U.S. patent application number 11/005406 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-21 for apparatus, and associated method, for utilizing antenna information determinative of antenna operation in a wireless mesh network.
Invention is credited to Alastalo, Ari, Kasslin, Mika, Soininen, Pekka.
Application Number | 20050083852 11/005406 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25074673 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050083852 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Alastalo, Ari ; et
al. |
April 21, 2005 |
Apparatus, and associated method, for utilizing antenna information
determinative of antenna operation in a wireless mesh network
Abstract
Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating use of an
antenna assembly forming a portion of a communication station, such
as a node of a wireless mesh network. Antenna information is
determined and stored at a routing table of the node. The antenna
information is combined with an IP address or other identifier of
another node to which a data packet is to be communicated. The
antenna information is utilized to define characteristics to be
exhibited by the antenna assembly to best facilitate communication
of the data packet between the nodes.
Inventors: |
Alastalo, Ari; (Helsinki,
FI) ; Kasslin, Mika; (Espoo, FI) ; Soininen,
Pekka; (Helsinki, FI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT M BAUER ESQ
BROWN RAYSMAN MILLSTEIN FELDER & STEINER
900 THIRD AVE
NEW YORK
NY
10022
US
|
Family ID: |
25074673 |
Appl. No.: |
11/005406 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11005406 |
Dec 6, 2004 |
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09765850 |
Jan 19, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/252 ;
370/395.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 8/26 20130101; H04W
40/06 20130101; H04W 40/246 20130101; H04W 48/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/252 ;
370/395.3 |
International
Class: |
H04L 012/26 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a wireless mesh network having a first node, identified by a
first identifier, and at least a second node identified by a second
identifier, the first node having a first antenna transducer
assembly at which to transduce a data packet communicated between
the first and the least second nodes, the data-packet including
values of at least a selected one of the first and second
identifiers, an improvement of apparatus for facilitating
indication of antenna transducer-related information by which to
direct operation of the first antenna transducer assembly to
efficiently communicate the data packet between the first and at
least second nodes, said apparatus comprising: a mapper coupled to
receive an indication of the values of the selected one of the
first and second identifiers included to form a portion of the data
packet, said mapper for mapping the values of the selected one of
the first and second identifiers to mapped values, the mapped
values including values representative of the antenna
transducer-related information, and for incorporating the mapped
values into the data packet, thereby to identify in the data packet
the antenna transducer-related information by which to direct
operation of the first antenna transducer assembly.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first node comprises a
first wireless router and wherein said mapper forms a portion of
the first wireless router.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second node comprises a
second wireless router and wherein said mapper forms a portion of
the second wireless router.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless mesh network is
operable pursuant to an IP (internet protocol) protocol, wherein
the first identifier comprises a first IP address, wherein the
second identifier comprises a second IP address, and wherein said
mapper maps values of the selected one of the first and second IP
address to the mapped values, the mapped values including both the
values of the selected one of the first and second IP addresses and
the values representative of the antenna transducer-related
information.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first node includes a first
IP routing table and wherein said mapper forms a portion of the IP
routing table.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first IP routing table of
which said mapper forms a portion relates the selected one of the
first and second IP addresses to the values representative of the
antenna transducer-related information
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first node is defined in
terms of logical layers having a physical layer and upper level
layers defined thereabove and wherein said mapper is formed at a
selected upper level layer of the upper level layers defined above
the physical layer.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first antenna transducer
assembly comprises a first-sector antenna transducer capable of
exhibiting at least a first radiation pattern in a first
radially-extending sector and wherein the mapped values into which
the selected one of the first and second identifiers are mapped by
said mapper include indications of which of the first-sector and
second-sector antennas are to be used to transduce the data
packet.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first antenna transducer
assembly comprises a first antenna transducer to which a first
selected weighting factor can be applied and a second antenna
transducer to which a second selected weighting factor can be
applied and wherein the mapped values into which the selected one
of the first and second identifiers are mapped by said mapper
include indications of the first and second weighting factors,
respectively, to be applied to the first and second antenna
transducers, respectively.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first antenna transducer
assembly comprises a steerable beam antenna transducer steerable
towards a selected radiation-pattern angle and wherein the mapped
values into which the selected one of the first and second
identifiers are mapped by said mapper include indications of the
selected radiation pattern angle into which the steerable beam
antenna transducer is to be steered.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the antenna transducer-related
information, of which the mapped values formed by said mapper
include as portions thereof, is calculated responsive to
transmission of training signals communicated between the first and
at least second nodes.
12. In a method for communicating in a wireless mesh network having
a first node, identified by a first identifier, and at least a
second node, identified by at least a second identifier, the first
node having a first antenna transducer assembly at which to
transduce a data packet communicated between the first and at least
second nodes, the data packet including values of at least a
selected one of the first and second identifiers, an improvement of
a method for facilitating indications of antenna transducer-related
information by which to direct operation of the first antenna
transducer assembly to efficiently communicate the communication
signals between the first and at least second nodes, said method
comprising: detecting indications of the values of the selected one
of the first and second identifiers included to form a portion of
the data packet; mapping the indications detected during said
operation of detecting to mapped values, the mapped values
including values representative of the antenna transducer-related
information; and incorporating the mapped values, formed during
said operation of mapping, into the data packet, thereby to
identify in the data packet the antenna transducer-related
information by which to direct operation of the first antenna
transducer assembly.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first node comprises a
wireless router and wherein said method comprises the additional
operation, prior to said operation of detecting, of providing the
data packet to the wireless router.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said operations of detecting,
mapping, and incorporating are performed at the wireless
router.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the wireless mesh network is
operable-pursuant to an IP (internet protocol) protocol, wherein
the first identifier comprises a first IP address, wherein the
second identifier comprises a second IP address, and wherein said
operation of mapping comprises mapping indications of values of the
selected one of the first and second IP addresses to the mapped
values.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first node includes a first
IP routing table and wherein said operation of mapping said
operation of mapping is performed at the IP routing table.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein the first node is defined in
terms of logical layers having a physical layer and upper level
layers defined thereabove and wherein said operation of mapping is
performed at a selected upper level layer of the upper level
layers.
18. The method of claim 12 further comprising the operation prior
to said operation of detecting, of selecting the antenna transducer
related information.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the operation, prior
to said operation of selecting, of sending a training sequence
between the first and second nodes and wherein said operation of
selecting is performed responsive to analysis of the training
sequence.
20. The method of claim 12 further comprising the operation of
using the mapped values incorporated into the data packet to select
operation of the first antenna transducer assembly.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a manner by which
to facilitate use of an antenna assembly forming a portion of a
communication station, such as a node of a wireless mesh network.
More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus, and
an associated method, by which to provide antenna information to be
used by the communication station to utilize the antenna assembly
in a manner by which best to effectuate communication of a data
packet with another communication station. An IP address, or other
identifier, contained in the data packet is mapped to the antenna
information to identify in what manner the antenna assembly should
be utilized to communicate the data packet. Antenna weighting
values, beam angle selection, and sector antenna selection are all
exemplary of antenna information which is mapped together with, or
combined with, the IP address.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A communication system is formed, at a minimum, of a sending
station and a receiving station between which information is
communicated. A communication channel is formed between the sending
station and the receiving station. The information to be
communicated by the sending station to the receiving station is
communicated thereon. A wide variety of different types of
communication systems have been developed and are regularly
utilized to effectuate communication of information between the
sending and receiving stations.
[0003] New types of communication systems have been developed and
implemented as a result of advancements in communication
technologies. Radio communication systems are exemplary of
communication systems which have benefited from the advancements in
communication technologies. Improvements to existing types of radio
communication systems, and new types of radio communication
systems, have been made possible as a result of the advancements in
communication technologies.
[0004] In a radio communication system, communication channels are
defined upon radio links formed between the sending and receiving
stations operable therein. The radio link upon which the
communication channels are formed is defined, at least in part, by
frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum. A radio communication
system inherently permits greater communication mobility through
the use of radio links, rather than conventional wireline
connections.
[0005] Digital communication techniques, for instance, are amongst
the advancements in communication technologies which have permitted
the development and implementation of new types of communication
systems. The use of digital communication techniques permits the
communication capacity of a communication system to be increased as
well as also to improve the quality levels of communications
effectuated in the communication system.
[0006] When digital communication techniques are used, information
which is to be communicated is digitized. In one technique, the
digitized information is formatted into packets, and the packets
are communicated to effectuate the communication. Individual ones,
or groups, of the packets of data can be communicated at discreet
intervals, and, once communicated, the packets of data can be
concatenated together to recreate the informational content of the
transmitted information.
[0007] A communication channel upon which packet data is
communicated need not be dedicated solely for the communication of
data by one sending station to one receiving station, as
conventionally required in circuit-switched communications.
Instead, a single channel can be shared amongst a plurality of
different sending and receiving station pairs. Because a single
channel can be utilized to effectuate communications by the
plurality of pairs of communication stations, improved
communication capacity is possible.
[0008] A wireless mesh network is a radio communication system
which can be constructed to provide for the communication of packet
data. A wireless mesh network typically includes a plurality of
nodes, each node capable of communicating with at least one other
node. A wireless mesh network is implemented, for instance, as a
fixed wireless access (FWA) system capable of communicating
broadband data between fixed-site communication stations which form
the nodes. Proposals have been set forth to standardize certain
operations of certain wireless mesh networks. One proposed
standard, an IEEE 802.16 standard pertains to wireless mesh
networks.
[0009] Implementation of a wireless mesh network is possible in an
unlicensed frequency band such as the frequency band located at 5
GHz. More than one wireless mesh network might be installed over a
common geographical area due to the unlicensed nature of the 5 GHz
band. Also, other types of radio communication systems might also
be installed at the same geographical area to be operable, or to
have frequency harmonics which have significant components, at the
5 GHz band.
[0010] The unstructured nature of an unlicensed band, such as the 5
GHz band, provides significant design freedom in the design of a
communication system to be operable within the frequency band.
However, the unlicensed nature of the band also increases the
possibility that signals generated during operation of one
communication system within the frequency band might generate
signals which interfere with operation of another communication
system operable at the same frequency band.
[0011] Use of frequency levels within the allocated band which
exhibit lowest amounts of interference would best ensure that
communication qualities would not be degraded. Appropriate
selection of the frequency levels would be required. And,
reselection of the frequency levels would also be required if the
frequencies of the interference changes over time.
[0012] A manner by which dynamically to select frequencies upon
which to define channels in a wireless mesh network operable in an
unlicensed frequency band, or elsewhere, would be advantageous.
Existing proposals related to standardization of wireless mesh
networks, however, do not generally provide for dynamic frequency
selection.
[0013] If a manner could be provided by which better to dynamically
select frequency levels upon which to define radio channels,
improved communications would be possible.
[0014] Advancements in communication technologies also include
advancements in antenna technologies. Antenna assemblies formed of
multiple antenna transducer elements, for instance, are available
by which to form antenna patterns of selectable characteristics.
Through appropriate selection of the antenna pattern, data to be
communicated between nodes of a wireless mesh network, or between
other communication stations of other radio communication systems,
is better able to be effectuated.
[0015] For instance, digital beam forming techniques permit any of
many radiation patterns to be formed by an array of antenna
transducer elements. Antenna assemblies capable of creating
steerable-beam antenna patterns also provide a manner by which
better to effectuate communications between nodes of a wireless
mesh network. And, use of selected ones of sector antenna
transducer assembly also provides a manner by which better to
effectuate communication of data between nodes of a wireless mesh
network.
[0016] To properly utilize many antenna assemblies, information
must be available by which to select to the antenna patterns to be
exhibited by the antenna assembly. The antenna characteristics
appropriate for communications between a first pair of nodes might
well be substantially different than the antenna characteristics
which should be used to effectuate communications between another
pair of nodes. If a manner could be provided by which better to
provide the antenna information to permit appropriate selection of
the antenna characteristics of the antenna assembly, improved
communication qualities of the communications in the communication
system would result.
[0017] It is in light of this background information related to
communications in a radio communication system, such as a wireless
mesh network, that the significant improvements of the present
invention have evolved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The present invention, accordingly, advantageously provides
apparatus, and an associated method, by which to facilitate use of
an antenna assembly forming a portion of a communication station,
such as a node of a wireless mesh network.
[0019] Operation of an embodiment of the present invention provides
a manner by which to provide antenna information to be used by the
communication station to utilize the antenna assembly to best
effectuate communication of a data packet.
[0020] In one aspect of the present invention, an IP address, or
other identifier, contained in a data packet is mapped to the
antenna information to identify in what manner the antenna assembly
should be utilized to communicate the data packet.
[0021] In one implementation, a manner is provided by which to
provide the antenna information to a node, such as a wireless
router which includes an antenna assembly as a portion thereof. The
antenna information is used to select antenna characteristics to
transmit packet data to another node. Associated with the other
nodes to which the packet data is to be communicated is antenna
information, to be used to select antenna characteristics of the
antenna assembly of the node.
[0022] The antenna information associated with the identifier, such
as an IP address of the node to which the data is to be
communicated, is used to select the characteristics which are to be
exhibited by the antenna assembly during transmission of the packet
data. By selecting the characteristics of the antenna assembly to
correspond with the address to which the data is to be
communicated. The antenna characteristics are permitted to be
optimized for communication to the particular location identified
by the IP address of the data packets.
[0023] When the antenna assembly is formed of an antenna array
capable of beam forming operations, weighting values to be applied
to antenna transducer elements of the antenna assembly form the
antenna information associated with the IP address to which the
data packets are directed.
[0024] When the antenna assembly is formed of a collection of
antenna sector arrays for generating radiation patterns extending
in separate sectors, the antenna information associated with the IP
address selects which of the antenna sector arrays is to be
utilized to communicate the packet data.
[0025] When the antenna assembly utilizes a steerable-beam approach
the antenna information associated with the IP address to which the
packet data is to be communicated is angular information in which
the antenna beam pattern is to be directed.
[0026] In these and other aspects, therefore, apparatus, and an
associated method, is provided for a wireless mesh network having a
first node and at least a second node. The first node is identified
by a first identifier, and the second node is identified by a
second identifier. The first node has a first antenna transducer
assembly at which to transduce a data packet communicated between
the first and at least second nodes. The data packet includes data
values of at least a selected one of the first and second
identifiers. Indication of antenna transducer-related information
by which to direct operation of the first antenna transducer
assembly is facilitated, thereby to efficiently communicate the
data packet between the first and at least second nodes. A mapper
is coupled to receive an indication of the values of the selected
one of the first and second identifiers included to form a portion
of the data packet. The mapper maps the values of the selected one
of the first and second identifiers to mapped values. The mapped
values include values representative of the antenna
transducer-related information, and the mapped values are
incorporate into the data packet. Thereby, identified with the data
packet is the antenna transducer-related information by which to
direct operation of the first antenna transducer assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a representation of an exemplary wireless
mesh network in which an embodiment of the present invention is
operable.
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates a functional block diagram of portions of
the wireless mesh network shown in FIG. 1, operable pursuant to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a functional representation of operation
of an embodiment of the present invention by which to map an IP
address forming a portion of a data packet to be communicated
pursuant to an embodiment of the present invention to provide
antenna information to be used by an antenna assembly positioned at
a node of the wireless mesh network shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates a functional representation of a routing
table at which mapping performed pursuant to embodiment of the
present invention is embodied. In an exemplary implementation of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless mesh network, shown generally
at 10, in which an embodiment of the present invention is operable.
The wireless mesh network includes a plurality of nodes, of which
the nodes referenced by 12, 14, 16, 18, and 22 are exemplary. Any
of the nodes are able to communicate, either directly or by a
hopping pattern, with a network management station 24 by way of one
or more radio links.
[0032] The node 12 is coupled to the network management station 24
by way of the radio link 26, the node 14 is coupled to the station
24 by way of radio links 26 and 28, the node 16 is coupled to the
station 24 by way of a radio links 26, 28, and 32, the node 18 is
coupled to the network management station 24 by way of a radio link
34, and the node 22 is coupled to the network management station by
way of a radio link 36. Other radio links with other nodes and with
the network management station can similarly be shown.
[0033] Between individual ones of the nodes 12-22, local
communications are effectuable by way of local radio links. The
conditions of the radio links must exhibit appropriate
characteristics, such as low levels of interference, to ensure that
communication quality levels of communications between nodes, and
also with the network management station, are of acceptable levels.
Directional antenna devices are utilized pursuant to operation of
an embodiment of the present invention to facilitate communications
at acceptable communication quality levels. Radiation patterns
formed by the antenna devices permit the energy levels of the
radiation patterns to be selected to overcome interfering signals
and also to assist in the transmission and reception of
communication signals.
[0034] In the exemplary implementation, the wireless mesh network
is operable in an unlicensed frequency band, such as the 5 GHz
band. Due to the unstructured nature of communications of
communication systems installed in unlicensed bands, there is an
increased possibility that interfering signals generated during
operation of another communication system might disrupt, or
otherwise interfere with, communications effectuated during
operation of the wireless mesh network.
[0035] Operation of an embodiment of the present invention provides
a manner by which to provide antenna information related to antenna
characteristics to be exhibited by an antenna assembly at a node of
the wireless mesh network during communication of data packets
between the nodes of the wireless mesh network. Through utilization
of the antenna information, optimal antenna characteristics are
caused to be exhibited by the antenna assembly, thereby to
facilitate communication of data packets forming communication
signals during communication operations between nodes of the
network.
[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates portions of the wireless mesh network 10.
Here, three nodes, nodes 12, 14, and 16, of the mesh network are
shown. Communication channels defined upon radio links formed
between the respective nodes permit the communication of
information between the nodes. Here, again, the radio link 28 is
shown to be formed between the nodes 14 and 12, and the radio link
32 is shown to be formed between the nodes 14 and 16. Communication
channels defined upon the links form the channels upon which
information is communicated between the nodes.
[0037] In the exemplary implementation, the nodes form wireless
routers capable of routing packet data between the nodes. In the
exemplary implementation, a distributed transmission scheduling
protocol, NETS (neighborhood established transmission scheduling)
protocol is utilized. The scheduling protocol provides for
collision free communication of data packets between the nodes. The
scheduling protocol provides for the computation of transmission
schedules based upon information obtained by individual ones of the
nodes about other nodes within two-hop node-neighborhoods of the
respective nodes.
[0038] The node 14 is here shown to include router circuitry 42
which is operable, amongst other things, to manage communication
scheduling, radio resource management, etc. A routing table 44 is
coupled to the router circuitry 42. The routing table is, in
general, part of a standard IP (internet protocol) stack defined
pursuant to the SS7, or other, logical-layer representation of a
communication system element.
[0039] An RF modem 46 is also coupled to the router circuitry. The
RF modem performs modulation and demodulation operations upon data
to be communicated by, and data communicated to, the node 14.
[0040] An antenna assembly 48 is coupled to the RF mode. The
antenna assembly is representative of any of various types of
antenna devices, such as sector antenna arrays, a beam forming
matrix array capable of exhibiting a steerable-beam radiation
pattern and an antenna array in which weighting vectors are applied
to individual ones of the antenna elements of the array. Here, the
antenna assembly 48 is shown to include a plurality of antenna
elements 52 coupled by way of weighting elements 54 to the RF
modem. Values of weighting vectors are applied to individual ones
of the weighting elements by way of the lines 56. The weighting
elements 54 together with other structure (not separately shown)
together form a beam forming matrix 58. The elements shown here to
form the antenna assembly 48 are exemplary. In other
implementations, the antenna assembly 48 is formed of other
structure.
[0041] The other nodes of the wireless mesh network, such as the
nodes 12 and 16 include structure analogous to that shown with
respect to the node 14. Such structure can analogously be
represented with respect to the other nodes of the wireless mesh
network.
[0042] During operation of the wireless mesh network, training
signals are sent at selected intervals. The training signals sent
by the respective nodes are used, e.g., to determine spatial
characteristics of the radio links, such as the radio links 28 and
32, formed between pairs of nodes. The spatial characteristics
define spatial signatures associated with respective ones of the
nodes. For instance, a spatial signature is associated with the
node 12 with respect to the node 14, the spatial signatures are
utilized by the antenna assembly 48 to cause a selected radiation
pattern to be exhibited during communication of data packet between
the node 14 and another node, such as the node 12.
[0043] When the antenna assembly 48 is formed of other types of
antenna devices, other antenna information, other than the spatial
signatures of the neighboring nodes and the weight vectors
associated with the spatial signatures, is utilized by the antenna
assembly. For instance, when the antenna assembly forms a
fixed-sector array of antennas, antenna information used by the
antenna assembly permits which sector antenna elements of the array
should be used to communicate data packets between nodes. That is
to say, the antenna information selects the sector antennas capable
of exhibiting radiation patterns which encompass a node in which
data packets are to be communicated. When the antenna assembly
utilizes a steerable-beam approach, the antenna information
utilized by the antenna assembly forms neighbor-specific angle
information required of the antenna beam pattern to best
communicate the data packets between a selected pair of nodes.
[0044] Antenna information herein refers to any antenna-specific
information to be used by an antenna assembly to facilitate the
communication of data packets between a pair of nodes. The antenna
information provides directivity to the antenna pattern formed by
the antenna assembly, thereby to facilitate communications between
nodes of the network. Operation of an embodiment of the present
invention provides a manner by which to facilitate storage and use
of the antenna information, thereby to facilitate optimal
communications in the network.
[0045] Also, in the exemplary implementation, IP-formatted data
packets are communicated between nodes during communication
operations. In other implementations, communication of data
formatted in other manners is utilized. The nodes, here, exhibit
full TCP/IP protocol suite support, and routing of data is based
upon standard IP routing algorithms.
[0046] In conventional manner, data packets to be communicated
during exemplary operation of the wireless mesh network are
formatted to include a header portion and a payload portion.
[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates a functional element 66 of an embodiment
of the present invention to combine a portion of the header
information with antenna information, thereby to provide each data
packet, or selected data packets of a packet data transmission,
with the antenna information. An exemplary data packet 68 is shown
in the figure to include a header portion 72 and a payload portion
74. The header portion includes an IP address 74. The IP address of
the header portion 74 is functionally applied, here indicated by
the arrow 78, to the element 66. Mapping is performed by the
element 66, and a mapped output is generated on the line 82. With
reference back to FIG. 2, the functional operation is performed by
the element 66 are carried out the routing table 44.
[0048] FIG. 4 illustrates the routing table 44, here listing IP
addresses associated with different nodes of the wireless mesh
network. Antenna information associated with the IP address,
relative to the node at which the routing table is positioned, is
indexed together with the IP address. And, the resultant mapped
information is also shown at the routing table. In other
implementations, the IP address and the antenna information are
combined at other locations and in other manners. Mapping is
performed from the IP address to be associated with antenna
information. The mapping is realized in the exemplary
implementation through a table which relates the IP addresses to
corresponding antenna information, such as antenna weights, antenna
sectors to be utilized, etc. The table is here shown to be embodied
with the IP routing table. In another implementation, the table is
separate from the IP routing table. And, in a dynamically-defined
wireless mesh network, i.e., a network in which nodes are added to,
and subtracted from, the network, the contents of the routing
table, and associated antenna information, are appropriately
updated. As noted previously, the antenna information is obtained
responsive to analysis of training signals transmitted at selected
intervals during operation of the network.
[0049] Algorithms executable to obtain antenna information, in the
exemplary embodiment, are defined in lower-level logical layers,
where most efficient, such as at the MAC (medium access control)
layer or the PHY (physical) layer. Once the antenna information is
determined, or otherwise obtained, the antenna information is
communicated to upper-level logical layers to be stored in
connection with the routing table, such as the routing table 44.
Port specific, antenna information is then attached to a data
packet which is to be transmitted, and is communicated back to the
lower-level logical layers.
[0050] Thereby, the lower-level logical layers are able to be of
relatively low complexity. And, while determination of the antenna
of the antenna information is implemented in the lower-level
logical layers, such as the PHY layer, decisions on when
redeterminations of the antenna information are to be made are
based, at least in part, upon measurements not available to the PHY
layer, such as the link quality determinations. Redetermination
decisions are therefore performed at upper-level logical layers.
Also, by storing the antenna information in the upper-level logical
layers, memory and memory handling operations need not be performed
at the lower-level logical layers. In a further implementation,
route computation and optimization can be further based upon
antenna information, such as to minimize interference to other,
i.e. nondestination, nodes or, for example, to enable more
efficient STMA scheduling.
[0051] Thereby, through operation of an embodiment of the present
invention, a manner is provided by which to provide antenna
information to be used by a node, or other communication station,
to utilize an antenna assembly in a manner by which best to
effectuate communication of a data packet.
[0052] The preferred descriptions are of preferred examples for
implementing the invention, and the scope of the invention should
not necessarily be limited by this description. The scope of the
present invention is defined by the following claims.
* * * * *