Smart antenna array configuration for multiple-input multiple-output communications
First Claim
1. A method for selecting antennas for multi-user multiple-input multiple-output data transmission comprising:
- logically forming, at an access point including a plurality of antennas, a group of stations using measurements indicating a similarity of performance of the stations;
selecting a first subset of the plurality of antennas, wherein said selecting the first subset of antennas comprises;
determining a second subset of antennas used to communicate with a first station of the group, wherein the first station is communicatively coupled to the access point in a first single-user configuration;
determining a third subset of antennas used to communicate with a second station of the group, wherein the second station is communicatively coupled to the access point in a second single-user configuration; and
selecting an antenna common to the second subset of antennas and the third subset of antennas;
receiving a first data transmission responsive to a sounding packet transmitted by the access point using the first subset of antennas; and
sending a second data transmission based, at least in part, on the first data transmission, wherein the second data transmission is a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output data transmission, wherein the second data transmission is sent using the first subset of antennas.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An access point can include an array of antennas and a smart antenna selector. The smart antenna selector is configured to select a subset of antennas from the antenna array for use in multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU MIMO) data transmissions. Stations that are communicatively coupled to the access point can be selected for inclusion in a multi-user group based, at least in part, on performance measurements of the stations. Performance measurements are determined directly and indirectly from data transmissions sent in response to sounding packets. Antennas for use in MU MIMO data transmissions are selected for the antenna array based, at least in part, on previous antenna selections used for single user data transmissions.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for selecting antennas for multi-user multiple-input multiple-output data transmission comprising:
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logically forming, at an access point including a plurality of antennas, a group of stations using measurements indicating a similarity of performance of the stations; selecting a first subset of the plurality of antennas, wherein said selecting the first subset of antennas comprises; determining a second subset of antennas used to communicate with a first station of the group, wherein the first station is communicatively coupled to the access point in a first single-user configuration; determining a third subset of antennas used to communicate with a second station of the group, wherein the second station is communicatively coupled to the access point in a second single-user configuration; and selecting an antenna common to the second subset of antennas and the third subset of antennas; receiving a first data transmission responsive to a sounding packet transmitted by the access point using the first subset of antennas; and sending a second data transmission based, at least in part, on the first data transmission, wherein the second data transmission is a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output data transmission, wherein the second data transmission is sent using the first subset of antennas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, the instructions to:
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form, at an access point including a plurality of antennas, a group of stations using measurements of the stations; select a first subset of antennas of the plurality of antennas, wherein the instructions to select the first subset of antennas comprise instructions to; determine a second subset of antennas used to communicate with a first station of the group in a first single user configuration; determine a third subset of antennas used to communicate with a second station of the group in a second single user configuration; and select an antenna common to the second subset of antennas and the third subset of antennas; receive a first data transmission responsive to a sounding packet transmitted from the first subset of antennas; and send a second data transmission based, at least in part, on the first data transmission, wherein the second data transmission is a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output data transmission, wherein the second data transmission is sent using the first subset of antennas. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device comprising:
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means for forming, at an access point including a plurality of antennas, a group of stations using measurements indicating a similarity of performance of the stations; means for selecting a first subset of antennas of the plurality of antennas, wherein the means for selecting the first subset of antennas further comprises; means for determining a second subset of antennas used to communicate with a first station from the group in a first single-user configuration; means for determining a third subset of antennas used to communicate with a second station from the group in a second single-user configuration, wherein the second station is communicatively coupled to the access point; and means for selecting an antenna common to the second subset of antennas and the third subset of antennas; means for receiving a first data transmission responsive to a sounding packet transmitted from the first subset of antennas; and means for sending a second data transmission based, at least in part, on the first data transmission, wherein the second data transmission is a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output data transmission, wherein the second data transmission is sent using the first subset of antennas. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification