Method and system for high-throughput and low-power communication links in a distributed transceiver network

• US 9,037,094 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peltbeam Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Golba LLC
• Inventors: Moshfeghi, Mehran
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez, Angelica M
• Application Number:
  US13/473,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20130095770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 455/73, 455/63.4, 455/101, 455/24, 455/25, 375259-262, 375/265, 375/267, 370/310, 370/334, 370/534
• US Class Current: 455/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/401 for selecting or indicating operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/024 Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/043 using best eigenmode, e.g. beam forming or beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0689 using different transmission schemes, at least one of them being a diversity transmission scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0897 using beamforming per multi-path, e.g. to cope with different directions of arrival [DOA] at different multi-paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/12 Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0032 Distributed allocation, i.e. involving a plurality of allocating devices, each making partial allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0473 the resource being transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A device comprises a plurality of distributed transceivers, a plurality of distributed beamformers, a baseband processor, and a network management engine. The distributed transceivers perform beamforming in a radio frequency band. The distributed beamformers, however, performs beamforming in an intermediate frequency band. Each of the distributed transceivers is coupled to a corresponding one of the distributed beamformers. Each transceiver-beamformer pair is coupled to the baseband processor utilizing a same communication medium such as a cable. For transmission, a data stream generated at baseband is converted to intermediate frequencies. With a low-power transmission, the distributed beamformers transmit the data stream wirelessly in the intermediate frequencies to a receiving device. With a normal-power transmission, the distributed transceivers transmit the data stream to the receiving device in the radio frequency band. The transceivers and the beamformers are turned OFF whenever not being used. A high-throughput communication link may be established through resource sharing.

Claims

1. A method of processing signals, the method comprising:

in a first device that comprises (i) a plurality of distributed transceivers, each distributed transceiver comprising an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas, the plurality of distributed transceivers performing beamforming in a radio frequency band, (ii) a plurality of distributed beamformers, each distributed beamformer comprising an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas, the plurality of distributed beamformers performing beamforming in an intermediate frequency band without up-converting the signals to said radio frequency band (iii) a baseband processor, and (iv) a network management engine;

generating data streams at baseband by said baseband processor;

converting said data streams at baseband to a set of intermediate frequencies within said intermediate frequency band;

by the network management engine, identifying a set of capabilities of the first device and a second device;

by the network management engine, based on the identified set of capabilities, configuring a set of distributed beamformers in the plurality of distributed beamformers to perform beamforming in an intermediate frequency band in the set of intermediate frequencies;

by the network management engine, turning off each of the plurality of distributed transceivers; and

transmitting said data streams wirelessly at said set of intermediate frequencies to the second device through the antenna arrays of each of said set of distributed beamformers.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of distributed transceivers is coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of distributed beamformers, wherein each of said plurality of distributed transceivers and the corresponding coupled distributed beamformer is connected to said baseband processor within said first device utilizing a same communication medium.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising negotiating resource sharing with the second device utilizing a low-throughput link between the first device and the second device.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising configuring by said network management engine, said plurality of distributed transceivers and said plurality of distributed beamformers based on said resource sharing negotiation for said transmitting.

5. The method according to claim 4 further comprising utilizing available resources on the second device based on said configuring for said transmitting of said data streams through the antenna arrays of the set of distributed beamformers to the second device and/or to a third device.

6. The method according to claim 3 further comprising:

turning on a set of distributed transceivers in the plurality of distributed transceivers based on said resource sharing negotiation for said transmitting; and

converting by said set of distributed transceivers, said data streams at said one or more intermediate frequencies to said radio frequency band.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising transmitting said data streams at said radio frequency band to the second device through the antenna arrays of said set of distributed transceivers.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising turning off said plurality of distributed beamformers during said transmitting through the antenna arrays of said set of distributed transceivers.

9. The method according to claim 6 further comprising utilizing available resources on the second device, based on said resource sharing negotiation for said transmitting through the antenna arrays of said set of distributed transceivers to the second device and/or to a third device.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

by the network management engine, identifying a set of capabilities of the first device and the second device,

wherein configuring the set of distributed beamformers and turning off the plurality of distributed transceivers are based on the identified capabilities of the first and second devices.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the capabilities of each of the first and second devices comprise one or more of a battery life, a number of transceivers, a number of antennas per transceiver, a number of beamformers, a number of antennas per beamformer, device interface types, a maximum transmit power, processing protocols, service types, service classes, service requirements, storage capabilities, and a remaining power level.

12. The method according to claim 10 further comprising:

by the network management engine, determining that a low-power communication link can be established between the first and second devices based on the identified set of capabilities,

wherein configuring the set of distributed beamformers and turning off the plurality of distributed transceivers are further based on the determination that a low-power link can be established between the first and second devices.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of distributed beamformers comprises fewer distributed beamformers than the plurality of the distributed beamformers.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of distributed beamformers comprises a same number of distributed beamformers as the plurality of the distributed beamformers.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of distributed transceivers comprises fewer distributed transceivers than the plurality of the distributed transceivers.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of distributed transceivers comprises a same number of distributed transceivers as the plurality of the distributed transceivers.

17. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

by the network management engine, identifying a set of communication environment information,

wherein configuring the set of distributed beamformers and turning off the plurality of distributed transceivers are based on the identified set of communication environment information.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the identified set of communication environment information comprises one or more of propagation environment conditions, a link quality, device capabilities, antennas polarization, radiation patterns, antennas spacing, antenna arrays geometry, device locations, target throughput, quality of service (QoS) requirements, and transmitter and receiver locations.

19. A first device comprising:

a plurality of distributed transceivers, each distributed transceiver comprising an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas, each of the plurality of distributed transceivers operable to perform beamforming in a radio frequency band;

a plurality of distributed beamformers, each distributed beamformer comprising an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas, each of the plurality of distributed beamformers operable to perform beamforming in an intermediate frequency band without up-converting signals to said radio frequency band;

a baseband processor; and

a network management engine,

the network management engine configured to;

identify a set of capabilities of the first device and a second device;

configure, based on the identified set of capabilities, a set of distributed beamformers in the plurality of distributed beamformers to perform beamforming in an intermediate frequency band in the set of intermediate frequencies; and

turn off each of the plurality of distributed transceivers;

the first device configured to;

generate data streams at baseband by said baseband processor;

convert said data streams at baseband to a set of intermediate frequencies within said intermediate frequency band; and

transmit said data streams wirelessly at said set of intermediate frequencies to a second device through the antenna arrays of each of said set of distributed beamformers.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein each of said plurality of distributed transceivers is coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of distributed beamformers, wherein each of said plurality of distributed transceivers and the corresponding coupled distributed beamformer is connected to said baseband processor within the first device utilizing a same communication medium.

21. The device according to claim 19, wherein the first device is further configured to negotiate resource sharing with the second device utilizing a low-throughput link between the first device and the second device.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the network management engine is further configured to configure said plurality of distributed transceivers and said plurality of distributed beamformers based on said resource sharing negotiation for said transmitting.

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein the first device is further configured to utilize available resources on the second device based on said configuring for said transmitting of said data streams through the antenna arrays of the set of distributed beamformers to the second device and/or to a third device.

24. The device according to claim 22, wherein the network management engine is further configured to turn on a set of distributed transceivers in the plurality of distributed transceivers based on said resource sharing negotiation for said transmitting, wherein said set of distributed transceivers are further operable to convert] said data streams at said one or more intermediate frequencies to said radio frequency band.

25. The device according to claim 24, wherein the first device is further configured to transmit said data streams at said radio frequency band to the second device through the antenna arrays of said set of distributed transceivers.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein said device is further configured to turnoff said plurality of distributed beamformers during said transmitting through the antenna arrays of said set of distributed transceivers.

27. The device according to claim 24, wherein the first device is further configured to utilize available resources on the second device, based on said resource sharing negotiation for said transmitting through the antenna arrays of said set of distributed transceivers to the second device and/or to a third device.

28. The device according to claim 19, wherein the network management engine is further configured to:

identify a set of capabilities of the first device and the second device,

wherein configuring the set of distributed beamformers and turning off the plurality of distributed transceivers are based on the identified capabilities of the first and second devices.

29. The device according to claim 28, wherein the capabilities of each of the first and second devices comprise one or more of a battery life, a number of transceivers, a number of antennas per transceiver, a number of beamformers, a number of antennas per beamformer, device interface types, a maximum transmit power, processing protocols, service types, service classes, service requirements, storage capabilities, and a remaining power level.

30. The device according to claim 28, wherein the network management engine is further configured to:

determine that a low-power communication link can be established between the first and second devices based on the identified set of capabilities,

wherein configuring the set of distributed beamformers and turning off the plurality of distributed transceivers are further based on the determination that a low-power link can be established between the first and second devices.

31. The device according to claim 19, wherein the set of distributed beamformers comprises fewer distributed beamformers than the plurality of the distributed beamformers.

32. The device according to claim 19, wherein the set of distributed beamformers comprises a same number of distributed beamformers as the plurality of the distributed beamformers.

33. The device according to claim 19, wherein the set of distributed transceivers comprises fewer distributed transceivers than the plurality of the distributed transceivers.

34. The device according to claim 19, wherein the set of distributed transceivers comprises a same number of distributed transceivers as the plurality of the distributed transceivers.

35. The device according to claim 19, wherein the network management engine is further configured to:

identify a set of communication environment information,

wherein configuring the set of distributed beamformers and turning off the plurality of distributed transceivers are based on the identified set of communication environment information.

36. The device according to claim 35, wherein the identified set of communication environment information comprises one or more of propagation environment conditions, a link quality, device capabilities, antennas polarization, radiation patterns, antennas spacing, antenna arrays geometry, device locations, target throughput, quality of service (QoS) requirements, and transmitter and receiver locations.