Apparatus for generating at least one signal based on at least one aspect of at least two received signals

• US 20110142025A1
• Filed: 02/07/2011
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cpu Consultants, Inc
• Inventors: Bromberg, Matthew C., Agee, Brian G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/342
• 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: an 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 antennae array of M antennae; and processing circuitry, the processing circuitry in communication with the multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver. 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 two first 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; wherein 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. An apparatus, comprising:

an 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 antennae array of M antennae; and

processing circuitry, the processing circuitry in communication with the multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver, the processing circuitry capable of causing the apparatus to;

receive at least two first signals,

combine at least two of the at least two first 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;

wherein 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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that M is equal to 2.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that M is equal to 4.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that a first set of the antennae array of M antennae are capable of receiving the at least two first signals.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured such that a second set of the antennae array of M antennae are capable of simultaneously transmitting the at least two second signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first set of the antennae array of M antennae capable of receiving the at least two first signals is distinct from the second set of the antennae array of M antennae capable of simultaneously transmitting the at least two second signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first set of the antennae array of M antennae capable of receiving the at least two first signals is the same as the second set of the antennae array of M antennae capable of simultaneously transmitting the at least two second signals.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the antennae array of M antennae is at least one of spatially diverse or polarization diverse.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the processing circuitry includes digital signal processing circuitry capable of performing digital signal processing to convert analog radio signals into digital signals and digital signals into analog radio signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least one multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver includes a multitone transmission element.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least one multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver including the multitone transmission element is capable of multitone transmitting a first multitone format capable of being used by a first transceiver that is different than a second multitone format capable of being used by a second transceiver.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the processing circuitry includes a transceiver controller.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least one multiple-input and multiple-output transceiver includes at least one Fixed-Fourier Transform enabling chip.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least one multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver is capable of implementing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing utilizing the at least one Fixed-Fourier Transform enabling chip.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least one multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver is a vector orthogonal frequency division multiplexing transceiver.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the vector orthogonal frequency division multiplexing transceiver is capable of linearly combining data received over each antenna in the antennae array of M antennae.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises encoding circuitry capable of incorporating QAM or PSK symbols prior to transmission.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises decoding circuitry capable of interpreting QAM or PSK symbols.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus wherein the apparatus further comprises encoding circuitry capable of performing trellis encoding.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least one of the at least two second signals is capable of being received by a node located in a point to multipoint network.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least one of the at least two second signals is capable of being received by a node located in a mesh network.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the apparatus is further configured such that the node located in the mesh network includes a non-multiple-input and non-multiple-output capable node.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least one of the at least two second signals is capable of being received by a node located in a star network.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least two second signals are capable of being simultaneously transmitted as frequency coincident communications.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least two second signals are capable of being transmitted as time and frequency coincident communications.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that generating the at least two second signals includes generating spatially diverse signals.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the apparatus is configured such that generating the spatially diverse signals includes transmitting the at least two second signals from the antennae array of M antennae.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that generating the at least two second signals includes generating polarization diverse signals.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the apparatus is configured such that generating the polarization diverse signals includes transmitting the at least two second signals from a polarization diverse antennae array of M antennae.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that generating the at least two second signals includes generating route diverse signals.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the apparatus is configured such that generating the route diverse signals includes transmitting the at least two second signals to a node in a location separate than a location of the apparatus.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that simultaneously transmitting the at least two second signals includes transmitting such that at least two of the at least two second signals are capable of being received by a multiple-input and multiple-output capable node.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that simultaneously transmitting the at least two second signals includes transmitting such that at least two of the at least two second signals are capable of being received by a non-multiple-input and non-multiple-output capable node.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform transmit beamforming.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the transmit beamforming includes constructing linear distribution weights.

36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that linear combiner weights obtained during a receive operation are capable of being used to construct linear distribution weights for a subsequent transmit operation.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that linear combiner weights obtained during a receive operation are capable of being used to construct linear distribution weights for a subsequent transmit operation by setting transmission gains proportional to the distribution weights.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least two second signals include at least one cyclic prefix.

39. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further capable of causing the apparatus to calculate weights associated with the least two first signals.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the processing circuitry is further capable of causing the apparatus to apply the calculated weights to transmit data.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the processing circuitry is further capable of causing the apparatus to add a cyclic prefix to the transmit data;

and

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the antennae array of M antennae is capable of transmitting the at least two second signals of data including the transmit data.

42. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that generating the at least two second signals based on the at least one aspect of the at least two first signals includes constructing linear distribution weights based on the at least two first signals.

43. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that generating the at least two second signals based on the at least one aspect of the at least two first signals includes utilizing linear combiner weights obtained during a receive operation to construct linear distribution weights for a subsequent transmit operation.

44. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that generating the at least two second signals based on the at least one aspect of the at least two first signals includes utilizing linear combiner weights obtained during a receive operation to construct linear distribution weights for a subsequent transmit operation by setting transmission gains proportional to the distribution weights.

45. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate utilizing at least one of a CDMA protocol, a TDMA protocol, or an SDMA protocol.

46. An apparatus, comprising:

an antennae array of M antennae, where M is greater than or equal to two;

at least one multiple-input-capable receiver in communication with each antenna in the antennae array of M antennae;

decoding circuitry capable of causing data to be decoded; and

processing circuitry capable of causing diversity combining, the processing circuitry in communication with the multiple-input-capable receiver and the decoding circuitry, the processing circuitry capable of causing the apparatus to simultaneously receive at least two first diverse signals, the at least two first diverse signals being at least one of time coincident communications or frequency coincident communications.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least two diverse signals are time coincident communications.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least two diverse signals are frequency coincident communications.

49. An apparatus, comprising:

at least two antennas;

a multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver in communication with each of the at least two antennas;

processing circuitry capable of causing diversity combining, the processing circuitry in communication with the multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver, the processing circuitry capable of causing the apparatus to;

receive a first signal,

calculate weights associated with the first signal, and

apply the weights to transmit data, and

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the at least two antennas are capable of transmitting a second signal including the transmit data to a multiple-input capable node.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate utilizing at least one of a CDMA protocol, a TDMA protocol, or an SDMA protocol.