Network communication using diversity

• US 9,209,871 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Agee, Brian G., Bromberg, Matthew C.
• Primary Examiner(s): ODOM, CURTIS B
• Application Number:
  US14/480,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20140376657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 7/0417 Feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0443 utilizing "waterfilling" technique
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0456 Selection of precoding matrices or codebooks, e.g. using matrices antenna weighting
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0465 taking power constraints at power amplifier or emission constraints, e.g. constant modulus, into account
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/26 Systems using multi-frequency codes H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2602 Signal structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2605 Symbol extensions, e.g. Zero Tail, Unique Word [UW]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2607 Cyclic extensions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2627 Modulators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2646 using feedback from receiver for adjusting OFDM transmission parameters, e.g. transmission timing or guard interval length
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/005 of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/04 based on wireless node resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/241 : taking into account channel quality metrics, e.g. SIR, SNR, CIR, Eb/lo
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/265 : taking into account the quality of service QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/42 : in systems with time, space, frequency or polarisation diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 : Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 : based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 : using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus for generating at least one signal based on at least one aspect of at least two received signals is provided. The apparatus comprises: a diverse antennae array of M antennae, where M is greater than or equal to two; at least one multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver in communication with each antenna in the diverse antennae array of M antennae; encoding circuitry capable of causing first data to be encoded; decoding circuitry capable of causing second data to be decoded; and processing capable of causing diversity combining, where the processing circuitry is in communication with the multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver, the encoding circuitry, and the decoding circuitry. In operation, the processing circuitry is capable of causing the apparatus to: receive at least two first signals, combine at least two of the at least first two signals, generate at least two second signals based on at least one aspect of the at least two first signals, and simultaneously transmit the at least two second signals. Additionally, the apparatus is configured such that at least one of the at least two second signals is capable of being received by a multiple-input capable node.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

wirelessly receiving, by a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capable first node, a first transmission from a second node;

wirelessly receiving, by the first node, a second transmission from a third node;

determining, by the first node, a measure of channel quality based at least in part on the first transmission;

determining, by the first node, based at least in part on the first transmission, a first plurality of weights;

using, by the first node, a first plurality of antennas to wirelessly transmit, via at least a first plurality of sub-channels, a third transmission based at least in part on the second transmission and using the first plurality of weights, wherein at least one power level of at least one of the first plurality of sub-channels depends at least in part on the measure of channel quality;

determining, based at least in part on the third transmission, information usable for determining a second plurality of weights; and

wirelessly receiving, from a second plurality of antennas of the second node, a fourth transmission that is based at least in part on a fifth transmission from a fourth node and that uses the second plurality of weights.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the using the first plurality of antennas to wirelessly transmit the third transmission comprises using the first plurality of antennas to wirelessly transmit the third transmission as an orthogonal frequency division multiple access transmission.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node comprises a base station and the second node comprises a user device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the using the first plurality of antennas to wirelessly transmit the third transmission comprises using the first plurality of antennas to wirelessly transmit the third transmission as a MIMO transmission.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of weights comprises a plurality of beamforming weights.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of weights comprises a plurality of beamforming weights.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the first plurality of antennas to wirelessly transmit a sixth transmission using a third plurality of weights that are based at least in part on the fourth transmission.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second transmission and the fifth transmission each comprises interference.

9. A method comprising:

wirelessly receiving, by a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capable first node, a first transmission from a second node;

wirelessly receiving, by the first node, a second transmission from a third node;

determining, by the first node, based at least in part on the first transmission, a first plurality of weights;

wirelessly transmitting, via a first plurality of antennas of the first node, a third transmission based at least in part on the second transmission and using the first plurality of weights;

determining, based at least in part on the third transmission, information usable for determining a second plurality of weights; and

wirelessly receiving, from a second plurality of antennas of the second node, a fourth transmission that is based at least in part on a fifth transmission from a fourth node and that uses the second plurality of weights.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining, by the first node, a measure of channel quality based at least in part on the first transmission, wherein the wirelessly transmitting comprises wirelessly transmitting the third transmission via at least a plurality of sub-channels, wherein at least one power level of at least one of the plurality of sub-channels depends at least in part on the measure of channel quality.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the wirelessly transmitting the third transmission comprises wirelessly transmitting the third transmission as an orthogonal frequency division multiple access transmission.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first node comprises a base station and the second node comprises a user device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the third transmission comprises a MIMO transmission.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first plurality of weights comprises a plurality of beamforming weights.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the second plurality of weights comprises a plurality of beamforming weights.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising wirelessly transmitting, via the first plurality of antennas of the first node, a sixth transmission using a third plurality of weights that are based at least in part on the fourth transmission.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the second transmission and the fifth transmission each comprises interference.

18. A method comprising:

wirelessly receiving, by a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capable first node, a first transmission from a second node;

wirelessly receiving, by the first node, a second transmission from a third node;

determining, by the first node, based at least in part on the first transmission, a first plurality of weights;

wirelessly transmitting, via a first plurality of antennas of the first node, a third transmission based at least in part on the second transmission and using the first plurality of weights; and

wirelessly receiving, from a second plurality of antennas of the second node, a fourth transmission that is based at least in part on a fifth transmission from a fourth node and that uses a second plurality of weights based at least in part on the third transmission.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining, by the first node, a measure of channel quality based at least in part on the first transmission, wherein the wirelessly transmitting comprises wirelessly transmitting the third transmission via at least a plurality of sub-channels, wherein at least one power level of at least one of the plurality of sub-channels depends at least in part on the measure of channel quality.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the wirelessly transmitting the third transmission comprises wirelessly transmitting the third transmission as an orthogonal frequency division multiple access transmission.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the first node comprises a base station and the second node comprises a user device.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the third transmission comprises a MIMO transmission.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the first plurality of weights comprises a plurality of beamforming weights.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the second plurality of weights comprises a plurality of beamforming weights.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising wirelessly transmitting, via the first plurality of antennas of the first node, a sixth transmission using a third plurality of weights that are based at least in part on the fourth transmission.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the second transmission and the fifth transmission each comprises interference.

27. A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capable first node comprising:

a plurality of antennas; and

circuitry configured to;

process a first transmission received from a second node;

process a second transmission received from a third node;

determine, based at least in part on the first transmission, a first plurality of weights;

cause a third transmission, based at least in part on the second transmission and using the first plurality of weights, to be wirelessly transmitted via the plurality of antennas; and

process a fourth transmission, received from a second node, that is based at least in part on a fifth transmission from a fourth node and that uses a second plurality of weights based at least in part on the third transmission.

28. The MIMO capable first node of claim 27, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine a measure of channel quality based at least in part on the first transmission, and to cause the third transmission to be wirelessly transmitted via at least a plurality of sub-channels, wherein at least one power level of at least one of the plurality of sub-channels depends at least in part on the measure of channel quality.

29. The MIMO capable first node of claim 27, wherein the circuitry is configured to receive the first transmission via one or more of the plurality of antennas.

30. The MIMO capable first node of claim 27, wherein the circuitry is configured to cause the third transmission to be wirelessly transmitted as an orthogonal frequency division multiple access transmission.

31. The MIMO capable first node of claim 27, wherein the first node comprises a base station and the second node comprises a user device.

32. The MIMO capable first node of claim 27, wherein the first plurality of weights comprises a plurality of beamforming weights.

33. The MIMO capable first node of claim 27, wherein the second plurality of weights comprises a plurality of beamforming weights.

34. The MIMO capable first node of claim 27, wherein the circuitry is further configured to cause a sixth transmission to be wirelessly transmitted, via the plurality of antennas, using a third plurality of weights based at least in part on the fourth transmission.

35. The MIMO capable first node of claim 27, wherein the second transmission and the fifth transmission each comprises interference.

36. A system comprising:

a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capable first node comprising;

a first plurality of antennas; and

first circuitry configured to;

process a first transmission received from a second node;

process a second transmission received from a third node;

determine a first plurality of weights based at least in part on the first transmission;

cause a third transmission based at least in part on the second transmission and using the first plurality of weights; and

process a fourth transmission received from the second node; and

the second node, comprising;

a second plurality of antennas; and

second circuitry configured to;

cause the first transmission to be transmitted via at least one of the second plurality of antennas; and

determine a second plurality of weights based at least in part on the third transmission; and

cause the fourth transmission to be transmitted via the second plurality of antennas based at least in part on a fifth transmission from a fourth node and using the second plurality of weights.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the first circuitry is configured to determine a measure of channel quality based at least in part on the first transmission, and to cause the third transmission to be wirelessly transmitted via at least a plurality of sub-channels, wherein at least one power level of at least one of the plurality of sub-channels depends at least in part on the measure of channel quality.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the first circuitry is configured to cause the third transmission to be wirelessly transmitted as an orthogonal frequency division multiple access transmission.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the second circuitry is configured to cause the first transmission to be wirelessly transmitted as an orthogonal frequency division multiple access transmission.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the first node comprises a user device and the second node comprises a base station.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the first node comprises a base station and the second node comprises a user device.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the second transmission and the fifth transmission each comprises interference.