Antenna training and tracking protocol

• US 9,048,945 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Cordeiro, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): LIAO, HSINCHUN
• Application Number:
  US12/229,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20090061784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,471 Days
• Field of Search: 455/68
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/21 for calibration; for correcting measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0613 using simultaneous transmission H04B7/0686 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/063 Parameters other than those covered in groups H04B7/0623 - H04B7/0634, e.g. channel matrix rank or transmit mode selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0684 using different training sequences per antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0837 using pre-detection combining H04B7/0868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0851 using training sequences or error signal minimizing error signal H04B7/0854
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

A particular communications protocol is used for antenna training to accomplish directional communications in a wireless communications network. In some embodiments, pertinent information for various requests, responses, and status reports, is included in information elements.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising

a first wireless communications device containing a radio, a processor, and a memory, the first wireless communications device configured to:

transmit, to a second wireless communications device, a request to perform antenna training with the second wireless communications device, the request containing a first information element with a first field indicating the request, wherein the first information element includes a third field to indicate a quantity of training sequences and a fourth field to indicate a length of the training sequences;

receive, from the second wireless communications device, a response to the request, the response containing a second information element with a second field indicating agreement to perform the antenna training; and

perform two-way antenna training with the second wireless communications device, the two way antenna training comprising;

transmission of a predetermined training sequences to the second communications device;

reception, from the second communications device, of a feedback associated with a quality of the transmission of the predetermined training sequences; and

based at least in part on the feedback received from the second communications device, determination of antenna parameters for subsequent directional communications with the second device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the request is included in either a management frame or a beacon.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said performing two-way antenna training comprises transmitting an acknowledgment including a third information element having a status of the antenna training.

4. An article comprising

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that contains instructions, which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising:

transmitting, from a first wireless communications device to a second wireless communications device, a request to perform antenna training with the second wireless communications device, wherein the first wireless communications device includes a plurality of antennas, and wherein the request containing a first information element with a first field indicating the request, wherein the first information element includes a third field to indicate a quantity of training sequences and a fourth field to indicate a length of the training sequences;

receiving, from the second wireless communications device, a response accepting the request to perform the antenna training, the acceptance being indicated in a second information element having a second field indicating agreement to perform the antenna training; and

performing two-way antenna training with the second wireless communications device, the two way antenna training comprising;

transmitting predetermined training sequences to the second communications device;

receiving, from the second communications device, a feedback associated with a quality of the transmission of the predetermined training sequences; and

based at least in part on the feedback received from the second communications device, determining antenna parameters for subsequent directional communications with the second device.

5. The article of claim 4, wherein the operation of transmitting the request comprises transmitting either a management frame or a beacon containing the request.

6. The article of claim 4, wherein the operation of performing two-way antenna training comprises receiving an acknowledgment including a third information element having a status of the antenna training.

7. An apparatus, comprising

a first wireless communications device containing a radio, a processor, and a memory, the first wireless communications device to:

receive, from a second wireless communications device, a request to perform antenna training with the second wireless communications device, the request containing a first information element with a first field indicating the request, wherein the first information element includes a third field to indicate a quantity of training sequences and a fourth field to indicate a length of the training sequences;

transmit, to the second wireless communications device, a response to the request, the response containing a second information element with a second field indicating agreement to perform the antenna training; and

perform two-way antenna training with the second wireless communications device, the two way antenna training comprising;

transmission of predetermined training sequences to the second communications device;

reception, from the second communications device, of a feedback associated with a quality of the transmission of the predetermined training sequences; and

based at least in part on the feedback received from the second communications device, determination of antenna parameters for subsequent directional communications with the second device;

wherein each of the first and second information elements begins with an element identification field, followed immediately by a duration field indicating a length of the information element, followed by multiple fields including either the first or second field.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the request is included in either a management frame or a beacon.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said performing two-way antenna training comprises transmitting an acknowledgment including a third information element having a status of the antenna training.

10. An article comprising

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that contains instructions, which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising:

receiving, from a wireless communications device, a request to perform antenna training with the wireless communications device, the request containing a first information element with a first field indicating the request, wherein the first information element includes a third field to indicate a quantity of training sequences and a fourth field to indicate a length of the training sequences;

transmitting, to the wireless communications device, a response accepting the request to perform the antenna training, the acceptance being indicated in a second information element having a second field indicating agreement to perform the antenna training; and

performing two-way antenna training with the wireless communications device, the two way antenna training comprising;

transmitting predetermined training sequences to the second communications device;

receiving, from the second communications device, a feedback associated with a quality of the transmission of the predetermined training sequences; and

based at least in part on the feedback received from the second communications device, selecting antenna parameters for subsequent directional communications with the second device.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein the operation of receiving the request comprises receiving either a management frame or a beacon containing the request.

12. The article of claim 10, wherein the operation of performing two-way antenna training comprises receiving an acknowledgment including a third information element having a status of the antenna training.

13. A device, comprising:

one or more memory devices having encoded thereon instructions; and

one or more processors coupled to the one or more memory devices and configured to execute the instructions to;

transmit, to a second wireless communications device, a request to perform antenna training with the second wireless communications device, wherein the request contains a first information element with a first field indicating the request, wherein the first information element includes a third field to indicate a quantity of training sequences and a fourth field to indicate a length of the training sequences;

receive, from the second wireless communications device, a response accepting the request to perform the antenna training, the acceptance being indicated in a second information element having a second field indicating agreement to perform the antenna training; and

perform two-way antenna training with the second wireless communications device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the request is included in either a management frame or a beacon.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said performing two-way antenna training comprises transmitting an acknowledgment including a third information element having a status of the antenna training.

16. A device, comprising:

one or more memory devices having encoded thereon instructions; and

one or more processors coupled to the one or more memory devices and configured to execute the instructions to;

receive a request from a wireless communications device to perform antenna training, the request containing a first information element with a first field indicating the request, wherein the first information element includes a third field to indicate a quantity of training sequences and a fourth field to indicate a length of the training sequences;

transmit, to the wireless communications device, a response accepting the request to perform the antenna training, the acceptance being indicated in a second information element having a second field indicating agreement to perform the antenna training; and

performing two-way antenna training with the wireless communications device.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the request is included in either a management frame or a beacon.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein said performing two-way antenna training comprises transmitting an acknowledgment including a third information element having a status of the antenna training.