Multiple-antenna system for cellular communication and broadcasting
First Claim
1. A base station system for cellular communication and broadcasting in a plurality of transmission modes within a geographic area divided into a plurality of cells, the base station system comprising:
- a plurality of antennas capable of generating beam patterns adjustable in azimuth, elevation, or both for purposes of transmitting signals to mobile devices;
a signal distribution network coupled to the plurality of antennas, the signal distribution network enabling a plurality of input signals to be routed to one or more of the plurality of antennas; and
a controller coupled to the signal distribution network and the plurality of antennas, the controller enabling the base station system to be switched between a first mode of operation used for a first application wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas has a beam pattern with a first azimuth pattern and a first elevation pattern, and a second mode of operation used for a second application wherein the at least one of the plurality of antennas has a beam pattern with a second azimuth pattern and a second elevation pattern, whereinthe first mode of operation used for the first application is associated with a first group of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols to facilitate transmission to mobile devices within a cell;
wherein the first group of OFDM symbols is transmitted via an antenna by turning on one of multiple switches;
the second mode of operation used for the second application is associated with a second group of OFDM symbols to facilitate transmission to mobile devices in multiple cells over a single frequency network;
wherein the second group of OFDM symbols is transmitted via multiple antennas by turning on multiple switches;
the second azimuth pattern is wider than the first azimuth pattern, the second elevation pattern is more extended than the first elevation pattern, or the second azimuth pattern is wider than the first azimuth pattern and the second elevation pattern is more extended than the first elevation pattern; and
the mode switching takes place during a cyclic prefix or a cyclic postfix between OFDM symbols.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple-antenna system for use in cellular communication and broadcasting. The multiple-antenna transmission system can be controlled, adjusted, configured, or reconfigured to produce desirable radiation beam patterns suitable for different types of applications. A signal distribution network may be provided in the multiple-antenna system. The signal distribution network is embedded in a transmitter and controls the distribution of signals to one or more antennas in accordance with application requirements. Various antenna radiation patterns suitable for different applications can be generated by reconfiguring the connections and gain settings in the signal distribution network. For example, narrow beams may be generated for use in unicast applications, whereas sector beams may be generated for use in broadcast applications. Certain techniques may be employed to manage the transition from one type of transmission mode to another type of transmission mode.
27 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A base station system for cellular communication and broadcasting in a plurality of transmission modes within a geographic area divided into a plurality of cells, the base station system comprising:
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a plurality of antennas capable of generating beam patterns adjustable in azimuth, elevation, or both for purposes of transmitting signals to mobile devices; a signal distribution network coupled to the plurality of antennas, the signal distribution network enabling a plurality of input signals to be routed to one or more of the plurality of antennas; and a controller coupled to the signal distribution network and the plurality of antennas, the controller enabling the base station system to be switched between a first mode of operation used for a first application wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas has a beam pattern with a first azimuth pattern and a first elevation pattern, and a second mode of operation used for a second application wherein the at least one of the plurality of antennas has a beam pattern with a second azimuth pattern and a second elevation pattern, wherein the first mode of operation used for the first application is associated with a first group of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols to facilitate transmission to mobile devices within a cell;
wherein the first group of OFDM symbols is transmitted via an antenna by turning on one of multiple switches;the second mode of operation used for the second application is associated with a second group of OFDM symbols to facilitate transmission to mobile devices in multiple cells over a single frequency network;
wherein the second group of OFDM symbols is transmitted via multiple antennas by turning on multiple switches;the second azimuth pattern is wider than the first azimuth pattern, the second elevation pattern is more extended than the first elevation pattern, or the second azimuth pattern is wider than the first azimuth pattern and the second elevation pattern is more extended than the first elevation pattern; and the mode switching takes place during a cyclic prefix or a cyclic postfix between OFDM symbols. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of transmitting signals to mobile devices with a base station system for cellular communication and broadcasting in a multi-cell orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless network, the method comprising:
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identifying a first beam pattern suitable for transmitting signals to mobile devices within a cell for a first application using a first group of OFDM symbols, the first beam pattern having an azimuth pattern and an elevation pattern; configuring a signal distribution network to route and amplify first signals from one or more baseband processors to one of a plurality of antennas by turning on one of multiple switches for transmission to the cell, wherein the routing and amplification are selected in order to generate the first beam pattern suitable for transmitting signals to mobile devices within the cell for the first application; identifying a second beam pattern suitable for transmitting signals to mobile devices in multiple cells for a second application using a second group of OFDM symbols, the second beam pattern being wider in azimuth than the first beam pattern, more extended in elevation than the first beam pattern, or wider in azimuth than the first beam pattern and more extended in elevation than the first beam pattern; and reconfiguring the signal distribution network to route and amplify second signals from the one or more baseband processors to the plurality of antennas by turning on multiple switches for transmission to the multiple cells, wherein the routing and amplification are selected in order to generate the second beam pattern suitable for transmitting signals to mobile devices in multiple cells for the second application, the reconfiguring taking place during a cyclic prefix or cyclic postfix between OFDM symbols. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification