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

• US 8,750,211 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2011
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• 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:
  US13/281,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20120039210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/252, 370/253, 370/329, 370/330, 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/328
• 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 a communication channel for a request-to-send message;

determining a bearing to the request-to-send message;

identifying a sector containing the bearing, wherein the identified sector conforms to a mesh network sectoring scheme;

scheduling a time for signal transmission based on the identity of the sector containing the bearing and based on a time division multiple access scheme defined to synchronize transmissions among sectors in the mesh network sectoring scheme; and

transmitting a signal at the scheduled time to adjust a directional antenna toward the sector containing the bearing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal indicates a primary lobe width for the sector of between about 90 degrees and about 150 degrees.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal indicates a primary lobe width for the sector of between about 110 degrees and about 130 degrees.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the bearing to a sector table to identify the sector containing the bearing.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the signal corresponds to an angle in the sector table.

6. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions that upon execution cause a machine to:

monitor a communication channel for a request-to-send message;

determine a bearing to the request-to-send message;

identify a sector containing the bearing, wherein the identified sector conforms to a mesh network sectoring scheme;

schedule a time for signal transmission based on the identity of the sector containing the bearing and based on a time division multiple access scheme defined to synchronize transmissions among sectors in the mesh network sectoring scheme; and

transmit a signal at the scheduled time to adjust a directional antenna toward the sector containing the bearing.

7. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the signal indicates a primary lobe width for the sector of between about 90 degrees and about 150 degrees.

8. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the signal indicates a primary lobe width for the sector of between about 110 degrees and about 130 degrees.

9. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising instructions that upon execution cause a machine to:

compare the bearing to a sector table to identify the sector containing the bearing.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the signal corresponds to an angle in the sector table.

11. An apparatus for managing a communications resource in a mesh network, comprising:

a gateway or a router configured to monitor a communication channel for a request-to-send message, configured to determine a bearing to the request-to-send message, configured to identify a sector containing the bearing, wherein the identified sector conforms to a mesh network sectoring scheme, configured to schedule a time for signal transmission based on the identity of the sector containing the bearing and based on a time division multiple access scheme defined to synchronize transmissions among sectors in the mesh network sectoring scheme, and configured to transmit a signal at the scheduled time to adjust a directional antenna toward the sector containing the bearing.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the signal indicates a primary lobe width for the sector of between about 90 degrees and about 150 degrees.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the signal indicates a primary lobe width for the sector of between about 110 degrees and about 130 degrees.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the gateway or the router is further configured to compare the bearing to a sector table to identify the sector containing the bearing.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the signal corresponds to an angle in the sector table.

16. An apparatus for managing a communications resource in a mesh network, comprising:

means for monitoring a communication channel for a request-to-send message;

means for determining a bearing to the request-to-send message;

means for identifying a sector containing the bearing, wherein the identified sector conforms to a mesh network sectoring scheme;

means for scheduling a time for signal transmission based on the identity of the sector containing the bearing and based on a time division multiple access scheme defined to synchronize transmissions among sectors in the mesh network sectoring scheme; and

means for transmitting a signal at the scheduled time to adjust a directional antenna toward the sector containing the bearing.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the signal indicates a primary lobe width for the sector of between about 90 degrees and about 150 degrees.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the signal indicates a primary lobe width for the sector of between about 110 degrees and about 130 degrees.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

means for comparing the bearing to a sector table to identify the sector containing the bearing.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the signal corresponds to an angle in the sector table.