METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING SPECTRUM USE EFFICIENCY IN A MESH NETWORK

• US 20120057455A1
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Walton, Jay Rodney, Nanda, Sanjiv
• Granted Patent: US 8,705,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Mesh Network Access Points (APs) points, including gateways and routers, are deployed over a geographic area. The APs monitor the communication channel for other carriers and transmit accordingly. The APs selectively co-transmit when other carriers are sensed, if the efficiency of the mesh network will improve. APs select a transmission rate based on observed carrier-to-interference ratios. APs use directional antennas to increase carrier-to-interference ratios and spectral efficiency. AP transmit schedules are adaptable and adjusted according to observed carrier-to-interference measurements.

Claims

1. A method of managing a communications resource in a mesh network, comprising:

monitoring a communication channel for one or more carriers;

measuring signal strength for the one or more carriers;

determining an expected carrier-to-interference ratio for a transmission on the communication channel based on the measured signal strength; and

transmitting data at a data rate selected based on the expected carrier-to-interference ratio.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the data is further based on whether the signal strength meets a transmit threshold condition.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising adjusting the transmit threshold based on an expected spectral efficiency of the mesh network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the expected carrier-to-interference ratio for the communication channel is further based on one or more carrier sense measurements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data rate is selected to compensate for increased co-channel interference caused by transmitting the data.

6. An apparatus for managing a communications resource in a mesh network, comprising:

a monitoring module configured to monitor a communication channel for one or more carriers;

a measuring module configured to measure signal strength for the one or more carriers;

a determining module configured to determine an expected carrier-to-interference ratio for a transmission on the communication channel based on the measured signal strength; and

a transmitting module configured to transmit data at a data rate selected based on the expected carrier-to-interference ratio.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein transmitting the data is further based on whether the signal strength meets a transmit threshold condition.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an adjusting module configured to adjust the transmit threshold based on an expected spectral efficiency of the mesh network.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein determining the expected carrier-to-interference ratio for the communication channel is further based on one or more carrier sense measurements.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the data rate is selected to compensate for increased co-channel interference caused by transmitting the data.

11. An apparatus of managing a communications resource in a mesh network, comprising:

means for monitoring a communication channel for one or more carriers;

means for measuring signal strength for the one or more carriers;

means for determining an expected carrier-to-interference ratio for a transmission on the communication channel based on the measured signal strength; and

means for transmitting data at a data rate selected based on the expected carrier-to-interference ratio.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein transmitting the data is further based on whether the signal strength meets a transmit threshold condition.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising means for adjusting the transmit threshold based on an expected spectral efficiency of the mesh network.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein determining the expected carrier-to-interference ratio for the communication channel is further based on one or more carrier sense measurements.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data rate is selected to compensate for increased co-channel interference caused by transmitting the data.

16. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, stored thereon, that upon execution cause a machine to:

monitor a communication channel for one or more carriers;

measure signal strength for the one or more carriers;

determine an expected carrier-to-interference ratio for a transmission on the communication channel based on the measured signal strength; and

transmit data at a data rate selected based on the expected carrier-to-interference ratio.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein transmitting the data is further based on whether the signal strength meets a transmit threshold condition.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions, stored thereon, that upon execution cause the machine to adjust the transmit threshold based on an expected spectral efficiency of the mesh network.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein determining the expected carrier-to-interference ratio for the communication channel is further based on one or more carrier sense measurements.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the data rate is selected to compensate for increased co-channel interference caused by transmitting the data.