Switching apparatus and method for wireless communication system

• US 8,588,709 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Oh, Jong-Ee, Lee, Sok-Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): GONZALES, APRIL GUZMAN
• Application Number:
  US12/971,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20110150054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 455/132, 455/455, 455/101, 455/272, 455/78, 370/252, 370/280, 333/101
• US Class Current: 455/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0608 Antenna selection according to transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0805 with single receiver and antenna switching H04B7/0822 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A switching apparatus in a wireless communication system using multi-channels includes: a first antenna unit configured to transmit and receive data of a first multi-channel among the multi-channels; a second antenna unit configured to transmit and receive data of a second multi-channel among the multi-channels; a first transceiver configured to receive the data from the first antenna unit and transmit the data to the first transceiver; and a selection unit configured to transmit an output of the second antenna unit to the first transceiver.

Claims

1. A switching apparatus in a wireless communication system using multi-channels, comprising:

a first antenna unit configured to transmit and receive data of a first multi-channel among the multi-channels;

a second antenna unit configured to transmit and receive data of a second multi-channel among the multi-channels, wherein the second antenna unit comprises a plurality of antennas;

a first transceiver configured to receive data from the first antenna unit transmit data to the first antenna unit;

a second transceiver configured to receive data from the second antenna unit and transmit data to the second antenna unit; and

a selection unit comprising a plurality of selectors, wherein the plurality of selectors are respectively connected to the plurality of antennas in the second antenna unit, and

wherein the selection unit is configured to;

transmit, at a first time, data from one or more of the antennas in the second antenna unit to the first transceiver through respective one or more of the selectors; and

transmit, at a second time, data from one or more of the antennas in the second antenna unit to the second transceiver through respective one or more of the selectors.

2. The switching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver has a 40-MHz bandwidth and includes sixteen transmit antennas.

3. The switching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second transceiver has a 40-MHz bandwidth and includes eight transmit antennas.

4. The switching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver comprises a first transceiving unit configured to support 16Tx MIMO by using the selectors connected to the antennas of the second antenna unit.

5. The switching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second transceiver comprises a second transceiving unit configured to support 8Tx MIMO by using the selectors connected to the antennas of the second antenna unit.

6. A switching method performed by a switching apparatus in a wireless communication system using multi-channels,

wherein the switching apparatus comprises a first antenna unit, a second antenna unit, a first transceiver, a second transceiver, and a selection unit,

wherein the second antenna unit comprises a plurality of antennas, wherein the selection unit comprises a plurality of selectors, and wherein the plurality of selectors are respectively connected to the plurality of antennas in the second antenna unit,

the method comprising:

transmitting and receiving, by the first antenna unit, data of a first multi-channel among the multi-channels;

transmitting and receiving, by the second antenna unit, data of a second multi-channel among the multi-channels;

receiving, by the first transceiver, data transmitted from the first antenna unit, and transmitting data to the first antenna unit;

receiving, by the second transceiver, data transmitted from the second antenna unit, and transmitting data to the second antenna unit;

transmitting, at a first time, data from one or more of the antennas in the second antenna unit to the first transceiver through respective one or more of the selectors; and

transmitting, at a second time, data from one or more of the antennas in the second antenna unit to the second transceiver through respective one or more of the selectors.

7. The switching method of claim 6, wherein the first transceiver has a 40-MHz bandwidth and includes sixteen transmit antennas.

8. The switching method of claim 6, wherein the second transceiver has a 40-MHz bandwidth and includes eight transmit antennas.

9. The switching method of claim 6, wherein the first transceiver supports 16Tx MIMO by using the selectors connected to the antennas of the second antenna unit.

10. The switching method of claim 6, wherein the second transceiver supports 8Tx MIMO by using the selectors connected to the antennas of the second antenna unit.