Method and system for centralized distributed transceiver management

• US 9,112,648 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peltbeam Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Golba LLC
• Inventors: Moshfeghi, Mehran
• Primary Examiner(s): LEVITAN, DMITRY
• Application Number:
  US13/473,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20130094439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/339, 370/464, 370/465, 455/500, 455/515, 455/517, 455/59, 455/68, 455/69
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/401 for selecting or indicating operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/024 Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/043 using best eigenmode, e.g. beam forming or beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0689 using different transmission schemes, at least one of them being a diversity transmission scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0897 using beamforming per multi-path, e.g. to cope with different directions of arrival [DOA] at different multi-paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/12 Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0032 Distributed allocation, i.e. involving a plurality of allocating devices, each making partial allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0473 the resource being transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A master application device comprises a plurality of distributed transceivers, a central baseband processor, and a network management engine that manages operation of the master application device and end-user application devices. The master application device communicates data streams to the end-user devices utilizing one or more distributed transceivers selected from the plurality of distributed transceivers. The selected distributed transceivers are dynamically configured to switch between spatial diversity mode, frequency diversity mode, multiplexing mode and MIMO mode based on corresponding link quality and propagation environment. Digital signal processing needed for the selected distributed transceivers is performed by the central baseband processor. The network management engine continuously monitors communication environment information to configure beamforming settings and/or antenna arrangement for the selected distributed transceivers. Connection types, communication protocols, and/or transceiver operation modes are determined for the selected distributed transceivers. Resources are allocated to the selected distributed transceivers to continue subsequent data communication.

Claims

1. A method of communication, the method comprising:

in a first device that comprises a plurality of distributed transceivers, each distributed transceiver of the first device comprising an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas;

configuring the plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device to operate in a first mode of operation of a plurality of modes of operation to communicate a set of data streams to a second device, the second device comprising a plurality of distributed transceivers, each distributed transceiver of the second device comprising an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas;

identifying a set of conditions comprising at least one of conditions of (i) a propagation environment and (ii) a link quality between the first and second devices; and

based on the identified set of conditions, configuring the plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device to switch from the first mode of operation to a second mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operations,

wherein configuring the plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device to operate in each of the first and second modes of operation comprises;

identifying a plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers for each mode of operation, each pair of identified distributed transceivers comprising a corresponding transceiver from the plurality of transceivers of the first device and a corresponding transceiver from the plurality of transceivers of the second device;

for each identified pair of transceivers, identifying (i) a beam pattern for the antenna array of the corresponding distributed transceiver of the first device in the pair and (ii) a beam pattern for the antenna array of the corresponding distributed transceiver of the second device in the pair;

concurrently configuring the antenna array of each pair of distributed transceivers in the plurality of identified pairs of distributed transceivers to communicate a data stream between a corresponding pair of distributed transceivers utilizing the identified beam pattern for the antenna arrays of the corresponding pair of distributed transceivers,

wherein switching from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation comprises changing the beam pattern for the antenna array of at least one distributed transceiver in the plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of modes of operation comprises a spatial diversity mode, a frequency diversity mode, a multiplexing mode, and a multiple-input-multiple-output mode.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first device further comprises a central baseband processor and a network management engine, wherein said plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device are connected to said central baseband processor and said network management engine in one of a star topology and a ring topology.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising performing digital signal processing by said central baseband processor for transmit and receive operations for each distributed transceiver of the first device in said plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers during said communication.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising configuring beamforming settings and antenna arrangement for each distributed transceiver of the first device in said plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers based on said identified set of conditions.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising determining connection types and communication protocols, and allocating resources to each distributed transceiver of the first device in said plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers for said switching.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein communicating said set of data streams comprises utilizing said allocated resources, said connection types and said communication protocols.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising sharing resources among each distributed transceiver of the first device in said plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said set of data streams correspond to a communication session between the first and second devices, the method further comprising transferring communication of a data stream corresponding to said communication session from one of said plurality of distributed transceivers to a different one of said plurality of distributed transceivers for said resource sharing.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of conditions further comprises at least one of (i) throughput performance, (ii) quality of service (QoS) requirements, (iii) communication environment information corresponding to a type of data being transmitted, the type of data transmitted comprising images, video, and voice, and (iv) power consumption.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of conditions further comprises at least one of (i) link quality, (ii) device capabilities, (iii) antenna polarization, (iv) radiation pattern, (v) antenna spacing, (vi) array geometry, and (vii) device locations.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device is a first plurality of distributed transceivers, the first device further comprising a second plurality of distributed transceivers, each distributed transceiver in the second plurality of transceivers of the first device comprising a directional antenna, the method further comprising utilizing a set of said directional antennas to create an effective antenna pattern.

26. The method according to claim 1, wherein configuring the antenna pattern of an antenna array of a distributed transceiver comprises changing a plurality of beamforming weights utilized by said distributed transceiver based on said identified conditions.

27. The method of according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers identified for the first mode of operation is a same plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers as the plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers identified for the second mode of operation.

28. The method of according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers identified for the first mode of operation is different than the plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers identified for the second mode of operation.

36. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identified set of conditions further comprises a location of the first and second devices.

37. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying the set of conditions comprises continuously scanning the propagation environment to identify antenna patterns that result in strong reflected signals at the second device.

38. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying the set of conditions comprises receiving a feedback from the second device regarding the link quality.

39. The method according to claim 1, wherein configuring the plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device based on the identified set of conditions comprises identifying the beam pattern for the antenna array of the corresponding distributed transceiver of the first device in the pair and the beam pattern for the antenna array of the corresponding distributed transceiver of the second device in the pair to result in a strong signal received at the second device based on the identified set of conditions.

40. The method according to claim 1, wherein configuring the plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device based on the identified set of conditions comprises identifying the beam pattern for the antenna array of the corresponding distributed transceiver of the first device in the pair and the beam pattern for the antenna array of the corresponding distributed transceiver of the second device in the pair to result in a maximal coverage at the second device based on the identified set of conditions.

10. A first device comprising:

a plurality of distributed transceivers, each distributed transceiver of the first device comprising an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas, the first device configured to;

configure the plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device to operate in a first mode of operation of a plurality of modes of operation to communicate a set of data streams to a second device, the second device comprising a plurality of distributed transceivers, each distributed transceiver of the second device comprising an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas;

identifying a set of conditions comprising at least one of conditions of (i) a propagation environment and (ii) a link quality between the first and second devices; and

based on the identified set of conditions, configuring the plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device to switch from the first mode of operation to a second mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operations,

wherein configuring the plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device to operate in each of the first and second modes of operation comprises;

identifying a plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers for each mode of operation, each pair of identified distributed transceivers comprising a corresponding transceiver from the plurality of transceivers of the first device and a corresponding transceiver from the plurality of transceivers of the second device;

for each identified pair of transceivers, identifying (i) a beam pattern for the antenna array of the corresponding distributed transceiver of the first device in the pair and (ii) a beam pattern for the antenna array of the corresponding distributed transceiver of the second device in the pair;

concurrently configuring the antenna array of each pair of distributed transceivers in the plurality of identified pairs of distributed transceivers to communicate a data stream between a corresponding pair of distributed transceivers utilizing the identified beam pattern for the antenna arrays of the corresponding pair of distributed transceivers,

wherein switching from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation comprises changing the beam pattern for the antenna array of at least one distributed transceiver in the plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of modes of operation comprises a spatial diversity mode, a frequency diversity mode, a multiplexing mode, and a multiple-input-multiple-output mode.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the first device further comprises a central baseband processor and a network management engine, wherein said plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device are connected to said central baseband processor and said network management engine in one of a star topology and a ring topology.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said central baseband processor performs digital signal processing for transmit and receive operations for each distributed transceiver of the first device in said plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers during said communication.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein said network management engine dynamically configures beamforming settings and antenna arrangement for each distributed transceiver of the first device in said plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers based on said identified set of conditions.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein said network management engine determines connection types and communication protocols, and allocates resources to each distributed transceiver of the first device in said plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers for said switching.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein said network management engine communicates said set of data streams to the second device utilizing said allocated resources, said connection types and said communication protocols.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein said network management engine shares resources among each distributed transceiver of the first device in said plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein said set of data streams correspond to a communication session between the first and second devices, wherein said network management engine transfers communication of a data stream corresponding to said communication session from one of said plurality of distributed transceivers to a different one of said plurality of distributed transceivers for said resource sharing.

19. The device according to claim 10, wherein the set of conditions further comprises at least one of (i) throughput performance, (ii) quality of service (QoS) requirements, (iii) communication environment information corresponding to a type of data being transmitted, the type of data transmitted comprising images, video, and voice, and (iv) power consumption.

20. The device according to claim 10, wherein the set of conditions further comprises at least one of (i) link quality, (ii) device capabilities, (iii) antenna polarization, (iv) radiation pattern, (v) antenna spacing, (vi) array geometry, and (vii) device locations.

21. The device according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device is a first plurality of distributed transceivers, the first device further comprising a second plurality of distributed transceivers, each distributed transceiver in the second plurality of transceivers of the first device comprising a single directional antenna, wherein the first device is further configured to utilize a set of said directional antennas to create an effective antenna pattern.

22. The device according to claim 10, wherein configuring the antenna pattern of an antenna array of a distributed transceiver comprises changing a plurality of beamforming weights utilized by said distributed transceiver based on said identified conditions.

29. The device of according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers identified for the first mode of operation is a same plurality of pairs of distributed tranceivers as the plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers identified for the second mode of operation.

30. The device of according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers identified for the first mode of operation is different than the plurality of pairs of distributed transceivers identified for the second mode of operation.

31. The device according to claim 10, wherein the identified set of conditions further comprises a location of the first and second devices.

32. The device according to claim 10, wherein identifying the set of conditions comprises continuously scanning the propagation environment to identify antenna patterns that result in strong reflected signals at the second device.

33. The device according to claim 10, wherein identifying the set of conditions comprises receiving a feedback from the second device regarding the link quality.

34. The device according to claim 10, wherein configuring the plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device based on the identified set of conditions comprises identifying the beam pattern for the antenna array of the corresponding distributed transceiver of the first device in the pair and the beam pattern for the antenna array of the corresponding distributed transceiver of the second device in the pair to result in a strong signal received at the second device based on the identified set of conditions.

35. The device according to claim 10, wherein configuring the plurality of distributed transceivers of the first device based on the identified set of conditions comprises identifying the beam pattern for the antenna array of the corresponding distributed transceiver of the first device in the pair and the beam pattern for the antenna array of the corresponding distributed transceiver of the second device in the pair to result in a maximal coverage at the second device based on the identified set of conditions.