Hybrid band intelligent backhaul radio

• US 8,942,216 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: COMS IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: CBF Networks, Inc. (COMSovereign Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Negus, Kevin J., Proctor, James A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Chuong T
• Application Number:
  US13/748,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20130272217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 370/252, 370/254, 370/310, 709/224, 709/228, 455/73, 455/461, 455/462.1
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 1/00 Frequency-division multiplex systems H04J14/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/045 between access point and backbone network device

Abstract

A hybrid band intelligent backhaul radio (HB-IBR) is disclosed that is a combination of two radios operating in different bands. Embodiments include a dual radio configuration wherein a first radio operates in a non-line of sight (NLOS) radio link configuration and a second ancillary radio operates in a near line of sight or line of sight configuration (n)LOS. For example, the HB-IBR may have an Intelligent Backhaul Radio (IBR) operating in the non-line of sight mode of operation within the 5.8 GHz unlicensed band, and have an ancillary radio link operating in the FCC part 101 E band of operation at 60 GHz. A common medium access control (MAC) block may be utilized between the dual radios.

Claims

1. An intelligent backhaul radio comprising:

a first transmitter, wherein the first transmitter is configured to operate on a first frequency channel utilizing first radio parameters as a first communications link;

a first receiver, wherein the first receiver is configured to operate on a second frequency channel utilizing second radio parameters as a second communications link; and

a controller in communication with the first transmitter and the first receiver, the controller to control functions associated with the first and second radio parameters and the first and second communication links, wherein one or more performance metrics of the first communications link are enhanced utilizing said second communications link;

wherein said first transmitter comprises one or more fixed directional antennas for transmission, and further comprises;

one or more modulator cores, wherein each modulator core modulates a respective transmit data interface stream to produce one or more transmit symbol streams;

a plurality of transmit RF chains to convert from a plurality of transmit chain input signals to a plurality of respective transmit RF signals;

and wherein said first receiver comprises an adaptive antenna array for reception and further comprises;

one or more demodulator cores, wherein each demodulator core demodulates one or more receive symbol streams to produce a respective receive data interface stream,

a plurality of receive radio frequency (RF) chains to convert from a plurality of receive RF signals to a plurality of respective receive chain output signals; and

a frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer coupled to the one or more demodulator cores and to the plurality of receive RF chains, the frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer to produce the one or more receive symbol streams provided to the one or more demodulator cores from the plurality of receive chain output signals;

wherein said adaptive antenna array comprises;

a plurality of directive gain antenna elements; and

a plurality of RF connections to couple at least certain of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements to the plurality of receive RF chains.

2. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 1, wherein a number of directive gain antenna elements that can be selectively coupled to receive RF chains exceeds a number of receive RF chains that can accept receive RF signals from the plurality of RF connections.

3. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 1, wherein said second frequency channel is different than said first frequency channel.

4. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 1, wherein said second frequency channel occupies a different frequency band than a frequency band occupied by said first frequency channel.

5. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 1, wherein said second frequency channel and first frequency channel occupy one or more of a lower and an upper band.

6. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 1 wherein the enhancement of the one or more performance metrics of the first communications link utilizing said second communications link results in an adaptation of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS).

7. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 6 wherein the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) is signaled utilizing the second communications link.

8. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 1 further comprising a transmit path channel multiplexer coupled to the one or more modulator cores and to the plurality of transmit RF chains, the transmit path channel multiplexer to produce the plurality of transmit chain input signals provided to the plurality of transmit RF chains from the one or more transmit symbol streams.

9. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 1 wherein said first radio parameters comprise transmitter beam forming weights.

10. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 9 wherein the enhancement of the one or more performance metrics of the first communications link utilizing said second communications link comprises adjustment of said first radio parameters.

11. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 1 wherein the enhancement of the one or more performance metrics of the first communications link utilizing said second communications link comprises adjustment of said first radio parameters.

12. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 11 wherein said first radio parameters comprises one or more of a transmit power control setting, a modulation and coding control value, and transmitter polarization setting, a transmitter equalization setting, and a transmit beam former setting.

13. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 1 wherein the enhancement of the one or more performance metrics of the first communications link utilizing said second communications link comprises communication of radio link controller (RLC) control frames from a second intelligent backhaul radio in communication with the intelligent backhaul radio to an RLC in the intelligent backhaul radio resulting in a change to the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and transmit power control values for the first transmitter on a relative basis.

14. The intelligent backhaul radio of claim 1 wherein the enhancement of the one or more performance metrics of the first communications link utilizing said second communications link comprises communication of RLC control frames from a second intelligent backhaul radio in communication with the intelligent backhaul radio to an RLC in the intelligent backhaul radio resulting in a change to the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and transmit power control values for the first transmitter on an absolute basis.

15. A system comprising:

a first intelligent backhaul radio comprising;

a first transmitter, wherein the first transmitter is configured to operate on a first frequency channel utilizing first radio parameters as a first communications link;

a first receiver, wherein the first receiver is configured to operate on a second frequency channel utilizing second radio parameters as a second communications link; and

a first controller in communication with the first transmitter and the first receiver, the first controller to control functions associated with the first and second radio parameters and the first and second communication links, wherein one or more performance metrics of the first communications link are enhanced utilizing said second communications link;

and wherein said first transmitter comprises one or more first fixed directional antennas for transmission, and further comprises;

one or more first modulator cores, wherein each first modulator core modulates a respective first transmit data interface stream to produce one or more first transmit symbol streams;

a plurality of first transmit radio frequency (RF) chains to convert from a plurality of first transmit chain input signals to a plurality of respective first transmit RF signals;

and wherein said first receiver comprises a first adaptive antenna array for reception and further comprises;

one or more first demodulator cores, wherein each first demodulator core demodulates one or more second receive symbol streams to produce a respective second receive data interface stream,

a plurality of first receive radio frequency (RF) chains to convert from a plurality of second receive RF signals to a plurality of respective second receive chain output signals;

a first frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer coupled to the one or more first demodulator cores and to the plurality of first receive RF chains, the first frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer to produce the one or more second receive symbol streams provided to the one or more first demodulator cores from the plurality of second receive chain output signals;

wherein said first adaptive antenna array comprises;

a plurality of first directive gain antenna elements;

a plurality of first RF connections to couple at least certain of the plurality of first directive gain antenna elements to the plurality of first receive RF chains, and

a second intelligent backhaul radio comprising;

a second transmitter, wherein the second transmitter is configured to operate on the second frequency channel utilizing third radio parameters as the second communications link;

a second receiver, wherein the second receiver is configured to operate on the first frequency channel utilizing fourth radio parameters as the first communications link; and

a second controller in communication with the second transmitter and the second receiver, the second controller to control functions associated with the third and fourth radio parameters and the first and second communication links, wherein one or more performance metrics of the second communications link are enhanced utilizing said first communications link;

wherein said second transmitter comprises one or more second fixed directional antennas for transmission, and further comprises;

one or more second modulator cores, wherein each second modulator core modulates a respective second transmit data interface stream to produce one or more second transmit symbol streams;

a plurality of second transmit RF chains to convert from a plurality of second transmit chain input signals to a plurality of respective second transmit RF signals;

and wherein said second receiver comprises a second adaptive antenna array for reception and further comprises;

one or more second demodulator cores, wherein each second demodulator core demodulates one or more first receive symbol streams to produce a respective first receive data interface stream,

a plurality of second receive radio frequency (RF) chains to convert from a plurality of first receive RF signals to a plurality of respective first receive chain output signals;

a second frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer coupled to the one or more second demodulator cores and to the plurality of second receive RF chains, the second frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer to produce the one or more first receive symbol streams provided to the one or more second demodulator cores from the plurality of first receive chain output signals;

wherein said second adaptive antenna array comprises;

a plurality of second directive gain antenna elements; and

a plurality of second RF connections to couple at least certain of the plurality of second directive gain antenna elements to the plurality of second receive RF chains.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the number of first or second directive gain antenna elements of the respective first or second intelligent backhaul radio that can be selectively coupled to first or second receive RF chains exceeds the number of respective first or second receive RF chains that can accept respective first or second receive RF signals from the respective plurality of first or second RF connections.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said second frequency channel is different than said first frequency channel.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said second frequency channel occupies a different frequency band than a frequency band occupied by said first frequency channel.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said second frequency channel and first frequency channel occupy one or more of a lower and an upper band.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the enhancement of the one or more performance metrics of the first communications link utilizing said second communications link results in an adaptation of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS).

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) is signaled utilizing the second communications link.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein said first intelligent backhaul radio further comprises a first transmit path channel multiplexer coupled to the one or more first modulator cores and to the plurality of first transmit RF chains, the first transmit path channel multiplexer to produce the plurality of first transmit chain input signals provided to the plurality of first transmit RF chains from the one or more first transmit symbol streams.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein said first radio parameters comprise transmit beam former weights.

24. The system of claim 15 wherein the enhancement of the one or more performance metrics of the first communications link utilizing said second communications link comprises adjustment of said first radio parameters.

25. The system of claim 15 wherein the enhancement of the one or more performance metrics of the first communications link utilizing said second communications link results in setting a transmitter power control level at the first transmitter.

26. The system of claim 15 wherein the enhancement of the one or more performance metrics of the first communications link utilizing said second communications link involves the communication of radio link controller (RLC) control frames from a second RLC within said second intelligent backhaul radio to a first RLC in said first intelligent backhaul radio resulting in a change to the modulation and coding scheme and the transmit power control values for the first transmitter on either a relative or absolute basis.

27. The system of claim 15 wherein the enhancement of the one or more performance metrics of the first communications link utilizing said second communications link comprises adjustment of said first radio parameters.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said first radio parameters comprises one or more of a transmit power control setting, a modulation and coding control value, and transmitter polarization setting, a transmitter equalization setting, and a transmitter beam former setting.