below a specified threshold value the scanning is resumed.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the level of said signal being received or signal-to-noise ratio is chosen as the at least one energy-related parameter of the plurality of energy-related parameters.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein following the completion of transmission the transceiver is switched to reception mode with scanning performed by the antenna beam in different directions.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein prior to the beginning of the data package transmission the radio space is scanned to avoid collision of signals.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the preamble of a data package to be transmitted is used as the calibration signal.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the recognition of the signal is performed in the course of said signal reception.

15. A transceiving device for use in a wireless local area network composed of multiple transceiving devices for transmission of data package from one transceiving device to the multiple transceiving devices, the transceiving device comprising:

at least one direction-agile antenna;

a unit for switching the directional pattern of said antenna;

a reception/transmission mode switch;

a receiver;

a transmitter;

a unit for measuring signal quality;

a unit for signal detection and a controller;

wherein the at least one direction-agile antenna is connected to the unit for switching a directional pattern with a first port serving as a first input port when operating in a scanning directional mode, and when operating in a omni-directional mode the first port serves as a first output port of the reception/transmission mode switch, a second output port of which is connected to the input port of the receiver, and a second input port of which is connected to the output port of the transmitter, the output port of the receiver is connected simultaneously to the first input port of the controller, to the input port of signal quality measurement unit and to the input port of the signal detection unit, the output port of the signal quality measurement unit is connected to the second input port of the controller, to the third input port of which the output port of signal detection unit is connected, the first output port of the controller is connected to the unit for switching the directional pattern, the second output port of the controller is connected to the input port of the transmitter, and the third output port of the controller is designed to connect the third output port to a device intended for the reception and/or transmission of information;

wherein the direction-agile antenna operates in a scanning direction mode, an omni-directional mode and a stationary directional.

16. The transceiving device of claim 15 wherein the transceiving device is equipped with at least one antenna having at least two radiators with directional patterns that together cover no less than 360 degrees by azimuth bearing or by an elevation angle.

17. The transceiving device of claim 15 wherein the transceiving device is equipped with at least one antenna having at least two radiators with directional patterns that together cover the sphere by azimuth bearing and by the angle of elevation.

18. The transceiving device of claim 15 wherein the transceiving device is equipped with at least one antenna having three radiators with directional patterns that together cover no less than the hemisphere by azimuth bearing and by the angle of elevation.

19. The transceiving device of claim 15 wherein the transceiving device is equipped with at least two antennas, with each antenna having only one radiator, and together directional patterns of these radiators cover no less than 360 degrees by azimuth bearing or by the elevation angle.

20. The transceiving device of claim 15 wherein the transceiving device is equipped with at least three antennas, with each antenna having only one radiator, and together directional patterns of these radiators cover the hemisphere by azimuth bearing and the angle of elevation.

21. The transceiving device of claim 15 wherein the transceiving device is equipped with at least two antennas, with each antenna having only one radiator, and at least four antennas, each of which having at least two radiators, and, together directional patterns of all these radiators cover the sphere by azimuth bearing and by the angle of elevation.