Method and system of using smart antennas for backhauling

• US 8,787,976 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ozluturk, Faith M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US13/750,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20130137444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 455/63.4, 455/67.11, 455445-449, 455/562.1, 342/368, 342371-374, 370/328, 370/334, 370/351
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/026 Co-operative diversity, e.g. using fixed or mobile stations as relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0695 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/42 Centralised routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/06 based on characteristics of available antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/322 Power control of broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/14 between access point controllers and backbone network device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for utilizing smart antenna in transmission of messages between nodes are disclosed. A wireless communication system includes a plurality of nodes, and each node is capable of being connected to each other node. At least a portion of the nodes are provided with a smart antenna configured to generate a plurality of directional beams. Each node maintains a list of other nodes and beam configuration information to be used in transmission of messages to other nodes. When a source node is required to transmit to a target node, the source node retrieves the beam configuration information and transmits with a directional beam directed to the target node.

Claims

1. A wireless communication node comprising:

an antenna array;

a controller, operatively coupled to the antenna array, configured to establish wireless cellular connections with a plurality of nodes;

wherein a first of the plurality of nodes is wired connected to a core network and at least a second of the plurality of nodes is not wired connected to the core network;

wherein the controller is further configured to exchange backhaul data over the wireless cellular connection with the first node and not the second node;

wherein the controller is further configured to receive wireless beamformed backhaul data from the first node and transmit wireless beamformed data to the second node; and

wherein the controller is further configured to change a beam to the second node in response to measured channel conditions.

2. The wireless communication node of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication node is in a fixed location.

3. The wireless communication node of claim 1 further comprising a memory;

wherein the controller is further configured to store beamforming data and channel quality information for at least the second node.

4. The wireless communication node of claim 3 wherein the controller is further configured to transmit wireless beamformed data to a third node;

wherein the beamformed data is not backhaul data.

5. The wireless communication node of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to transmit beamformed backhaul data to the first node.

6. A method comprising:

establishing, by a wireless communication node, wireless cellular connections with a plurality of nodes;

wherein a first of the plurality of nodes is wired connected to a core network and at least a second of the plurality of nodes is not wired connected to the core network;

exchanging, by the wireless communication node, backhaul data over the wireless cellular connection with the first node and not the second node;

wherein backhaul data received from the first node and data transmitted to the second node are beamformed; and

wherein a beam formed to the second node is changed in response to measured channel conditions.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the wireless communication node is in a fixed location.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising storing, by the wireless communication node, beamforming data and channel quality information for at least the second node in a memory.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the wireless communication node transmits wireless beamformed data to a third node;

wherein the beamformed data is not backhaul data.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the wireless communication node transmits beamformed backhaul data to the first node.

11. A fixed location wireless communication node comprising:

an antenna array;

a wireline connection operatively coupled to at least a core network;

a controller, operatively coupled to the antenna array and the wireline connection, configured to exchange backhaul data over the wireline connection;

wherein the controller is further configured to establish wireless cellular connections with a plurality of nodes;

wherein the controller is further configured to exchange backhaul data with a first of the plurality of nodes over its wireless cellular connection;

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit wireless beamformed backhaul data to the first node using the antenna array;

wherein the controller is further configure to exchange data not including backhaul data with a second of the plurality of nodes over its wireless cellular connection;

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit wireless beamformed data to the second node using the antenna array; and

wherein the controller is further configured to adjust beams to the first and second nodes in response to measured channel conditions.

12. The fixed location wireless communication node of claim 11 further comprising a memory;

wherein the controller is further configured to store beamforming data and channel quality information for at least the first and second nodes.

13. The fixed location wireless communication node of claim 11 wherein the controller is further configured to transmit wireless beamformed data to a third node;

wherein the beamformed data is not backhaul data.

14. The fixed location wireless communication node of claim 11 wherein the controller is further configured to receive wireless beamformed backhaul data from the first node.

15. The fixed location wireless communication node of claim 11 wherein the controller is further configured to transmit non-backhaul data to the first node;

wherein the non-backhaul data is for a third node connected to the first node and not the fixed location wireless communication node.

16. A method comprising:

exchanging, by a fixed location wireless communication node, backhaul data over a wireline connection;

wherein the wireline connection is coupled to at least a core network;

establishing, by the fixed location wireless communication node, wireless cellular connections with a plurality of nodes;

exchanging, by the fixed location wireless communication node, backhaul data with a first of the plurality of nodes over its wireless cellular connection;

wherein the backhaul data transmitted to the first node is beamformed;

exchanging, by the fixed location wireless communication node, data not including backhaul data with a second of the plurality of nodes over its wireless cellular connection;

wherein data transmitted to the second node is beamformed; and

adjusting, by the fixed location wireless communication node, beams to the first and second nodes in response to measured channel conditions.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the fixed location wireless communication node stores beamforming data and channel quality information for at least the first and second nodes.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising transmitting, by the fixed location wireless communication node, wireless beamformed data to a third node;

wherein the beamformed data is not backhaul data.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising receiving, by the fixed location wireless communication node, wireless beamformed backhaul data from the first node.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the fixed location wireless communication node transmits non-backhaul data to the first node;

wherein the non-backhaul data is for a third node connected to the first node and not connected to the fixed location wireless communication node.