U.S. patent application number 12/020857 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-05 for methods and apparatus for wireless network formation.
This patent application is currently assigned to Rotani, Inc.. Invention is credited to Roc Lastinger, John Spenik, Brian C. Woodbury.
Application Number | 20080132260 12/020857 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34107714 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080132260 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lastinger; Roc ; et
al. |
June 5, 2008 |
Methods and Apparatus for Wireless Network Formation
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for high throughput wireless cells and
networks are described. The wireless cells may be equipped with
multiple radios. Antennas may be arranged into overlapping and
non-overlapping patterns. Channels may be assigned to foster
servicing clients, and inter-cell communication. Attenuation may be
used to decrease interference. Networks may be formed using a
variety of methods and apparatus.
Inventors: |
Lastinger; Roc; (Cave Creek,
AZ) ; Spenik; John; (Phoenix, AZ) ; Woodbury;
Brian C.; (Gilbert, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LETHAM LAW FIRM, LLC
914 N. TUCANA LANE
GILBERT
AZ
85234
US
|
Assignee: |
Rotani, Inc.
Scottsdale
AZ
|
Family ID: |
34107714 |
Appl. No.: |
12/020857 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10880387 |
Jun 29, 2004 |
7359675 |
|
|
12020857 |
|
|
|
|
60493663 |
Aug 8, 2003 |
|
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60484800 |
Jul 3, 2003 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/509 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 17/382 20150115;
Y02D 70/146 20180101; H04B 7/0495 20130101; Y02D 70/144 20180101;
H04W 16/24 20130101; Y02D 70/30 20180101; H04W 28/16 20130101; H04W
74/06 20130101; H04W 40/02 20130101; H04B 7/022 20130101; H04W
16/02 20130101; H01Q 3/2605 20130101; H04B 7/0408 20130101; H04W
16/00 20130101; Y02D 70/164 20180101; H04W 88/06 20130101; Y02D
70/444 20180101; H04W 16/12 20130101; Y02D 30/70 20200801; H04B
7/0491 20130101; H04W 16/14 20130101; Y02D 70/442 20180101; Y02D
70/142 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/509 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 7/36 20060101
H04Q007/36 |
Claims
1. A method for facilitating network formation, the method
comprising: selecting a plurality of wireless cells having physical
sectors, an angle of coverage, an area of coverage, a shape of
coverage, a channel assignment pattern, and an orientation, wherein
the physical sectors form a coverage pattern selected from the
group of overlapping and non-overlapping; and, placing at least a
portion of the area of coverage of each of the plurality of
wireless apparatus substantially adjacent to the area of coverage
of at least one of the plurality of wireless cells; thereby
locating physical sectors in an opposing position.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning at least two
of the physical sectors located in an opposing position to a same
channel.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the channel assignment pattern
assigns no physical sectors located in an opposing position are
assigned the same channel.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the area of coverage of the
plurality of wireless apparatus vary by a factor of about one-half
raised to an integer power.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the angle of coverage is about
360-degrees, the shape of coverage is similar to a hexagon, the
orientation for each of the plurality of wireless cells is
substantially similar, and the coverage pattern for physical
sectors is overlapping.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the angle of coverage is about
360-degrees, the shape of coverage is similar to a square, and the
orientation for each of the plurality of wireless cells is
substantially similar.
7. A method for facilitating network formation, the method
comprising: dividing the plurality of wireless cells into a first
group and a second group, wherein each one wireless cell
respectively has a plurality of physical sectors, a shape of
coverage similar to a triangle, a channel assignment pattern, and a
similar orientation; rotating the orientation of the wireless cells
of the second group about 60-degrees in a direction selected from
the group of clockwise and counter-clockwise; and, placing the area
of coverage of each of the wireless cells of the first group
substantially adjacent to the area of coverage of at least one of
the wireless cells of the second group; thereby locating physical
sectors in an opposing position.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising assigning at least two
of the physical sectors located in an opposing position to a same
channel.
9. The method of claim 7 further comprising assigning no physical
sectors located in an opposing position to a same channel.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein the area of coverage of the
plurality of wireless apparatus vary by a factor of about one-half
raised to an integer power.
11. A method for facilitating network formation, the method
comprising: selecting a first group of three wireless cells,
wherein each wireless cell has physical sectors, an area of
coverage, a shape of coverage similar to a triangle, a channel
assignment pattern, and a predetermined orientation; selecting a
second group of three wireless cells, wherein each wireless cell
has physical sectors, an area of coverage, a shape of coverage
similar to a triangle, and an orientation similar to the wireless
cells of the first group; rotating the orientation of the wireless
cells of the second group about 60-degrees in a direction selected
from the group of clockwise and counter-clockwise; forming a module
using the wireless cells of the first group and the second group,
the module having an area of coverage and a shape of coverage
similar to a hexagon, wherein the area of coverage of each of the
wireless cells from the first group is substantially adjacent to
the area of coverage of two wireless cells from the second group,
and a vertex of the shape of coverage of each wireless cell of the
first and the second groups touches a vertex of all the wireless
cells; replicating a plurality of modules; and, placing at least a
portion of the area of coverage of each of the plurality of modules
substantially adjacent to the area of coverage of at least one of
the plurality of modules; thereby locating physical sectors of the
wireless cells of the modules in an opposing position.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the channel assignment pattern
assigns at least two of the physical sectors located in an opposing
position the same channel.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the channel assignment pattern
assigns no physical sectors located in an opposing position the
same channel.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the area of coverage of the
plurality of modules vary by a factor of about one-half raised to
an integer power.
15. A method for facilitating forming non-overlapping coverage, the
method comprising: selecting a wireless apparatus having four
directional antennas; wherein each directional antenna has an angle
of coverage of about 90-degrees, and a physical sector; and,
positioning the directional antennas; wherein each of the physical
sectors is substantially adjacent to two of the physical sectors,
each physical sector faces a direction opposite of one other
physical sector, and the physical sectors of each antenna combine
to form an shape of coverage similar to a square.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn..sctn.120-121 this application
is a divisional of and claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser.
No. 10/880,387 filed Jun. 29, 2004, which claims the benefit under
35 U.S.C. .sctn..sctn.119(e) U.S. provisional application No.
60/493,663 filed Aug. 8, 2003 herein incorporated by reference and
U.S. provisional application No. 60/484,800 filed Jul. 3, 2003
herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention generally relates to wireless communications,
and more particularly, to systems and methods for wireless cells,
wireless networks, access points, and clients.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Many systems incorporate the IEEE 802.11 protocols,
channels, and encoding to create wireless access points and clients
capable of communicating with each other regardless of the
manufacturer of the device. As such, the popularity of wireless
access and connectivity has increased demand for wireless
throughput. However, most of the current generation of wireless
access points and devices are limited in that they use
omni-directional antennas assigned to a single channel. The demand
for wireless access has increased the demand for higher wireless
data throughput per wireless device, the reduction of interference
between wireless devices, and wireless devices adapted to form
wireless networks.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention overcomes the limitations and problems of the
prior art by providing an improved wireless cell that wirelessly
communicates with other apparatus including, for example, other
wireless cells. In one embodiment, the wireless cell includes at
least one of sectorized coverage, attenuation, overlapping or
non-overlapping antenna physical sector arrangements, and minimally
interfering radio channels to enable multiple antennas and multiple
radios to substantially simultaneously operate and to provide, for
example, increased data throughput, and improved channel reuse
while minimizing the interference with foreign wireless
devices.
[0007] In another embodiment, sectorized wireless cells are
positioned to form networks of wireless cells that may perform at
least one of servicing clients, routing between related wireless
cells, and routing data between wireless cells and wired
networks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0008] A more complete understanding of the present invention may
be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when
considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference
numbers refer to similar elements throughout the Figures, and:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary area of coverage, or
physical sector, of a directional antenna;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a diagram of two exemplary overlapping physical
sectors forming an exemplary virtual sector;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary virtual sector formed by
the substantial overlap of about 100% of two physical sectors of
substantially similar areas of coverage;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a diagram of exemplary wireless cell coverage
formed by three substantially non-overlapping physical sectors each
of about 120-degree angle of coverage;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary shape of coverage
similar to a hexagon that may approximate the wireless cell
coverage of FIG. 4;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a diagram of exemplary wireless cell coverage
formed by three substantially non-overlapping physical sectors each
of about 120-degree angle of coverage;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a diagram of an exemplary shape of coverage
similar to a triangle that may approximate the wireless cell
coverage of FIG. 6;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a diagram of exemplary wireless cell coverage
formed by six overlapping physical sectors each of about 120-degree
angle of coverage with overlap of about 50%;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a diagram of an exemplary shape of coverage
similar to a hexagon that may approximate the wireless cell
coverage of FIG. 8;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a diagram of exemplary wireless cell coverage
formed by four substantially non-overlapping physical sectors each
of about 90-degree angle of coverage;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a diagram of an exemplary shape of coverage
similar to a square that may approximate the wireless cell coverage
of FIG. 10;
[0020] FIG. 12 is a diagram of an exemplary network embodiment
where wireless cells differ in size by a factor of about one-half
raised to an integer power;
[0021] FIG. 13 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless cell where one
physical sector has a different area of coverage;
[0022] FIG. 14 is a diagram of an exemplary network that may
conflict with foreign wireless cells;
[0023] FIG. 15 is a diagram of exemplary adjacent wireless cells,
adjacent physical sectors, and opposing physical sectors;
[0024] FIG. 16 is a diagram of exemplary spatial effects of
attenuation with relation to a client and a noise source;
[0025] FIG. 17 is a diagram of exemplary client and noise source
signal strengths without attenuation;
[0026] FIG. 18 is a diagram of exemplary client and noise source
signal strengths with attenuation;
[0027] FIG. 19 is a diagram of two exemplary overlapping physical
sectors, a client and a noise source;
[0028] FIG. 20 is a diagram of exemplary client and noise source
signal strengths in the same physical sector and the exemplary
effects of attenuation;
[0029] FIG. 21 is a diagram of exemplary client and noise source
signal strengths where the client lies substantially within the
physical sector and the noise source lies substantially outside the
physical sector and the exemplary effects of attenuation;
[0030] FIG. 22 is a diagram of an exemplary adaptive antenna array
servicing a physical sector;
[0031] FIG. 23 is a diagram of exemplary adaptive antenna array
components comprising of four antennas, four gain (weighing)
circuits, and a summation device;
[0032] FIG. 24 is a diagram of an exemplary adaptive antenna array
with attenuation comprising of four antennas, four gain (weighing)
devices, and a summation device with attenuation placed between the
antennas and the gain devices;
[0033] FIG. 25 is a diagram of exemplary coverage of an adaptive
array with attenuation;
[0034] FIG. 26 is a diagram of an exemplary adaptive antenna array
with attenuation comprising of four antennas, four gain (weighing)
devices, and a summation device with attenuation placed after the
summation device;
[0035] FIG. 27 is a diagram of an exemplary adaptive array beam
within a physical sector;
[0036] FIG. 28 is a diagram of an exemplary spread spectrum signal
and noise floor wherein the spread spectrum signal strength is less
the strength of the noise floor;
[0037] FIG. 29 is a diagram of two exemplary spread spectrum
systems that may interfere with each other;
[0038] FIG. 30 is a diagram of two exemplary spread spectrum
systems where the area of coverage of one spread spectrum system
has been reduced using attenuation to minimize interference between
the two systems;
[0039] FIG. 31 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using three channels for a wireless cell with a shape of
coverage similar to a hexagon;
[0040] FIG. 32 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using three channels for a wireless cell with a shape of
coverage similar to a triangle;
[0041] FIG. 33 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using two channels for a wireless cell with a shape of
coverage similar to a square;
[0042] FIG. 34 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using four channels for a wireless cell with a shape of
coverage similar to a square;
[0043] FIG. 35 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for adjacent wireless cells wherein no adjacent or opposing
physical sector uses the same channel;
[0044] FIG. 36 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for adjacent wireless cells wherein no adjacent wireless
cell may use the same channel, but opposing physical sectors do use
the same channel;
[0045] FIG. 37 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using three channels for a wireless cell with a shape of
coverage similar to a hexagon;
[0046] FIG. 38 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using three channels for a wireless cell with a shape of
coverage similar to a hexagon, but with different orientation than
the hexagon wireless cell of FIG. 37;
[0047] FIG. 39 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern that may result when the wireless cell channel assignment
patterns of FIG. 37 and FIG. 38 are superimposed;
[0048] FIG. 40 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using three channels for a wireless cell with a shape of
coverage similar to a hexagon;
[0049] FIG. 41 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using three channels for a wireless cell with a shape of
coverage similar to a hexagon, but with similar orientation than
the hexagon wireless cell of FIG. 40;
[0050] FIG. 42 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern that may result when the wireless cell channel assignment
patterns of FIG. 40 and FIG. 41 are superimposed;
[0051] FIG. 43 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern that may result when the wireless cell channel assignment
patterns of FIG. 39 and FIG. 41 are superimposed;
[0052] FIG. 44 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using three channels assigned to horizontally polarized
antennas for a wireless cell with a shape of coverage similar to a
hexagon;
[0053] FIG. 45 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using three channels assigned to vertically polarized
antennas for a wireless cell with a shape of coverage similar to a
hexagon;
[0054] FIG. 46 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern that may result when the wireless cell channel assignment
patterns of FIG. 44 and FIG. 45 are superimposed;
[0055] FIG. 47 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using three channels assigned to horizontally polarized
antennas for a wireless cell with a shape of coverage similar to a
hexagon;
[0056] FIG. 48 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using three channels assigned to vertically polarized
antennas for a wireless cell with a shape of coverage similar to a
hexagon;
[0057] FIG. 49 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern that may result when the wireless cell channel assignment
patterns of FIG. 47 and FIG. 48 are superimposed;
[0058] FIG. 50 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern formed by replicating channel assignment pattern of FIG. 49
with similar orientation resulting in adjacent wireless cells
wherein no adjacent physical or virtual sector or opposing virtual
sector of similar polarization uses the same channel;
[0059] FIG. 51 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using three channels assigned to vertically polarized
antennas for a wireless cell with a shape of coverage similar to a
hexagon;
[0060] FIG. 52 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using three channels assigned to horizontally polarized
antennas for a wireless cell with a shape of coverage similar to a
hexagon;
[0061] FIG. 53 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern that may result when the wireless cell channel assignment
patterns of FIG. 51 and FIG. 52 are superimposed;
[0062] FIG. 54 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern that may result when the wireless cell channel assignment
patterns of FIG. 49 and FIG. 53 are superimposed;
[0063] FIG. 55 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern using six channels assigned to horizontally and vertically
polarized antennas for a wireless cell with a shape of coverage
similar to a hexagon;
[0064] FIG. 56 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern formed by replicating channel assignment pattern of FIG. 54
with similar orientation resulting in adjacent wireless cells
wherein adjacent physical sectors or opposing virtual sectors of
similar polarization may uses the same channel;
[0065] FIG. 57 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern formed by replicating channel assignment pattern of FIG. 55
with similar orientation resulting in adjacent wireless cells
wherein no adjacent physical sector or opposing virtual sector of
similar polarization uses the same channel;
[0066] FIG. 58 is a diagram of an exemplary attenuation device;
[0067] FIG. 59 is a diagram of an exemplary attenuation module with
an attenuation device in transmit and receive path, an ASD, and an
RF switch;
[0068] FIG. 60 is a diagram of an exemplary attenuation module with
an attenuation device in the receive path, an ASD, and an RF
switch;
[0069] FIG. 61 is a diagram of an exemplary attenuation module with
an attenuation device in transmit and receive path, and an ASD;
[0070] FIG. 62 is a diagram of an exemplary attenuation module with
an attenuation device in the receive path, and an ASD;
[0071] FIG. 63 is a diagram of an exemplary attenuation module with
an attenuation device in transmit and receive path, and an RF
switch;
[0072] FIG. 64 is a diagram of an exemplary attenuation module with
an attenuation device in the receive path, and an RF switch;
[0073] FIG. 65 is a diagram of an exemplary three antenna, three
radio wireless cell;
[0074] FIG. 66 is a diagram of an exemplary three antenna, one
radio, one RF switch wireless cell;
[0075] FIG. 67 is a diagram of an exemplary six antenna, one radio,
one RF switch wireless cell;
[0076] FIG. 68 is a diagram of an exemplary six antenna, three
radio, one RF switch wireless cell;
[0077] FIG. 69 is a diagram of an exemplary six antenna, six
attenuation module, three radio, one RF switch wireless cell;
[0078] FIG. 70 is a diagram of an exemplary six antenna, three
attenuation module, three radio, one RF switch wireless cell;
[0079] FIG. 71 is a diagram of an exemplary six antenna, six
attenuation module, six radio wireless cell;
[0080] FIG. 72 is a diagram of an exemplary six antenna, three
attenuation module, three radio, one packet switch, one RF switch
wireless cell;
[0081] FIG. 73 is a diagram of an exemplary six antenna, six
attenuation module, four radio, one packet switch, and two RF
switch wireless cell;
[0082] FIG. 74 is a diagram of an exemplary six antenna, six
attenuation module, six radio wireless cell;
[0083] FIG. 75 is a diagram of an exemplary method for servicing
clients with an overlapping wireless cell;
[0084] FIG. 76 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless network formed
by replicating wireless cells each with shape of coverage similar
to a hexagon resulting in a network channel assignment pattern
where opposing virtual sectors have similar channels;
[0085] FIG. 77 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless network formed
by replicating wireless cells of various sizes each with shape of
coverage similar to a hexagon resulting in a network channel
assignment pattern where opposing physical sectors have different
channels;
[0086] FIG. 78 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless cell cluster
formed using three wireless cells each with shape of coverage
similar to a hexagon resulting in a cluster channel assignment
pattern where opposing physical sectors have similar channels;
[0087] FIG. 78 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless cell cluster
formed using three channels and three wireless cells each with
shape of coverage similar to a hexagon resulting in a cluster
channel assignment pattern where opposing physical sectors have
similar channels;
[0088] FIG. 79 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless cell cluster
formed using six channels and three wireless cells each with shape
of coverage similar to a hexagon resulting in a cluster channel
assignment pattern where opposing virtual sectors have different
channels;
[0089] FIG. 80 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless cell cluster
formed using nine channels and three wireless cells each with shape
of coverage similar to a hexagon resulting in a cluster channel
assignment pattern where opposing virtual sectors have different
channels;
[0090] FIG. 81 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless cell cluster
formed using three channels and three wireless cells each with
shape of coverage similar to a hexagon resulting in a cluster
channel assignment pattern where opposing virtual sectors have one
similar and one different channel;
[0091] FIG. 82 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless cell cluster
formed using six channels and three wireless cells each with shape
of coverage similar to a hexagon resulting in a cluster channel
assignment pattern where all opposing virtual sectors have one
common channel;
[0092] FIG. 83 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless network formed
by replicating the cluster of FIG. 82;
[0093] FIG. 84 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless network formed
by replicating various sizes of the cluster of FIG. 82;
[0094] FIG. 85 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for a wireless cell with shape of coverage similar to a
square;
[0095] FIG. 86 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for a wireless cell with shape of coverage similar to a
square;
[0096] FIG. 87 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for a wireless cell with shape of coverage similar to a
square;
[0097] FIG. 88 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for a wireless cell with shape of coverage similar to a
square;
[0098] FIG. 89 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for a wireless cell with shape of coverage similar to a
square;
[0099] FIG. 90 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for a wireless cell with shape of coverage similar to a
square;
[0100] FIG. 91 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless network formed
using wireless cells with shape of coverage similar to a square and
indicating hop level numbers;
[0101] FIG. 92 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for a wireless cell with shape of coverage similar to a
triangle;
[0102] FIG. 93 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for a wireless cell with shape of coverage similar to a
triangle;
[0103] FIG. 94 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for a wireless cell with shape of coverage similar to a
triangle;
[0104] FIG. 95 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for a wireless cell with shape of coverage similar to a
triangle;
[0105] FIG. 96 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for a wireless cell with shape of coverage similar to a
triangle;
[0106] FIG. 97 is a diagram of an exemplary channel assignment
pattern for a wireless cell with shape of coverage similar to a
triangle;
[0107] FIG. 98 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless network formed
using wireless cells with shape of coverage similar to a triangle
and indicating hop level numbers;
[0108] FIG. 99 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless network formed
using wireless cells with shape of coverage similar to a triangle
and indicating hop level numbers and exemplary channel pattern
assignment;
[0109] FIG. 100 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless network
formed using wireless cells of various sizes with shape of coverage
similar to a triangle and indicating hop level numbers and
exemplary channel pattern assignment;
[0110] FIG. 101 is a diagram of an exemplary interference between a
three-sector wireless cell and an omni-directional wireless
cell;
[0111] FIG. 102 is a diagram of an exemplary method for reducing
interference by decreasing the receive size of the interfering
physical sector;
[0112] FIG. 103 is a diagram of an exemplary method for reducing
interference by disabling the interfering physical sector;
[0113] FIG. 104 is a diagram of an exemplary interference between a
six physical sector, six virtual sector wireless cell and an
omni-directional wireless cell;
[0114] FIG. 105 is a diagram of an exemplary method for reducing
wireless cell interference by disabling only the interfering
physical sector;
[0115] FIG. 106 is a diagram of an exemplary method for reducing
wireless cell interference by disabling all overlapping physical
sectors;
[0116] FIG. 107 is a diagram of an exemplary method for providing
wireless cell network coverage that may interfere with nearby
foreign wireless cells;
[0117] FIG. 108 is a diagram of an exemplary method for providing
wireless cell network coverage that may not interfere with near-by
foreign wireless cells;
[0118] FIG. 109 is a diagram of an exemplary interference between
some sectors of a wireless network and nearby foreign wireless
cells; and
[0119] FIG. 110 is a diagram of an exemplary method for reducing
interference between sectors of a wireless network and nearby
foreign wireless cells by changing channel assignment pattern.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0120] The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the
invention herein refers to the accompanying drawings, which show
the exemplary embodiments by way of illustration and its best mode.
While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient
detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the
invention, it should be understood that other embodiments may be
realized and that logical and mechanical changes may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus,
the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of
illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps
recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be
executed in any order and are not limited to the order
presented.
[0121] For the sake of brevity, conventional data networking,
application development and other functional aspects of the systems
(and components of the individual operating components of the
systems) may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the
connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are
intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or
physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted
that many alternative or additional functional relationships or
physical connections may be present in a practical system.
[0122] As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art,
the present invention may be embodied as a customization of an
existing system, an add-on product, upgraded software, a
stand-alone system, a distributed system, a method, a data
processing system, a device for data processing, and/or a computer
program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the
form of an entirely software embodiment, an entirely hardware
embodiment, or an embodiment combining aspects of both software and
hardware. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a
computer program product on a computer-readable storage medium
having computer-readable program code means embodied in the storage
medium. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium may be
utilized, including hard disks, CD-ROM, optical storage devices,
magnetic storage devices, semiconductor storage devices, and/or the
like.
[0123] A single antenna may service a physical sector; however,
multiple antennas may also service a physical sector. Antenna 10 in
FIG. 1 may service physical sector 12. Antenna 10 may be a single
antenna; however, antenna 10 may also include at least one of a
Multiple In Multiple Out (MIMO) antenna system, a fixed array of
antennas, and an adaptive array of antennas. Multiple antennas may
substantially work in a coordinated manner and may be considered
similar to a single antenna in that, for example, a specific
physical area is covered. The physical area covered by an antenna
or multiple antennas working in a coordinated manner may be
referred to as a physical sector. In one embodiment, antenna 10 may
be an array of antennas wherein each antenna of the array may use
the same channel and substantially services area of coverage
described by physical sector 12. In another embodiment, antenna 10
may be an adaptive array wherein the beams formed by the antennas
may be substantially limited to area of coverage described by
physical sector 12. In another embodiment, antenna 10 may be a
single, directional antenna whose area of coverage may be
substantially described by physical sector 12. In another
embodiment, antenna 10 may be an array of antennas wherein a
portion of the antennas service physical sector 12, and another
portion of the antennas service a different physical sector.
Therefore, the word antenna, as used in this application, may
comprise a single antenna or multiple antennas working in a
coordinated manner to provide coverage to physical sectors.
[0124] Independent antennas may also service substantially the same
physical area. For example, in one embodiment, antennas 10 and 14
of FIG. 2 are independent antennas or multiple antennas as
described above. Each antenna 10 and 14 may service physical
sectors 12 and 16 respectively. The area where physical sector 12
overlaps with physical sector 16 may be referred to as a virtual
sector. Virtual sector 18 may be an area where independent antennas
may service the same physical area. In another embodiment, antennas
10 and 14 may be rotated until physical sectors 12 and 16
substantially overlap thereby making virtual sector 18
substantially equal to physical sectors 12 and/or 16 as shown in
FIG. 3. Substantially complete, about 100%, overlap does not change
the substantially independent operation of antennas 10 and 14.
Antenna 10 may still independently service physical sector 12 and
antenna 14 may still independently service physical sector 16 even
though the physical sectors are substantially the same physical
area. In another embodiment, antenna 10 and 14 may use different,
minimally interfering channels that may substantially enable
antenna 10 and 14 to independently and simultaneously service
clients in virtual sector 18.
[0125] Wireless cells may be formed by arranging antennas in
substantially overlapping and/or substantially non-overlapping
patterns. The shape of the area of wireless cell coverage may
depend on antenna characteristics and/or how the antennas are
arranged. In one embodiment, three, 120-degree directional antennas
with physical sectors 20, 22, and 24 may form an shape of coverage
as shown in FIG. 4; however, the shape of coverage may also be
approximated as a hexagon with three sectors as shown in FIG. 5. In
another embodiment, the shape of coverage provided by three
120-degree directional antennas as shown in FIG. 6 may be
approximated as a triangle as shown in FIG. 7. In another
embodiment, the shape of coverage provided by six physical sectors
with about 120-degree angular coverage each, which overlap about
50% to form six virtual sectors as shown in FIG. 8 may be
approximated as a hexagon with six physical and six virtual sectors
as shown in FIG. 9. In another embodiment, the wireless cell shape
of coverage provided by four directional antennas each with an
angle of coverage of about 90-degree, as shown in FIG. 10, may be
approximated as a square as shown in FIG. 11. The shape of coverage
may influence channel assignment (discussed below) and/or wireless
cell placement to form networks (also discussed below).
[0126] The area of coverage of a wireless cell, also referred to as
the size of a wireless cell, may be influenced by at least one of
the attenuation of incoming and outgoing signals, radio transmit
power, amplification of incoming signals, amplification of outgoing
signals, and attenuation of only incoming signals. A wireless cell
may have any size equal to or smaller than its maximum transmit and
receive areas. In an exemplary network embodiment, wireless cells
may be substantially equal in size. In another network embodiment,
wireless cells may differ in size by a factor of about one-half
raised to an integer power (i.e., (cellsize)(1/2) n) where the
integer may range from negative infinity to positive infinity. A
factor of one-half raised to an integer power provides and infinite
set of size factors of which the sequence ( . . . 1/32, 1/16, 1/8,
1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 . . . ) is exemplary. An exemplary
network embodiment may contain, for example, several maximum sized
cells and several cells that vary from the maximum cell size by
factors of, for example, 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2. Forming a
network with cells that may differ by a factor of about one-half
raised to an integer power may enable any wireless cell to be
replaced by an integer number of smaller cells while substantially
providing the equivalent area of coverage. Using cells that differ
in size by a factor of about one-half raised to an integer power
may facilitate network formation and/or wireless cell density
management. For example, six wireless cells, 28, 30, and 32 are
about a factor of about one-half (1/2) less in size than wireless
cell 26 and wireless cells 34, 36, and 38 are about a factor of
about one-half (1/2) less in size than wireless cell 30. The six
cells 28 through 38 substantially fill a coverage area similar in
size to the coverage area of wireless cell 26. The utility of an
embodiment that uses wireless cells that vary in size by a factor
of about one-half raised to an integer power becomes apparent when
channels are assigned to the wireless cell sectors; however, there
are no limitations on the size of a wireless cell and/or the
relative size of wireless cells in a network. Additionally, the
sizes of individual sectors of a wireless cell are also not
limited. For example, in one embodiment, one sector, referring to
sector 40 of FIG. 13, is larger than the other two sectors 42 and
44. In another embodiment, each sector may have substantially
different sizes.
[0127] Related wireless cells may be considered as part of the same
network and may communicate with each other by any means such as,
for example, a wired interface, an optical interface, and a
wireless interface. Related wireless cells may be designed to, for
example, work together, and minimize interference between each
other. A foreign wireless cell may be, for example, part of an
unrelated network, unable to communicate, independently controlled,
under different ownership, and under separate management. For
example, wireless cells 46 through 56 in FIG. 14 may be considered
related because they may do at least one of communicate between
adjacent wireless cells, route data between wireless cells, and
cooperate to minimize interference between wireless cells. In this
example, still referring to FIG. 14, omni-directional wireless
cells 62 and 64 are not related (i.e., are foreign) to wireless
cells 46 through 56. No direct connection and/or cooperation may
exist between the hexagonal wireless cells and the omni-directional
cells. In this example, omni-directional cells 62 and 64 may
interfere with physical sectors 58 and 60 of wireless cells 52 and
56 respectively.
[0128] Wireless cells 66, 68, and 70 of FIG. 15 may be referred to
as contiguous or adjacent because the drawn cell boundary of each
wireless cell substantially touches the drawn boundary of the other
wireless cells. The sectors 72, 74, and 76 of wireless cells 66,
68, and 70 respectively may be referred to as opposing. Sector 72
may be substantially opposite sectors 74 and 76, sector 74 may be
substantially opposite 72 and 76, and 76 may be substantially
opposite 72 and 74. Adjacent wireless cells may wirelessly
communicate with each other through opposing sectors if the radios
of the opposing sector antennas use a similar channel.
[0129] Now turning to attenuation. Attenuation of incoming signals
may reduce interference and/or improve signal-to-noise ratio. The
potential benefits of attenuation may be described spatially or
alternately from the perspective of signal-to-noise ratio. From the
spatial perspective, as shown in FIG. 16, attenuation may decrease
an antenna's area of coverage. With little attenuation, the
coverage area of antenna 78 may extend to about line 82. Noise
source 462 may lie substantially outside the area of coverage, but
its signal may still be received by antenna 78 and may interfere
with the signal from client CL1. Attenuating signals incoming
through antenna 78 may decrease the receive coverage area from
about line 82 to about line 80. Decreasing the receive coverage
area may make the radio perceive noise source 462 as being
spatially farther away because the noise source signal strength may
be weaker when the signal is attenuated. The farther a client lies
outside the receive coverage area, the less its signal may be
likely to interfere.
[0130] Alternately, the potential benefits of attenuation on the
signal-to-noise ratio may be depicted in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18.
Referring to FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the y-axis shows signal strength
as it may be measured at antenna 78. The x-axis shows the distance
of the clients from antenna 78. Signal 84 and 86 represent signals
that may be received at antenna 78 from client CL1 and noise source
462 respectively. A noise source may be, for example, another
client, another wireless cell, a microwave oven, or other
apparatus. Lines 88, 90, 94, and 96 may represent signal strength
after attenuation as perceived by the radio attached to antenna 78.
FIG. 17 depicts the situation where there may be little
attenuation. Noise source 462 may transmit at the same signal
strength as client CL2, but because it may be farther away, its
signal strength as measured at antenna 78 may not be as strong as
the signal from client CL1; therefore, line 86, may be represented
as smaller than line 84. Because there is little attenuation, the
radio perceives substantially the full signal strength from client
CL1 and noise source 462 as depicted by lines 88 and 90
respectively. The signal-to-noise ratio is about the ratio of the
desired signal strength, represented by line 88, to the noise
source signal strength represented by line 90. FIG. 18 may depict
the situation where some attenuation may be applied to the incoming
signals. The signals from the client and the noise source, 84 and
86 respectively, are attenuated a similar amount as shown by line
92; therefore, the client and noise source signals strengths as
perceived by the radio attached to antenna 78 may decrease and may
be represented by lines 94 and 96 respectively. The signal-to-noise
ratio with attenuation may be the ratio of the desired signal
strength, represented by line 94, to the noise source signal
strength represented by line 96. Because signals 84 and 86 may be
attenuated by a similar amount, the ratio of the desired signal
strength, 94, to the noise signal strength, 96, may show
improvement in signal-to-noise ratio as the attenuation is
increased.
[0131] Attenuation may provide less benefit when the signal from
the noise source is relatively stronger than the signal from the
desired source. Referring to FIG. 19, both noise source 462 and
client CL1 may lie within physical sector 16 of antenna 14. The
noise source may lie closer to antenna 14 than client CL1, the
noise source may interfere with signals from client CL1, and the
noise source may have a stronger signal level as measured at
antenna 14 than client CL1. For this example, assume that the noise
source and client CL1 transmit with the same signal strength;
however, because the noise source lies closer to antenna 14 the
client CL1, antenna 14 may perceive the signal from noise source
462 as being stronger than the signal from client CL1. Under such
exemplary circumstances, the signal from noise source 462 and the
signal from client CL1, as perceived by antenna 14, may be
represented by lines 464 and 468 respectively in FIG. 20. Applying
attenuation, represented by line 472, to the incoming signals of
antenna 14 may decrease the signal strengths of noise source 464
and client CL1 468 as perceived by the radio attached to antenna 14
and may be represented by lines 466 and 470 respectively. The
signal-to-noise ratio may be the ratio of the desired signal
strength, represented by line 470, to the noise source signal
strength represented by line 466. Applying attenuation in the
exemplary circumstance represented in FIG. 20 may decrease the
signal-to-noise ratio and may result in a situation where the radio
may not detect the desired signal. However, any possible decline in
the signal-to-noise ratio may be reversed by combining attenuation
with overlapping or non-overlapping physical sectors. Referring
again to FIG. 19, in the above example, both the noise source and
client CL1 were serviced by antenna 14; however, noise source 462
may lie substantially outside of physical sector 12 while client
CL1 may lie substantially within physical sector 12. The relative
signal strengths of noise source 462 and client CL1 as perceived by
antenna 10 may be different than the relative strengths as
perceived by antenna 14. For this example, directional antenna 10
may perceive the signal strength from noise source 462 as being
less than the signal strength from client CL1. Referring to FIG.
21, line 464 and 468 may represent the noise signal and the desired
signal strengths respectively.
[0132] Although noise source 462 may be closer to antenna 10 than
client CL1, its signal may be perceived at antenna 10 as weaker
than the signal from client CL1. Applying attenuation to the
incoming signals of antenna 10, the radio may perceive the noise
signal strength as line 466 and client CL1 signal strength as line
470. Again, the signal-to-noise ratio may be the ratio of desired
signal strength 470 to the noise source signal strength 466. Under
these sample circumstances, increasing attenuation may increase the
signal-to-noise ratio and may provide a relatively stronger desired
signal to the radio. Therefore, in a multi-physical sector wireless
cell embodiment, one antenna may perceive the noise source as being
stronger than the desired signal while another antenna may not. In
an exemplary wireless cell embodiment, the wireless cell selects
the antenna where the desired signal may be stronger than the noise
signal and then may apply attenuation to further improve the
signal-to-noise ratio.
[0133] There are no limitations on the apparatus or methods of
attenuating signals, or where in the signal path attenuation may be
performed, or whether the incoming, outgoing or both incoming and
outgoing signals may be attenuated. An exemplary embodiment may
position an RF attenuator next to the antenna in the signal path.
Attenuation may be performed using at least one of hardware adapted
to attenuate signals, digital signal processing performed by a
combination of hardware and software, and by physically placing
attenuating material to block an antenna. An exemplary embodiment
may use a hardware, RF attenuator. Attenuation may be at least one
of fixed in amount of attenuation and variable in amount of
attenuation. An exemplary embodiment may use variable attenuation
that may be changed under predetermined conditions. The amount of
attenuation that may be required may be determined by, for example,
the strength of undesirable signals, relationship of attenuation to
data throughput, and reduction of wireless cell area of
coverage.
[0134] Now turning to attenuation in adaptive antenna arrays.
Attenuation is different from and may be used in conjunction with
the weighting techniques at times used in adaptive antenna arrays.
As discussed above, a physical sector may be serviced by an array
of antennas. For example, adaptive antenna array 98 may service
physical sector 100 as shown in FIG. 22. An exemplary adaptive
antenna array may have four antennas, 108, 110, 112, and 476 as
shown in FIG. 23. A client CL1 may lie substantially within
physical sector 100 and may transmit the desired signal. A noise
source 462 may lie substantially outside physical sector 100 and
may interfere with signals from CL1. Referring to FIG. 23, the
adaptive antenna array may compensate for (i.e., null) the noise
signal from noise source 462 by adjusting the gain (i.e., weight)
114, 116, 118, and 478 of the signals received by the antennas. The
signal from the antenna of the array that receives the strongest
signal from client CL1 may receive a higher weight (gain) than the
signals from the other antennas of the array. Weighting the
signals; however, may not change the signal-to-noise ratio because
the gain (weight) circuits, 114, 116, 118, and 478, may amplify
both noise and desired signal. Any improvement in the
signal-to-noise ratio may occur in the summation device 120 where
the weighted signals may be combined.
[0135] Attenuation may be added at any point in an adaptive array
such as, for example, between the antennas and the gain circuits,
between the weighting circuit and the summation device, and after
the summation device. An exemplary embodiment, adds attenuation
before at least one weighting circuit, as shown in FIG. 24.
Attenuation may be done by hardware or a combination of hardware
and software and may be fixed or adjustable. In an exemplary
embodiment, the attenuation is adjustable. Referring to FIG. 25,
the physical sector coverage areas, 102, 104, 106, and 486 show
possible areas of coverage of the physical sectors of antenna 108,
110, 112, and 480 of the adaptive array. The area of coverage of
each antenna physical sector may be spatially adjusted by
attenuation. The attenuation may also modify the signal-to-noise
ratio through each antenna. For example, antenna 108 may receive a
stronger signal from the noise source than from client CL1. Because
the signal strength of the noise source may be stronger than the
desired signal from client CL1, increasing attenuation 122 may
decrease the signal-to-noise ratio, as described above, leaving a
signal that may have little desired signal content, which may allow
the weighing circuit 114 to apply a lower gain value than it may
have applied without attenuation. Antenna 110 may also receive a
stronger signal from the noise source than from client CL1.
Increasing attenuation 124 may decrease the signal-to-noise ratio
leaving a signal to which weighing (gain) circuit 116 may apply a
lower gain value than it may have applied to a signal with less
attenuation. Antenna 112 may perceive the signal from client CL1 as
being stronger than the signal from the noise source; therefore,
increasing the attenuation of attenuator 126 may improve the
signal-to-noise ratio; thereby enabling the weighing circuit 118 to
apply a higher gain value than it may have applied without
attenuation. Antenna 480 may receive a substantially stronger
signal from client CL1 than from the noise source; therefore,
increasing attenuation 482 may improve the signal-to-noise ratio
and weighing circuit 484 may apply a larger weight than may
otherwise be applied without attenuation. The attenuators may act
to increase or decrease the signal-to-noise ratio; thereby
providing signals to the weighing circuits that may be more easily
distinguished as desirable signal or noise. The use of attenuators
between the gain circuits and the antennas may enable the weighing
circuits to produce results that may be more decisive.
[0136] In another adaptive antenna array embodiment, referring to
FIG. 26, attenuation may be placed after summation device 120.
Placing attenuation after the summation device may help in
situations where the noise source may be in line with the beam
formed by the adaptive array. Referring to FIG. 27, the adaptive
antenna area may operate to form a beam to receive signals from
client CL1; however, noise source 462 may lie nearly in line with
the antenna beam direct at client CL1 and may interfere.
Attenuating the beam signal using attenuator 488 may decrease the
area of coverage of the beam and may increase the ratio of client
CL1 signal to noise source 462 signal; thereby increasing the
signal-to-noise ratio.
[0137] Now turning to attenuation in a Multiple Input Multiple
Output (MIMO) antenna. Multiple antennas may operate in a
coordinated manner to provide coverage to a physical sector.
Various embodiments of a MIMO antenna may include at least one of,
for example, antenna arrays, adaptive antenna array, multiple
antennas with at least one of spatial, angular, and polarization
diversity, transmission on at least two antennas, reception through
at least two antennas, transmission and reception on at least two
antennas, up-down conversion mixers, and multiple carriers. A MIMO
antenna may also use at least one of the following methods, for
example, decorrelation, minimum mean square error (MMSE), and
singular value decomposition (SVD). Attenuation may also be used
with MIMO antennas and may improve signal-to-noise performance.
There are no limitations on where attenuation may be applied in a
MIMO antenna signal path. In an exemplary embodiment that may use
MIMO antennas, RF attenuation may be placed after the antenna and
before any subsequent component associated with the MIMO antenna
such that, for example, incoming signals may be attenuated before
entering any component or process associated with the MIMO antenna
other than the antennas. In another embodiment, RF attenuation may
be placed between any RF filter that may follow an antenna and any
subsequent component associated with the MIMO antenna such that,
for example, incoming signals may be attenuated after entering the
antenna and after passing through a filter, but before entering any
other component or process associated with the MIMO antenna. In
another embodiment, attenuation may be applied after receive
signals are converted from an analog signal to a digital signal. In
such an embodiment, a processor using digital signal processing
algorithms may perform attenuation.
[0138] Now turning to attenuation in communication systems where
the desired signal strength may be less than the ambient noise
level. Communication systems that may transmit and receive with a
signal strength that may be near or less than the ambient noise
level may be, for example, spread spectrum, and ultra wideband
systems. Information on signal and ambient noise levels for ultra
wideband systems may be found in IEEE 802.15.3a. The potential
signal strength may look like the signals pictured in FIG. 28.
Referring to FIG. 28, the y-axis may represent signal strength and
the x-axis distance from the receiving antenna. Line 490 may
represent ambient noise, which may be of similar signal strength at
all relevant distances from the antenna. The signal level of the
ambient noise is indicated by line 494. Line 492 may represent the
desired signal strength. As described above, applying attenuation
in a situation where the noise signal may be stronger than the
desired signal may decrease the signal-to-noise ratio; however,
using attenuation to limit area of coverage may decrease
interference between nearby systems and may improve the
performance. For example, circle 496 and 498, of FIG. 29, may
represent the areas of coverage of two systems whose signal levels
may be less than the level of ambient noise. The areas of coverage
may overlap in the area marked 500. The overlap may cause
interference in either or both systems. Applying attenuation to the
incoming signals of system 496 may result in an area of coverage
depicted by circle 502 in FIG. 30. Areas of coverage 498 and 502
may no longer overlap and interference between the systems may
decrease. An exemplary embodiment may attenuate incoming signals
using wide band attenuation directly after the antenna.
[0139] Now turning to the effects of attenuation on communication
protocols. Attenuation may directly improve the data throughput of
some communication protocols such as, for example, 801.11a/b/g,
Bluetooth, and ultra wideband. In a noisy environment, many
communication protocols respond by down-training (i.e., decreasing)
the speed of communication for all clients in noisy conditions. For
example, an 801.22 g access point generally attempts to communicate
with all clients at its maximum throughput of 54 Mbps. If the
802.11g access point detects a low signal quality caused by at
least one of a weak client signal, and a noisy environment, the
802.11g access point decreases its data communication rate to
compensate until an acceptable error rate is achieved. The majority
of clients may be capable of communicating at maximum speed, but
one client affects all clients; therefore, improving the signal for
one client may improve the data rate for all clients. Using
attenuation to limit the physical range of reception and to improve
signal-to-noise ratio may decrease the time the access point may
down-train. Any protocol that down-trains may benefit from
attenuation. In one embodiment, attenuation may be adjusted on a
per client basis.
[0140] Now turning to exemplary channel assignment methods. Many
radios transmit and receive through antennas using specific
channels. A channel may consist of, for example, a specific radio
frequency or frequencies, throughput allocation, bandwidth
allocation, time allocations, and other methods that enable
apparatus to wirelessly send and receive information. Simultaneous
transmissions from two or more apparatus using the same channel in
substantially the same physical area, or nearby area, may likely
interfere with each other. Using different channels to transmit
into substantially the same or neighboring area may reduce
interference between the transmitting apparatus. Some channels, for
example, do not interfere or minimally interfere with each other
when used in substantially the same or a nearby area. In one
embodiment, wireless cells may use minimally interfering channels
to enable multiple radios to transmit and receive simultaneously in
substantially the same physical area with reduced interference
between adjacent wireless cells. In another embodiment, wireless
cells may use minimally interfering channels to enable
communication between adjacent wireless cells whose sectors face
opposite each other, while reducing interference with adjacent
physical sectors. In another embodiment, minimally interfering
channels may be used to reduce interference between adjacent and
overlapping physical sectors. The number of channels required to
reduce interference between adjacent wireless cells, adjacent or
overlapping physical sectors, or to enhance communication between
adjacent wireless cells depends on, for example, the number of
sectors and virtual sectors per wireless cell, cell orientation,
and cell placement.
[0141] In general, an exemplary approach to reducing interference
between adjacent physical sectors, overlapping physical sectors,
opposing physical sectors, and adjacent wireless cells may be to
assign minimally interfering channels to adjacent, overlapping, and
opposing physical sectors. Such a channel assignment embodiment may
result in a network communication characteristic that allows each
wireless cell to service its clients with less interference from
other wireless cells. In another approach, assigning at least one
channel that is the same to opposing sectors of adjacent wireless
cells while assigning different, possibly minimally interfering
channels to adjacent and overlapping physical sectors may enhance
communication between adjacent wireless cells. An embodiment that
uses at least one common channel in opposing physical and/or
virtual sectors results in what may be referred to as a network
communication characteristic that may enable inter-cell
communication because adjacent wireless cells use the common
channel of opposing physical and/or virtual sectors to communicate.
Although channel assignments may help reduce interference or
enhance communication, other factors that influence the assignment
of channels may include, for example, channels used by foreign
wireless cells, multi-path interference, client transmit signal
strength, signal attenuation behind the antenna, reflected signals,
horn signal attenuation, and other factors.
[0142] Several channel assignments may be possible for every
wireless cell coverage pattern. Time multiplexing techniques may
also reduce interference between adjacent, overlapping, or opposing
physical sectors that may use the same or similar channels. Some
options for assigning channels are discussed for both overlapping
and non-overlapping wireless cell coverage patterns. Hardware
embodiments capable of supporting the channel assignments are also
disclosed. The exemplary channel assignment methods disclosed are
not to be construed as limitations.
[0143] Diagrams showing exemplary channel assignments use
alphanumeric identifiers C1, C2, etc. to represent channels. The
identifiers C1, C2, etc. do not represent a specific channel. Any
channel may be assigned to the identifier C1, but the same channel
is assigned to every physical sector labeled C1. While C1, C2, etc
do not necessarily represent specific channels, C1 represents a
channel that may be different from and may be minimally interfering
with the channel represented by C2. The same rules apply to all
channel identifiers.
[0144] In general, when assigning channels to physical sectors that
may be substantially non-overlapping, the exemplary method of
channel assignment to reduce interference is to assign different,
minimally interfering channels to adjacent, and opposing physical
sectors. However, when seeking to enhance communication between
adjacent wireless cells, the exemplary method of channel assignment
is to assign the same or similar channels to opposing physical
sectors. Exemplary wireless cells 128, 130, 132, and 134 in FIG. 31
through FIG. 34 show possible channel assignments patterns for
wireless cells with substantially non-overlapping physical sectors.
Although each physical sector is serviced by a directional antenna
that naturally reduces to some extent the interference between
adjacent sectors, adjacent sectors may also be assigned different
minimally interfering channels to possibly reduce interference. The
exemplary channel assignment patterns of wireless cell 132 in FIG.
33 reuses channels C1 and C2; whereas, the exemplary pattern of
wireless cells 128, 130, and 134 do not. Replication of exemplary
pattern and exemplary wireless cell shape 128 may produce, for
example, adjacent wireless cells 136, 138, 140, and 142, as shown
in FIG. 35, where no opposing sector uses the same channel. Using a
different, minimally interfering channel in each opposing sector
may allow each wireless cell to service its respective clients with
minimal interference from adjacent or nearby wireless cells. At the
same time, assigning different channels to opposing sectors may
preclude efficient wireless communication between adjacent or
nearby wireless cells. In another example, assigning the same or
similar channels to opposing sectors, as shown in FIG. 36, may
enable adjacent wireless cells 144, 146, 148, and 150 to
communicate wirelessly, but the channel assignment may also
increase interference between cells when a cell services its
clients. Channel assignment plays a part in network formation and
determines network communication characteristics, which is
discussed below.
[0145] There are no limitations on assigning channels to
overlapping sectors. Antennas may be arranged so that their
physical sectors overlap by any amount and any channel may be
assigned to any physical sector. In general, when assigning
channels to physical sectors that may overlap, the exemplary method
of channel assignment to reduce interference is to assign
different, minimally interfering channels to adjacent, overlapping,
and opposing physical sectors. However, when seeking to enhance
communication between adjacent wireless cells, the exemplary method
of channel assignment is to assign at least one channel that is the
same or similar to opposing physical sectors. In one embodiment,
individual physical sectors with similar angle and area of coverage
may overlap other sectors of similar angle and area of coverage by
about 50%. Two exemplary wireless cells 152 and 154 with
substantially non-overlapping sectors each assigned with different,
possibly minimally interfering channels are shown in FIG. 37 and
FIG. 38 respectively. Each physical sector of exemplary wireless
cells 152 and 154 may have an angle of coverage of about 120
degrees. However, the physical sectors of wireless cell 152 may
have a different orientation when compared to the physical sectors
of wireless cell 154; therefore, when wireless cell 152 is
superimposed over wireless cell 154 each physical sector of
wireless cell 152 may overlap at least one physical sector of
wireless cell 154. FIG. 39 shows the superposition of wireless
cells 152 and 154 to form exemplary wireless cell 156 wherein each
physical sector of wireless 152 may overlap two adjacent physical
sectors of wireless cell 154 by about 50%. In wireless cell 156 of
FIG. 39, each adjacent physical sector may have a different,
possibly minimally interfering channel and the channel of each
overlapping physical sector may be a different, possibly minimally
interfering channels from the channel assigned to the physical
sector that is overlapped. As a result, the channel coverage
pattern of exemplary wireless cell 156 has at least two different,
possibly minimally interfering channels in each virtual sector.
[0146] Another example of overlapping physical sectors and channel
assignments is another embodiment where sectors having
substantially equal angle of coverage, area of coverage, and
orientation overlap by about 100%. The exemplary wireless cells 158
and 160 of FIG. 40 and FIG. 41 each have three physical sectors
with an angle of coverage of about 120 degrees. Each physical
sector of exemplary wireless cells 158 and 160 may be assigned a
different, possibly minimally interfering channel. Additionally,
wireless cells 158 and 160 may have similar orientation; therefore,
superimposing exemplary wireless cells 158 and 160 may form the
channel assignment pattern of exemplary wireless cell 162 of FIG.
42. Wireless cell 162 has six, about 120-degree physical sectors
wherein each physical sector is substantially overlapped by about
100% by one other physical sector resulting in three virtual
sectors of about 120-degree angle of coverage and different,
possibly minimally interfering channels.
[0147] Wireless cells 156 and 162 are only examples. There are no
limitations on, for example, the number of physical sectors, the
channel assignment of the physical sectors, the amount of overlap
of the physical sectors, the number of sectors that may overlap,
the number of channels assigned, or the orientation of the cells.
The physical sectors do not have to be of substantially equal angle
or area of coverage. In one embodiment, the physical sector of an
omni-directional antenna may overlap the physical sectors of
wireless cell 152. In other embodiments, the physical sector of an
omni-directional antenna may overlap the physical sectors of any
one of wireless cells 154, 158, and 160. In another embodiment,
wireless cell 160 of FIG. 41 may superimpose wireless cell 156 of
FIG. 39 resulting in an exemplary channel assignment pattern of
FIG. 43. The amount of overlap between sectors does not have to be
uniform. There are no requirements or limitations on the angle of
coverage of the wireless cell. Exemplary cells 152 through 164
inclusive show wireless cell angle of coverage of about 360
degrees; however, a wireless cell may have any angle of coverage.
Further, there are no limitations on the number of physical sectors
that may overlap. Any number of physical sectors with any assigned
channel may overlap by any amount. There are no limitations that a
physical sector must stay in a fixed position. The position, angle
of coverage, or area of coverage of a physical sector and/or
wireless cell may be changed at any time and in any manner, whether
the manner of making change be at least one of electronic,
mechanical, and manual methods. As discussed above, there are no
limitations on the number of antennas that may service a physical
sector; however, each antenna that services a physical sector may
use the channel assigned to the physical sector. When physical
sectors overlap by about 100%, the antenna or antennas of each
individual physical sector may retain independent function and may
retain their assigned channels.
[0148] Now turning to exemplary channel assignments for orthogonal
polarized antennas. Horizontally and vertically polarized antennas
may provide additional degrees of freedom when assigning channels.
The terms horizontal and vertical polarization are not referenced
to the ground. A horizontally polarized antenna may be placed in
any position. The vertically polarized antenna is positioned
substantially orthogonal to the horizontal antenna. The antennas of
exemplary wireless cells 168 and 170, shown in FIG. 44 and FIG. 45,
may be horizontally and vertically polarized respectively. Both
cells may have similar physical sector orientation and the physical
sectors with similar orientation may be assigned the same or
similar channel. Superimposing wireless cells 168 and 170 may
produce wireless cell 172 where the antennas of each virtual sector
may work independently and may minimally interfere with each other,
yet use the same or similar channel.
[0149] In general, to potentially reduce interference, the
exemplary method of assigning channels to physical sectors serviced
by polarized antennas is to assign adjacent, overlapping, and
opposing physical sectors serviced by horizontally polarized
antennas to different, possibly minimally interfering channels and
to assign adjacent, overlapping, and opposing physical sectors
serviced by vertically polarized antennas to different, possibly
minimally interfering channels. The channels assigned to the
physical sectors serviced by horizontally polarized antennas may be
the same channels assigned to the physical sectors serviced by
vertically polarized antennas. Additionally, to potentially enhance
communication between adjacent wireless cells, the exemplary method
of assigning channels to physical sectors serviced by polarized
antennas is to assign opposing physical sectors serviced by
horizontally polarized antennas to the same or similar channels and
to assign opposing physical sectors serviced by vertically
polarized antennas to the same or similar channels. The channels
assigned to the physical sectors serviced by horizontally polarized
antennas may be the same channels assigned to the physical sectors
serviced by vertically polarized antennas.
[0150] In another embodiment, different, possibly minimally
interfering channels are assigned to physical sectors that may
overlap even though the overlapping physical sectors are serviced
by horizontally and vertically polarized antennas. Exemplary
wireless cell 174, of FIG. 47, uses horizontally polarized antennas
and wireless cell 176, of FIG. 48, uses vertically polarized
antennas. The physical sectors of wireless cells 174 and 176 have
similar orientation, but may have different channel assignments.
Superimposing wireless cells 174 and 176 results in the exemplary
channel assignment of wireless cell 178 of FIG. 49. Wireless cell
178 is an embodiment where no horizontally or vertically polarized
antenna of adjacent physical sectors may be assigned the same
channel. Each overlapping physical sector may have a different,
possibly non-interfering channel assigned. The result of
replicating wireless cell 178 while substantially maintaining its
orientation is shown as a network embodiment in FIG. 50. Each
opposing virtual sector of wireless cells 180, 182, 184, and 186
may use different, possibly minimally interfering channels on
antennas of similar polarization. Such an arrangement may reduce
interference between opposing sectors. Similar techniques may be
used to assign channels to horizontally and vertically polarized
antennas where physical sectors may overlap. In one embodiment, the
physical sectors overlap by about 50%. The channel assignment
embodiment of wireless cell 194 of FIG. 54 may result when wireless
cell embodiments 192 (an embodiment that may result by
superimposing wireless cells 188 and 190 of FIG. 51 and FIG. 52
respectively) and embodiment 178, of FIG. 49 and FIG. 53
respectively, are superimposed. When wireless cells 178 and 192 are
superimposed, their respective virtual sectors may overlap by about
50%. Another embodiment, wireless cell 196 in FIG. 55, is produced
in a manner similar to wireless cell embodiment 194, except six
minimally interfering channels may be assigned instead of
three.
[0151] An network embodiment may be formed by replicating and
placing copies of wireless cell 194 into substantially adjacent
positions while maintaining substantially the same orientation as
shown in FIG. 56. The horizontally and vertically polarized
antennas of opposing sectors of each wireless cell 198, 200, and
202 may use the same or similar channels, which may make the
network more suited for inter-cell communication and less suited
for servicing clients. The ability of wireless cells to communicate
with adjacent or nearby wireless cells and the ability of a
wireless cell to service clients with less interference with
adjacent or nearby wireless cells may be referred to a network
communication characteristics. Another network embodiment may be
formed by replicating and placing copies of wireless cell 196 into
substantially adjacent positions while maintaining substantially
the same orientation as shown in FIG. 57. Horizontally polarized
channels in opposing sectors may use different channels and
vertically polarized antennas in opposing sectors may use different
channels; therefore, the network may be better suited to allow
wireless cells 204, 206, and 208 to service clients than to provide
inter-cell communication. Channel assignments for wireless cells
and networks using horizontally and vertically polarized antennas
are not limited to the examples shown. Increasing the number of
minimally interfering channels may increase the number of channel
assignment combinations.
[0152] Channel assignment patterns may also be dynamically altered.
The ability to dynamically alter the channel assignment of one or
many wireless cells may allow a wireless cell, a collection of
wireless cells, or a network of wireless cells to adapt to, for
example, increased client demand, increased network routing demand,
new sources of interference, and environmental limitations. The
network embodiments of FIG. 35 and FIG. 36 provide insight into the
value of dynamically changing channel assignment patterns. The
channel assignment pattern of wireless cells 136, 138, 140, and 142
of FIG. 35 may enable each wireless cell to communicate with its
respective clients with reduced interference to/from adjacent
cells, but may not support efficient communication between wireless
cells because opposing sectors use different channels. The channel
assignment patterns of the network embodiment of FIG. 36 may enable
wireless cells 144, 146, 148, and 150 to communicate with each
other, but not effectively with their clients without interfering
with/from an opposing sector because each opposing sector are
assigned the same channel. Dynamically switching between the
pattern embodiments of FIG. 35 and FIG. 36, or the patterns shown
in FIG. 57 and FIG. 56 (for embodiments with orthogonal polarized
cells), may allow the wireless cells to alternately service clients
and to communicate with each other. The change in channel pattern
may be triggered by any condition such as, for example, a fixed
time interval, client demand for service, or wireless cell demand
for inter-cell communication.
[0153] Now turning to exemplary hardware embodiments. Hardware
embodiments may combine devices to form wireless cells. Various
embodiments of hardware may include, for example, overlapping and
non-overlapping sectors, channel assignment patterns that may
decrease interference or that may enable inter-cell communication,
and attenuation that may reduce interference. Hardware
configurations that may provide overlapping physical sectors,
non-overlapping physical sectors, channel assignments, or
attenuation are not limited to the embodiments shown. There are no
limitations on, for example, the number of radios, processors, RF
switches, packet switches, antenna sharing devices (ASD),
attenuators, and antennas in a wireless cell. The explanation of
hardware embodiments may include, for example, a description of how
antennas may be positioned to achieve overlapping and
non-overlapping physical sector coverage, how channel assignments
may be implemented by the hardware, and several embodiments that
may include attenuation devices.
[0154] The placement of the physical sectors, whether they overlap
or do not overlap, may depend on the antennas' positions and their
angle of coverage. In one embodiment, three antennas with about a
120-degree angle of coverage may be positioned to provide the
substantially non-overlapping coverage shown in FIG. 5. Each
antenna physical sector may substantially correspond to one of the
physical sectors 20, 22, and 24. In another embodiment, the
physical sectors of three antennas may be arranged to substantially
provide the coverage show in FIG. 7. In another embodiment, the
physical sectors of six antennas may be positioned to substantially
provide the overlapping coverage shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 42. In
another embodiment, four antennas may be arranged to substantially
provide the non-overlapping coverage of FIG. 11. The positioning of
the antenna physical sectors is not limited to 360-degree coverage
and/or overlaps of physical sectors of about 50%, or about 100%.
The antennas of a wireless cell may be arranged to provide any
angle of coverage with any amount of overlap or open space between
non-overlapping physical sectors.
[0155] Referring to the hardware embodiment shown in FIG. 67, the
overlapping coverage of FIG. 39 may be achieved using this hardware
embodiment by substantially positioning each antenna 246, 248, 250,
252, 254, and 256 in any one of the physical sector positions shown
together in FIG. 39 and separately in FIG. 37 and FIG. 38. Any
antenna (or antenna array as described above) may be placed in any
one of the physical sector positions 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, or
274. In one embodiment, antennas 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256
may be positioned to correspond to physical sector positions 264,
266, 268, 270, 272, and 274 respectively. In another embodiment,
antennas 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256 may be positioned to
correspond to physical sector positions 266, 268, 264, 272, 274,
and 270 respectively. Various other antenna physical sectors
arrangements may exist. In another embodiment, substantially
overlapping coverage of about 100%, as shown in FIG. 42, may be
achieved using the hardware embodiment of FIG. 67 by substantially
positioning antennas 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256 in one of the
physical sector positions shown together in FIG. 42 and separately
in FIG. 40 and FIG. 41. Any single antenna (or antenna array as
described above) may be placed in any one of the physical sector
positions 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, and 286. In one embodiment,
antennas 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256 may be positioned to
correspond to physical sector positions 276, 278, 280, 282, 284,
and 286 respectively. In another embodiment, antennas 246, 248,
250, 252, 254, and 256 may be positioned to correspond to physical
sector positions 278, 280, 276, 286, 284, and 282 respectively.
Various other antenna physical sectors arrangements may exist.
[0156] Generally, channel assignments may be associated with the
physical sector of an antenna. For example, referring to FIG. 37,
the three physical sectors, 264, 266, and 268, of wireless cell 152
may be assigned channels C3, C2, and C1 respectively. Each antenna
of a hardware embodiment that may provide coverage to a physical
sector must use the channel assigned to the physical sector.
Because each antenna may be required to use a specific channel to
conform to the channel assignment pattern, the radio connected to a
specific antenna may also be required to use the same channel. In
an exemplary hardware embodiment, referring to FIG. 65, a radio is
exclusively connected to each antenna. The physical sector of each
antenna may be assigned a specific channel. Each radio uses the
channel assigned to the antenna physical sector to which the radio
may be connected. The radio does not change its channel unless the
channel assigned to the antenna physical sector is changed. In
another embodiment, still referring to FIG. 65, antennas 246, 248,
and 250 may be positioned to service physical sectors 264, 266, and
268 of FIG. 37 respectively. When the antennas are positioned as
such, radios 252, 254, and 256 may be set to channels C3, C2, and
C1 respectively. In another hardware embodiment, antennas 246, 248,
and 250 may be positioned to service physical sectors 268, 266, and
264 of FIG. 37 respectively. When the antennas are positioned as
such, radios 252, 254, and 256 may be set to channels C1, C2, and
C3 respectively. In another hardware embodiment, referring to FIG.
66, one radio 260 services multiple antennas. The physical sector
of each antenna 246, 248, and 250 may be assigned a channel. When
the radio is connected to an antenna through RF switch 258, the
radio may change its channel to conform to the channel assigned to
that antenna's physical sector. In one embodiment, referring to
FIG. 66, antennas 246, 248, and 250 may be positioned to service
physical sectors 264, 266, and 268 of FIG. 37 respectively. Radio
260 may set its channel to C3, C2, and C1 when connected through RF
switch 258 to antennas 246, 248 and 250 respectively. In another
embodiment, still referring to FIG. 66, antennas 246, 248, and 250
may be positioned to service physical sectors 268, 266, and 264 of
FIG. 37 respectively. Radio 260 may set its channel to C1, C2, and
C3 when connected through RF switch 258 to antennas 246, 248 and
250 respectively.
[0157] As discussed above, attenuation may be performed at any
point in a signal path and by a variety of methods, for example,
using hardware and/or a combination of hardware and software. More
particularly, attenuation may be done by, for example, with
discrete hardware adapted to attenuate signals, by a processor
using software signal processing algorithms, or by physical means
such as by placing an attenuating material in front of an antenna.
In one embodiment, bi-directional RF attenuators may be used. In
another embodiment, digitally adjustable RF attenuators may be
used. In another embodiment, digitally adjustable attenuators are
integrated into a radio. Attenuation may be applied to at least one
of transmit and receive signals, transmit signals, or receive
signals. The attenuation may be fixed or variable. Variable
attenuation may be adjusted to different settings at different
times and/or under predetermined circumstances. More specifically,
for example, attenuation may be adjusted between data transmit and
receive transitions, between client communication transitions, or
between channel assignment transitions. In an exemplary embodiment,
the attenuation may be adjustable and controlled by the processor.
The interface to adjust the attenuation may be analog, digital, or
manual. The symbol 210 of FIG. 58 represents a device that
attenuates and may be referred to as an attenuation device. The
attenuation device represents any method of attenuation whether
performed by, for example, hardware and/or by signal processing
techniques. Attenuation by hardware and/or signal processing may
require at least a processor and signal processing algorithms
executed by the processor; however, such attenuation techniques may
also require, for example, analog-to-digital, digital-to-analog
converters, and similar hardware. The attenuation device may
perform bi-directional and/or uni-directional attenuation. In a
bi-directional mode of operation, any signal impressed on path 216
may appear on path 212 in attenuated form and signal placed on path
212 may appear on path 216 in attenuated form. If the attenuation
is adjustable, adjustments may be made using adjustment path 214.
Adjustments to the attenuation increase or decrease the amount a
signal may be attenuated. Paths 212, 216, and adjustment path 214
may have any signal level, format, voltage level, impedance, or
characteristics that may be necessary to interface with other
devices. Several attenuation module embodiments that may use the
attenuation device are described below and are represented as a
block in the hardware embodiments.
[0158] The first attenuation module embodiment, referring to FIG.
59, combines two attenuation devices, 234 and 236, with an
antenna-sharing device (ASD) 226, and an RF switch 232. RF switch
232 may select either the transmit path 224 or the receive path
230. Selecting the transmit path 224 may allow signals introduced
on path 238 to pass through attenuation device 234 to path 228.
Selecting the receive path 230 may allow signals on path 228 to
pass through attenuation device 236 to path 238. Path selection
through RF switch 232 may be controlled by selection path 240. In
an exemplary embodiment, selection path 240 may be connected to and
controlled by a processor. In another embodiment, selection path
240 may be controlled by a radio. Adjustment path 214 may adjust
the attenuation of attenuation devices 234 and 236. In an exemplary
embodiment, adjustment path 214 may adjust the attenuation of
attenuation device 234 independent of attenuation device 236, which
may enable the transmit and receive signals to be attenuated by
different amounts. The ASD may combine the signal on path 224 and
the signal on path 230 onto path 228. The ASD's function may
alternately be referred to as splitting the combined transmit and
receive signals of path 228 into separate transmit signals on path
224 and separate receive signals on path 230. Generally, path 228
may connect to a device capable of using a combined transmit and
receive signal such as, for example, an antenna or RF switch.
[0159] The second attenuation module embodiment, referring to FIG.
60, is similar to the first attenuation module embodiment in that
it has an ASD, attenuation device in the receive path, and an RF
switch; however, the second attenuation module embodiment may be
different in that, for example, there is no attenuation device in
transmit path 224.
[0160] The third attenuation module embodiment, referring to FIG.
61, is similar to the first attenuation module embodiment in that
it has an ASD, an attenuation device in the transmit and receive
paths; however, the third attenuation module embodiment may be
different in that, for example, it does not have an RF switch.
Removing the RF switch may provide separate access to transmit path
244 and receive path 242. Generally, transmit path 244 and receive
path 242 may be connected, for example, to an RF switch and/or to a
radio capable of connecting to separate transmit and receive
signals.
[0161] The fourth attenuation module embodiment, referring to FIG.
62, is similar to the second attenuation module embodiment in that
it has an ASD and an attenuation device in the receive path;
however, the fourth embodiment may be different in that, for
example, there is no RF switch. Generally, transmit path 224 and
receive path 242 may be connected, for example, to an RF switch
and/or to a radio capable of connecting to separate transmit and
receive signals.
[0162] The fifth attenuation module embodiment, referring to FIG.
63, is similar to the first attenuation module embodiment in that
it has an attenuation device in the transmit and receive paths, and
an RF switch; however, the fifth embodiment may be different in
that, for example, it does not have an ASD. Generally, transmit
path 224 and receive path 230 may connect to, for example, an RF
switch and/or another device capable of connecting to separate
transmit and receive signals.
[0163] The sixth attenuation module embodiment, referring to FIG.
64, is similar to the second attenuation module embodiment in that
it has an attenuation device in the receive path and an RF switch;
however, the sixth embodiment may be different in that, for
example, there is no ASD. Generally, transmit path 224 and receive
path 230 may be connected, for example, to an RF switch and/or to a
radio, and another device capable of connecting to separate
transmit and receive signals.
[0164] The seventh attenuation module embodiment is similar to the
first attenuation module embodiment in that it has an attenuation
device in the transmit and receive paths; however, the seventh
embodiment may be different in that, for example, there is no ASD
and no RF switch.
[0165] The eighth attenuation module embodiment, referring to FIG.
64, is similar to the second attenuation module embodiment in that
it has an attenuation device in the receive path; however, the
eighth attenuation module embodiment may be different in that, for
example, there is no ASD and no RF switch.
[0166] Now turning to hardware embodiments. Hardware embodiments
combine, for example, antennas, radios, RF switches, packet
switches, attenuation module, processors, digital signal
processing, horns, and other devices to form wireless cells. The
antennas of any hardware embodiment may be positioned to provide
the desired physical sector coverage. The number of antennas
required for any hardware embodiment may depend on the number of
physical sectors covered by the wireless cell.
[0167] The various embodiments described below are not exhaustive
or limiting. As discussed above, the symbol for an antenna in the
drawings may be a single antenna or multiple antennas that may be
arranged to work in a coordinated manner to service a physical
sector. There are no limitations on the number of antennas in a
hardware embodiment. In an exemplary embodiment, the number of
antennas may correspond to the number of physical sectors desired
in the wireless cell coverage pattern. There is no limitation on
the angle and/or area of coverage of each antenna. In one
embodiment, each antenna may provide the same angle and/or area of
coverage. The combine angle and area of coverage of all antennas of
a wireless cell may be of any value ranging from just over about
zero degrees to about 360 degrees. There are no limitations on the
type of coverage. The type of coverage may be overlapping or
non-overlapping for any hardware embodiment. Non-overlapping
physical sectors are not required to be adjacent and/or
substantially adjacent. In one embodiment, physical sectors are
substantially adjacent and do not substantially overlap. The amount
of overlap of physical sectors in an overlapping coverage
arrangement does not have to be uniform for all antennas. In one
embodiment, each physical sector overlaps at least one other
physical sector by about 50%. In an exemplary embodiment, hardware
that does not use attenuation may have an overlapping physical
sector arrangement. Hardware embodiments capable of attenuation may
use either overlapping and/or non-overlapping physical sector
coverage patterns.
[0168] There are no limitations on the number of radios in any
embodiment. In exemplary embodiments where each antenna may be
serviced by a dedicated radio, the number of radios may be the same
as the number of antennas. In other embodiments where the antennas
may not be exclusively serviced by a radio, the number of radios
may be increased or decreased from what is described. The radios in
exemplary embodiments may be capable of operating on more than one
channel. The processor, in exemplary embodiments, in addition to
getting receive data from and sending transmit data to the radios,
may also send instructions to control the radios such as, for
example, instructing a radio to change channels or getting control
information from the radios. In exemplary embodiments, the
processor may also be capable of, for example, varying attenuation,
controlling any or all RF switches, maintaining route tables,
maintaining client specific information, and handing off mobile
clients. In an exemplary embodiment, the processor may also
control, for example, the attenuation or RF switches on a transmit
or receive basis, a per client basis, a fixed period basis, and on
a per demand basis. Some embodiments may have a network 10
connection that may enable the wireless cell to communicate with a
wired network. Some embodiments may have local storage to store,
for example, transmit and receive date, relay data, video or audio
data, environmental conditions data, and any other type of data
required to service clients, function as a network, handoff or
receive mobile clients, and forward information.
[0169] A first hardware embodiment, referring to FIG. 67, uses six
antennas 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256, an RF switch 258, a
radio 260, and a processor 262. The exemplary antenna arrangement
for the first hardware embodiment is overlapping. The processor may
control the RF switch. In other embodiments, the radio may control
the RF switch. The RF switch may connect the radio to any antenna,
246, 248, 250, 252, 254, or 256. In the first hardware embodiment,
the radio connects to only one antenna at a time. In other
embodiments, the radio may connect to multiple antennas at a time.
In the first embodiment, each antenna physical sector may be
assigned a channel. The radio operates on the channel assigned to
the physical sector of the antenna to which the radio may be
connected.
[0170] The first hardware embodiment may support exemplary channel
assignment pattern of FIG. 39 or FIG. 42. As described above,
channel assignment patterns of wireless cells 152 and 154 of FIG.
37 and FIG. 38 may superimpose to produce the pattern of FIG. 39.
Any antenna of the first hardware embodiment may be positioned to
service any one of physical sectors 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, and
274. One possible mapping of antennas to physical sectors may be to
position antennas 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256 to service
physical sectors 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, and 274 respectively.
Using this exemplary mapping of antennas to physical sectors
requires radio 260 to operate on channel C3, C2, C1, C1, C3, and C2
when connected to antennas 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256
respectively. Also described above, the exemplary channel
assignment patterns of wireless cells 158 and 160 may superimpose
to produce the pattern of FIG. 42. Any antenna of the first
hardware embodiment may be positioned to service any one of
physical sectors 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, or 286. One possible
mapping of antennas to physical sectors may be to position antennas
246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256 to service physical sectors 276,
278, 280, 282, 284, and 286 respectively. Using this exemplary
mapping requires radio 260 to operate on channel C1, C3, C2, C4,
C6, and C5 when connected to antennas 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and
256 respectively. Another embodiment wherein three antennas are
horizontally polarized and three antennas are vertically polarized
may support the channel assignment pattern of FIG. 46, FIG. 49, and
FIG. 53.
[0171] A second hardware embodiment, referring to FIG. 68, is
similar to the first hardware embodiment in that the second
embodiment uses six antennas, an RF switch, a processor, and may
have a variety of antenna arrangements and channel assignments;
however, the second embodiment may be different in that, for
example, the second hardware embodiment has three radios, 288, 290,
and 292 instead of one radio and RF switch 288 has additional ports
to connect to additional radios. Although the second hardware
embodiment shows three radios, there is no limit to the number of
radios. Multiple radios may allow multiple antennas and physical
sectors to be serviced simultaneously. Each radio may operate on
the channel assigned to the antenna physical sector.
[0172] A third hardware embodiment, referring to FIG. 69, uses six
antennas 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256, six attenuation module
embodiments 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, and 306, an RF switch 288,
three radios 290, 292, and 294, and a processor 262. The antennas
of the third hardware embodiment may be arranged to support a
variety of channel assignment pattern and/or wireless cell coverage
pattern including, for example, the exemplary channel patterns and
wireless cell coverage shown in FIG. 39 or FIG. 42. Another
embodiment may use polarized antennas to support the exemplary
patterns and areas of FIG. 46, FIG. 49, and FIG. 53. In another
embodiment, the number of antennas may be three to support
exemplary wireless cell and channel assignment patterns of FIG. 31
or FIG. 32. In another embodiment, the number of antennas may be
four to support the wireless cell and channel assignment patterns
of FIG. 33 and FIG. 34. Attenuation module embodiments 296, 298,
300, 302, 304, and 306 may be implemented using, for example, the
first, second, third, fourth, seventh, and eighth attenuation
module embodiments. An exemplary third hardware embodiment may use
the second attenuation module embodiment. The processor may control
the RF switch and/or attenuation module.
[0173] A fourth hardware embodiment, referring to FIG. 70, is
similar to the third hardware embodiment in that the fourth
embodiment has similar components, may support overlapping or
non-overlapping coverage, and may have a variety of channel
assignment patterns; however, the fourth hardware embodiment may be
different in that, for example, the attenuation modules are
positioned between the radios and the RF switch instead of between
the RF switch and the antennas. The operation of the fourth
hardware embodiment is similar to the operation of the third
hardware embodiment. The attenuation modules 296, 298, and 300 of
the fourth embodiment may be implemented using, for example, the
first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth
attenuation module embodiments. An exemplary fourth hardware
embodiment may use the fourth attenuation module embodiment. The
processor may control the RF switch and/or attenuation module.
[0174] A fifth hardware embodiment, referring to FIG. 71, uses six
antennas 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256, six attenuation modules
296, 298, 300, 302, 304, and 306, six radios 308, 310, 312, 314,
316, and 318, and a processor 262. Each radio may be dedicated
exclusively to a single antenna; therefore, a one-to-one
correspondence may exist between radios, attenuation modules, and
antennas. Like the third and fourth hardware embodiments, the fifth
hardware embodiment, and variations of the fifth embodiment, may
support the exemplary channel assignment patterns and wireless cell
coverage areas shown in FIG. 31, FIG. 32, FIG. 33, FIG. 34, FIG.
39, FIG. 42, FIG. 46, FIG. 49 and FIG. 53. Another embodiment
similar to the fifth embodiment may have four antennas, attenuation
modules, and radios. Another embodiment may have three antennas,
attenuation modules, and radios. The attenuation module embodiments
296, 298, 300, 302, 304, and 306 of the fifth embodiment may be
implemented using, for example, the first, second, third, fourth,
seventh, and eighth attenuation module embodiments. An exemplary
fifth hardware embodiment may use the fourth attenuation module
embodiment. The hardware embodiment shown in FIG. 65 is similar to
the fifth hardware embodiment except it does not have
attenuation.
[0175] A sixth hardware embodiment, referring to FIG. 72, is
similar to the fourth hardware embodiment; however, the sixth
hardware embodiment may be different in that, for example, the
sixth embodiment may include packet switch 320 and/or network 10
connection 322. The packet switch may assist in routing packets
between radios and/or the network 10 connection. Many aspects of
the sixth embodiment are similar to the fourth embodiment, for
example, exemplary channel assignments patterns, antenna
positioning, radio channel usage, and wireless cell coverage. The
packet switch may control, for example, RF switch 288, the radios,
and the attenuation modules. Another embodiment is similar to the
sixth embodiment; however, it may differ from the sixth embodiment
in that, for example, it does not have attenuation modules and the
antennas may be positioned to provide overlapping coverage. The use
of a packet switch is not limited to the sixth embodiment. All
hardware embodiments may have a packet switch in addition to a
processor. Additionally, all hardware embodiments may have a
network 10 connection.
[0176] A seventh embodiment, referring to FIG. 73, includes six
antennas 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256, six attenuation modules
296, 298, 300, 302, 304, and 306, two RF switches 288 and 332, four
radios 324, 326, 328, and 330, two ASDs 334 and 336, and a
processor 262. Excluding the operation of RF switch 332 and ASDs
334 and 336, the seventh hardware embodiment is similar to the
third hardware embodiment. Inclusion of RF switch 332 and ASDs 334
and 336 may allow at least two radios to service the same antenna,
which operation may for example, increase redundancy of radios,
reliability, and performance. Another embodiment is similar to the
seventh embodiment; however, it may differ from the seventh
embodiment in that, for example, it does not have attenuation
modules and the antennas may be positioned to provide overlapping
coverage. Another embodiment is similar to the seventh embodiment;
however, it may differ in that, for example, the attenuation
modules may be placed between the radios and RF switches 288 and
332 instead of between RF switch 288 and the antennas.
[0177] An eighth hardware embodiment, referring to FIG. 74,
includes six antennas 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256, six antenna
control devices 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, and 348, six radios 308,
310, 312, 314, 316, and 318, and a processor 262. The eighth
hardware embodiment is similar to the fifth hardware embodiment in
that each radio may exclusively service a single antenna and the
antennas may be positioned to provide a variety of channel
patterns, physical sector coverage patterns, and wireless coverage;
however, the eighth hardware embodiment may be different in that,
for example, the eighth hardware embodiment may use antenna control
devices. Antenna control devices may perform a variety of
functions, for example, physically move the antenna, electronically
change the coverage of the antenna, control multiple antennas to
function in a coordinate manner, perform summation on signals,
match impedance, perform active antenna tuning, and use signal
process techniques on the incoming and/or outgoing signals to
increase antenna performance. The antenna control device may
control at least one of directional antenna, dipole antenna,
omni-directional antenna with reflector, omni-directional
positioned in a horn, patch fixed antenna array, adaptive antenna
array, MIMO antennas, yagi, dish, beam, and parabolic antennas. In
another embodiment, attenuation modules may be added between each
antenna and each antenna control device. In another embodiment,
attenuation modules may be added between the antenna control
devices and the radios. In other embodiments similar to at least
one of the first, second, fourth, and sixth hardware embodiment
antenna control devices may be added between each antenna and the
RF switch.
[0178] Now turning to an example of how a hardware embodiment may
service clients. This example may in some ways be explicit and
describe a single method without consideration of other possible
methods; however, this example is not limiting because it describes
a limited subset of the possible methods in which a wireless cell
may service clients. The methods of servicing clients and/or the
operation of a wireless cell are not limited to the exemplary
method herein described. The example, assumes that the second
hardware embodiment, as shown in FIG. 68, is arranged to provide
the channel pattern and wireless cell coverage of wireless cell 156
as shown in FIG. 39. Although the antennas of the third hardware
embodiment may be arranged in a variety of ways to provide the
channel pattern of FIG. 39, this example assumes that antenna 246,
248, 250, 252, 254, and 256 may be positioned to correspond to
physical sectors 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, and 274 as shown in FIG.
37 and FIG. 38 respectively. Referring now to FIG. 75, clients CL1
and CL2 may be located in virtual sector 356, client CL3 may be
located in virtual sector 354, clients CL4 and CL5 may be located
in virtual sector 352, client CL6 may be located in virtual sector
virtual sector 350, clients CL7, CL8, and CL9 may be located within
virtual sector 360, and clients CL10 and CL11 may be located in
virtual sector 358.
[0179] The steps and methods of wireless cell operation may vary
with, for example, hardware configuration, channel assignments,
environmental factors, and clients detected. For this example, some
time after initialization, the clients located in the wireless
cell's coverage area, try to associate with wireless cell 156. The
association process may be performed, for example, by polling for
clients in each virtual sector. Polling for clients in virtual
sector 356 may be done, for example, by connecting one of the
radios 290, 292, or 294, to antenna 246 and/or to antenna 256 and
polling for clients to determine which antenna and channel may
provide improved performance. An exemplary method polls each client
through each antenna that services the virtual sector. Each client
may then request to associate with one of the antennas used during
the polling. The wireless cell may decide which antenna should
service each client; therefore, if a client desires with a specific
antenna, the wireless cell can deny the association. The wireless
cell may accept client association when the client requests to
associate with the antenna selected by the wireless cell to service
that client. For this example, assume that clients CL1 and CL11
associate with antenna 246, CL2 and CL3 with antenna 256, CL4 with
antenna 250, CL5 and CL6 with antenna 254, CL7 with antenna 248,
and CL8, CL9 and CL10 with antenna 252. In this example, the
client-antenna associations specified signify that clients CL1,
CL5, CL6, and CL11 use channel C3, clients CL2, CL3, and CL7 use
channel C2, and clients CL4, CL8, CL9, and CL10 use channel C1.
[0180] The wireless cell may periodically assign an available radio
to poll virtual sectors to detect, for example, client transmission
requests, client reception requests, and client association
requests. Radios may be assigned to service and/or poll virtual
sectors based on, for example, client demand, timeliness of
delivery, timeliness of reception, a relationship between clients
where one client delivers data to another client, desired
throughput, or time multiplexing. While radios may be occupied
servicing client requests, the remaining radios may poll virtual
sectors for client requests. If all radios are busy servicing
client requests, no radio may be available to poll for new client
requests; however, polling may resume when at least one radio
becomes available. For the purpose of providing more specific
detail on how a wireless cell may service clients, assume that
client CL10 desires to send data to client CL3, client CL2 desires
to send data to client CL7, and client CL5 desires to send data to
CL4. The sequence of events described here for servicing client
requests is only an example. Many different methods, orders,
techniques, and/or variations may exist for servicing clients.
[0181] In this example, radio 290 may be set to channel C1 and
attached to antenna 252. Radio 290 detects the request form CL10 to
send data to CL3. Meanwhile, radio 292 may be set to C2 and
attached to antenna 256. Radio 292 detects the request from CL2 to
send data to CL7. Meanwhile, radio 294 may be set to channel C3 and
attached to antenna 254. At this time, no radio may be available to
poll the virtual sectors for other client requests. Now turning to
servicing client CL10, CL10 desires to send data to CL3, but no
antenna is available to service CL3 because antenna 256 may be busy
with CL2. Furthermore, a radio may not be available, so CL10 may
not send data directly to CL3; therefore, processor 262 accepts the
data sent from CL10 and may store it for later forwarding to client
CL3. Meanwhile, CL2 may not directly send data to CL7 because a
radio may not be available; therefore, the processor may store the
data from CL2 to be forwarded later to CL7. Meanwhile, CL5 may not
directly send to CL4 because a radio may not be available, so the
process may store the data from CL5 to be forwarded later to CL4.
Assume the transfer from CL10 is relatively short and that radio
290 may become available before the other radios become available.
When radio 290 becomes available, it may be used to, for example,
poll for other client requests, service other known client
requests, and transfers data stored for forwarding. In this
example, assume that after polling, radio 290 finds no additional
client requests. Radio 290 may be assigned to either forward data
to CL3, CL4, or CL7; however, CL3 can only be accessed through
antenna 256, which is still in use with CL2. Assume that radio 290
changes its channel to C1 and is assigned to antenna 250 to
transfer stored data to CL4. Radio 294 now receives data from CL5
through antenna 254 while radio 290 transfers data to CL4 through
antenna 255. Assume that after some time, CL2 finishes its transfer
thereby freeing up radio 292. Radio 292 may now scan for new
requests or it may transfer stored data. Assume there are no new
requests. Stored data is available to send to CL3 and CL7, and
because antenna 256 is no longer servicing CL2, it is available to
service CL3; therefore, radio 292 may be assigned to send stored
data to CL3 or to CL7. Assume that radio 292 is set to channel C2,
reassigned to antenna 256, and used to send stored data to CL3.
When a radio becomes available, data stored for CL7 may be sent. As
radios may become available, they may poll virtual sectors for
additional client requests.
[0182] Now turning to exemplary methods and apparatus used to form
wireless networks using wireless cells. Generally, networks may be
formed by placing wireless cells in such a manner that they may
wirelessly communicate with each other. Another method of forming a
network may be to place wireless cells and provide a wired
interface between the wireless cells. Another method may be to
place wireless cells such that some wireless cells may communicate
wirelessly and some wireless cells may communicate by some other
interface, for example, wired interface, infrared interface,
optical interface, and acoustic interface. Various network
formation methods are presented in this application. The network
formation methods and resulting network embodiments are exemplary
and not limiting. A variety of factors may be controlled when
forming networks, for example, physical sector placement
(overlapping and non-overlapping), area of coverage, angle of
coverage, shape of coverage, channel assignment patterns, wireless
cell orientation, and sector or virtual sector disablement. A
network may consist of any number of wireless cells including a
single wireless cell.
[0183] A first network formation method may consist of placing
wireless cells of similar channel assignment, similar orientation,
and whose coverage shape may be similar to a hexagon into
substantially adjacent positions. The network embodiment shown in
FIG. 35 may be formed using the first network formation method. The
first network formation method may use the wireless cell shown in
FIG. 31 to form the network embodiment of FIG. 35. The network
embodiment of FIG. 35 may be more suited to enable each wireless
cell to service their associated clients than to communicate
wirelessly with adjacent cells because opposing sectors use
different, possibly minimally interfering, channels. The first
network formation method may also be used to form the network shown
in FIG. 76 by replicating the wireless cell shown in FIG. 39. The
network embodiment of FIG. 76 may be more suited to inter-cell
communication than to servicing associated clients because all
channels of opposing virtual sectors are the same or similar. The
network embodiment of FIG. 50 may be formed using the first network
formation method by replicating the wireless cell shown in FIG. 49.
Another network embodiment, shown in FIG. 57, may be formed using
the first network formation method by replicating the wireless cell
of FIG. 55.
[0184] The first network formation method may work with cells of
any size. In another network embodiment, shown in FIG. 77, wireless
cells of different sizes may be placed to form a network. The
wireless cells may differ in size by a factor of about one-half
raised to an integer power. Because the first network formation
method may use wireless cells with similar channel assignments and
similar orientation regardless of size, the network characteristics
may be retain when cells of different sizes are used. For example,
opposing sectors of exemplary network in FIG. 77 use different,
possibly minimally interfering, channels, which may make the
network more suited to service clients than to communicate between
adjacent wireless cells. Replacing wireless cells 362, 354, and 366
with a wireless cell similar to wireless cell 368 may not alter
that network characteristic because opposing sector still use
different channels. The network embodiment of FIG. 77 may be more
suited to servicing clients regardless of the wireless cell size
used because opposing sectors may use different, possibly minimally
interfering, channels.
[0185] A second network formation method may consist of forming
what may be referred to as a cluster then placing clusters of
similar orientation into substantially adjacent positions. Wireless
cells that may have different characteristics, such as, for
example, physical sector placement (overlapping and
non-overlapping), area of coverage, angle of coverage, shape of
coverage, channel assignments, wireless cell orientation, and
sector or virtual sector disablement may form clusters. Cluster
embodiments that may have different characteristics may also be
used to form a network embodiment. Various cluster embodiments that
may use wireless cells that may have a shape of coverage similar to
a hexagon are shown in FIG. 78 through FIG. 82. Cluster embodiments
are not limited to wireless cell shapes that may be similar to a
hexagon. Clusters are also not limited to groupings of three
wireless cells. In the cluster embodiment of FIG. 78, opposing
physical sectors of wireless cells 370, 372, and 374 may have the
same or similar channels, which may facilitate inter-cell
communication. Replication and substantially adjacent placement of
the cluster embodiment of FIG. 78 results in a network that may be
more suited for inter-cell communication because opposing physical
sectors of the resulting network embodiment may have the same or
similar channels. In general, the communication characteristics of
the cluster may extend to the network formed from the cluster. In
one cluster embodiment, the channels in opposing physical sectors
are the same.
[0186] In the cluster embodiment of FIG. 79, opposing virtual
sectors of wireless cells 376, 378, and 380 may use different,
possibly minimally interfering, channels, which may enable each
virtual sector to communicate with its associated clients with less
interference from/to opposing virtual sectors. Replication and
substantially adjacent placement of the cluster embodiment of FIG.
79 results in a network that may be more suited for client
communication because opposing virtual sectors of the resulting
network embodiment may have different, possibly minimally
interfering, channels. For this cluster embodiment, the
communication characteristics of the cluster, being potentially
improved client communication, may become the communication
characteristic of the network embodiment formed by replicating and
placing the cluster embodiment. The cluster embodiment of FIG. 80
is similar to the cluster embodiment of FIG. 79 in that, for
example, opposing virtual sectors of wireless cells 382, 384, and
386 may use different, possibly minimally interfering, channels;
however, cluster embodiment of FIG. 80 may use more channels than
the cluster embodiment of FIG. 79. In another cluster embodiment,
the channels used in opposing virtual sectors are minimally
interfering.
[0187] In the exemplary cluster embodiment of FIG. 81, opposing
virtual sectors of wireless cells 388, 390, and 392 may have a
number of channels that may be the same or similar, and a number of
channels that may be different and minimally interfering.
Communication between adjacent wireless cells using channels
assigned to the virtual sectors that may be the same or similar may
facilitate inter-cell communication. Communication using the
channels of the virtual sectors that may be different and possibly
minimally interfering may enable each virtual sector to service its
associated clients with reduced interference to/from opposing
virtual sectors. Replication and substantially adjacent placement
of the cluster embodiment of FIG. 81 may result in a network
embodiment that may perform inter-cell communication and service
clients with reduced interference simultaneously because opposing
virtual sectors may have a number of channels that may be the same
or similar and a number of channels that may be different and
possibly minimally interfering. The cluster embodiment of FIG. 82
is similar to the cluster embodiment of FIG. 81 in that, for
example, opposing virtual sectors of wireless cells 394, 396, 398
may have a number of channels that may be the same and a number of
channels that may be different; however, cluster embodiment of FIG.
82 may use more channels than the cluster embodiment of FIG. 81.
The network embodiment shown in FIG. 83 may result from
replicating, with similar orientation, the cluster embodiment of
FIG. 82, three times and placing the cluster embodiments
substantially adjacent. Replicating, with similar orientation, and
placing the cluster embodiment of FIG. 82 in various sizes may form
the network embodiment of FIG. 84. In the network embodiment of
FIG. 84, the wireless cells and the clusters may differ by a factor
of about one-half raised to an integer power. Smaller clusters may
be used to replace larger clusters. Exemplary smaller cluster have
similar orientation and channel assignments to the larger clusters.
Cluster embodiments with different characteristics such as, for
example, channel assignments, orientation, and size, may be used
together to form network embodiments. There are no limitations on
placement or use of cluster embodiments to form networks.
Additionally, a single cluster embodiment may be considered a
network.
[0188] A third network formation method may consist of placing
wireless cells whose coverage shape may be similar to a square, as
shown in FIG. 11, into substantially adjacent positions and
selecting a desirable channel assignment pattern for each cell. In
one network embodiment, three minimally interfering channels may be
assigned to physical sectors of each wireless cell in a manner that
may reduce interference between adjacent physical sectors. Six
different embodiments of channel assignment patterns that may use
three minimally interfering channels are shown in FIG. 85 through
FIG. 90. Networks formed using the third network formation method
may have various characteristics. In one embodiment, four minimally
interfering channels may be assigned to the wireless cell physical
sectors. In another network embodiment, eight minimally interfering
channels may be assigned to the wireless cell physical sectors. In
another embodiment, opposing physical sectors may have different,
possibly minimally interfering channels, which may enable a
physical sector to communicate with its clients with less
interference from/to an opposing physical sector. In another
embodiment, wireless cells of a substantially square shape of
coverage may have physical sectors that may substantially overlap
by about 100%; thereby, forming virtual sectors capable of being
serviced by more than one channel. In another embodiment, opposing
virtual sectors may have at least one channel that may be the same
or similar, which may enhance the ability of wireless cells to
communicate. In another embodiment, opposing virtual sectors may
have at least one channel that may be the same or similar and at
least one channel that may be different and possibly minimally
interfering, which may enabled a wireless cell to simultaneously
service clients with less interference and to perform inter-cell
communication. Other embodiments are possible that may have other
combinations of channels in opposing sectors.
[0189] A first step of the third network formation method may be to
place wireless cell of substantially square shape such that, for
example, their areas of coverage are substantially adjacent as
shown in FIG. 91. A next step may be to identify what may be
referred to as a master cell. The master cell may be any cell in
the network. The master cell may be selected by a variety of
methods, for example, manually by the person establishing the
network, by election performed by the wireless cells at
initialization, and by virtue of being the first wireless cell
powered on when setting up the network. Wireless cell 412 in
exemplary network embodiment of FIG. 91 may be designated the
master cell. The next step may be to assign a status, referred to
as a hop number, to each wireless cell in the network excluding the
master. Ideally, the hop number may be a measure of a wireless
cell's distance from the master. In an exemplary network, the
master may determine the distance between itself and other wireless
cells using a variety of methods such as, for example, signal
strength, time-of-fight, global positioning system (GPS)
coordinate, and pre-programmed table look-up. In one embodiment,
the master cell may scan for other wireless cells in each of its
sectors and may measure the signal strength of each wireless cell
detected. The cells with the strongest signal strengths may be
assigned a status referred to as one-hop; which means that those
wireless cells may be one hop away from the master. Ideally, only
the four wireless cells physically closest to the master may be
labeled one-hop. Wireless cells 414, 416, 418, and 420 in exemplary
network embodiment of FIG. 91 may be designated one-hop wireless
cells. Each wireless cell hop level may in turn identify the next
hop level. For example, one-hop wireless cells may search for and
identify all closest wireless cells, excluding any wireless cell
that may already be assigned a hop number, as two-hop cells.
Two-hop wireless cells may in turn identify three-hop cells, and so
forth. In exemplary network embodiment of FIG. 91, two-hop wireless
cells are labeled "H2" and three-hop wireless cells "H3."
[0190] A next step of the third network formation method may be to
assign a channel assignment pattern. An exemplary network
embodiment may assign channel patterns so that no opposing sectors
may use the same or similar channel. In one embodiment, such a
pattern may be achieved by assigning the master wireless cell 412
the channel pattern of wireless cell 400 of FIG. 85. The one-hop
wireless cells above and below, 416 and 420, the master wireless
cell may be assigned the channel pattern of wireless cell 402 of
FIG. 86. The one-hop wireless cells to the left and to the right,
414 and 418, of the master wireless cell may be assigned the
channel pattern of wireless cell 404 of FIG. 87. The two-hop
wireless cells contiguous to two one-hop wireless cells, wireless
cells 422, 424, 426 and 428, may be assigned the channel pattern of
wireless cell 410 of FIG. 90. Wireless cells 412 through 428
inclusive may form a core pattern that may be replicated by placing
the center cell of the core pattern (i.e., the master cell) over
any even-hop cell and assigning the channel patterns of the core
cell to any unassigned wireless cells. Other variations of channel
pattern assignments may be possible.
[0191] A fourth network formation method is similar to the third
network formation method in that wireless cells may be placed in
substantially adjacent positions, master and hop placement
identification technique may be used, and channel assignment
patterns may be selected to provide network communication
characteristics suited for at least one of client communication,
inter-cell communication, and both client and inter-cell
communication. However, the fourth network formation method may be
different in that, for example, the wireless cell shape of coverage
may be similar to a triangle as shown in FIG. 7.
[0192] One network embodiment formed using the fourth network
formation method, may use three minimally interfering channels
assigned to physical sectors of each wireless cell in a manner that
may reduce interference between adjacent physical sectors. Six
different embodiments of channel assignment patterns for a
substantially triangular shaped wireless cell that use three
minimally interfering channels are shown in FIG. 92 through FIG.
97. Networks formed using the fourth network formation method may
have various characteristics. In one embodiment, six minimally
interfering channels may be assigned to wireless cell physical
sectors. In another embodiment, nine minimally interfering channels
may be assigned to wireless cell physical sectors. In another
embodiment, opposing cells may have at least one channel that may
be the same or similar, which may enhance inter-cell communication.
In another embodiment, substantially triangular wireless cells
shapes may have physical sectors that may substantially overlap by
about 100%; thereby, forming virtual sectors capable of being
serviced by more than one channel. In another embodiment, opposing
virtual sectors may have different, possibly minimally interfering
channels, which may enable a wireless cell to communicate with its
clients with less interference from/to the opposing sectors. In
another embodiment, opposing virtual sectors may have at least one
channel that may be the same or similar and at least one channel
that may be different, possibly minimally interfering, which may
enabled a wireless cell to simultaneously service clients with less
interference and to perform inter-cell communication. Other
embodiments are possible that may have other combinations of
channels in opposing physical or virtual sectors.
[0193] A first step of the fourth network formation method may be
to place wireless cells such that, for example, their areas of
coverage are substantially adjacent as shown in FIG. 98. A next
step may be to identify what may be referred to as a master cell.
Identification of the master cell may be performed using techniques
similar to the techniques described in the third network formation
method. Wireless cell 430 in FIG. 98 may be identified as a master
cell. The next step may be to assign a status, referred to as a hop
number, to each wireless cell in the network excluding the master.
The techniques disclosed in the third network formation method for
identifying and assigning hop numbers may be used in the fourth
network formation method. In the exemplary network of FIG. 98, each
wireless cell is identified with a hop number: "H1" for one-hop,
"H2" for two-hop, and so forth. A next step may be to assign a
channel assignment pattern. An exemplary network embodiment may
assign channel patterns so that no opposing sectors may use the
same or similar channel. One method for assigning channels to an
exemplary network embodiment may be to first select a channel
assignment pattern from the channel assignments patterns shown in
FIG. 92 through FIG. 97. The selected pattern may be assigned to
the master cell and all even hop numbered cells. The selected
pattern may also be assigned to all odd hop numbered cells; however
the pattern must first be rotated about 60 degrees. The rotation
may be in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, but
the direction of rotation must be the same for all odd hop numbered
cells. Another method for assigning channels to an exemplary
network may be to first select a channel assignment pattern from
the channel assignments patterns shown in FIG. 92 through FIG. 97.
The selected pattern may be assigned to the master cell. The
pattern may then be rotated 60 degrees and the resulting channel
pattern assigned to all one-hop cells. The pattern may then be
rotated an additional 60 degrees and assigned to all two-hop cells,
rotated an additional 60 degrees and assigned to all three-hop
cells, and so forth. The rotation may be in either a clockwise or a
counterclockwise direction, but the direction of rotation in the
exemplary embodiment is the same for all rotations. An exemplary
network formed using the first method, the channel assignment
pattern of FIG. 92, and a clockwise rotation is shown in FIG. 99.
The fourth network formation method may be used with wireless cells
of different sizes. In an exemplary network, the wireless cell
sizes differ by a factor of about one-half raised to an integer
power. An exemplary network that includes wireless cells of
different sizes, and channel assignment based on the first method,
the channel assignment pattern of FIG. 92, and a clockwise rotation
is shown in FIG. 100. Another method of assigning channels to a
network formed using substantially triangular wireless cells may be
to identify a hexagonal group of cells, assign a desired channel
assignment pattern to the hexagonal group, and then propagate the
core hexagonal channel assignment pattern throughout the network.
Other methods of channel assignment may be used to provide, for
example, exemplary network channel assignment where no opposing
physical or virtual sectors may use the same or similar channels,
networks where opposing physical or virtual sectors may use the
same or similar channels, and other network embodiments with
varying communication characteristics.
[0194] Now turning to exemplary methods for reducing interference
between non-related wireless cells. Interference between wireless
apparatus may reduce communication efficiency and/or throughput. In
the case where a wireless cell desires to communicate with a
client, interference with other wireless apparatus may, for
example, reduce the data throughput, decrease the signal-to-noise
ratio, increase retransmission requests, and increase the number of
dropped or lost frames. Various methods may be used to reduce the
impact of interference, for example, disabling physical or virtual
sectors, altering channel assignment patterns, replacing
conflicting wireless cells with wireless cells of smaller size, and
decreasing the receive area of coverage of a wireless cell.
Interference reduction methods may be used with wireless cells with
a variety of characteristics such as, for example, wireless cells
with non-overlapping physical sectors, wireless cells with
overlapping physical sectors, and wireless cells whose shape of
coverage may be (as described in two dimensions), for example,
square, hexagonal, triangular, and circular. Interference reduction
methods may be used with a variety of network formation methods and
channel assignment patterns. For example, networks where adjacent
and opposing physical and/or virtual sectors may use different,
possibly minimally interfering, channels, networks where opposing
physical and/or virtual sectors may use the same or similar
channels, and networks where opposing physical and/or virtual
sectors may have at least one channel that may be the same or
similar and at least one channel that may be different, possibly
minimally interfering.
[0195] The method of reducing the receive area of coverage was
discussed above. Attenuating the signals in the receive path may,
for example, reduce the receive area of coverage and improve the
signal-to-noise ratio. Referring to FIG. 101, interference may
occur in a situation where the area of coverage of physical sector
434 of wireless cell 432 overlaps the area of coverage of
omni-directional cell 436. Reducing the area of coverage of
physical sector 434, as shown in FIG. 102, may reduce interference.
Disabling physical sector 434, as shown in FIG. 103 may also reduce
interference between wireless cell 432 and 436. In a situation
where a conflict may occur with a physical sector of a wireless
cell with overlapping coverage, disabling a physical sector may not
mean that an area receives no coverage as in FIG. 103. For the
purpose of describing one method of reducing interference with a
wireless cell with overlapping sectors, referring to FIG. 104,
assume that omni-directional wireless cell 436 interferes with
channel C1 of physical sector 268 (refer to FIG. 37). Disabling
physical sector 268 may reduce interference and may not leave a
void in coverage. Referring to FIG. 105, physical sector 268 has
been disabled, yet two virtual sectors using channel C3 and C2
still substantially cover the physical area of physical sector 268;
therefore, even though physical sector 268 has been disabled,
clients in the area may be serviced by other physical sectors.
Another method that may reduce interference is to disable more than
one of the physical sectors that may interfere with another
wireless apparatus. Disabling all physical sectors of wireless cell
156 that may overlap omni-directional wireless cell 436 (i.e.,
physical sectors 268, 272, and 274) may result in the wireless cell
coverage area and channel assignment pattern shown in FIG. 106.
Wireless cell coverage areas do not necessary have to overlap to
potentially interfere. Reducing the physical sector receive area or
disabling a physical sector may also be used to reduce interference
regardless of the proximity of the interfering device.
[0196] Another method that may reduce interference between wireless
cells may be to replace wireless cells that may conflict with other
apparatus with smaller wireless cells that may not conflict.
Independent wireless networks that may conflict with each other may
service two areas, 438 and 440, depicted in FIG. 107 between three
wide, vertical lines. Area 438, laying between boundaries 454 and
456, which may be for example, walls, partitions, and open space,
uses wireless cells 446 and 448 to cover a portion of area 438. The
areas of coverage of wireless cells 446 and 448 extend in to area
440 and may interfere with and/or be interfered with by
omni-directional wireless cells 450 and/or 452. As described above,
the physical sectors experiencing interference may be disabled;
however, another method, referring to FIG. 108, may be to replace
wireless cells 446 and 448 with smaller wireless cells that provide
coverage between wireless cells 442 and 444 and boundary 456. The
reduced coverage area of the smaller sized wireless cells may
reduce interference.
[0197] Another method that may reduce interference between wireless
cells may be to modify channel assignment patterns. Various network
formation methods, described above, may use channel assignment
patterns where opposing sectors may use different, possibly
minimally interfering, channels to potentially reduce interference
between opposing sectors. Wireless cells 46 through 56 inclusive;
of FIG. 109 form an exemplary network where opposing wireless cells
may use different, possibly minimally interfering, channels.
Omni-directional wireless cells 62 and 64 form a foreign wireless
network. The physical sectors assigned the channel C1, 58, 60, and
460, in wireless cells 52, 54, and 56 may be positioned opposite
omni-directional wireless cells 62 and 64 and may interfere with
and/or be interfered with by omni-directional wireless cell 62
because it may also be assigned channel C1. Various steps may be
taken to reduce interference, for example, physical sectors 58, 60,
and 460 may be assigned a different, minimally interfering channel
like, for example, channel C4. Another method may be to assign
channel C2 to physical sectors 58, 60, and 460. Assigning channel
C2 may introduce some interference with the physical sectors of
wireless cells that may already be assigned channel C2; however,
the overall interference may be less than leaving physical sectors
58, 60, and 460 assigned to channel C1. Altering the channel
assignment pattern in all wireless cells, 46 through 56, may also
reduce interference with foreign wireless cells 62 and 64. One
method of alteration may be to assign a channel assignment pattern
that uses channel C2 in physical sectors 58, 60, and 460, as shown
in the exemplary channel assignment of FIG. 110. The exemplary
channel assignment of FIG. 110 maintains different channels in
opposing and adjacent physical sectors. Other channel assignment
patterns may be possible. Wireless network embodiments composed of
wireless cells that may use overlapping physical sectors and
channel assignment patterns associated with overlapping physical
sectors may also modify channel assignment patterns to cope with
interference.
[0198] Channel assignment patterns are not limited to being static.
Channel assignment patterns may be changed in response to, for
example, changes in foreign network channels and changes in
environmental conditions that may modify the effects of reflected
or multi-path signals. One method for reducing the effects of
interference may be to test various channel assignment patterns to
determine which pattern may be least affected by interference.
Another method for reducing interference may be to negotiate with a
non-related, but nearby network for channel assignment patterns
that may reduce interference for both networks. Another method may
be to assign channels to physical sectors nearest to foreign
wireless cells and/or networks that deliberately interfere with the
foreign wireless cell or network in an attempt to get the foreign
wireless cell or network to change to a different channel.
[0199] Now turning to exemplary network implementation methods.
Implementing a network embodiment may be different from forming a
network. Network formation methods, discussed above, dealt with
issues such as, for example, channel pattern assignments, shape of
wireless cells, area of coverage, wireless cell orientation, and
position relative to other wireless cells. Some questions,
important to implementing a network may remain unanswered by the
network formation methods, such as, for example, how many cells may
be needed to cover the desired physical space, what is the best
cell orientation with respect to the physical space, what cell
density may be required to met data throughput requirements, what
barriers exist in the physical space, where may the wired network
connections be best located, where in the physical space may
wireless cells be placed so that cells are substantially adjacent,
and how far do foreign networks penetrate into the physical
space?
[0200] A first network implementation method may be a manual method
where a first step may be to determine the characteristics of the
physical space such as, for example, dimensions, location of
electrical connections, location of wired network connection,
signal strength of detectable foreign networks, data throughput
estimates within the physical space, barriers that may prevent the
placement of wireless cells, and physical objects that may
interfere with or modify wireless cell radiation properties. A next
step may be to record the physical information and other
information discovered in the first step. An exemplary method would
be to record the physical space information to scale and to note
other information such as, for example, desired data throughput,
foreign network channel assignments, and foreign network signal
strengths, on the record of the physical space or in a separate,
but accessible location. The next step may be to try various
combinations of wireless cell networks until a solution that may be
optimal is found. Trying various combinations may include using the
network formation methods describe above. Combinations of network
characteristics may be iterated until a combination may be found
that meets a maximum number of desired network requirements. All
techniques known to one skilled in the art of drafting, electrical
planning, network planning, or other fields may be used in the
implementation stage. Once the plan reaches a desired state of
readiness, the deployment stage of physical placement and setup of
the wireless cells may begin. Wireless cell characteristics, such
as, for example, area of coverage, angle of coverage, shape of
coverage, channel assignment patterns, and all other desired
characteristics may be adjusted, according to plan, as the wireless
cells are physically placed.
[0201] An exemplary second network implementation method may be
similar to the first method network implementation method in that
information about the physical space may be combined with desired
network performance goals and environmental information; however,
the second network implementation method may be different in that
the physical, desired performance, and foreign network information
may be entered into and manipulated by a computer that may use
software adapted for network implementation. A first step of the
second network implementation method may be similar to the first
network implementation method in that, for example, information
that pertains to the physical space may be collected. A next step
may be to enter the physical space information into the computer. A
next step may be to enter the desired network performance
information into the computer. A next step may be for the computer
to perform iterations in search of an optimal network formation. In
another embodiment, the user may be allowed to perform some level
of manual planning and placement of wireless cells with the
computer performing other steps. In another embodiment, the
computer uses network formation methods to automatically generate a
network for the desired physical space. Automatic generation may be
influenced by such factors as, for example, foreign wireless signal
strength, desired throughput, cell density required to reach
desired throughput, actual equipment available on the market, and
cell sizes required to provide desired coverage. In another
embodiment, the computer uses network formation methods to
automatically generate a network, which may be manually modified by
the user. The implementation software may offer the user
implementation aids, for example, wireless cell templates, wireless
cell templates of adjustable size, user or automatic adjustment of
receive and transmit sizes, user required wireless cell
characteristics, and the ability to freeze part of the plan or cell
characteristics while iterating on other parts of the network. Once
an optimal plan or several plans that may be nearly equivalent are
found, the deployment phase may begin. Once the wireless cells are
physically placed according to plan, the computer running the
implementation program may interface with the wireless cells and
may program each cell with the planned characteristics. The
implementation program may also exercise the network and may test
actual performance. Additional steps may include, for example,
additional optimization cycles when actual, tested performance does
not match planned performance.
[0202] A third network implementation method may start with the
physical deployment step. Wireless cells may be placed where
desirable or physically possible. A next step may be to program the
wireless cell characteristics using, for example, manual techniques
as described in the first network implementation method, a computer
and computer program assistance, a combination of manual and
computer assist, and fully automatically with cell-to-cell
communication. Wireless cells equipped to cooperate during the
programming process may perform fully automatic determination and
programming of the characteristics of each wireless cell. In one
fully automatic method, a wireless cell may be selected as the
central wireless cell. The central wireless cell may coordinate and
control the process wherein each wireless cell, for example,
measures proximity to other wireless cells, detects foreign
networks, and determines optimal size. Data collected by each
wireless cell may be fed back to the selected central control
wireless cell, which may perform calculation iterations to
determine, for example, optimal characteristics for each wireless
cell, channel assignment patterns, disabled physical sectors, and
coverage area. An additional step may be feeding actual performance
information back to the central wireless cell, which may determine
new settings that may improve network performance.
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