Method and apparatus for increasing spectrum use efficiency in a mesh network

• US 8,705,364 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Walton, Jay Rodney, Nanda, Sanjiv
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US13/297,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20120057455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/230, 370/235, 370/252, 370/328, 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Mesh Network Access Points (APs) points, including gateways and routers, are deployed over a geographic area. The APs monitor the communication channel for other carriers and transmit accordingly. The APs selectively co-transmit when other carriers are sensed, if the efficiency of the mesh network will improve. APs select a transmission rate based on observed carrier-to-interference ratios. APs use directional antennas to increase carrier-to-interference ratios and spectral efficiency. AP transmit schedules are adaptable and adjusted according to observed carrier-to-interference measurements.

Claims

1. A method of managing a communications resource in a mesh network, comprising:

monitoring, by a mesh node in the mesh network, a communication channel for one or more carriers;

measuring, by the mesh node, signal strength for the one or more carriers;

determining, by the mesh node, an expected carrier-to-interference ratio for a transmission on the communication channel based on the measured signal strength; and

transmitting, by the mesh node, data in response to the signal strength being less than a transmit threshold and at a data rate selected based on the expected carrier-to-interference ratio.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the transmit threshold based on an expected spectral efficiency of the mesh network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the expected carrier-to-interference ratio for the communication channel is further based on one or more carrier sense measurements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data rate is selected to compensate for increased co-channel interference caused by transmitting the data.

5. A mesh node apparatus for managing a communications resource in a mesh network, comprising:

a monitoring module configured to monitor a communication channel for one or more carriers;

a measuring module configured to measure signal strength for the one or more carriers;

a determining module configured to determine an expected carrier-to-interference ratio for a transmission on the communication channel based on the measured signal strength; and

a transmitter configured to transmit data in response to the signal strength being less than a transmit threshold and at a data rate selected based on the expected carrier-to-interference ratio.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an adjusting module configured to adjust the transmit threshold based on an expected spectral efficiency of the mesh network.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein determining the expected carrier-to-interference ratio for the communication channel is further based on one or more carrier sense measurements.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the data rate is selected to compensate for increased co-channel interference caused by transmitting the data.

9. A mesh node apparatus for managing a communications resource in a mesh network, comprising:

means for monitoring a communication channel for one or more carriers;

means for measuring signal strength for the one or more carriers;

means for determining an expected carrier-to-interference ratio for a transmission on the communication channel based on the measured signal strength; and

means for transmitting data in response to the signal strength being less than a transmit threshold and at a data rate selected based on the expected carrier-to-interference ratio.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for adjusting the transmit threshold based on an expected spectral efficiency of the mesh network.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein determining the expected carrier-to-interference ratio for the communication channel is further based on one or more carrier sense measurements.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data rate is selected to compensate for increased co-channel interference caused by transmitting the data.

13. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions, stored thereon, that upon execution cause a mesh network machine to perform operations for managing a communications resource in a mesh network, the instructions comprising instructions that upon execution cause the machine to:

monitor a communication channel for one or more carriers;

measure signal strength for the one or more carriers;

determine an expected carrier-to-interference ratio for a transmission on the communication channel based on the measured signal strength; and

transmit data in response to the signal strength being less than a transmit threshold and at a data rate selected based on the expected carrier-to-interference ratio.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions, stored thereon, that upon execution cause the machine to adjust the transmit threshold based on an expected spectral efficiency of the mesh network.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein determining the expected carrier-to-interference ratio for the communication channel is further based on one or more carrier sense measurements.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the data rate is selected to compensate for increased co-channel interference caused by transmitting the data.