Antenna apparatus and method of performing spatial nulling within the antenna apparatus

• US 9,706,419 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2016
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airspan IP Holdco LLC (Airspan Networks Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Airspan Networks Inc.
• Inventors: Bozier, Michele Frances, Lysejko, Martin, Dudzinski, Krzysztof
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US15/186,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20160380354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 455 69, 4551791, 4551823, 4551831, 4551841, 4551851, 4555621
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/06 allowing pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/24 Acquisition or tracking or demodulation of signals transmitted by the system synchronisation aspects of direct sequence spread spectrum modulation H04B1/7073
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/53 Determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/043 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/14 Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction aerial arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00; combinations of different interacting aerial units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q21/29; aerials or aerial systems providing at least two radiation patterns H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0247 Determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/02 Arrangements for de-icing; Arrangements for drying-out ; Arrangements for cooling; Arrangements for preventing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1228 on a boom
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1257 using the received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 : providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/005 : providing two patterns of opposite direction; back to back antennas H01Q25/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/02 : using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 : for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/10 : to produce a conical or spiral scan
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/12 : using mechanical relative movement between primary active elements and secondary devices of antennas or antenna systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 : varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 : varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2611 : Means for null steering; Adaptive interference nulling
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/36 : with variable phase-shifters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0456 : Selection of precoding matrices or codebooks, e.g. using matrices antenna weighting
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 : for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0621 : Feedback content
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0691 : using subgroups of transmit antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0695 : using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0817 : with multiple receivers and antenna path selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/086 : using weights depending on external parameters, e.g. direction of arrival [DOA], predetermined weights or beamforming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0874 : using subgroups of receive antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/088 : using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 : for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 : the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 : Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 : using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 : Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 : Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0236 : radio quality, e.g. interference, losses or delay
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 : using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0284 : detecting congestion or overload during communication monitoring arrangements H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 : Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 : using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 : based on traffic conditions
• 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 84/02 : Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 : using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• 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: H05K 7/20 : Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating

Abstract

An antenna apparatus operates as a base station in a wireless network with spatial nulling performed within such apparatus. The apparatus has an antenna assembly employing a selected reception beam pattern. During a nulling test, a reception beam pattern controller causes the assembly to employ each reception beam pattern. Quality metric determination circuitry determines for each reception beam pattern a link quality metric for each of several wireless terminals, based on communication between those wireless terminals and the base station while the assembly employs that reception beam pattern. Reception beam determination circuitry determines, from the various link quality metrics, a reception beam pattern from the reception beam patterns for use for subsequent communication with the wireless terminals. A reception beam pattern can be altered seeking to reduce interference source effects and to maintain an appropriate level of link quality regarding each wireless terminal communicating with the base station.

Claims

1. Antenna apparatus for operating as a base station in a wireless network, comprising:

an antenna assembly to employ a reception beam pattern selected from a plurality of reception beam patterns;

a reception beam pattern controller to cause the antenna assembly to employ each of said plurality of reception beam patterns during a nulling test operation;

quality metric determination circuitry to determine, for each reception beam pattern employed during said nulling test operation, a link quality metric for each of a plurality of wireless terminals based on communication between the plurality of wireless terminals and the base station whilst the antenna assembly is employing that reception beam pattern; and

reception beam determination circuitry to determine, from the link quality metrics determined for the plurality of wireless terminals for each of the plurality of reception beam patterns, a reception beam pattern from said plurality of reception beam patterns to be used for a subsequent communication with the plurality of wireless terminals.

2. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reception beam determination circuitry is arranged to receive weighting information associated with at least one wireless terminal, and is arranged to utilise the weighting information in combination with the link quality metrics when determining the reception beam pattern to be used for the subsequent communication.

3. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the weighting information is indicative of a level of service to be provided to at least one of the wireless terminals.

4. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reception beam determination circuitry is configured to perform a harmonic mean operation using as inputs the link quality metrics determined for the plurality of wireless terminals for each of the plurality of reception beam patterns, in order to determine the reception beam pattern to be used for the subsequent communication.

5. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the reception beam determination circuitry is arranged to receive weighting information associated with at least one wireless terminal, and is arranged to utilise the weighting information in combination with the link quality metrics when determining the reception beam pattern to be used for the subsequent communication, wherein the harmonic mean operation is a weighted harmonic mean operation and the reception beam determination circuitry utilises the weighting information as a further input to the weighted harmonic mean operation.

6. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the link quality metric is a throughput indication for the associated wireless terminal.

7. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nulling test operation is continued until communication is observed by the base station from each of the plurality of wireless terminals for each of the plurality of reception beam patterns.

8. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the reception beam pattern controller is arranged to perform one or more pattern sweeps, during each pattern sweep one or more of the plurality of reception beam patterns being employed for a predetermined time period;

following the end of a current pattern sweep, a subsequent pattern sweep being performed if communication has not yet been observed from at least one wireless terminal for at least one reception beam pattern.

9. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein when performance of multiple pattern sweeps causes communication between a wireless terminal and the base station to be observed by the base station multiple times whilst the antenna assembly is employing a particular reception beam pattern, the quality metric determination circuitry is configured to maintain information to enable an average link quality metric to be determined for that wireless terminal at that particular reception beam pattern.

10. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the reception beam pattern controller is arranged to terminate the nulling test operation on detection of a timeout condition; and

the quality metric determination circuitry is arranged, for each reception beam pattern, to allocate a default link quality metric value for any wireless terminal from which communication has not yet been observed for that reception beam pattern by a time the nulling test operation is terminated.

11. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein during the nulling test operation, each of the wireless terminals is scheduled to communicate with the base station during a period in which each reception beam pattern is employed.

12. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nulling test operation is performed whilst the base station and the plurality of wireless terminals are operating to communicate normal data traffic.

13. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the reception beam pattern controller is arranged, during the nulling test operation, to cause the antenna assembly to employ a reference reception beam pattern for a period of time between each of said plurality of reception beam patterns being employed.

14. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nulling test is performed whilst the base station and the plurality of wireless terminals are operating in a test mode where the wireless terminals are arranged to issue test traffic to the base station.

15. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna assembly is a rotatable antenna assembly and the antenna apparatus further comprises:

a rotation controller to rotate the rotatable antenna assembly in order to alter an azimuth direction of the rotatable antenna assembly;

wherein;

the rotation controller is configured, during the nulling test operation, to perform a rotation sweep operation in order to rotate the rotatable antenna assembly to each of multiple selected azimuth directions, the reception beam pattern controller being arranged to cause each of the plurality of reception beam patterns to be employed at least once at each selected azimuth direction;

the quality metric determination circuitry is configured to determine the link quality metric for each wireless terminal, for each reception beam pattern at each selected azimuth direction; and

the reception beam determination circuitry is arranged to determine both the reception beam pattern to be used for the subsequent communication and an azimuth direction at which the antenna assembly is to be positioned for that subsequent communication.

16. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the link quality metric relates to an uplink communication from the associated wireless terminal to the base station.

17. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a wireless backhaul network for coupling a core network to a wireless access network, and the base station is a feeder base station for connection to the core network.

18. The antenna apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one of the wireless terminals is a feeder terminal for connection to an access point of the wireless access network.

19. A method of performing spatial nulling in an antenna apparatus to operate as a base station in a wireless network, the antenna apparatus having an antenna assembly to employ a reception beam pattern selected from a plurality of reception beam patterns, the method comprising:

controlling the antenna assembly, during performance of a nulling test operation, to employ each of said plurality of reception beam patterns;

determining, for each reception beam pattern employed during said nulling test operation, a link quality metric for each of a plurality of wireless terminals based on communication between the plurality of wireless terminals and the base station whilst the antenna assembly is employing that reception beam pattern; and

determining, from the link quality metrics determined for the plurality of wireless terminals for each of the plurality of reception beam patterns, a reception beam pattern from said plurality of reception beam patterns to be used for a subsequent communication with the plurality of wireless terminals.

20. Antenna apparatus for operating as a base station in a wireless network, comprising:

antenna means for employing a reception beam pattern selected from a plurality of reception beam patterns;

reception beam pattern control means for controlling the antenna means to employ each of said plurality of reception beam patterns during a nulling test operation;

quality metric determination means for determining, for each reception beam pattern employed during said nulling test operation, a link quality metric for each of a plurality of wireless terminal means based on communication between the plurality of wireless terminal means and the base station whilst the antenna means is employing that reception beam pattern; and

reception beam determination means for determining, from the link quality metrics determined for the plurality of wireless terminal means for each of the plurality of reception beam patterns, a reception beam pattern from said plurality of reception beam patterns to be used for a subsequent communication with the plurality of wireless terminal means.