Universal wideband switchless channel selector

• US 6,363,263 B1
• Filed: 07/15/1997
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Metawave Communications Corp.
• Inventors: Reudink, Douglas O., Peterson, Curt, Reudink, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAVER, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US08/893,170
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 455/562, 455/33.1, 455/63, 455/64, 455/523, 455/524, 455/25, 455/446, 455/447, 455/101, 455/449, 455/507, 370/480, 370/334, 370/335, 370/339, 370/340
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/00 Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures

Abstract

A system and method for providing a particular wireless communication signal appearing within an antenna beam to a cellular base station to the exclusion of other communication signals also appearing within the antenna beam is disclosed. Preferably multiple narrow antenna beams are utilized to target a communication unit sourcing the particular communication signal. Signals provided by these multiple narrow beams are filtered to exclude undesired communication signals appearing therein and then are provided to select inputs of the cellular base station. Preferably the system of the disclosed invention is adapted to substantially universally couple to various cellular base station configurations.

Claims

1. A system for providing a select communication channel of a plurality of communication channels detectable within a select antenna beam signal of a plurality of narrow antenna beam signals to an interface of a communication device to the exclusion of other communication channels of said plurality of communication channels detectable within said select antenna beam signal, said system comprising:

means for filtering each antenna beam signal of said plurality of narrow antenna beam signals, said filtering means having for each antenna beam signal the ability to selectively pass any communication channel of a predetermined set of communication channels to the exclusion of other communication channels of said predetermined set of communication channels, wherein said plurality of communication channels are associated with a same communication link direction of said communication device; and

means for controlling said filtering means, said controlling means monitoring ones of said plurality of narrow antenna beam signals to determine said select antenna beam signal to be utilized to provide said select communication channel;

wherein said system is adapted to couple to a plurality of different configurations of said communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said determination of said antenna beam signal to be utilized is a function of a communication channel attribute selected from the group consisting of:

a receive signal strength indicator;

a signal to noise ratio; and

a carrier to interference ratio.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said determination of said antenna beam signal to be utilized is a function of historical data with respect to utilization of ones of said plurality of antenna beam signals.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication device interface is selected from a plurality of communication device interfaces, said select communication channel being selectively provided to said select communication device interface by said controlling means allowing said select communication channel to pass a filter of said filtering means associated with said select communication device interface.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said select communication device interface is an interface associated with a particular set of communication channels as defined at said communication device and said select communication channel is included in said set of communication channels.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said select communication device interface is associated with another device interface associated with the same particular set of communication channels.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said controlling means is adapted to accept information provided from an external source regarding said select communication channel.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said external source is selected from the group consisting of a base transceiver station scan receiver, a remote communication device, a base controller station, a communication network controller, and a mobile switching office.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said filtering means comprises:

a plurality of adjustable filters associated with each antenna beam signal of said plurality of narrow antenna beam signals, said plurality of adjustable filters being adapted to adjustably pass any communication channel of said set of communication channels.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said filtering means comprises:

at least one filter associated with each antenna beam signal of said plurality of narrow antenna beam signals adapted to pass a channel of said set of channels; and

a switch associated with said at least one filter, said switch being controlled by said controlling means.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said filtering means comprises:

means for converting an analogue signal associated with each antenna beam signal of said plurality of narrow antenna beam signals to a digital signal;

means for processing each said digital signal to produce a desired digital signal; and

means for converting said desired digital signal to an analogue signal including a channel of said set of channels.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication device is a component of a cellular communications network.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of narrow antenna beam signals are provided by an antenna system selected from the group of antenna systems comprising:

a fixed beam multiple beam antenna system; and

an steerable beam multiple beam antenna system.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is adapted to couple to said communication device utilizing antenna beam signal interfaces previously existing at said communication device and supplanting substantially only an antenna structure.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for canceling communication channel interference on said select communication channel.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said control means further comprises:

means for providing an alarm signal to a communication network operations center.

17. A method for providing a select communication channel of a plurality of communication channels detectable within an antenna beam signal to an interface of a communication device adapted to conduct communications via said select communication channel to the exclusion of other communication channels of said plurality of communication channels detectable within said antenna beam signal, said method comprising the steps of:

filtering said antenna beam signal, said filtering step selectively passing any communication channel of a predetermined set of communication channels to the exclusion of other communication channels of said predetermined set of communication channels wherein said plurality of communication channels are associated with a same communication link direction of said communication device; and

controlling said filtering step as a function of communication channel information provided by said communication device to pass said select communication channel to the exclusion of other communication channels of said plurality of communication channels, wherein said control step further comprises the step of providing an alarm signal to a communication network operations center.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said controlling step also controls said filtering step as a function of information provided from a source selected from the group consisting of:

a base controller station;

a communication network controller; and

a mobile switching office.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said controlling step also controls said filtering step as a function of historical information with respect to utilization of ones of said plurality communication channels.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said communication device interface is selected from a plurality of communication device interfaces, said select communication channel being selectively provided to said select communication device interface by said controlling step allowing said select communication channel to pass a filter associated with said select communication device interface.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said select communication device interface is an interface associated with a particular set of communication channels as defined at said communication device and said select communication channel is included in said set of communication channels.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein said filtering step comprises the step of:

adjusting at least one adjustable filter associated with said antenna beam signal, said at least one adjustable filter being adapted to adjustably pass a communication channel of said set of communication channels.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein said filtering step comprises the step of:

activating a switch associated with at least one filter adapted to pass a communication channel of said set of communication channels.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein said filtering step comprises the steps of:

converting an analogue signal associated with said antenna beam signal to a digital signal;

processing said digital signal to produce a desired digital signal; and

converting said desired digital signal to an analogue signal.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein said communication device is associated with a cellular communications network.

26. The method of claim 17 wherein said antenna beam signal is selected from a plurality of antenna beam signals.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said controlling step includes the step of:

monitoring said antenna beam signal to determine an attribute associated with said select communication channel.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said controlling step also controls said filtering step as a function of historical information with respect to utilization of ones of said plurality of antenna beam signals.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said antenna beam signal is selected as a function of said monitored attribute.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said plurality of antenna beam signals are provided by an antenna system selected from the group of antenna systems comprising:

a fixed beam multiple beam antenna system; and

an steerable beam multiple beam antenna system.

32. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

coupling a system to said communication device utilizing antenna beam signal interfaces previously existing at said communication device and supplanting substantially only an antenna structure.

33. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

canceling communication channel interference on said select communication channel.

56. The method of claim 17, wherein said communication device includes a base transceiver scan receiver.

28. The method of claim 28, wherein said attribute is selected from the group consisting of:

a receive signal strength indicator;

a signal to noise ratio; and

a carrier to interference ratio.

34. A system for providing a select communication channel of a plurality of communication channels included within a communication device signal to a select antenna beam of a plurality of antenna beams to the exclusion of other communication channels of said plurality of communication channels, said system comprising:

means for filtering said communication device signal, said filtering means having the ability to selectively pass any communication channel of said plurality of communication channels to each antenna beam; and

means for controlling said filtering means, said controlling means monitoring ones of said plurality of antenna beams to determine said select antenna beam to provide said select communication channel, wherein said determination of said select antenna beam is a function of statistical data of use of ones of said plurality of antenna beams.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said determination of said select antenna beam is a function of a communication channel attribute selected from the group consisting of:

a receive signal strength indicator;

a signal to noise ratio; and

a carrier to interference ratio.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein said controlling means is adapted to accept information provided from an external source regarding said select communication channel.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said external source is selected from the group consisting of a base transceiver station scan receiver, a base controller station, a communication network controller, and a mobile switching office.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein said filtering means comprises:

a plurality of adjustable filters associated with each antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams, said plurality of adjustable filters being adapted to adjustably pass any communication channel of said plurality of communication channels.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein said filtering means comprises:

at least one filter associated with each antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams adapted to pass a channel of said plurality of channels; and

a switch associated with said at least one filter, said switch being controlled by said controlling means.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein said filtering means comprises:

means for converting said communication device signal to a digital signal;

means for processing said digital signal to produce a desired digital signal including said select communication channel; and

means for converting said desired digital signal to an analogue signal associated with said select antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beam.

41. A system for communicating a select communication channel signal between an antenna structure having a plurality of antenna beams associated therewith and a radio apparatus having a plurality of communication channels associated therewith, said system comprising:

first means for splitting a signal associated with each antenna beam of said plurality of antenna beams to provide a plurality of split antenna beam signals associated with each antenna beam, wherein each antenna beam signal of said plurality of antenna beam signals is split into a plurality of split antenna beam signals including the same signal content as said antenna beam signal from which they are split;

second means for splitting ones of said split antenna beam signals to provide a plurality of channel signals associated with said ones of said split antenna beam signals, wherein each split antenna beam signal of said plurality of split antenna beam signals is split into a plurality of channel signals including the same signal content as said split antenna beam signal from which they are split;

means for filtering ones of said channel signals to result in only select communication channels of said plurality of communication channels to remain therein;

means for combining ones of said filtered channel signals to provide combined filtered channel signals associated with a select interface port of said radio apparatus; and

means for controlling said filtering means, said controlling means utilizing ones of said split antenna beam signals to ascertain information regarding said communication channels as detectable within ones of said antenna beam signals to determine a particular antenna beam signal of said signals associated with said antenna beams to provide said select communication channel signal through said filtering means to an interface port of said radio apparatus, wherein said determination of said particular antenna beam signal of said signals to provide said selected communication channel signal through said filtering means is a function of statistical data of use of ones of said plurality of antenna beams.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein said controlling means is adapted to accept information provided from an external source regarding a communication channel of said plurality of channels to provide to said radio apparatus.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein said external source is selected from the group consisting of a base transceiver station scan receiver, a base controller station, a communication network controller, and a mobile switching office.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein said filtering means comprises:

a plurality of adjustable filters adapted to adjustably pass at least one channel of said plurality of channels.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein said filtering means comprises:

a plurality of filters adapted to pass at least one channel of said plurality of channels; and

means for switchably coupling ones of said plurality of channel signals to ones of said plurality of filters.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein said select interface port of said radio apparatus is an interface port associated with a sector as defined at said radio apparatus.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein said radio apparatus comprises a cellular communications base station.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein said cellular communications base station is previously deployed and said system is adapted to provide a base station applique, said applique coupling to said base station utilizing existing inputs and usurping substantially only an existing antenna structure.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein said appliqué

is adapted to couple a plurality of different configurations of base stations.

50. The system of claim 41, further comprising:

means for canceling communication channel interference in said select communication channel signal.

63. The system of claim 41, wherein said system is adapted to couple to a plurality of different configurations of said radio apparatus.

51. An apparatus for adapting a cellular base station to accept multiple antenna beam signals, said apparatus for communicating a select frequency band between select antenna beam signal of said multiple antenna beam signals and a receiver, said apparatus comprising:

a first plurality of signal splitters to provide a plurality of split antenna beam signals associated with each said antenna beam, wherein at least one signal splitter of said first plurality of signal splitters is associated with each antenna beam signal;

a second plurality of signal splitters to provide a plurality of channel signals, wherein at least one splitter of said second plurality of splitters is associated with a split antenna beam signal of each antenna beam signal;

a plurality of filters to provide a filtered channel signal, wherein at least one filter of said plurality of filters is associated with each said channel signal;

a plurality of combiners to combine select ones of said filtered channel signals ones of said filtered channel signals, wherein at least one combiner of said plurality of combiners is associated with an input of said cellular base station;

a controller controlling said plurality of filters, said controller utilizing ones of said split antenna beam signals to ascertain information regarding said select frequency band as detectable within ones of said antenna beam signals to determine said select antenna beam signal to provide to said input of said cellular base station, wherein said controller is adapted to accept information provided from an external source regarding said select frequency band, wherein said determination of said particular antenna beam signal of said signals to provide said selected communication channel signal through said filtering means is a function of statistical data of use of ones of said plurality of antenna beams.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said external source is selected from the group consisting of a scan receiver, a base controller station, a communication network controller, and a mobile switching office.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein ones of said plurality of filters comprise:

an adjustable filter adapted to adjustably pass at least said select frequency band.

54. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein ones of said filters comprise:

a filter adapted to pass at least said select frequency band; and

a switch coupled to said filter.

55. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said select input of said cellular base station is a sector input as defined at said base station.

64. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said apparatus is adapted to couple to a plurality of different configurations of said cellular base stations.

57. A method for providing a select communication channel of a plurality of communication channels detectable within an antenna beam signal to an interface of a device to the exclusion of other communication channels of said plurality of communication channels detectable within said antenna beam signal, said method comprising the steps of:

filtering said antenna beam signal, said filtering step selectively passing any communication channel of a predetermined set of communication channels to the exclusion of other communication channels of said predetermined set of communication channels, wherein said plurality of communication channels are associated with a same communication link direction of said communication device; and

controlling said filtering step to pass said select communication channel to the exclusion of other communication channels of said plurality of communication channels as a function of historical information with respect to utilization of ones of said plurality of communication channels.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein said controlling step also controls said filtering step as a function of communication channel information provided by a source selected from the group consisting of a base transceiver station scan receiver, a base controller station a communication network controller, and a mobile switching office.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein said filtering step comprises the step of:

adjusting at least one adjustable filter associated with said antenna beam signal, said at least one adjustable filter being adapted to adjustably pass a communication channel of said set of communication channels.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein said filtering step comprises the step of:

activating a switch associated with at least one filter adapted to pass a communication channel of said set of communication channels.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein said filtering step comprises the steps of:

converting an analogue signal associated with said antenna beam signal to a digital signal;

processing said digital signal to produce a desired digital signal; and

converting said desired digital signal to an analogue signal.

62. The method of claim 57, wherein said antenna beam signal is provided by an antenna system selected from the group of antenna systems comprising:

a fixed beam multiple beam antenna system; and

an steerable beam multiple beam antenna system.

65. A system for providing a select communication channel of a plurality of communication channels detectable within a select antenna beam signal of a plurality of narrow antenna beam signals to an interface of a communication device to the exclusion of other communication channels of said plurality of communication channels detectable within said select antenna beam signal, said system comprising:

means for filtering each antenna beam signal of said plurality of narrow antenna beam signals, said filtering means having for each antenna beam signal the ability to selectively pass any communication channel of a predetermined set of communication channels to the exclusion of other communication channels of said predetermined set of communication channels, wherein said plurality of communication channels are associated with a same communication link direction of said communication device; and

means for controlling said filtering means, said controlling means monitoring ones of said plurality of narrow antenna beam signals to determine said select antenna beam signal to be utilized to provide said select communication channel, wherein said control means further comprises means for providing an alarm signal to a communication network operations center.