Wireless network system and method

• US 20050113120A1
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Assets 197 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC), TP-Link USA Corporation (TP-Link Technologies Co Limited)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 43 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Rappaport, Theodore S., Heath, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,328,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/500
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0669 using different channel coding between antennas space-time coding H04L1/0618
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/068 using space frequency diversity space-frequency coding H04L1/0606
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a flexible system for providing wireless broadband access. The system can include a gateway that has a plurality of gateway premises equipment (“GPE”) units and a network fuser connected to the plurality of GPE units to coordinate the activities of the plurality of the GPE units. The network fuser can provide DSP configuration information and RF configuration information to the GPE units. The network fuser is also operable to connect to a high-speed network (e.g., a backhaul network) and to provision data from the high-speed network to each of the plurality of GPE units. The system can also include a plurality of customer premises equipment (“CPE”) units remote from the gateway.

Claims

1. A system of wireless communication comprising:

a network fuser connected to a control data transport medium;

a first gateway/customer premises equipment (GPE/CPE) unit connected to the network fuser via the control data transport medium; and

wherein the network fuser is operable to;

receive data from a network;

provide radio frequency (“

RF”

) configuration information to the first GPE/CPE unit; and

provide digital signal processing (“

DSP”

) configuration information to the first GPE/CPE unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein providing DSP configuration information further comprises indicating a space-time algorithm to be applied by the first GPE/CPE unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein providing DSP configuration information further comprises indicating a coding to be applied by the first GPE/CPE unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein providing DSP configuration information further comprises indicating a modulation to be applied by the first GPE/CPE unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the GPE/CPE unit further comprises:

a plurality of antennas;

one or more sets of RF circuitry; and

an RF backplane operable to connect the plurality of antennas to the one or more sets of RF circuitry in a variety of configurations.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the RF backplane is connected to the control data transport medium.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the network fuser is operable to configure the RF backplane.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second GPE/CPE unit remote from the first GPE/CPE unit, operable to establish a wireless communications link with the first GPE/CPE unit.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless communications link is a MIMO communications link.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the network fuser is operable to configure the first GPE/CPE unit to establish the MIMO communications link.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the network fuser is operable to configure the first GPE/CPE unit based on instantaneous channel data received from the first GPE/CPE unit.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the network fuser is operable to configure the first GPE/CPE unit based on instantaneous channel data derived by the second GPE/CPE unit.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the network fuser is further operable to instruct the first GPE/CPE unit to probe a channel.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the network fuser is further operable to provision bandwidth to a communication link established between the first GPE/CPE unit and a second GPE/CPE unit.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the network fuser is further operable to provide access controls.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first GPE/CPE unit further comprises one or more adaptive antennas and wherein the network fuser is further operable to configure the first GPE/CPE unit to adjust the one or more adaptive antennas.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the network fuser can configure the first GPE/CPE unit to adjust beam patterns.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second GPE/CPE unit connected to the network fuser via the control data transport medium.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the network fuser is operable to receive data from the network and provision the data to the first and second GPE/CPE units for communication to one or more remote GPE/CPE units via a wireless communication link.

20. A device comprising:

a backplane further comprising;

a plurality of antenna connections;

connection circuitry;

a plurality of radio frequency (“

RF”

) connections connected to the plurality of antenna connections via the connection circuitry; and

control logic operable to configure the RF backplane to connect the plurality of RF connections to the plurality of antenna connection via the connection circuitry in a variety of configurations.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of RF connections is a radio frequency and digital signal processing (“

RAD”

) unit connection.

22. The device of claim 21, further comprising connection sensing circuitry operable to determine when a RAD unit is connected to a RAD unit connection.

23. The device of claim 20, further comprising a housing providing one or more slots to which a RAD unit can be added, wherein the RAD unit connects to the backplane via at least one of the RF connections.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the device further comprises a plurality of antennas connected to the backplane via the plurality of antenna connections.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the plurality of antennas can be configured as at least one adaptive antenna.

26. The device of claim 20, wherein the control logic is responsive to a control signal to change the configuration of the backplane.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the control signal is received from a network fuser.

28. A device comprising:

a radio frequency (“

RF”

) backplane interface;

a digital signal processing (“

DSP”

) unit operable to generate a transmit digital signal and generate data based on a receive signal; and

RF circuitry connected to the RF backplane interface, the RF circuitry operable to;

generate an output signal based on the transmit signal; and

generate the receive signal based on an input signal.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the DSP unit is further operable to generate the transmit signal based on space-time processing.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the unit further comprises a digital interface to connect to a control data transport medium.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the DSP unit is operable to receive DSP configuration information from DSP control logic via the digital interface.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the DSP control logic is located at a network fuser.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein the DSP control logic is located at a radio frequency and digital signal processing (“

RAD”

) unit.

34. The device of claim 31, wherein the DSP unit is operable to function in a slave configuration.

35. The device of claim 31, wherein the DSP unit is operable to function in master configuration.

36. The device of claim 31, wherein the DSP unit is operable to apply a space-time algorithm indicated by the DSP control logic.

37. The device of claim 30, wherein the DSP unit is operable to apply modulating indicated by the DSP control logic.

38. The device of claim 31, wherein the DSP unit is operable to apply coding indicated by the DSP control logic.

39. The device of claim 30, wherein the RF circuitry is operable to receive RF configuration information from RF control logic via the digital interface.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the RF control logic is located at a network fuser.

41. The device of claim 39, wherein the RF control logic is located at a radio frequency and digital signal processing (“

RAD”

) unit.

42. The device of claim 28, further comprising:

an RF backplane further comprising;

a plurality of antenna connections;

connection circuitry;

a plurality of radio frequency (“

RF”

) connections connected to the plurality of antenna connections via the connection circuitry, wherein at least one of the RF connections is connected to the backplane interface; and

control logic operable to configure the RF backplane to connect the plurality of RF connections via the connection circuitry in a variety of configurations.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the control logic is responsive to a control signal to change the configuration of the backplane.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the control signal is received from a network fuser.

45. The device of claim 28, further comprising:

a D/A converter connected to the DSP unit and the RF circuitry to convert the transmit signal from a digital transmit signal to an analog transmit signal; and

an A/D converter connected to the DSP unit and the RF circuitry to convert the receive signal from an analog receive signal to a digital receive signal.

47. The system of wireless communication of claim 45, wherein each RAD unit further comprises:

a radio frequency (“

RF”

) backplane interface;

a digital signal processing (“

DSP”

) unit operable to generate a transmit signal and generate data based on a receive signal; and

a set of RF circuitry connected to the RF backplane interface, the RF circuitry operable to;

generate an output signal based on the transmit signal; and

generate a receive signal based on an input signal.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the RF backplane comprises:

a plurality of antenna connections;

connection circuitry;

a plurality of radio frequency (“

RF”

) connections connected to the plurality of antenna connections via the connection circuitry, wherein at least one of the RF connections is connected to the backplane interface of each RAD unit; and

control logic operable to configure the backplane to connect the plurality of RF connections to the plurality of antenna connections via the connection circuitry in a variety of configurations.

49. The device of claim 48, further comprising:

a D/A converter connected to the DSP unit and the RF circuitry to convert the transmit signal from a digital transmit signal to an analog transmit signal; and

an A/D converter connected to the DSP unit and the RF circuitry to convert the receive signal from an analog receive signal to a digital receive signal.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein the control logic is response to the control signal from the network fuser.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein providing DSP configuration information further comprises indicating a space-time algorithm to be applied by the DSP units of the first and second RAD units.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein providing DSP configuration information further comprises indicating a coding to be applied by the DSP units of the first and second RAD units.

53. The system of claim 40, wherein providing DSP configuration information further comprises indicating a modulation to be applied by the DSP units of the first and second RAD units.

46. A system for wireless communication comprising:

a first radio frequency and digital signal processing (“

RAD”

) unit;

a second RAD unit;

a plurality of antennas;

a radio frequency (“

RF”

) backplane connecting the plurality of antennas to the first RAD and the second RAD units; and

a network fuser connected to the first RAD unit and the second RAD unit, wherein the network fuser is operable to;

provide DSP configuration information to the first RAD unit and the second RAD unit;

provide RF configuration information to the first RAD unit and the second RAD unit; and

provide control signals to the RF backplane to configure the RF backplane to connect the plurality of antennas to the first RAD unit and the second RAD unit.

54. The system of claim 46, wherein the first RAD unit is operable to establish a first MIMO communications link and the second RAD unit is operable to establish a second MIMO communication link.

55. The system of claim 46, wherein the network fuser is operable to configure the first RAD unit and second RAD unit based on instantaneous channel data.

56. The system of claim 46, wherein the network fuser is further operable to instruct the first RAD unit and the second RAD unit to probe one or more communications channels.

57. The system of claim 46, wherein the network fuser is further operable to provision bandwidth to communications links established by the first RAD unit and the second RAD unit.

58. The system of claim 46, wherein the network fuser is further operable to provide access controls.

59. The system of claim 46, further comprising:

a plurality of additional RAD units connected to the network fuser, wherein the network fuser is operable to coordinate activities of connected RAD units to work together as a base station.

60. A system for provisioning broad-band fixed wireless access comprising:

A gateway, further comprising;

a plurality of gateway premises equipment (“

GPE”

) units;

a network fuser connected to the plurality of GPE units to coordinate the activities of the plurality of the GPE units to act as a base station, wherein the network fuser is operable to connect to a high-speed network and to provision data from the high-speed network to each of the plurality of GPE units;

a plurality of customer premises equipment (“

CPE”

) units remote from the gateway;

wherein each GPE unit is operable to establish a wireless MIMO communications link with at least one corresponding CPE unit to wirelessly transfer data received from the network fuser.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the gateway further comprises at least one new GPE that added to the gateway, wherein the network fuser is operable to recognize the additional GPE and re-provision bandwidth based on the addition of the new GPE.

62. The system of claim 60, wherein the network fuser is located within one of the GPE units.

63. The system of claim 60, wherein the high-speed data network is a backhaul network.

64. The system of claim 60, wherein the network fuser is operable to provision bandwidth to a particular GPE unit based on a forward link state or a reverse link state of the wireless communication link between the particular GPE unit and the corresponding CPE unit.

65. The system of claim 60, wherein the network fuser is operable to provision bandwidth to a particular GPE unit based on user information for a user associated with the corresponding CPE for the particular GPE.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the user information comprises an access history, a user priority, an account balance grade-of-service, or quality-of-service requirements.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein the network fuser is operable to store the user information indexed by a user name, a network address, a MAC address or a flow number.

68. The system-of claim 60, wherein the network fuser is further operable to provision bandwidth to the plurality of GPE units based a state of a backhaul network.

69. The system of claim 60, wherein the network fuser is further operable to provision bandwidth based on channel statistics.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the channel statistics comprise a delay spread, average capacity, path loss or fading rate.

71. The system of claim 60, wherein each of the plurality of GPE units is operable to probe a channel.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein each of the plurality of GPE units is operable to probe the channel according to training sequences.

73. The system of claim 71, wherein each of the plurality of GPE units is operable to probe the channel using pilot tones.

74. The system of claim 71, wherein each of the plurality of GPE units is operable to probe the channel off-line.

75. The system of claim 71, wherein each of the plurality of GPE units is operable to probe the channel on-line.

76. The system of claim 60, wherein each CPE unit is operable to probe a channel.

77. The system of claim 71, wherein each CPE unit is operable to probe a channel according to training sequences.

78. The system of claim 71, wherein each CPE unit can probe using pilot tones.

79. The system of claim 71, wherein each CPE unit is operable to probe the channel off-line.

80. The system of claim 71, wherein each CPE unit is operable to probe the channel on-line.

81. The system of claim 60, wherein the network fuser is further operable to instruct a GPE unit from the plurality of GPE units to probe a channel.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the GPE unit from the plurality of GPE units is operable to:

probe the channel;

return channel measurements to the network fuser.

83. The system of claim 63, wherein the network fuser is further operable to instruct a CPE unit from the plurality of CPE units to probe a channel.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein the CPE unit from the plurality of CPE units is operable to:

probe the channel;

return channel measurements to the network fuser.

85. The system of claim 60, wherein the network fuser is operable to instruct the plurality of GPE units and CPE units to perform channel probes.

86. The system of claim 85, wherein the network fuser instructs plurality of GPE units and CPE units to perform channel probes to determine interference caused by simultaneous transmissions.

87. The system of claim 85, wherein the network fuser is further operable to derive instantaneous channel statistics based on the channel probes.

88. The system of claim 87, wherein the instantaneous channel statistics comprise a mean, a variance, a delay spread, a power-delay profile, Doppler, a special covariance, a correlation, or a space-time correlation.

89. The system of claim 60, wherein the network fuser is operable to:

determine a CPE unit from the plurality of CPE units that has a largest queue of data to be sent to the CPE unit;

determine a maximum data rate that can be used to send data to the CPE with the largest queue; and

if a total capacity exceeds the maximum data rate, provisioning bandwidth to send data to the CPE unit with the largest queue and using excess capacity to service other CPE units.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein if the total capacity does not exceed the maximum data rate, provisioning bandwidth to only send data to the CPE with the largest queue.

91. The system of claim 60, wherein each of the plurality of GPE units and each of the plurality of CPE units comprises one or more RAD units.

92. The system of claim 60, wherein the network fuser is further operable to adjust adaptive antennas in each of the plurality of GPE units.

93. The system of claim 92, wherein the network fuser is operable to adjust adaptive antennas based on user information comprising an access history, a user priority, an account balance grade-of-service, or quality-of-service requirements.

94. The system of claim 92, wherein the network fuser is further operable to adjust adaptive antennas based on channel statistics comprising a delay spread, average capacity, path loss, fading rate, a mean, a variance, a power-delay profile, Doppler, a special covariance, a correlation, or a space-time correlation.

95. The system of claim 92, wherein the network fuser is operable to allocate physical layer resources to the plurality of GPE units.

96. The system of claim 60, wherein the network fuser is operable to:

analyze packets received over the high-speed network;

configure the plurality of GPE units to wirelessly communicate data from the packets to the plurality of CPE units.

97. The system of claim 60, wherein the network fuser is operable to provision bandwidth based on usage.

98. The system of claim 60, wherein the network fuser is operable to provision bandwidth based on quality of service.

99. The system of claim 60, wherein the network fuser is operable to provision band width based on service provider requirements.

100. The system of claim 60, wherein each of the plurality of CPE units and each of the plurality of GPE units have the same architecture.

101. The system of claim 60, wherein the wireless MIMO communications link employs TDMA, CDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SDMA as an access technique.

125. The network fuser of claim 101, wherein the network fuser is operable to allocate physical layer resources to a plurality of GPE/CPE units.

126. The network fuser of claim 101, wherein the network fuser is operable to:

analyze packets received over the high-speed network; and

configure the plurality of GPE units to wireless communicate data from the packets to the plurality of CPE units.

127. The network fuser of claim 101, wherein the network fuser is operable to provision bandwidth based on usage.

128. The network fuser of claim 101, wherein the network fuser is operable to provision bandwidth based on quality of service.

129. The network fuser of claim 101, wherein the network fuser is operable to provision bandwidth based on service provider requirements.

102. A network fuser comprising:

a first interface to connect to a high-speed network;

a second interface to connect to a control data transport medium for connecting to one or more gateway/customer premises units;

a processor;

a computer readable medium accessible by the processor, containing a set of computer instructions, wherein the network fuser is operable to;

coordinate the activities of the plurality of the GPE/CPE units to establish wireless MIMO communications links; and

provision bandwidth to the plurality of GPE/CPE units.

103. The network fuser of claim 102, wherein the network fuser is operable to recognize the addition of a new GPE/CPE unit connected to the network fuser and provision bandwidth based on the addition of the new GPE/CPE unit.

104. The network fuser of claim 102, wherein the network fuser is operable to provision bandwidth to a GPE/CPE unit based on a forward link state or a reverse link state of the wireless communication link between the GPE/CPE unit and another GPE/CPE unit.

105. The network fuser of claim 102, wherein the network fuser is operable to provision bandwidth to a GPE/CPE unit based on user information.

106. The network fuser of claim 105, wherein the network fuser is operable to.

107. The network fuser of claim 106, wherein the user information comprises an access history, a user priority, an account balance grade-of-service, or quality-of-service requirements.

108. The network fuser of claim 106, wherein the network fuser is operable to store the user information indexed by a user name, a network address, a MAC address or a flow number.

109. The network fuser of claim 102, wherein the network fuser is further operable to provision bandwidth to a GPE/CPE unit based on a state of a backhaul network.

110. The network fuser of claim 102, wherein the network fuser is further operable to provision bandwidth based on channel statistics.

111. The network fuser of claim 110, wherein the channel statistics comprise a delay spread, average capacity, path loss and fading rate.

112. The network fuser of claim 102, wherein the network fuser is operable to instruct a GPE/CPE unit to probe a channel.

113. The network fuser of claim 112, wherein the GPE/CPE unit probes the channel according to training sequences.

115. The network fuser of claim 112, wherein the network fuser is further operable to instruct the GPE/CPE unit to probe the channel on-line.

116. The network fuser of claim 112, wherein the network fuser is further operable to instruct the GPE/CPE unit to probe the channel off-line.

117. The network fuser of claim 112, wherein the network fuser is operable to instruct a plurality of GPE/CPE units to perform channel probes to determine interference caused by simultaneous transmissions.

118. The network fuser of claim 102, wherein the network fuser is further operable to derive instantaneous channel statistics based on channel probes by GPE/CPE units.

119. The network fuser of claim 118, wherein the instantaneous channel statistics comprise a mean, a variance, a delay spread, a power-delay profile, Doppler, a special covariance, a correlation, or a space-time correlation.

120. The network fuser of claim 102, wherein the network fuser is operable to:

determine a GPE/CPE unit with a largest queue of data;

determine a maximum data rate that can be used to send data to the GPE/CPE with the largest queue; and

if a total capacity exceeds the maximum data rate, provisioning bandwidth to send data to the GPE/CPE unit with the largest queue and using excess capacity to service other GPE/CPE units.

121. The network fuser of claim 120, wherein if the total capacity does not exceed the maximum data rate, the network fuser is operable to provision bandwidth to only send data to the GPE/CPE unit with the largest queue.

122. The network fuser of claim 102, wherein the network fuser is further operable to configure one or more GPE/CPE units to adjust a plurality of adaptive antennas.

123. The network fuser of claim 122, wherein the network fuser is operable to adjust the adaptive antennas based on user information comprising an access history, a user priority, an account balance, grade-of-service, or quality-of-service requirements.

124. The network fuser of claim 122, wherein the network fuser is further operable to adjust adaptive antennas based on channel statistics comprising a delay spread, average capacity, path loss, fading rate, a mean, a variance, a power-delay profile, Doppler, a special covariance, a correlation, or a space-time correlation.

114. The network fuser of 112, wherein the GPE/CPE unit can probe the channel using pilot tones.

130. A flexible wireless communication system comprising:

a gateway/customer premises equipment (GPE/CPE) unit comprising;

an RF backplane comprising;

a plurality of antenna connections to connect to a plurality of antennas;

a plurality of RF connections to connect to RF circuitry;

wherein the RF backplane is configurable to connect the plurality of antenna connections to RF connections in a variety of configurations;

RF circuitry connected to the RF backplane; and

a DSP unit connected to the RF circuitry;

wherein the GPE/CPE unit is configured to allow additional sets of RF circuitry to be connected to the RF backplane.

132. The flexible wireless communication system of claim 130, wherein the GPE/CPE unit is configured to allow additional RF circuitry to be connected to the RF backplane through connecting to additional RAD units.

135. The flexible wireless communications system of claim 130, wherein the network fuser is further operable to configure the RF backplane to connect the additional sets of RF circuitry to one or more of the plurality of antennas.

136. The flexible wireless communications system of claim 130, further comprising a network fuser connected to the GPE/CPE unit, operable to:

provide DSP configuration information to the DSP unit; and

provide RF configuration information to the RF circuitry.

137. The flexible wireless communications system of claim 136, wherein the network fuser is further operable to determine that the additional sets of RF circuitry have been connected to the RF backplane and reconfigure the RF backplane.

138. The flexible wireless communication system of claim 130, wherein the GPE/CPE unit is configured to be deployed at a gateway as a portion of basestation.

139. The flexible wireless communication system of claim 130, wherein the GPE/CPE unit is configured to be deployed at a customer premises.

140. The flexible wireless communication system of claim 130, wherein the GPE/CPE unit is configured to have the same architecture whether deployed at a gateway or a customer premises.

131. The flexible wireless communication system of claim 131, wherein the RF circuitry and DSP unit are portions of a RAD unit.

133. The flexible wireless communication system of claim 131, wherein the GPE/CPE unit further comprises a network fuser operable to:

provide DSP configuration information to the DSP unit; and

provide RF configuration information to the RF circuitry.

134. The flexible wireless communications system of claim 133, wherein the network fuser is further operable to determine that additional sets of RF circuitry have been connected to the RF backplane.

141. A GPE/CPE unit comprising:

a DSP unit to generate a transmit signal;

an RF unit to generate a receive signal based on an input signal and an output signal based on the transmit signal and;

a network fuser is operable to;

receive data from a network;

configure the RF circuitry; and

provide digital signal processing (“

DSP”

) configuration information to DSP unit.

142. The GPE/CPE unit of claim 141, wherein providing DSP configuration information further comprises indicating a space-time algorithm to be applied by the DSP unit.

143. The GPE/CPE unit of claim 141, wherein providing DSP configuration information further comprises indicating a coding to be applied by the first DSP unit.

144. The GPE/CPE unit of claim 141, wherein providing DSP configuration information further comprises indicating a modulation to be applied by the first DSP unit.

145. The GPE/CPE unit of claim 141, wherein the GPE/CPE unit further comprises:

a plurality of antennas;

an RF backplane operable to connect the plurality of antennas to the RF circuitry in a variety of configurations.

146. The GPE/CPE unit of claim 145, wherein the network fuser is operable to configure the RF backplane.

147. The GPE/CPE unit of claim 141, wherein the network fuser is further operable to configure the GPE/CPE unit to establish a wireless MIMO communications link.

148. The GPE/CPE unit of claim 147, wherein the network fuser is operable to configure the GPE/CPE unit based on instantaneous channel data.

149. The GPE/CPE unit of claim 148, wherein the network fuser is further operable to instruct the GPE/CPE unit to probe a channel.

150. The GPE/CPE unit of claim 141, wherein the network fuser is further operable to provision bandwidth to a communication link established by the GPE/CPE unit.

151. The GPE/CPE unit of claim 141, wherein the network fuser is further operable to provide access controls.

152. The GPE/CPE unit of claim 141, wherein the GPE/CPE unit further comprises one or more adaptive antennas and wherein the network fuser is further operable to configure the GPE/CPE unit to adjust the one or more adaptive antennas.

153. The GPE/CPE unit of claim 152, wherein the network fuser can configure the GPE/CPE unit to adjust beam patterns.