Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system

• US 9,231,672 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Campos, Luis Alberto, Andreoli-Fang, Jennifer, MacMillan, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh, Hirdepal
• Application Number:
  US14/181,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20140233666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 689 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/707 using direct sequence modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/32 Reducing cross-talk, e.g. by compensating
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/022 Site diversity; Macro-diversity using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/068 using space frequency diversity space-frequency coding H04L1/0606
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0691 using subgroups of transmit antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/12 Frequency diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/12 Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management

Abstract

A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capable system is contemplated. The communication system may include a signal processor configured to separate an input stream into multiple signal paths to facilitate simultaneous transport through a communication medium. The capability to simultaneously transmit multiples signal paths may be beneficial in order to maximize throughput and/or minimize expense.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating wireless signaling comprising:

determining a first signal desired for transport to a first device;

separating the first signal into at least a first part, a second part, a third part and a fourth part, each of the first, second, third and fourth parts being frequency diverse at least in that each is modulated at a different frequency;

facilitating transmission of the first, second, third and fourth parts over a wireline communication medium such that at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts are received at a first remote antenna unit and at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts other than the at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts received at the first remote antenna unit are received at a second remote antenna unit, the first and second remote antenna units being configured to wirelessly transmit the received one or more of the first, second, third and fourth parts to the first device over a wireless communication medium; and

facilitating transmission such that the first, second, third and fourth parts travel a greater distance over the wireline communication medium than when subsequently transmitted over the wireless communication medium and such that at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts received at the first remote antenna unit travel through a first path within the wireline communication medium that is different at least in part from a second path the at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts received at the second remote antenna unit travel within the wireline communication medium.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a first location of the first device;

determining three or more remote antenna units available within the first location to facilitate wirelessly transmitting the first, second, third and fourth parts; and

selecting the first and second remote antenna units from the three or more remote antenna units to facilitate wirelessly transmitting the first, second, third and fourth parts to the first device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising determining spatial diversity for each of the three or more remote antenna units relative to the first location of the first device and selecting the first and second remote antenna units from the three or more remote antenna units based at least in part on the spatial diversity.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising determining the spatial diversity by calculating an angular position of each of the plurality of remote antenna units relative to the first location.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining beamforming capabilities for each of the three or more antenna units relative to the first location of the first device; and

selecting the first and second remote antenna units based at least in part on the beamforming capabilities.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising selecting the first and second remote antenna units from the three or more remote antenna units based on having beamforming capabilities sufficient to facilitate directing wireless signaling toward the first location.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing beamforming instructions to each of the first and second remote antenna units, the beamforming instructions controlling amplitude and phase or delay of wireless signaling emitted therefrom in a manner sufficient to facilitate directing wireless signaling toward the first location.

8. The method claim 7 further comprising providing updated beamforming instructions to each of the first and second remote antenna units in order to adjust the amplitude and phase or delay of the wireless signaling based upon movement of the first device from the first location to a second location such that the wireless signaling becomes directed toward the second location more so than the first location.

9. A method of facilitating wireless signaling comprising:

determining a first signal desired for transport to a first device;

separating the first signal into at least a first part, a second part, a third part and a fourth part, each of the first, second, third and fourth parts being frequency diverse at least in that each is modulated at a different frequency;

facilitating transmission of the first, second, third and fourth parts over a wireline communication medium such that at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts are received at a first remote antenna unit and at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts other than the at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts received at the first remote antenna unit are received at a second remote antenna unit, the first and second remote antenna units being configured to wirelessly transmit the received one or more of the first, second, third and fourth parts to the first device over a wireless communication medium;

determining a first location of the first device;

determining three or more remote antenna units available within the first location to facilitate wirelessly transmitting the first, second, third and fourth parts;

selecting the first and second remote antenna units from the three or more remote antenna units to facilitate wirelessly transmitting the first, second, third and fourth parts to the first device;

determining spatial diversity for each of the three or more remote antenna units relative to the first location of the first device and selecting the first and second remote antenna units from the three or more remote antenna units based at least in part on the spatial diversity;

determining the spatial diversity by calculating an angular position of each of the plurality of remote antenna units relative to the first location; and

selecting the first and second remote antenna units based at least in part on having related angular positions greater than an angular threshold.

10. A method of facilitating wireless signaling comprising:

determining a first signal desired for transport to a first device;

separating the first signal into at least a first part, a second part, a third part and a fourth part, each of the first, second, third and fourth parts being frequency diverse at least in that each is modulated at a different frequency;

facilitating transmission of the first, second, third and fourth parts over a wireline communication medium such that at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts are received at a first remote antenna unit and at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts other than the at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts received at the first remote antenna unit are received at a second remote antenna unit, the first and second remote antenna units being configured to wirelessly transmit the received one or more of the first, second, third and fourth parts to the first device over a wireless communication medium;

instructing the first and second remote antenna units to transmit the first, second, third and fourth parts at a first frequency;

determining a second signal desired for wireless receipt at a second device;

separating the second signal into at least a fifth part, a sixth part, a seventh part and an eighth part, each of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth parts being frequency diverse at least in that each is modulated at a different frequency; and

facilitating transmission of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth parts over the wireline communication medium such that at least one of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth parts are received at the first remote antenna unit and at least one of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth parts other than the at least one of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth parts received at the first remote antenna unit are received at the second remote antenna unit, the first and second remote antenna units being configured to wirelessly transmit the received one or more of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth parts to the second device over the wireless communication medium at a second frequency, the second frequency being different from the first frequency used to wirelessly transmit the first, second, third and fourth parts.

11. A method of facilitating wireless signaling comprising:

determining a first signal desired for transport to a first device;

multiplexing the first signal into at least a first part, a second part, a third part and a fourth part such that each of the first, second, third and fourth parts are different portions of the first signal;

determining a plurality of remote antenna units within a vicinity of the first device, each of the plurality of remote antenna units being connected to a wireline communication medium and having capabilities sufficient to facilitate wirelessly transmitting one or more of the first, second, third and fourth parts to the first device;

determining at least a first remote antenna unit and a second remote antenna unit of the plurality of remote antennas units to wirelessly transmit one or more of the first, second, third and fourth parts to the first device based on relative wireless communications capabilities, the relative wireless communication capabilities representing capabilities of each of the plurality of remote antenna units to wireless communicate with the first device;

transmitting at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts to the first remote antenna unit over the wireline communication medium;

transmitting at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts to the second remote antenna unit over the wireline communication medium such that the second remote antenna unit receives at least a different one of the first, second, third and fourth parts than the first remote antenna unit, the first and second remote antenna units thereafter wirelessly transmitting the received at least one of the first, second, third and fourth parts to the first device;

determining the vicinity relative to a first location of the first device;

determining spatial diversity for each of the plurality of remote antenna units relative to the first location;

selecting the first and second remote antenna units from the plurality of remote antenna units based at least in part on the spatial diversity;

determining the spatial diversity by calculating an angular position of each of the plurality of remote antenna units relative to the first location; and

determining the first and second remote antenna units based at least in part on having related angular positions greater than an angular threshold.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining the vicinity relative to a first location of the first device;

determining beamforming capabilities for each of the plurality of remote antenna units relative to the first location; and

selecting the first and second remote antenna units based at least in part on beamforming capabilities.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising selecting the first and second remote antenna units from at least two of the plurality of remote antenna units having beamforming capabilities sufficient to facilitate directing wireless signaling toward the first location.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having non-transitory instructions operable with a processor to facilitate wireless signaling, the non-transitory instructions being sufficient to facilitate:

determining a plurality of signaling paths within a wireline communication medium sufficient to facilitate wireline signaling between a signal processor and one or more of a first plurality of remote antenna units;

determining a first signal intended for transmission from the signal processor to a first wireless device;

determining wireless communication capabilities for the first plurality of remote antenna units, the wireless communication capabilities reflecting capabilities to facilitate wirelessly communicating with the first wireless device;

selecting at least a first remote antenna unit and a second remote antenna unit of the first plurality of remote antennas units to wirelessly communicate with the first wireless device based on the wireless communications capabilities;

separating the first signal into at least a first part and a second part such that each of the at least first and second parts includes a different portion of the first signal;

transmitting the first part to the first remote antenna unit over a corresponding one of the paths, the first remote antenna unit thereafter wirelessly transmitting the first part to the first device;

transmitting the second part to the second remote antenna unit over a corresponding one of the paths, the second remote antenna unit thereafter wirelessly transmitting the second part to the first device;

selecting the first plurality of remote antenna units for the purposes of transmitting the first signal to the first wireless device from a second, greater plurality of remote antenna units connected to the wireline communication medium, the first plurality of remote antenna units being remote antenna units having connectivity with the first device, at least a portion of the second plurality of remote antenna units lacking connectivity with the first device;

determining a fourth and a fifth plurality of the first plurality of remote antenna units, the fourth plurality of remote antenna units having connectivity equal to or greater than a pass/fail threshold and the fifth plurality of remote antenna units having connectivity less than the pass/fail threshold;

determining the wireless communication capabilities for the fourth plurality of remote antenna units and not the fifth plurality of remote antenna units, including determining spatial diversity and beamforming capabilities for each of the fourth plurality of remote antenna units relative to the first device; and

selecting the first and second remote antenna units from the fourth plurality of remote antenna units based on the associated spatial diversity and beamforming capabilities.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having non-transitory instructions operable with a processor to facilitate wireless signaling, the non-transitory instructions being sufficient to facilitate:

determining a plurality of signaling paths within a wireline communication medium sufficient to facilitate wireline signaling between a signal processor and one or more of a first plurality of remote antenna units;

determining a first signal intended for transmission from the signal processor to a first wireless device;

determining wireless communication capabilities for the first plurality of remote antenna units, the wireless communication capabilities reflecting capabilities to facilitate wirelessly communicating with the first wireless device;

selecting at least a first remote antenna unit and a second remote antenna unit of the first plurality of remote antennas units to wirelessly communicate with the first wireless device based on the wireless communications capabilities;

separating the first signal into at least a first part and a second part such that each of the at least first and second parts includes a different portion of the first signal;

transmitting the first part to the first remote antenna unit over a corresponding one of the paths, the first remote antenna unit thereafter wirelessly transmitting the first part to the first device;

transmitting the second part to the second remote antenna unit over a corresponding one of the paths, the second remote antenna unit thereafter wirelessly transmitting the second part to the first device; and

determining the wireless communication capabilities for the first plurality of remote antenna units according to the following formula