TRANSMIT CO-CHANNEL SPECTRUM SHARING

• US 20130293419A1
• Filed: 07/02/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: COMS IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: CBF Networks, Inc. (COMSovereign Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Negus, Kevin J., Proctor, James A. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,179,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/371
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/20 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062
• 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 3/2617 Array of identical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

An intelligent backhaul system is disclosed for deployment in the presence of existing radio systems. A backhaul system for co-channel deployment with existing licensed and unlicensed wireless networks, including conventional cellular backhaul radios, Common Carrier Fixed Point-to-Point Microwave Service, Private Operational Fixed Point-to-Point Microwave Service and other FCC 47 C.F.R. §101 licensed microwave networks is disclosed. Processing and network elements to manage and control the deployment and management of backhaul of radios that connect remote edge access networks to core networks in a geographic zone which co-exist with such existing systems or other sources of interference within a radio environment are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An intelligent backhaul radio comprising:

a plurality of receive RF chains;

one or more transmit RF chains;

an antenna array comprising a plurality of directive gain antenna elements, wherein each directive gain antenna element is couplable to at least one receive RF or transmit RF chain; and

an interface bridge configured to couple the intelligent backhaul radio to a data network, the interface bridge comprising one or more Ethernet interfaces to couple the interface bridge to the data network

wherein the intelligent backhaul radio is configured to scan a plurality of radio frequency channels for the presence of radio signals transmitted from one or more point to point microwave systems to generate scan data, and wherein the intelligent backhaul radio comprises at least one adjustable network parameter that is adjustable based on the scan data

wherein the at least one network parameter is adjusted to reduce a potential of interference of the intelligent backhaul radio with the one or more point to point microwave systems

wherein the intelligent backhaul radio is a first intelligent backhaul radio, and wherein the adjusting the at least one network parameter comprises one or more of;

selecting a frequency channel utilized between the first intelligent backhaul radio and a second intelligent backhaul radio;

adjusting the effective radiation pattern of the first intelligent backhaul radio;

selecting one or more of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements; and

adjusting the physical configuration or arrangement of the one or more of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements.

2. The radio of claim 1, wherein the intelligent backhaul radio is further configured to generate a scan report based on the scan data and transmit the scan report to a server.

3. The radio of claim 1, wherein the signals comprise a signal licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under 47 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 101 as a common carrier fixed point-to-point microwave service or as a private operational fixed point-to-point microwave service.

4. The radio of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the effective radiation pattern comprises one or more of:

steering the effective radiation pattern in elevation; and

steering the effective radiation pattern in azimuth.

5. The radio of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the effective radiation pattern comprises:

calculating digital beam former weights based upon at least one constraint related to the potential of interference; and

applying the digital beam former weights.

6. The radio of claim 5, wherein the constraint is selected from the group consisting of:

properties related to or derived from said scan result;

a direction in which signal transmission is to be limited;

parameters which reduce the potential for interfering with said one or more point to point microwave systems;

parameters which increase the likelihood of said first and said second internet backhaul radios meeting performance goals with respect to an interposed wireless communication link;

a restriction of use of specific transceivers or specific antennas of a plurality of transceivers or antennas;

a use of specific polarizations for transmission;

attributes of a collective transmission radiation pattern associated with a plurality of transmitters;

a frequency or geometric translation of beam forming weights between receiver weights and transmitter weights;

based upon a change in antennas used or selected;

based upon a change in operating frequency; and

combinations thereof.

7. The radio of claim 2, wherein the scan report comprises one more selected from the group consisting of:

the location of said first IBR;

the latitude and longitudinal coordinates of one or more IBRs;

configuration information related to the first IBR;

capability information related to the first IBR;

a transmission power capability of said first IBR;

operating frequency capability of said first IBR;

antenna property information related to one or more antenna for use in reception or transmission by said first IBR;

received signal parameters or demodulated information from another internet backhaul radio;

received signal parameters from a received point to point microwave system; and

combinations thereof.

8. The radio of claim 1, wherein the intelligent backhaul radio is further configured to assess performance after adjustment of the at least one adjustable network parameter.

9. The radio of claim 8, wherein the intelligent backhaul radio is a first intelligent backhaul radio wherein the performance is assessed by one or more selected from the group consisting of:

performing additional scans;

performing additional scans with specific search criteria;

performing additional scans with limitations in frequency, azimuth, elevation, or time;

performing additional scans with a modified antenna selection configuration;

performing additional scans using antennas intended for transmission during normal operation for reception during the additional scanning process;

performing transmission of a signal from the first intelligent backhaul radio to a second intelligent backhaul radio,

receiving a signal from the second intelligent backhaul radio by the first intelligent backhaul radio.

10. The radio of claim 1, wherein the intelligent backhaul radio is a first intelligent backhaul radio, and wherein the first intelligent backhaul radio is configured to align the antenna array with a second intelligent backhaul radio prior to the scan based on at least one criterion.

11. The radio of claim 10, wherein the at least one criterion is based at least in part upon a signal transmitted from the second intelligent backhaul radio.

12. The radio of claim 10, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a GPS location and a compass direction.

13. An intelligent backhaul system comprising:

an intelligent backhaul radio comprising;

a plurality of receive RF chains;

one or more transmit RF chains;

an antenna array comprising a plurality of directive gain antenna elements, wherein each directive gain antenna element is couplable to at least one receive RF or transmit RF chain; and

an interface bridge configured to couple the intelligent backhaul radio to a data network, the interface bridge comprising one or more Ethernet interfaces to couple the interface bridge to the data network

wherein the intelligent backhaul radio is configured to scan a plurality of radio frequency channels for the presence of radio signals transmitted from one or more point to point microwave systems to generate scan data, and wherein the intelligent backhaul radio comprises at least one adjustable network parameter that is adjustable based on the scan data; and

a server in communication with the intelligent backhaul radio, wherein the server is configured to receive the scan data from the intelligent backhaul radio

wherein the at least one network parameter is adjusted to reduce the potential of interference of the intelligent backhaul radio with the one or more point to point microwave systems

wherein the intelligent backhaul radio is a first intelligent backhaul radio, and wherein the adjusting the at least one network parameter comprises one or more of;

selecting a frequency channel utilized between the first intelligent backhaul radio and a second intelligent backhaul radio;

adjusting the effective radiation pattern of the first intelligent backhaul radio;

selecting one or more of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements; and

adjusting the physical configuration or arrangement of the one or more of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the intelligent backhaul radio is further configured to generate a scan report based on the scan data, and wherein the server is configured to receive the scan report.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the server utilizes the scan data to identify the at least one network parameter to be adjusted.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the signals comprise a signal licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under 47 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 101 as a common carrier fixed point-to-point microwave service or as a private operational fixed point-to-point microwave service.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the scan data is analyzed by the server to determine a potential of interference of the intelligent backhaul radio with the one or more point to point microwave systems.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the server performs a mathematical modeling of the radio propagation of one or more potentially interfering signals from the intelligent backhaul radio to the one or more point to point microwave systems.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the adjusting the effective radiation pattern comprises one or more of:

steering the effective radiation pattern in elevation; and

steering the effective radiation pattern in azimuth.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the adjusting the effective radiation pattern comprises:

calculating digital beam former weights based upon at least one constraint related to the potential of interference; and

applying the digital beam former weights.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the constraint is selected from the group consisting of:

properties related to or derived from said scan result;

a direction in which signal transmission is to be limited;

parameters which reduce the potential for interfering with said one or more point to point microwave systems;

parameters which increase the likelihood of said first and said second internet backhaul radios meeting performance goals with respect to an interposed wireless communication link;

a restriction of use of specific transceivers or specific antennas of a plurality of transceivers or antennas;

a use of specific polarizations for transmission;

attributes of a collective transmission radiation pattern associated with a plurality of transmitters;

a frequency or geometric translation of beam forming weights between receiver weights and transmitter weights;

based upon a change in antennas used or selected;

based upon a change in operating frequency; and

combinations thereof.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the scan report comprises one more selected from the group consisting of:

the location of said first IBR;

the latitude and longitudinal coordinates of one or more IBRs;

configuration information related to the first IBR;

capability information related to the first IBR;

a transmission power capability of said first IBR;

operating frequency capability of said first IBR;

antenna property information related to one or more antenna for use in reception or transmission by said first IBR;

received signal parameters, or demodulated information from another internet backhaul radio;

received signal parameters from a received point to point microwave system; and

combinations thereof.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the intelligent backhaul radio is further configured to assess performance after adjustment of the at least one adjustable network parameter.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the intelligent backhaul radio is a first intelligent backhaul radio wherein the performance is assessed by one or more selected from the group consisting of:

performing additional scans;

performing additional scans with specific search criteria;

performing additional scans with limitations in frequency, azimuth, elevation, or time;

performing additional scans with a modified antenna selection configuration;

performing additional scans using antennas intended for transmission during normal operation for reception during the additional scanning process;

performing transmission of a signal from the first intelligent backhaul radio to a second intelligent backhaul radio,

receiving a signal from the second intelligent backhaul radio by the first intelligent backhaul radio.

25. The system of claim 13, wherein the intelligent backhaul radio is a first intelligent backhaul radio, and wherein the first intelligent backhaul radio is configured to align the antenna array with a second intelligent backhaul radio prior to the scan based on at least one criterion.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one criterion is based at least in part upon a signal transmitted from the second intelligent backhaul radio.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a GPS location and a compass direction.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising an installation assisting device, and wherein the installation assisting device determines the GPS location and the compass direction.

29. The system of claim 13, wherein the server is coupled with a database, and wherein the database comprises information related to one or more existing point to point microwave sites.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the information comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of:

radio service group;

fixed transmit location details;

latitude and longitude of one or more existing point to point microwave sites;

street address of one or more existing point to point microwave sites;

site elevation;

antenna elevation;

transmitter antenna height;

polarization,

beam width,

antenna pointing azimuth and elevation angle;

antenna gain;

transmitter power or equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP);

frequency of operation or frequency tolerance;

emission designator;

equipment modulation type and rate; and

equipment manufacturer.