METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UTILIZING SMART ANTENNAS IN ESTABLISHING A BACKHAUL NETWORK

• US 20140287791A1
• Filed: 06/06/2014
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ozluturk, Fatih M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,596,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/509
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/026 Co-operative diversity, e.g. using fixed or mobile stations as relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0695 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/42 Centralised routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/06 based on characteristics of available antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/322 Power control of broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• 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: H04W 92/14 between access point controllers and backbone network device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for utilizing smart antennas in transmission of messages between nodes are disclosed. A wireless communication system includes a plurality of nodes, and each node is capable of being connected to each other node. At least a portion of the nodes are provided with a smart antenna configured to generate a plurality of directional beams. Each node maintains a list of other nodes and beam configuration information to be used in transmission of messages to other nodes. When a source node is required to transmit to a target node, the source node retrieves the beam configuration information and transmits with a directional beam directed to the target node.

Claims

1. A node comprising:

a wired connection to a core network configured to exchange backhaul information with the core network and for exchanging backhaul information for a second node with the core network;

a controller configured to send to the second node the received backhaul information for the second node using an antenna array;

wherein the controller selects an antenna radiation pattern for transmission of the second node backhaul data; and

the antenna array configured to transmit the second node backhaul data to the second node using the selected antenna radiation pattern.

2. The node of claim 1 wherein the second node backhaul data is transmitted in at least a first frequency and the control is further configured to transmit to a third node data in a second antenna radiation pattern on the first frequency.

3. The node of claim 2 wherein the third node data is backhaul data for the third node.

4. The node of claim 1 wherein the antenna radiation pattern is dynamically selected in response to channel conditions.

5. The node of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to receive load information from at least a third node and the controller schedules the transmission of the second node backhaul data in response to the received load information.

6. A method comprising:

exchanging, by a network node, over a wired connection backhaul information with a core network and for exchanging backhaul information for a second node with the core network;

sending, by the network node, to the second node the received backhaul information for the second node using an antenna array;

wherein a controller selects an antenna radiation pattern; and

transmitting, by the network node, the second node backhaul data using the selected antenna radiation pattern.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the second node backhaul data is transmitted in at least a first frequency and the network node transmits to a third node data in a second antenna radiation pattern on the first frequency.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the third node data is backhaul data for the third node.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the antenna radiation pattern is dynamically selected in response to channel conditions.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising receiving, by the network node, load information from at least a third node and scheduling, by the network node, the transmission of the second node backhaul data in response to the received load information.

11. A wireless node comprising:

an antenna array configured to receive backhaul data from a network node;

wherein the backhaul data was transmitted using a selected antenna radiation pattern from an antenna array; and

a controller configured to have data transmitted to a third node using a selected antenna radiation pattern over the antenna array.