Advanced backhaul services

• US 9,876,530 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: COMS IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Skyline Partners Technology, LLC (COMSovereign Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Negus, Kevin J., Proctor, Jr., James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Shuwang
• Assistant Examiner(s): AHN, SUNG S
• Application Number:
  US14/666,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20150200709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0475 with means for limiting noise, interference or distortion H04B1/0483 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/711 the interference being multi-path interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0632 Channel quality parameters, e.g. channel quality indicator [CQI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0634 Antenna weights or vector/matrix coefficients
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

“Tiered” groups of devices (tiered service radios) and/or licenses associated with the devices or users so as to provide a hieratical set of interference protection mechanisms for members of each tier of service are disclosed. Point-to-point and point-to-multipoint data links for any communication application, including wireless backhaul applications, are also disclosed. Exemplary systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein allow for the efficient operation of such a tiered service. Interference protection among tiered service devices belonging to one or more tiers of the service, from other devices within the same tier of service, or devices of other tiers of service, is disclosed. Identification of other devices of the same or differing tiers of service, and interference mitigation between other tiered service devices based upon intercommunication between the devices, and/or via a central registry database, are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for operating a first backhaul radio in a radio frequency band providing for network optimization control intercommunication with one or more other backhaul radios comprising:

utilizing signature radio signals, for providing said network optimization control intercommunication with the one or more other backhaul radios and providing for determination of presence and operating parameters of the one or more other backhaul radios, and performing a progressive interference procedure;

wherein the progressive interference proceedure comprises;

transmitting a first signature with progressively increasing interference potential for a period of time,

wherein the progressively increasing interference comprises one or more of;

transmission at a power level with an increasing duty cycle over successive periods of time, and

transmission at several increasing power levels over successive periods of time, and

wherein the first backhaul radio comprises at least one network parameter which is adjusted based upon detecting information or receiving information informing of detected interference related to the transmitted first signature and,

after the completion of the progressive interference procedure, providing user payload information intercommunication with at least a second backhaul radio based at least in-part upon the operating parameters of the one or more other backhaul radios determined;

wherein the method further comprises;

scanning one or more radio frequency channels for the presence of said signature radio signals transmitted from the one or more other backhaul radios to generate scan data, and wherein the at least one adjustable network parameter is adjustable based on the scan data,

wherein said scanned one or more radio frequency channels are selected based upon said signature radio signals, and

wherein the at least one network parameter is further adjusted to reduce a potential of interference of the first backhaul radio with the one or more other backhaul radios,

wherein the adjusting the at least one network parameter comprises one or more of;

selecting a frequency channel utilized between the first backhaul radio and at least the second backhaul radio;

adjusting the effective radiation pattern of the first backhaul radio;

selecting one or more of a plurality of directive gain antenna elements; and

adjusting the physical configuration or arrangement of the one or more of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a scan report based on the scan data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the scan report comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of:

the location of said first backhaul radio;

the latitude and longitudinal coordinates of one or more backhaul radios;

configuration information related to the first backhaul radio;

capability information related to the first backhaul radio;

a transmission power capability of said first backhaul radio;

operating frequency capability of said first backhaul radio;

antenna property information related to one or more antenna for use in reception or transmission by said first backhaul radio;

received signal parameters or demodulated information from another backhaul radio;

received signal parameters from a backhaul radio; and

combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the effective radiation pattern comprises one or more of:

steering the effective radiation pattern in elevation; and

steering the effective radiation pattern in azimuth.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the effective radiation pattern comprises:

calculating digital beam former weights based upon at least one constraint related to the potential of interference; and

applying the digital beam former weights.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the constraint is selected from the group consisting of:

properties related to or derived from said scan result;

a direction in which signal transmission is to be limited;

parameters which reduce the potential for interfering with one or more of said other backhaul radios;

parameters which increase the likelihood of said first and said second backhaul radios meeting performance goals with respect to an interposed wireless communication link;

a restriction of use of specific transceivers or specific antennas of a plurality of transceivers or antennas;

a use of specific polarizations for transmission;

attributes of a collective transmission radiation pattern associated with a plurality of transmitters;

a frequency or geometric translation of beam forming weights between receiver weights and transmitter weights;

a change in antennas used or selected;

a change in operating frequency; and

combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising assessing performance after adjustment of the at least one adjustable network parameter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the assessing performance comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of:

performing additional scans;

performing additional scans with specific search criteria;

performing additional scans with limitations in frequency, azimuth, elevation, or time;

performing additional scans with a modified antenna selection configuration;

performing additional scans using antennas intended for transmission during normal operation for reception during the additional scanning process;

performing transmission of a signal from the first backhaul radio to the second backhaul radio,

receiving a signal from the second backhaul radio by the first backhaul radio.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said specific search criteria comprises one or more of the following:

information derived from the reception of signature radio signals,

information derived from the reception of signals transmitted from said other backhaul radios,

information derived from radios other than backhaul radios,

received signal strength information,

channel propagation information,

backhaul radio identity information,

angle of arrival of signal information,

received signal strength information,

interference information,

path loss information, and

signal transmission periodicity information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising aligning the antenna array with the second backhaul radio prior to the scan based on at least one criterion.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one criterion is based at least in part upon a signal transmitted from the second backhaul radio.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a GPS location and a compass direction.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific criteria includes a geographic region.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said signature radio signals transmitted from the one or more backhaul radios are transmitted as a spread spectrum signal embedded within and simultaneously with information symbols in time from at least one of the backhaul radios.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said first backhaul radio transmits a signature radio signal as the first signature during operation with second backhaul radios.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first signature is transmitted inline with information symbols in time.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first signature is transmitted as a spread spectrum signal embedded within and simultaneously with information symbols.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the progressively increasing interference comprises transmission at a power level with an increasing duty cycle over successive periods of time.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the progressively increasing interference comprises transmission at several increasing power levels over successive periods of time.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the method allows the detection of backhaul radios which are non-compatible for communicating with the first backhaul radio.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said scan data comprises one or more of the following:

information derived from the reception of signature radio signals,

information derived from the reception of signals transmitted from said other backhaul radios,

information derived from radios other than backhaul radios,

received signal strength information,

channel propagation information,

backhaul radio identity information,

angle of arrival of signal information,

received signal strength information,

interference information,

path loss information, and

signal transmission periodicity information.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein direct messages are utilized to inform the first backhaul radio of interference being received by another backhaul radio.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein direct messages are utilized to perform cooperative interference mitigation.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein, one or more direct messages include an interference threshold based upon one or more of:

BER impact, C/I impact, the power density of the first backhaul radio.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more direct messages inform the first backhaul radio of the level of interference and so as to aid in the reduction of interference.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein said scan is performed on a common control channel, said common control channel being a defined channel for signature radio signal transmission and reception commonly known to a group of backhaul radios.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein said first backhaul radio transmits a signature radio signal as a first signature during operation with second backhaul radios.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said transmitted first signature is transmitted with progressively increasing interference potential for a period of time prior to initiation of full operation between the first and second backhaul radios.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the progressively increasing interference comprises transmission at a power level with an increasing duty cycle over successive periods of time.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the progressively increasing interference comprises transmission at several increasing power levels over successive periods of time.

27. A method for operating a first backhaul radio in a radio frequency band providing for network optimization control intercommunication with one or more other backhaul radios comprising:

utilizing signature radio signals, for providing said network optimization control intercommunication with the one or more other backhaul radios and providing for determination of presence and operating parameters of the one or more other backhaul radios; and

,

concurrently with the utilizing the signature radio signals, providing user payload information intercommunication with at least a second backhaul radio based at least in-part upon the determined operating parameters of the one or more other backhaul radios determined; and

wherein the method further comprises;

scanning one or more radio frequency channels for the presence of said signature radio signals transmitted from the one or more other backhaul radios to generate scan data, and wherein the radio comprises at least one adjustable network parameter that is adjustable based on the scan data,

wherein said scanned one or more radio frequency channels are selected based upon said signature radio signals, and

wherein the at least one network parameter is adjusted to reduce a potential of interference of the first backhaul radio with the one or more other backhaul radios,

wherein the adjusting the at least one network parameter comprises one or more of;

selecting a frequency channel utilized between the first backhaul radio and at least the second backhaul radio;

adjusting the effective radiation pattern of the first backhaul radio;

selecting one or more of a plurality of directive gain antenna elements; and

adjusting the physical configuration or arrangement of the one or more of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements; and

wherein at least one of said signature radio signals transmitted from the one or more other backhaul radios are transmitted as an embedded spread spectrum signal linearly combined with information symbols simultaneously in time with the payload information from at least one of the backhaul radios.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising generating a scan report based on the scan data.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the scan report comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of:

the location of said first backhaul radio;

the latitude and longitudinal coordinates of one or more backhaul radios;

configuration information related to the first backhaul radio;

capability information related to the first backhaul radio;

a transmission power capability of said first backhaul radio;

operating frequency capability of said first backhaul radio;

antenna property information related to one or more antenna for use in reception or transmission by said first backhaul radio;

received signal parameters or demodulated information from another backhaul radio;

received signal parameters from a backhaul radio; and

combinations thereof.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the adjusting the effective radiation pattern comprises one or more of:

steering the effective radiation pattern in elevation; and

steering the effective radiation pattern in azimuth.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the adjusting the effective radiation pattern comprises:

calculating digital beam former weights based upon at least one constraint related to the potential of interference; and

applying the digital beam former weights.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the constraint is selected from the group consisting of:

properties related to or derived from said scan result;

a direction in which signal transmission is to be limited;

parameters which reduce the potential for interfering with one or more of said other backhaul radios;

parameters which increase the likelihood of said first and said second backhaul radios meeting performance goals with respect to an interposed wireless communication link;

a restriction of use of specific transceivers or specific antennas of a plurality of transceivers or antennas;

a use of specific polarizations for transmission;

attributes of a collective transmission radiation pattern associated with a plurality of transmitters;

a frequency or geometric translation of beam forming weights between receiver weights and transmitter weights;

a change in antennas used or selected;

a change in operating frequency; and

combinations thereof.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the backhaul radio is further configured to assess performance after adjustment of the at least one adjustable network parameter.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the performance of said first backhaul radio is assessed by one or more selected from the group consisting of:

performing additional scans;

performing additional scans with specific search criteria;

performing additional scans with limitations in frequency, azimuth, elevation, or time;

performing additional scans with a modified antenna selection configuration;

performing additional scans using antennas intended for transmission during normal operation for reception during the additional scanning process;

performing transmission of a signal from the first backhaul radio to the second backhaul radio,

receiving a signal from the second backhaul radio by the first backhaul radio.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the selected performance assessment of said first backhaul radio includes performing additional scans with specific search criteria and wherein said specific search criteria comprises one or more of the following:

information derived from the reception of signature radio signals,

information derived from the reception of signals transmitted from said other backhaul radios,

information derived from radios other than backhaul radios,

received signal strength information,

channel propagation information,

backhaul radio identity information,

angle of arrival of signal information,

received signal strength information,

interference information,

path loss information, and

signal transmission periodicity information.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the first backhaul radio is configured to align the antenna array with the second backhaul radio prior to the scan based on at least one criterion.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the at least one criterion is based at least in part upon a signal transmitted from the second backhaul radio.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a GPS location and a compass direction.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the at last one criterion includes a geographic region.

44. The method of claim 27 wherein the first backhaul radio alters said at least one network parameter based upon detecting information received informing of detected interference related to the transmitted first signature.

45. The method of claim 27, wherein the method allows for backhaul radios which are non-compatible to detect and receive information related to presence and operating parameters of the first backhaul radio.

46. The method of claim 27 wherein said scan data comprises one or more of the following:

information derived from the reception of signature radio signals,

information derived from the reception of signals transmitted from said other backhaul radios,

information derived from radios other than backhaul radios,

received signal strength information,

channel propagation information,

backhaul radio identity information,

angle of arrival of signal information,

received signal strength information,

interference information,

path loss information, and

signal transmission periodicity information.

47. The method of claim 27, wherein direct messages are utilized to inform the first backhaul radio of interference being received by another backhaul radio.

48. The method of claim 27, wherein, information derived from utilizing the signature radio signals is utilized for topology management, processes management, configuration, and interfacing to other backhaul radios.

49. The method of claim 27, wherein, direct messages are utilized to perform cooperative interference mitigation.

50. The method of claim 27, wherein one or more direct messages include an interference threshold based upon one or more of:

BER impact, C/I impact, the power density of the first backhaul radio.

51. The method of claim 27, wherein one or more direct messages inform the first backhaul radio of the level of interference and so as to aid in the reduction of interference:

wherein the performance of said first backhaul radio is assessed by one or more selected from the group consisting of;

performing additional scans;

performing additional scans with specific search criteria.

52. A method for operating a first backhaul radio in a radio frequency band providing for network optimization control intercommunication with one or more other backhaul radios comprising:

utilizing signature radio signals, for providing said network optimization control intercommunication with the one or more other backhaul radios and providing for determination of presence and operating parameters of the one or more other backhaul radios; and

,

providing user payload information intercommunication with at least a second backhaul radio based at least in-part upon the determined operating parameters of the one or more other backhaul radios; and

wherein the method further comprises;

scanning one or more radio frequency channels for the presence of said signature radio signals transmitted from the one or more other backhaul radios to generate scan data, and wherein the radio comprises at least one adjustable network parameter that is adjustable based on the scan data,

wherein said scanned one or more radio frequency channels are selected based upon said signature radio signals, and

wherein the at least one network parameter is adjusted to reduce a potential of interference of the first backhaul radio with the one or more other backhaul radios,

wherein at least one of said signature radio signals is transmitted as an embedded spread spectrum signal linearly combined and simultaneous in time with payload information symbols from the first backhaul radio.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein interference to the demodulation of payload information symbols at the at least one second backhaul radios, from the at least one embedded spread spectrum signal, is reduced utilizing interference cancelation.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the embedded spread spectrum signal is transmitted from the first at a power level relative to the payload information symbols so as to prevent demodulation of the payload information symbols without the use of interference cancelation.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein parameters required to perform the interference cancelation are pre-communicated to an intended receiver from the first backhaul radio.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the parameters comprise one or more of:

a code sequence, amplitude information, phase information, and timing information.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the parameters are modified occasionally, or continuously with such knowledge only being shared between the first backhaul radio and the intended receiver.