U.S. patent application number 16/358112 was filed with the patent office on 2019-09-19 for communication of wireless signals through physical barriers.
The applicant listed for this patent is Pivotal Commware, Inc.. Invention is credited to Seyed Ali Malek Abadi, Eric James Black, Mersad Cavcic, Shannon Lee Hitchen, Alexander Remley Katko, Jay Howard McCandless, Adam Deloss Rea, Jordan Philip Dole{hacek over (z)}i Read.
Application Number | 20190289560 16/358112 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67904628 |
Filed Date | 2019-09-19 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190289560 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Black; Eric James ; et
al. |
September 19, 2019 |
COMMUNICATION OF WIRELESS SIGNALS THROUGH PHYSICAL BARRIERS
Abstract
A system for transmitting and receiving wireless signals through
a physical barrier, such as walls or windows, to wireless computing
devices that are located internal to a structure that is formed in
part by the physical barrier. The wireless signals are millimeter
waveforms with gigahertz frequencies that are communicated with 5G
communication protocols by one or more remote base station nodes
located external to the physical barrier. One or more external
antennas are configured to communicate RF wireless signals with HMA
waveforms to remote wireless base station. In one or more
embodiments, the RF wireless signals are amplified and communicated
bi-statically through the window barrier between customer premises
equipment and an authorized remote wireless base station.
Inventors: |
Black; Eric James; (Bothell,
WA) ; Cavcic; Mersad; (Kirkland, WA) ;
Hitchen; Shannon Lee; (Renton, WA) ; Katko; Alexander
Remley; (Seattle, WA) ; Abadi; Seyed Ali Malek;
(Mill Creek, WA) ; McCandless; Jay Howard;
(Alpine, CA) ; Rea; Adam Deloss; (Edmonds, WA)
; Read; Jordan Philip Dole{hacek over (z)}i;
(Woodinville, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pivotal Commware, Inc. |
Kirkland |
WA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
67904628 |
Appl. No.: |
16/358112 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62645004 |
Mar 19, 2018 |
|
|
|
62730497 |
Sep 12, 2018 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 17/318 20150115;
H04W 52/14 20130101; H04W 52/143 20130101; H01Q 1/364 20130101;
H01Q 1/52 20130101; H04W 24/02 20130101; H04W 52/146 20130101; H04W
52/52 20130101; H01Q 1/42 20130101; H01Q 3/44 20130101; H01Q 21/065
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 52/52 20060101
H04W052/52; H04W 24/02 20060101 H04W024/02; H04W 52/14 20060101
H04W052/14; H01Q 1/42 20060101 H01Q001/42; H01Q 21/06 20060101
H01Q021/06; H01Q 1/52 20060101 H01Q001/52; H01Q 1/36 20060101
H01Q001/36; H01Q 3/44 20060101 H01Q003/44 |
Claims
1. A method for communicating RF wireless signals between a remote
wireless base station and customer premises equipment (CPE),
comprising: employing an RF communication device to perform
actions, including: configuring one or more external antennas to
communicate RF wireless signals with the remote wireless base
station, wherein the configuration includes one or more of a
direction or a shape of a waveform provided by the one or more
external antennas for communicating the RF wireless signals with
the remote wireless base station; employing one or more amplifiers
to provide a separately selectable gain to an upload RF wireless
signal and provide another separately selectable gain to a download
RF wireless signal, wherein the upload RF wireless signal is
communicated to the remote wireless base station and the one or
more internal antennas are employed to communicate the download RF
wireless signal with the other separate gain to the CPE; and in
response to a value of a power of the upload RF wireless signal
meeting a threshold, determining that the CPE is in communication
with an authorized RF wireless base station, wherein the gain and
the other gain are adjusted to improve communication of the upload
and download RF wireless signals between the CPE and the authorized
remote wireless base station.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the CPE is in
communication with the authorized RF wireless base station further
comprises, adjusting the one or more of the direction or the shape
of the waveform to further improve communication of the upload and
download RF signals with the authorized remote RF wireless base
station.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the separate gain and
the other separate gain further comprises, employing a bi-static
amplifier to simultaneously provide separately selectable gains to
the upload and download RF wireless signals.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the separate gain and
the other separate gain further comprises, employing a
bi-directional amplifier to provide separately selectable gains to
the upload and download RF wireless signals.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication device
performs further actions, including enabling one or more of an
application or a web page to enable a user to wirelessly
communicate with the RF communication device.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication device
performs further actions, including adjusting a scan impedance of
the one or more external antennas to improve communication by the
one or more external antennas of the upload and download RF
wireless signals through a barrier.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication device
performs further actions comprising employing one or more RF
couplers to communicate the upload and download RF signals through
a barrier, wherein the one or more RF couplers include near field
couplers, glass field couplers, or inductive couplers.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication device
performs further actions comprising employing one or more arrays of
patch antennas to communicate the upload and download RF signals
through a glass barrier, and wherein the one or more arrays of
patch antennas are slanted 35 to 60 degrees from an orientation of
a communication path through the glass barrier to improve impedance
matching with the glass barrier during communication of the upload
and download RF wireless signals.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication device
performs further actions comprising employing automatic gain
control to provide separately selectable gains for the upload and
download RF wireless signals.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication device
performs further actions comprising employing a radome that
incorporates wide angle impedance match material to increase the
separate gains of the upload and download RF wireless signals
communicated by the one or more external antennas.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication device
performs further actions comprising employing an RF isolation
spacer when simultaneously communicating upload and download
signals through a barrier.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication device
performs further actions comprising employing the one or more CPEs
to communicate the wireless signals in a communication format that
is compatible with one or more of a wireless communication device
or a wired communication device that is disposed on the interior
side of the barrier.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication device
performs further actions comprising positioning all of the
components of the RF communication device on an exterior surface of
the barrier, positioning all of the components of the RF
communication device on an interior surface of the barrier, or
positioning a portion of the components of the RF communication
device on the exterior surface and positioning another portion of
the components of the RF communication device on the interior
surface.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication device
further comprises employing one or more low power electrical
sources that include one or more of a solar cell, inductive
charger, or a battery.
15. An apparatus for communicating RF wireless signals with a
remote wireless base station and customer premises equipment (CPE),
comprising: one or more external antennas; one or more internal
antennas; one or more amplifiers; and processing circuitry that is
arranged to perform actions, including: configuring the one or more
external antennas to communicate RF wireless signals with the
remote wireless base station, wherein the configuration includes
one or more of a direction or a shape of a waveform provided by the
one or more external antennas for communicating the RF wireless
signals with the remote wireless base station; employing the one or
more amplifiers to provide a separately selectable gain to an
upload RF wireless signal and provide another separately selectable
gain to a download RF wireless signal, wherein the upload RF
wireless signal is communicated to the remote wireless base station
and the one or more internal antennas are employed to communicate
the download RF wireless signal with the other separate gain to the
CPE; and in response to a value of a power of the upload RF
wireless signal meeting a threshold, determining that the CPE is in
communication with an authorized RF wireless base station, wherein
the gain and the other gain are separately adjusted to improve
communication of the upload and download RF wireless signals
between the CPE and the authorized remote wireless base
station.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein determining the CPE is in
communication with the authorized RF wireless base station further
comprises, adjusting the one or more of the direction or the shape
of the waveform to further improve communication of the upload and
download RF signals with the authorized remote RF wireless base
station.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more amplifiers
further comprise a bi-static amplifier to simultaneously provide
separately selectable gains to the upload and download RF wireless
signals.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more amplifiers
further comprise a bi-directional amplifier to provide separately
selectable gains to the upload and download RF wireless
signals.
19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a wireless
interface that enables a user to employ one or more of an
application or a web page to wirelessly communicate with the
apparatus.
20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry
performs further actions, including adjusting a scan impedance of
the one or more external antennas to improve communication by the
one or more external antennas of the upload and download RF
wireless signals through a barrier.
21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry
performs further actions comprising employing one or more RF
couplers to communicate the upload and download RF signals through
a barrier, wherein the one or more RF couplers include near field
couplers, glass field couplers, or inductive couplers.
22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry
performs further actions comprising employing one or more arrays of
patch antennas to communicate the upload and download RF signals
through a glass barrier, and wherein the one or more arrays of
patch antennas are slanted 35 to 60 degrees from an orientation of
a communication path through the glass barrier to improve impedance
matching with the glass barrier during communication of the upload
and download RF wireless signals.
23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry
performs further actions comprising employing automatic gain
control to provide separately selectable gains for the upload and
download RF wireless signals.
24. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a radome that
incorporates wide angle impedance match material to increase the
separately selectable gains of the upload and download RF wireless
signals communicated by the one or more external antennas.
25. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising an RF isolation
spacer when simultaneously communicating upload and download RF
signals through a barrier.
26. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the RF communication device
performs further actions comprising employing the one or more CPEs
to communicate the wireless signals in a communication format that
is compatible with one or more of a wireless communication device
or a wired communication device that is disposed on the interior
side of the barrier.
27. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising positioning all
of the components of the RF communication device on an exterior
surface of the barrier, positioning all of the components of the RF
communication device on an interior surface of the barrier, or
positioning a portion of the components of the RF communication
device on the exterior surface and positioning another portion of
the components of the RF communication device on the interior
surface.
28. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising one or more low
power electrical sources that include one or more of a solar cell,
inductive charger, or a battery.
29. A processor readable non-transitory storage medium that
includes instructions for communicating RF wireless signals between
a remote wireless base station and customer premises equipment
(CPE), wherein execution of the instructions by processing
circuitry of an RF communication device, performs actions
comprising: configuring one or more external antennas to
communicate RF wireless signals with the remote wireless base
station, wherein the configuration includes one or more of a
direction or a shape of a waveform provided by the one or more
external antennas for communicating the RF wireless signals with
the remote wireless base station; employing one or more amplifiers
to provide a separately selectable gain to an upload RF wireless
signal and provide another separately selectable gain to a download
RF wireless signal, wherein the upload RF wireless signal is
communicated to the remote wireless base station and the one or
more internal antennas are employed to communicate the download RF
wireless signal with the other separate gain to the CPE; and in
response to a value of a power of the upload RF wireless signal
meeting a threshold, determining that the CPE is in communication
with an authorized RF wireless base station, wherein the gain and
the other gain are adjusted to improve communication of the upload
and download RF wireless signals between the CPE and the authorized
remote wireless base station.
30. The processor readable non-transitory storage medium of claim
29, wherein the actions further comprise one of: employing a
bi-static amplifier to simultaneously provide separately selectable
gains to the upload and download RF wireless signals; or employing
a bi-directional amplifier to provide separately selectable gains
to the upload and download RF wireless signals.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Utility Patent application based on
previously filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
62/645,004 filed on Mar. 19, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 62/730,497 filed on Sep. 12, 2018, the
benefits of which are claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e), and
the contents of which are each further incorporated in entirety by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The invention relates generally to employing one or more
antennas placed on an exterior surface of a barrier, such as a
window of a structure, to improve wireless communications between a
radio system outside the barrier and a user device inside the
barrier. Further, in some embodiments, the antenna is wirelessly
coupled to an amplifier placed on an interior surface of the
barrier that enables wireless communication with a user located
within the structure.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Mobile devices have become the primary mode of wireless
communication for the vast majority of people worldwide. In the
first few generations of wireless communication networks, mobile
devices were generally used for voice communication, text messages,
and somewhat limited internet access. Newer generations of wireless
communication networks have increased bandwidth and lowered latency
enough to provide substantially more services to mobile device
users, such as purchasing products, paying invoices, streaming
movies, playing video games, online learning, dating, and more.
Also, for each new generation of wireless communication network,
the frequency and strength of the wireless signals are generally
increased to provide even more bandwidth with less latency.
[0004] Unfortunately, the higher a frequency of a wireless signal,
the greater the attenuation of wireless signals passing through
physical barriers such as glass windows or walls of a structure.
Moreover, since the recent rollout of 5.sup.th generation (5G)
wireless communication networks that can use wireless signals with
millimeter waveforms at gigahertz frequencies, it has become even
more difficult to provide access to these 5G wireless networks for
mobile devices located behind physical barriers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1A shown an embodiment of an exemplary surface
scattering antenna with multiple varactor elements arranged to
propagate electromagnetic waves in such a way as to form an
exemplary instance of holographic metasurface antennas (HMA);
[0006] FIG. 1B shows a representation of one embodiment of a
synthetic array illustrating a reference waveform and a hologram
waveform (modulation function) that in combination provide an
object waveform of electromagnetic waves;
[0007] FIG. 1C shows an embodiment of an exemplary modulation
function for an exemplary surface scattering antenna;
[0008] FIG. 1D shows an embodiment of an exemplary beam of
electromagnetic waves generated by the modulation function of FIG.
1C;
[0009] FIG. 2A shows a top view of an embodiment of an exemplary
environment, including an arrangement of a network operations
center, wireless signal base station, network and multiple
structures, in which various embodiments of the invention may be
implemented;
[0010] FIG. 2B shows a side view of another embodiment of an
exemplary arrangement of multiple instances of HMAs;
[0011] FIG. 2C shows a top view of yet another embodiment of an
exemplary arrangement of multiple instances of HMAs;
[0012] FIG. 2D illustrates a schematic view of a wireless signal
base station communicating with one or more HMAs disposed on an
outside surface of a window of a structure and the wireless signals
are communicated, by electronic components disposed on an inside
surface of the window of the structure, to a customer premises
equipment device disposed inside the structure and which
communicates the wireless signals to one or more wireless computing
devices;
[0013] FIG. 2E shows a schematic view of a wireless signal base
station communicating with one or more HMAs disposed on an inside
surface of a window of a structure and the wireless signals are
communicated, by electronic components disposed on the inside
surface of the window, to a customer premises equipment device
disposed inside the structure and which communicates the wireless
signals to one or more wireless computing devices disposed inside
the structure;
[0014] FIG. 2F illustrates a schematic view of a wireless signal
base station communicating with one or more HMAs disposed on an
exterior surface of a window of a structure and the wireless
signals are communicated, by electronic components disposed on the
exterior surface of the window, to a customer premises equipment
device disposed inside the structure and which communicates the
wireless signal to one and one or more wireless computing devices
disposed inside the structure;
[0015] FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of an exemplary computer device
that may be included in a system such as that shown in FIG. 2A;
[0016] FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment of an exemplary client
computer device that may be included in a system such as that shown
in FIG. 2A;
[0017] FIG. 3C shows an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for an
RF communication device that is separate from a customer premises
equipment device(s);
[0018] FIG. 3D illustrates an embodiment of an exemplary schematic
for an Rf communication device that includes a customer premises
equipment device(s);
[0019] FIG. 3E shows an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for a
bistatic amplifier that is employed by an RF communication
device;
[0020] FIG. 3F illustrates an embodiment of a configuration of
external antenna 392 formed from an HMA that provides separate
vertical and horizontal polarization for both uplink and downlink
RF signals;
[0021] FIG. 3G shows an embodiment of a configuration of external
antenna 393 formed from an HMA that provides combined vertical and
horizontal polarization for both uplink and downlink RF
signals;
[0022] FIG. 3H illustrates an embodiment of a configuration of
external antenna 394 formed from patch antennas that provide
combined vertical and horizontal polarization and combined uplink
and downlink communication for RF signals;
[0023] FIG. 3I shows an embodiment of RF isolation spacer that may
isolate and reduce coupling between the upload and download RF
wireless signals communicated by one or more patch antennas
positioned in ports through a barrier such as glass;
[0024] FIG. 3J illustrates a representation of a gain versus angle
relationship for the external antenna when using a radome, a radome
with WAIM, and no radome;
[0025] FIG. 3K shows an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for a
bidirecational amplifier that is employed by an RF communication
device;
[0026] FIG. 4A illustrates an embodiment of a logical flow diagram
for an exemplary method of employing HMAs to communicate 5G
wireless signals through a window of a structure and broadcast
those 5G wireless signals to one or more wireless computing devices
inside the structure;
[0027] FIG. 4B shows an embodiment of a logic flow diagram for an
exemplary method of employing a value of the power of an upload RF
signal to detect when a CPE is communicating remotely with a
wireless base station that is authorized for communication with the
CPE;
[0028] FIG. 5 shows a top view of an embodiment of an exemplary
environment, including an arrangement of a network operations
center and a wireless signal base station in communication with
relay HMA devices, reflector HMA devices, base station proxy HMA
devices, and user HMA devices;
[0029] FIG. 6A illustrates a reflector HMA device that employs a
first HMA to communicate by HMA waveforms with one or more of relay
HMA devices, base station HMA devices, or base station proxy HMA
devices and a second HMA arranged to communicate by HMA waveforms
with one or more user HMA devices;
[0030] FIG. 6B illustrates a reflector HMA device that employs a
first HMA to communicate by HMA waveforms with one or more relay
HMA devices, base station HMA devices, or base station proxy HMA
devices and a second HMA arranged perpendicular to the first HMA to
avoid occlusion of one or more HMA waveform communicated to one or
more user HMA devices;
[0031] FIG. 7A illustrates a relay HMA device that employs a first
HMA to communicate by HMA waveforms with one or more of other relay
HMA devices, base station HMA devices, or base station proxy HMA
devices and a second HMA to communicate by HMA waveforms with one
or more other relay HMA devices, reflector HMA devices, or user HMA
devices;
[0032] FIG. 7B illustrates a relay HMA device that employs a first
HMA to communicate by HMA waveforms with one or more of other relay
HMA devices, base station HMA devices, or base station proxy HMA
devices and a second HMA arranged perpendicular to the first HMA to
avoid occlusion of one or more HMA waveforms communicated to one or
more other relay HMA devices, reflector HMA devices, or user HMA
devices;
[0033] FIG. 8A illustrates a base station proxy HMA device that
employs a first HMA to communicate by HMA waveforms with one or
more of other relay HMA devices, base station HMA devices, or base
station proxy HMA devices; and a second HMA to communicate by HMA
waveforms with one or more other relay HMA devices, reflector HMA
devices, or user HMA devices;
[0034] FIG. 8B illustrates a base station proxy device that employs
a first HMA to communicate with a relay device, a base station, or
a base station proxy device and a second HMA arranged perpendicular
to the first HMA to avoid occlusion of one or more HMA waveforms
communicated to one or more other relay HMA devices, reflector HMA
devices, or user HMA devices;
[0035] FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a logical flow diagram
for an exemplary method of employing different types of HMA devices
to communicate by HMA waveforms through a network fabric to one or
more wireless computing devices communicating with an HMA user
device that provides 5G wireless communication for wireless
communication devices; and
[0036] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a logic flow diagram for an
exemplary method of passively monitoring when the customer premises
equipment is in communication with an authorized remote wireless
base station in accordance with one or more embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0037] The present invention now will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form
a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific
embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. This invention
may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art. Among other things, the
present invention may be embodied as methods or devices.
Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely
hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an
embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. The following
detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting
sense.
[0038] Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms
take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context
clearly dictates otherwise. The phrase "in one embodiment" as used
herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it
may. Similarly, the phrase "in another embodiment" as used herein
does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment, though it
may. As used herein, the term "or" is an inclusive "or" operator,
and is equivalent to the term "and/or," unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise. The term "based on" is not exclusive and allows
for being based on additional factors not described, unless the
context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout the
specification, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" include plural
references. The meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on."
[0039] The following briefly describes the embodiments of the
invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects
of the invention. This brief description is not intended as an
extensive overview. It is not intended to identify key or critical
elements, or to delineate or otherwise narrow the scope. Its
purpose is merely to present some concepts in a simplified form as
a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented
later.
[0040] Briefly stated, various embodiments of the invention are
directed to a method, apparatus, or a system that employs an
electronic RF communication device that provides for the
communication of radio frequency (RF) wireless signals through a
physical barrier, such as walls or windows, between one or more
remote wireless base stations and one or more customer premises
equipment (CPE) devices and/or other wireless computing devices
located behind the physical barrier. In one or more embodiments,
the RF wireless signals are millimeter waveforms communicated at
gigahertz frequencies that are communicated with 5.sup.th
Generation (5G) communication protocols by one or more remote
wireless base station nodes located external to the one or more
wireless computing devices located behind the physical barrier.
[0041] In one or more embodiments, the RF communication device
includes one or more external (externally facing) antennas that
communicate upload and download RF wireless signals with remotely
located wireless base stations and one or more internal antennas
(internally facing) that communicate the upload and download RF
wireless signals with the CPE.
[0042] Also, in one or more embodiments, one or more amplifiers may
include a bi-static amplifier that simultaneously provides
continuous separately selectable gains to upload RF wireless
signals and download RF wireless signals. The bi-static amplifier
may be configured to employ separate upload and download amplifiers
to separately provide a separately selectable gain to the upload RF
wireless signal as it is radiated by the exterior antenna and
another separately selectable gain to the download RF wireless
signal as it is radiated by the interior antenna to the CPE.
[0043] Also, in yet other embodiments, the one or more amplifiers
may include a bi-directional amplifier that provides separately
selectable gains to the upload and download RF wireless signals by
timing continuous switching between components employed in a common
communication path for the upload and download RF wireless signals.
The continuous switching may be staggered to provide isolation of
the upload and download RF wireless signals while sharing the
common communication path. In one or more embodiments, RF couplers
(e.g., patch antennas, glass field couplers, or the like), are
configured to communicate the download and upload RF wireless
signals through the barrier to provide a communication channel when
the one or more exterior antennas are located on an exterior
surface of the barrier and one or more internal antennas are
located on an interior surface of the barrier.
[0044] In one or more embodiments, the customer premises equipment
(CPE) may be any terminal device and/or associated communication
equipment located at a customer's location and/or premises and can
provide communication over one or more telecommunication channels
provided by a telecommunication carrier. The CPE is typically
established at a location in a structure separate from other
communication equipment provided by a carrier or some other
communication service provider. The CPE may include one or more IP
telephones, mobile phones, routers, network switches, residential
gateways, set top television boxes, home network adapters, or the
like.
[0045] Additionally, in one or more embodiments, when a bi-static
amplifier is employed to provide continuous and separate gain to
the upload RF wireless signal, changes in a strength (value) of the
power of the upload RF signal can be monitored to determine when
the CPE is communicating with an authorized remote wireless base
station. In one or more embodiments, an RF power detector circuit
may be employed to continuously measure a value of the power output
of the upload RF signal. A greater the strength (value) of the RF
power for the RF upload wireless signals in the presence of
download RF wireless signals, the greater a likelihood that the CPE
is currently communicating with an authorized wireless base
station.
[0046] In one or more embodiments, the bi-static download amplifier
continuously amplifies and radiates received radio frequency
signals from any remote wireless base station to the CPE, which is
unaware of the presence of the RF communication device. In this
case, the CPE responds with an upload RF wireless signal to just
those download RF wireless signals that were radiated by a remote
wireless base station that is authorized for communication with
that particular CPE. However, in one or more other embodiments,
when the CPE is either aware of or incorporated into the RF
communication device, the CPE could provide feedback as to a
quality of the download RF signal which could be employed to
optimize a gain of the download RF signal.
[0047] Additionally, in one or more embodiments, one or more
thresholds or range of thresholds may be employed to determine when
a value/strength of the measured RF power output is sufficient to
indicate current communication between the CPE and an authorized
remote wireless base station.
[0048] Also, in one or more embodiments, the one or more amplifiers
may be located on an exterior side of the barrier, on an interior
side of the barrier, or split between the exterior and interior
sides of the barrier. Also, in one or more embodiments, no gain may
be provided for the download RF signal and/or the upload RF signal
when the CPE is directly integrated with the RF communication
device.
[0049] In one or more embodiments, the CPE is directly integrated
and combined with the RF communication device. The integration of
the CPE with the RF communication device may reduce power
consumption, number of electronic components, decrease cost, and
increase reliability.
[0050] In one or more embodiments, the CPE may directly communicate
the upload RF signals with the external antenna (when integrated
together with the RF communication device). Also, in one or more
embodiments, the RF communication device may relay the communicate
RF signals to another communication device disposed inside a
structure that further relays the RF signals to the CPE.
[0051] In one or more embodiments, the CPE may transform the
communicated RF signals into other RF signals that employ one or
more other wireless communication protocols which are compatible
with one or more wireless communication devices, (e.g., mobile
devices) that are disposed inside a structure, behind a barrier, or
within a vehicle. Additionally, in one or more embodiments, the CPE
may transform the communicated wireless signals into wired signals
that are communicated to one or more wired devices disposed behind
the barrier, or inside the structure. These wired signals may be
communicated in any wired communication protocol to the one or more
wired devices, including ethernet, coaxial cable, infrared, optical
fiber, or the like.
[0052] Additionally, in one or more embodiments, one or more
internal antennas are provided to communicate the wireless signals
inside the structure to one or more CPEs that are not integrated
into the RF communication device. Further, in one or more
embodiments, one or more CPEs may be provided to boost, provide,
and/or repeat the RF wireless signals communicated by the RF
communication device's one or more internal antennas using any
wireless or wired communication protocols.
[0053] Also, in one or more embodiments, depending on a level of
the integration of the CPE with the RF communication device, one or
more of the RF couplers, one or more amplifiers, and/or internal
antennas may be eliminated from the RF communication device. The
integration of the CPE with the RF communication device may improve
reliability and reduce physical size, component complexity, and/or
cost by eliminating redundant functionality and components.
[0054] In one or more embodiments, all or most of the components
for the RF communication device (optionally the CPE too) may be
disposed on the exterior surface of the barrier, the interior
surface of the barrier, or split between the interior and exterior
surfaces of the barrier. Each of these different configurations of
the RF communication device and the CPE are discussed below and
shown in regard to FIGS. 2D, 2E and 2F.
[0055] Additionally, an advantage of one or more embodiments of the
exemplary RF communication device is to not digitize the upload and
download RF signals (analog signals) that are provided to the CPE.
Instead, the upload and download RF signals are kept intact in the
analog domain during communication between the one or more remote
wireless signal base stations and the CPE. By not having to perform
digital signal processing on the analog RF signals communicated
between the remote wireless base stations and the CPEs, cost,
component complexity, and energy consumption can be reduced. It is
a noteworthy advantage that the one or more embodiments of the RF
communication device do not require analog to digital converters,
digital signal processors, digital components, frequency
processors, or the like to communicate the upload and download RF
wireless signals between the remote wireless base stations and the
CPE.
[0056] Additionally, although not shown, one or more of the
embodiments of the RF communication device may also be applied to
other types of barriers than windows, such as walls made of one or
more types of materials, e.g., wood, concrete, composite materials,
and metal. For these other embodiments used with other types of
barriers, the RF couplers may be employ one or more different types
of technology including, near field devices, induction devices, or
the like, to communicate the RF signals through one or more
barriers.
[0057] In one or more embodiments, a location device may be
included in the RF communication device. The location device may
include a gyroscope, accelerometer, GPS device, and the like to
detect an orientation, movement, and/or location of the
communication device.
[0058] In one or more embodiments, a wireless interface may be
included in the RF communication device to communicate with an
analysis and control application executing on a wireless device,
such as a mobile phone, tablet, or notebook computer, which is
employed by an authorized user (e.g., customer, administrator or
technician) physically positioned near (local) to the RF
communication device. The wireless interface may provide
communication employing one or more different wireless
communication protocols, such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, Zigbee,
WiFi, or the like. Further, in one or more embodiments, the
application may provide different types of information regarding
the operation of the communication device, metrics, notifications,
troubleshooting tips, software updates, strength of upload and
download RF signal, alerts, restart controls, RF signal scanning
controls, user permissions, metrics, or the like.
[0059] In one or more embodiments, components of the external
antenna may be protected with a protective cover, such as a radome,
is employed. In one or more embodiments, the radome is formed of a
material that enables communication of RF signals without a
significant reduction in gain, such as plastic, fiberglass, resin,
composite materials, or the like. Further, in one or more
embodiments, a wide angle impedance match (WAIM) material may be
incorporated with the radome to improve a range of phase angles at
which the external antenna may provide gain to communicated RF
signals. In one or more embodiments, the WAIM material may be
positioned on an inside surface and/or an outside surface of the
radome. Further, in one or more embodiments, at least a portion of
the radome may be formed from the WAIM material itself. See a
representation of the gain versus angle relationship for radome,
radome with WAIM, and no radome in FIG. 3J.
[0060] In one or more embodiments, when separate arrays of two to
four patch antennas are positioned on opposite sides of a glass
window are employed as an RF coupler for the communication device,
the exterior arrays of patch antennas for upload and download RF
signals may be physically slanted between 35 to 60 degrees from an
orientation of the corresponding arrays of interior patch antennas.
In this way, the arrays of interior and exterior patch antennas can
improve their impedance matching for the wave front of the upload
and download RF signals communicated through the glass window,
which results in less loss of gain in the RF signals.
[0061] In one or more embodiments, an RF isolation spacer may be
provided between arrays of patch antennas employed by the RF
coupler on the exterior surface of the barrier for communicating
the upload and download RF signals across a barrier, such as a
glass window. The RF isolation spacer may be formed from one or
more different types of RF absorbent materials. Exemplary RF
absorbent materials may include rubberized foam impregnated with
controlled mixtures of carbon and/or iron that may be configured in
pyramidal shapes, or flat plates of ferrite material. Also,
separate cutouts (ports) are provided for the upload and download
patch antennas arrays the RF signals between the exterior and
interior surfaces of the barrier. Additionally, slits may be formed
in the RF isolation spacer to further isolate and breakup coupling
between the upload and download RF signals. See FIG. 11D.
[0062] In one or more embodiments, one or more inductive charge
(magnetic loop) couplers are positioned on both sides of the
interior and exterior surfaces of the window barrier. The one or
more inductive charge couplers may be connected to an electrical
power source, such as one or more of a fixed electrical connection,
a removable electrical connection, a battery, a solar cell, or the
like. Further, electrical power may be provided by the one or more
inductive couplers to one or more of the one or more external
antennas, the one or more RF couplers, the one or more amplifiers,
the one or more internal antennas, location devices, local wireless
interfaces, processing components, or customer premises equipment.
Also, for one or more embodiments, the electrical power may be
provided directly to the one or more amplifiers, the one or more
internal antennas, or customer premises equipment by a fixed
electrical connection to a power source, a removable electrical
connection to a power source, a battery, a solar cell, inductive
charge coupler, or the like.
[0063] In one or more embodiments, different RF wireless signals
may be communicated by the one or more base station nodes using
different types of wireless communication protocols, such as 5G,
4G, 3G, 2G, LTE, TDMA, GPRS, CDMA, GSM, WiFi, WiMax, or the like.
Also, these different types of wireless communication protocols may
be employed for different types of services. For example, wireless
signals employed to control one or more operations of the one or
more external antennas, the one or more glass field couplers, the
one or more amplifiers, the one or more internal antennas, or
customer premises equipment may not require significant bandwidth
or speed. Thus, these control operations may be communicated by 4G,
or less, communication protocols which can reduce energy
consumption, and/or save costs.
[0064] In one or more embodiments, the structure be an office
building, shopping center, sports stadium, residence, school,
factory, library, theater, or the like.
[0065] Also, in one or more embodiments, the external antennas
and/or internal antennas are holographic beam forming antennas,
such as one or more holographic metasurface antennas (HMAs) or the
like. An HMA may use an arrangement of controllable elements to
produce an object wave. Also, in one or more embodiments, the
controllable elements may employ individual electronic circuits
that have two or more different states. In this way, an object wave
can be modified by changing the states of the electronic circuits
for one or more of the controllable elements. A control function,
such as a hologram function, can be employed to define a current
state of the individual controllable elements for a particular
object wave. In one or more embodiments, the hologram function can
be predetermined or dynamically created in real time in response to
various inputs and/or conditions. In one or more embodiments, a
library of predetermined hologram functions may be provided. In the
one or more embodiments, any type of HMA can be used to that is
capable of producing the beams described herein.
Illustrated Operating Environment
[0066] FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of an HMA which takes the
form of a surface scattering antenna 100 (i.e., a HMA) that
includes multiple scattering elements 102a, 102b that are
distributed along a wave-propagating structure 104 or other
arrangement through which a reference wave 105 can be delivered to
the scattering elements. The wave propagating structure 104 may be,
for example, a microstrip, a coplanar waveguide, a parallel plate
waveguide, a dielectric rod or slab, a closed or tubular waveguide,
a substrate-integrated waveguide, or any other structure capable of
supporting the propagation of a reference wave 105 along or within
the structure. A reference wave 105 is input to the
wave-propagating structure 104. The scattering elements 102a, 102b
may include scattering elements that are embedded within,
positioned on a surface of, or positioned within an evanescent
proximity of, the wave-propagation structure 104. Examples of such
scattering elements include, but are not limited to, those
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,385,435; 9,450,310; 9,711,852;
9,806,414; 9,806,415; 9,806,416; and 9,812,779 and U.S. Patent
Applications Publication Nos. 2017/0127295; 2017/0155193; and
2017/0187123, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in
their entirety. Also, any other suitable types or arrangement of
scattering elements can be used.
[0067] The surface scattering antenna may also include at least one
feed connector 106 that is configured to couple the
wave-propagation structure 104 to a feed structure 108 which is
coupled to a reference wave source (not shown). The feed structure
108 may be a transmission line, a waveguide, or any other structure
capable of providing an electromagnetic signal that may be
launched, via the feed connector 106, into the wave-propagating
structure 104. The feed connector 106 may be, for example, a
coaxial-to-microstrip connector (e.g. an SMA-to-PCB adapter), a
coaxial-to-waveguide connector, a mode-matched transition section,
etc.
[0068] The scattering elements 102a, 102b are adjustable scattering
elements having electromagnetic properties that are adjustable in
response to one or more external inputs. Adjustable scattering
elements can include elements that are adjustable in response to
voltage inputs (e.g. bias voltages for active elements (such as
varactors, transistors, diodes) or for elements that incorporate
tunable dielectric materials (such as ferroelectrics or liquid
crystals)), current inputs (e.g. direct injection of charge
carriers into active elements), optical inputs (e.g. illumination
of a photoactive material), field inputs (e.g. magnetic fields for
elements that include nonlinear magnetic materials), mechanical
inputs (e.g. MEMS, actuators, hydraulics), or the like. In the
schematic example of FIG. 1A, scattering elements that have been
adjusted to a first state having first electromagnetic properties
are depicted as the first elements 102a, while scattering elements
that have been adjusted to a second state having second
electromagnetic properties are depicted as the second elements
102b. The depiction of scattering elements having first and second
states corresponding to first and second electromagnetic properties
is not intended to be limiting: embodiments may provide scattering
elements that are discretely adjustable to select from a discrete
plurality of states corresponding to a discrete plurality of
different electromagnetic properties, or continuously adjustable to
select from a continuum of states corresponding to a continuum of
different electromagnetic properties.
[0069] In the example of FIG. 1A, the scattering elements 102a,
102b have first and second couplings to the reference wave 105 that
are functions of the first and second electromagnetic properties,
respectively. For example, the first and second couplings may be
first and second polarizabilities of the scattering elements at the
frequency or frequency band of the reference wave. On account of
the first and second couplings, the first and second scattering
elements 102a, 102b are responsive to the reference wave 105 to
produce a plurality of scattered electromagnetic waves having
amplitudes that are functions of (e.g. are proportional to) the
respective first and second couplings. A superposition of the
scattered electromagnetic waves comprises an electromagnetic wave
that is depicted, in this example, as an object wave 110 that
radiates from the surface scattering antenna 100.
[0070] FIG. 1A illustrates a one-dimensional array of scattering
elements 102a, 102b. It will be understood that two- or
three-dimensional arrays can also be used. In addition, these
arrays can have different shapes. Moreover, the array illustrated
in FIG. 1A is a regular array of scattering elements 102a, 102b
with equidistant spacing between adjacent scattering elements, but
it will be understood that other arrays may be irregular or may
have different or variable spacing between adjacent scattering
elements. Also, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) 109
is employed to control the operation of the row of scattering
elements 102a and 102b. Further, controller 110 may be employed to
control the operation of one or more ASICs that control one or more
rows in the array.
[0071] The array of scattering elements 102a, 102b can be used to
produce a far-field beam pattern that at least approximates a
desired beam pattern by applying a modulation pattern 107 (e.g., a
hologram function, H) to the scattering elements receiving the
reference wave (.psi..sub.ref) 105 from a reference wave source, as
illustrated in FIG. 1B. Although the modulation pattern or hologram
function 107 in FIG. 1B is illustrated as sinusoidal, it will be
recognized non-sinusoidal functions (including non-repeating or
irregular functions) may also be used. FIG. 1C illustrates one
example of a modulation pattern and FIG. 1D illustrates one example
of a beam generated using that modulation pattern.
[0072] In at least some embodiments, a computing system can
calculate, select (for example, from a look-up table or database of
modulation patterns) or otherwise determine the modulation pattern
to apply to the scattering elements 102a, 102b receiving the RF
energy that will result in an approximation of desired beam
pattern. In at least some embodiments, a field description of a
desired far-field beam pattern is provided and, using a transfer
function of free space or any other suitable function, an object
wave (.omega..sub.obj) 110 at an antenna's aperture plane can be
determined that results in the desired far-field beam pattern being
radiated. The modulation function (e.g., hologram function) can be
determined which will scatter the reference wave 105 into the
object wave 110.
[0073] The modulation function (e.g., hologram function) is applied
to scattering elements 102a, 102b, which are excited by the
reference wave 105, to form an approximation of an object wave 110
which in turn radiates from the aperture plane to at least
approximately produce the desired far-field beam pattern.
[0074] In at least some embodiments, the hologram function H (i.e.,
the modulation function) is equal the complex conjugate of the
reference wave and the object wave, i.e.,
.psi..sub.ref*.psi..sub.obj. In at least some embodiments, the
surface scattering antenna may be adjusted to provide, for example,
a selected beam direction (e.g. beam steering), a selected beam
width or shape (e.g. a fan or pencil beam having a broad or narrow
beam width), a selected arrangement of nulls (e.g. null steering),
a selected arrangement of multiple beams, a selected polarization
state (e.g. linear, circular, or elliptical polarization), a
selected overall phase, or any combination thereof. Alternatively,
or additionally, embodiments of the surface scattering antenna may
be adjusted to provide a selected near field radiation profile,
e.g. to provide near-field focusing or near-field nulls.
[0075] The surface scattering antenna can be considered a
holographic beamformer which, at least in some embodiments, is
dynamically adjustable to produce a far-field radiation pattern or
beam. In some embodiments, the surface scattering antenna includes
a substantially one-dimensional wave-propagating structure 104
having a substantially one-dimensional arrangement of scattering
elements. In other embodiments, the surface scattering antenna
includes a substantially two-dimensional wave-propagating structure
104 having a substantially two-dimensional arrangement of
scattering elements. In at least some embodiments, the array of
scattering elements 102a, 102b can be used to generate a narrow,
directional far-field beam pattern, as illustrated, for example, in
FIG. 1C. It will be understood that beams with other shapes can
also be generated using the array of scattering elements 102a,
102b.
[0076] In at least some of the embodiments, the narrow far-field
beam pattern can be generated using a holographic metasurface
antenna (HMA) and may have a width that is 5 to 20 degrees in
extent. The width of the beam pattern can be determined as the
broadest extent of the beam or can be defined at a particular
region of the beam, such as the width at 3 dB attenuation. Any
other suitable method or definition for determining width can be
used.
[0077] A wider beam pattern (also referred to as a "radiation
pattern") is desirable in a number of applications, but the
achievable width may be limited by, or otherwise not available
using, a single HMA. Multiple instances of HMAs can be positioned
in an array of HMAs to produce a wider composite far-field beam
pattern. It will be recognized, however, that the individual beam
patterns from the individual HMAs will often interact and change
the composite far-field beam pattern so that, at least in some
instances, without employing the one or more embodiments of the
invention, the simple combination of the outputs of multiple
instances of HMAs produces a composite far-field beam pattern that
does not achieve the desired or intended configuration.
[0078] FIG. 2A illustrates an overview of system for communicating
data from one or more data centers 238 which employs one or more
network operations centers 230 to route the data to one or more
wireless signal base stations that communicate the data in the form
of wireless signals to one or more wireless communication devices
(not shown). As shown, the data is communicated from one or more
data centers 238 and routed in part by one or more NOCs 230 over
network 232 to one or more wireless signal base stations 234 that
wirelessly communicate the data with one or more different types of
wireless communication devices (not shown) located inside one or
more structures 236, behind barriers 233, within vehicles 235, or
outside in an open space, such as a park, stadium, or open air
theater. Also, one or more wireless client devices 231 are coupled
to network 232 and may be employed to communicate data to the
different types of wireless communication devices.
[0079] Network 232 may be configured to couple network operation
center computers with other computing devices, including wireless
base station 234. Network 232 may include various wired and/or
wireless technologies for communicating with a remote device, such
as, but not limited to, USB cable, Bluetooth.RTM., Wi-Fi.RTM., or
the like. In some embodiments, network 232 may be a network
configured to couple network computers with other computing
devices. In various embodiments, information communicated between
devices may include various kinds of information, including, but
not limited to, processor-readable instructions, remote requests,
server responses, program modules, applications, raw data, control
data, system information (e.g., log files), video data, voice data,
image data, text data, structured/unstructured data, or the like.
In some embodiments, this information may be communicated between
devices using one or more technologies and/or network
protocols.
[0080] In some embodiments, such a network may include various
wired networks, wireless networks, or various combinations thereof.
In various embodiments, network 232 may be enabled to employ
various forms of communication technology, topology,
computer-readable media, or the like, for communicating information
from one electronic device to another. For example, network 232 can
include--in addition to the Internet--LANs, WANs, Personal Area
Networks (PANs), Campus Area Networks, Metropolitan Area Networks
(MANs), direct communication connections (such as through a
universal serial bus (USB) port), or the like, or various
combinations thereof.
[0081] In various embodiments, communication links within and/or
between networks may include, but are not limited to, twisted wire
pair, optical fibers, open air lasers, coaxial cable, plain old
telephone service (POTS), wave guides, acoustics, full or
fractional dedicated digital lines (such as T1, T2, T3, or T4),
E-carriers, Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDNs), Digital
Subscriber Lines (DSLs), wireless links (including satellite
links), or other links and/or carrier mechanisms known to those
skilled in the art. Moreover, communication links may further
employ various ones of a variety of digital signaling technologies,
including without limit, for example, DS-0, DS-1, DS-2, DS-3, DS-4,
OC-3, OC-12, OC-48, or the like. In some embodiments, a router (or
other intermediate network device) may act as a link between
various networks--including those based on different architectures
and/or protocols--to enable information to be transferred from one
network to another. In other embodiments, remote computers and/or
other related electronic devices could be connected to a network
via a modem and temporary telephone link. In essence, network 232
may include various communication technologies by which information
may travel between computing devices.
[0082] Network 232 may, in some embodiments, include various
wireless networks, which may be configured to couple various
portable network devices, remote computers, wired networks, other
wireless networks, or the like. Wireless networks may include
various ones of a variety of sub-networks that may further overlay
stand-alone ad-hoc networks, or the like, to provide an
infrastructure-oriented connection for at least client computer.
Such sub-networks may include mesh networks, Wireless LAN (WLAN)
networks, cellular networks, or the like. In one or more of the
various embodiments, the system may include more than one wireless
network.
[0083] Network 232 may employ a plurality of wired and/or wireless
communication protocols and/or technologies. Examples of various
generations (e.g., third (3G), fourth (4G), or fifth (5G)) of
communication protocols and/or technologies that may be employed by
the network may include, but are not limited to, Global System for
Mobile communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Services (GPRS),
Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Code Division Multiple Access
(CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Code
Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000), High Speed Downlink
Packet Access (HSDPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System (UMTS), Evolution-Data Optimized (Ev-DO),
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), time
division multiple access (TDMA), Orthogonal frequency-division
multiplexing (OFDM), ultra-wide band (UWB), Wireless Application
Protocol (WAP), user datagram protocol (UDP), transmission control
protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), various portions of the Open
Systems Interconnection (OSI) model protocols, session initiated
protocol/real-time transport protocol (SIP/RTP), short message
service (SMS), multimedia messaging service (MMS), or various ones
of a variety of other communication protocols and/or
technologies.
[0084] In various embodiments, at least a portion of network 232
may be arranged as an autonomous system of nodes, links, paths,
terminals, gateways, routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers,
forwarders, repeaters, optical-electrical converters, or the like,
which may be connected by various communication links. These
autonomous systems may be configured to self-organize based on
current operating conditions and/or rule-based policies, such that
the network topology of the network may be modified.
[0085] FIG. 2B illustrates another arrangement of HMAs 220a, 220b,
220c that produce beams 222a, 222b, 222c where the middle beam 222b
is substantially different in size and shape from the other two
beams 222a, 222c. FIG. 2C illustrates, in a top view, yet another
arrangement of HMAs 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d which form a
two-dimensional array.
[0086] Also, one or more particular shapes of beam patterns, such
as wide beam patterns, narrow beam patterns or composite beam
patterns, may be desirable in a number of applications at different
times for different conditions, but may not be practical or even
available using a single HMA. In one or more embodiments, multiple
instances of HMAs may be positioned in an array to produce a wide
variety of composite, near-field, and/or far-field beam patterns
without significant cancellation or signal loss. Since the object
waves of multiple instances of HMAs may interfere with each other,
adjustment to their object waves may be desirable to generate a
beam pattern "closer" to the desired shape of a particular beam
pattern. Any suitable methodology or metric can be used to
determine the "closeness" of a beam pattern to a desired beam
pattern including, but not limited to, an average deviation (or
total deviation or sum of the magnitudes of deviation) over the
entire beam pattern or a defined portion of the beam pattern from
the desired beam pattern or the like.
[0087] In one of more embodiments, a physical arrangement of HMAs
may be existing or can be constructed and coupled to a reference
wave source. In one or more embodiments, a hologram function can be
calculated, selected, or otherwise provided or determined for each
of the HMAs. Each of the HMAs includes an array of dynamically
adjustable scattering elements that have an adjustable
electromagnetic response to a reference wave from the reference
wave source. The hologram function for the HMA defines adjustments
of the electromagnetic responses for the scattering elements of the
HMA to produce an object wave that is emitted from the HMA in
response to the reference wave. The object waves produced by the
HMAs may be combined to produce a composite beam. Any suitable
method or technique can be used to determine or provide any
arrangement of HMAs to produce a composite beam, such as the
exemplary composite beams illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 2C.
[0088] FIG. 2D illustrates an overview of remote wireless base
station 234 communicating upload and download RF wireless signals
with an RF communication device having one component 244a that
includes an external antenna (employing one or more HMAs) attached
to an exterior surface of window 238 in structure 236; and also
having another component 244b that includes an internal antenna
(may or may not employ HMAs) attached to an interior surface of
window 238. The internal antenna communicates the upload and
download RF wireless signals with one or more CPE devices 240 that
further communicate with one or more wireless computing devices 242
and/or wired devices inside structure 236. Although not shown, the
RF communication device may also include glass field couplers that
are positioned on opposite sides of window 238 to wirelessly
transmit and receive the RF wireless signals through the window.
Also not shown, the RF communication device may include one or more
amplifiers that may be provided to boost the upload and download RF
wireless signals communicated through window 238 with remote base
station 234. Further, the RF communication device may include
inductive chargers (not shown) provide electrical power to the
various components disposed on opposite sides of window 238.
[0089] FIG. 2E shows a schematic view of remote wireless base
station 234 communicating upload and download RF signals with an RF
communication device 246 disposed on an interior surface of window
238 of structure 236. Although not shown, the RF communication
device includes an external antenna that communicates the RF
signals with remote base station 234. Also, an internal antenna is
included to communicate the RF signals with one or more CPEs
disposed inside structure 236. The CPE is configured to communicate
with one or more wireless computing devices and/or wired devices
(not shown) disposed inside structure 236. Further, inductive
chargers (not shown) provide electrical power to the various
components disposed on the interior surface of window 238.
[0090] FIG. 2F illustrates a schematic view of remote wireless base
station 234 communicating upload and download RF signals with an RF
communication device 248 disposed on an exterior surface of window
238 of structure 236. Although not shown, the RF communication
device includes an external antenna that communicates the RF
signals with remote base station 234. Also, an internal antenna is
included to communicate the RF signals through window 238 to one or
more CPEs disposed inside structure 236. The CPE is configured to
communicate with one or more wireless computing devices and/or
wired devices (not shown) disposed inside structure 236. Further,
inductive chargers (not shown) provide electrical power to the
various components disposed on the interior surface of window
238.
Illustrative Computer
[0091] FIG. 3A shows one embodiment of an exemplary computer device
300 that may be included in an exemplary system implementing one or
more of the various embodiments. Computer device 300 may include
many more or less components than those shown in FIG. 3A. However,
the components shown are sufficient to disclose an illustrative
embodiment for practicing these innovations. Computer device 300
may include a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a server
computer, a client computer, and the like. Computer device 300 may
represent, for example, one embodiment of one or more of a laptop
computer, smartphone/tablet, computer device, controller of one or
more HMAs, mobile device or may be part of the network operations
center.
[0092] As shown in FIG. 3, computer device 300 includes one or more
processors 302 that may be in communication with one or more
memories 304 via a bus 306. In some embodiments, one or more
processors 302 may be comprised of one or more hardware processors,
one or more processor cores, or one or more virtual processors. In
some cases, one or more of the one or more processors may be
specialized processors or electronic circuits particularly designed
to perform one or more specialized actions, such as, those
described herein. Computer device 300 also includes a power supply
308, network interface 310, non-transitory processor-readable
stationary storage device 312 for storing data and instructions,
non-transitory processor-readable removable storage device 314 for
storing data and instructions, input/output interface 316, GPS
transceiver 318, display 320, keyboard 322, audio interface 324,
pointing device interface 326, wireless interface 328, although a
computer device 300 may include fewer or more components than those
illustrated in FIG. 3 and described herein. Power supply 308
provides power to computer device 300.
[0093] Network interface 310 includes circuitry for coupling
computer device 300 to one or more wired and/or wireless networks,
and is constructed for use with one or more communication protocols
and technologies including, but not limited to, protocols and
technologies that implement various portions of the Open Systems
Interconnection model (OSI model), global system for mobile
communication (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), time
division multiple access (TDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5G, 4G,
3G, 2G, user datagram protocol (UDP), transmission control
protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), Short Message Service (SMS),
Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), general packet radio service
(GPRS), WAP, ultra wide band (UWB), IEEE 802.16 Worldwide
Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Session Initiation
Protocol/Real-time Transport Protocol (SIP/RTP), or various ones of
a variety of other wired and wireless communication protocols.
Network interface 310 is sometimes known as a transceiver,
transceiving device, or network interface card (NIC). Computer
device 300 may optionally communicate with a remote base station
(not shown), or directly with another computer.
[0094] Audio interface 324 is arranged to produce and receive audio
signals such as the sound of a human voice. For example, audio
interface 324 may be coupled to a speaker and microphone (not
shown) to enable telecommunication with others and/or generate an
audio acknowledgement for some action. A microphone in audio
interface 324 can also be used for input to or control of computer
device 300, for example, using voice recognition.
[0095] Display 320 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), gas
plasma, electronic ink, light emitting diode (LED), Organic LED
(OLED) or various other types of light reflective or light
transmissive display that can be used with a computer. Display 320
may be a handheld projector or pico projector capable of projecting
an image on a wall or other object.
[0096] Computer device 300 may also comprise input/output interface
316 for communicating with external devices or computers not shown
in FIG. 3. Input/output interface 316 can utilize one or more wired
or wireless communication technologies, such as USB.TM.,
Firewire.TM., Wi-Fi.TM., WiMax, Thunderbolt.TM., Infrared,
Bluetooth.TM., Zigbee.TM., serial port, parallel port, and the
like.
[0097] Also, input/output interface 316 may also include one or
more sensors for determining geolocation information (e.g., GPS),
monitoring electrical power conditions (e.g., voltage sensors,
current sensors, frequency sensors, and so on), monitoring weather
(e.g., thermostats, barometers, anemometers, humidity detectors,
precipitation scales, or the like), or the like. Sensors may be one
or more hardware sensors that collect and/or measure data that is
external to computer device 300. Human interface components can be
physically separate from computer device 300, allowing for remote
input and/or output to computer device 300. For example,
information routed as described here through human interface
components such as display 320 or keyboard 322 can instead be
routed through the network interface 310 to appropriate human
interface components located elsewhere on the network. Human
interface components include various components that allow the
computer to take input from, or send output to, a human user of a
computer. Accordingly, pointing devices such as mice, styluses,
track balls, or the like, may communicate through pointing device
interface 326 to receive user input.
[0098] Memory 304 may include Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only
Memory (ROM), and/or other types of memory. Memory 304 illustrates
an example of computer-readable storage media (devices) for storage
of information such as computer-readable instructions, data
structures, program modules or other data. Memory 304 stores a
basic input/output system (BIOS) 330 for controlling low-level
operation of computer device 300. The memory also stores an
operating system 332 for controlling the operation of computer
device 300. It will be appreciated that this component may include
a general-purpose operating system such as a version of UNIX, or
LINUX.TM., or a specialized operating system such as Microsoft
Corporation's Windows.RTM. operating system, or the Apple
Corporation's IOS.RTM. operating system. The operating system may
include, or interface with a Java virtual machine module that
enables control of hardware components and/or operating system
operations via Java application programs. Likewise, other runtime
environments may be included.
[0099] Memory 304 may further include one or more data storage 334,
which can be utilized by computer device 300 to store, among other
things, applications 336 and/or other data. For example, data
storage 334 may also be employed to store information that
describes various capabilities of computer device 300. In one or
more of the various embodiments, data storage 334 may store
hologram function information 335 or beam shape information 337.
The hologram function information 335 or beam shape information 337
may then be provided to another device or computer based on various
ones of a variety of methods, including being sent as part of a
header during a communication, sent upon request, or the like. Data
storage 334 may also be employed to store social networking
information including address books, buddy lists, aliases, user
profile information, or the like. Data storage 334 may further
include program code, data, algorithms, and the like, for use by
one or more processors, such as processor 302 to execute and
perform actions such as those actions described below. In one
embodiment, at least some of data storage 334 might also be stored
on another component of computer device 300, including, but not
limited to, non-transitory media inside non-transitory
processor-readable stationary storage device 312,
processor-readable removable storage device 314, or various other
computer-readable storage devices within computer device 300, or
even external to computer device 300.
[0100] Applications 336 may include computer executable
instructions which, if executed by computer device 300, transmit,
receive, and/or otherwise process messages (e.g., SMS, Multimedia
Messaging Service (MMS), Instant Message (IM), email, and/or other
messages), audio, video, and enable telecommunication with another
user of another mobile computer. Other examples of application
programs include calendars, search programs, email client
applications, IM applications, SMS applications, Voice Over
Internet Protocol (VOIP) applications, contact managers, task
managers, transcoders, database programs, word processing programs,
security applications, spreadsheet programs, games, search
programs, and so forth. Applications 336 may include hologram
function engine 346, phase angle engine 347, cloud-based management
engine 348, and/or analytics and control engine 349 that perform
actions further described below. In one or more of the various
embodiments, one or more of the applications may be implemented as
modules and/or components of another application. Further, in one
or more of the various embodiments, applications may be implemented
as operating system extensions, modules, plugins, or the like.
[0101] Furthermore, in one or more of the various embodiments,
specialized applications such as hologram function engine 346,
phase angle engine 347, cloud-based management engine 348 and/or
analytics and control engine 349, may be operative in a networked
computing environment to perform specialized actions described
herein. In one or more of the various embodiments, these
applications, and others, may be executing within virtual machines
and/or virtual servers that may be managed in a networked
environment such as a local network, wide area network, or
cloud-based based computing environment. In one or more of the
various embodiments, in this context the applications may flow from
one physical computer device within the cloud-based environment to
another depending on performance and scaling considerations
automatically managed by the cloud computing environment. Likewise,
in one or more of the various embodiments, virtual machines and/or
virtual servers dedicated to the hologram function engine 346,
phase angle engine 347, cloud-based management engine 348, and/or
analytics and control engine 349 may be provisioned and
de-commissioned automatically.
[0102] Additionally, in one or more embodiments, remote analytics
and control engine 349 may be employed by different types of users,
e.g., customers, administrators, or technicians, to enable a
webpage and/or an application to provide different types of
security, controls, and/or information regarding an RF
communication device. The information may include metrics,
notifications, troubleshooting tips, software updates, strength of
upload and download RF signal, alerts, restart controls, RF signal
scanning controls, user permissions, metrics, or the like.
[0103] Also, in one or more of the various embodiments, the
hologram function engine 346, phase angle engine 347, cloud-based
management engine 348, analytics and control engine 349, or the
like, may be located in virtual servers running in a networked
computing environment rather than being tied to one or more
specific physical computer devices.
[0104] Further, computer device 300 may comprise HSM 328 for
providing additional tamper resistant safeguards for generating,
storing and/or using security/cryptographic information such as,
keys, digital certificates, passwords, passphrases, two-factor
authentication information, or the like. In some embodiments,
hardware security module may be employed to support one or more
standard public key infrastructures (PKI), and may be employed to
generate, manage, and/or store keys pairs, or the like. In some
embodiments, HSM 328 may be a stand-alone computer device, in other
cases, HSM 328 may be arranged as a hardware card that may be
installed in a computer device.
[0105] Additionally, in one or more embodiments (not shown in the
figures), the computer device may include one or more embedded
logic hardware devices instead of one or more CPUs, such as, an
Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field
Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Programmable Array Logics (PALs),
or the like, or combination thereof. The embedded logic hardware
devices may directly execute embedded logic to perform actions.
Also, in one or more embodiments (not shown in the figures), the
computer device may include one or more hardware microcontrollers
instead of a CPU. In one or more embodiments, the one or more
microcontrollers may directly execute their own embedded logic to
perform actions and access their own internal memory and their own
external Input and Output Interfaces (e.g., hardware pins and/or
wireless transceivers) to perform actions, such as System On a Chip
(SOC), or the like.
Illustrative Client Computer
[0106] FIG. 3B shows one embodiment of client computer 350 that may
include many more or less components than those shown. Client
computer 350 may represent, for example, at least one embodiment of
mobile computers or client computers shown in FIG. 2A.
[0107] Client computer 350 may include processor 351 in
communication with memory 352 via bus 360. Client computer 350 may
also include power supply 361, network interface 362, audio
interface 374, display 371, keypad 372, illuminator 373, video
interface 367, input/output interface 365, haptic interface 378,
global positioning systems (GPS) receiver 375, open air gesture
interface 376, temperature interface 377, camera(s) 367, projector
370, pointing device interface 379, processor-readable stationary
storage device 363, and processor-readable removable storage device
364. Client computer 350 may optionally communicate with a base
station (not shown), or directly with another computer. Power
supply 361 may provide power to client computer 350. A rechargeable
or non-rechargeable battery may be used to provide power. The power
may also be provided by an external power source, such as an AC
adapter or a powered docking cradle that supplements or recharges
the battery.
[0108] Network interface 362 includes circuitry for coupling client
computer 350 to one or more networks, and is constructed for use
with one or more communication protocols and technologies
including, but not limited to, protocols and technologies that
implement any portion of the OSI model for mobile communication
(GSM), CDMA, time division multiple access (TDMA), UDP, TCP/IP,
SMS, MMS, GPRS, WAP, UWB, WiMax, SIP/RTP, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, LTE,
UMTS, OFDM, CDMA2000, EV-DO, HSDPA, or any of a variety of other
wireless communication protocols. Network interface 362 is
sometimes known as a transceiver, transceiving device, or network
interface card (MC).
[0109] Audio interface 374 may be arranged to produce and receive
audio signals such as the sound of a human voice. For example,
audio interface 374 may be coupled to a speaker and microphone (not
shown) to enable telecommunication with others or generate an audio
acknowledgement for some action. A microphone in audio interface
374 can also be used for input to or control of client computer
350, e.g., using voice recognition, detecting touch based on sound,
and the like.
[0110] Display 371 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), gas
plasma, electronic ink, light emitting diode (LED), Organic LED
(OLED) or any other type of light reflective or light transmissive
display that can be used with a computer. Display 371 may also
include a touch interface 368 arranged to receive input from an
object such as a stylus or a digit from a human hand, and may use
resistive, capacitive, surface acoustic wave (SAW), infrared,
radar, or other technologies to sense touch or gestures.
[0111] Projector 370 may be a remote handheld projector or an
integrated projector that is capable of projecting an image on a
remote wall or any other reflective object such as a remote
screen.
[0112] Video interface 367 may be arranged to capture video images,
such as a still photo, a video segment, an infrared video, or the
like. For example, video interface 367 may be coupled to a digital
video camera, a web-camera, or the like. Video interface 367 may
comprise a lens, an image sensor, and other electronics. Image
sensors may include a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor
(CMOS) integrated circuit, charge-coupled device (CCD), or any
other integrated circuit for sensing light.
[0113] Keypad 372 may comprise any input device arranged to receive
input from a user. For example, keypad 372 may include a push
button numeric dial, or a keyboard. Keypad 372 may also include
command buttons that are associated with selecting and sending
images.
[0114] Illuminator 373 may provide a status indication or provide
light. Illuminator 373 may remain active for specific periods of
time or in response to event messages. For example, when
illuminator 373 is active, it may backlight the buttons on keypad
372 and stay on while the client computer is powered. Also,
illuminator 373 may backlight these buttons in various patterns
when particular actions are performed, such as dialing another
client computer. Illuminator 373 may also enable light sources
positioned within a transparent or translucent case of the client
computer to illuminate in response to actions.
[0115] Further, client computer 350 may also comprise hardware
security module (HSM) 369 for providing additional tamper resistant
safeguards for generating, storing or using security/cryptographic
information such as, keys, digital certificates, passwords,
passphrases, two-factor authentication information, or the like. In
some embodiments, hardware security module may be employed to
support one or more standard public key infrastructures (PKI), and
may be employed to generate, manage, or store keys pairs, or the
like. In some embodiments, HSM 369 may be a stand-alone computer,
in other cases, HSM 369 may be arranged as a hardware card that may
be added to a client computer.
[0116] Client computer 350 may also comprise input/output interface
365 for communicating with external peripheral devices or other
computers such as other client computers and network computers. The
peripheral devices may include an audio headset, virtual reality
headsets, display screen glasses, remote speaker system, remote
speaker and microphone system, and the like. Input/output interface
365 can utilize one or more technologies, such as Universal Serial
Bus (USB), Infrared, WiFi, WiMax, Bluetooth.TM., and the like.
[0117] Input/output interface 365 may also include one or more
sensors for determining geolocation information (e.g., GPS),
monitoring electrical power conditions (e.g., voltage sensors,
current sensors, frequency sensors, and so on), monitoring weather
(e.g., thermostats, barometers, anemometers, humidity detectors,
precipitation scales, or the like), or the like. Sensors may be one
or more hardware sensors that collect or measure data that is
external to client computer 350.
[0118] Haptic interface 378 may be arranged to provide tactile
feedback to a user of the client computer. For example, the haptic
interface 378 may be employed to vibrate client computer 350 in a
particular way when another user of a computer is calling.
Temperature interface 377 may be used to provide a temperature
measurement input or a temperature changing output to a user of
client computer 350. Open air gesture interface 376 may sense
physical gestures of a user of client computer 350, for example, by
using single or stereo video cameras, radar, a gyroscopic sensor
inside a computer held or worn by the user, or the like. One or
more cameras 366 may be used by an application to employ facial
recognition methods to identify a user, track the user's physical
eye movements, or take pictures (images) or videos.
[0119] GPS device 375 can determine the physical coordinates of
client computer 350 on the surface of the Earth, which typically
outputs a location as latitude and longitude values. GPS device 375
can also employ other geo-positioning mechanisms, including, but
not limited to, triangulation, assisted GPS (AGPS), Enhanced
Observed Time Difference (E-OTD), Cell Identifier (CI), Service
Area Identifier (SAI), Enhanced Timing Advance (ETA), Base Station
Subsystem (BSS), or the like, to further determine the physical
location of client computer 350 on the surface of the Earth. It is
understood that GPS device 375 can employ a gyroscope to determine
an orientation and/or an accelerometer to determine movement of the
client computer 350. In one or more embodiment, however, client
computer 350 may, through other components, provide other
information that may be employed to determine a physical location
of the client computer, including for example, a Media Access
Control (MAC) address, IP address, and the like.
[0120] Human interface components can be peripheral devices that
are physically separate from client computer 350, allowing for
remote input or output to client computer 350. For example,
information routed as described here through human interface
components such as display 371 or keypad 372 can instead be routed
through network interface 362 to appropriate human interface
components located remotely. Examples of human interface peripheral
components that may be remote include, but are not limited to,
audio devices, pointing devices, keypads, displays, cameras,
projectors, and the like. These peripheral components may
communicate over a Pico Network such as Bluetooth.TM., Zigbee.TM.
and the like. One non-limiting example of a client computer with
such peripheral human interface components is a wearable computer,
which might include a remote pico projector along with one or more
cameras that remotely communicate with a separately located client
computer to sense a user's gestures toward portions of an image
projected by the pico projector onto a reflected surface such as a
wall or the user's hand.
[0121] Client computer 350 may include analysis and control app 357
that may be configured to remotely provide key performance
indicators (KPIs) of the performance of an RF communication device
such as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D. The KPIs may include upload
bandwidth, download bandwidth, strength of wireless signals
communicated with a remote wireless base station, reflector, base
station proxy, or customer premises equipment. Also, app 357 may
authorize and enable different types of users (e.g., technicians,
customers, and the like) to use a displayed interface to quickly
identify and troubleshoot technical problems, assist in orientation
of the RF communication device to provide an optimal wireless
communication link with a remote wireless base station, and the
like. The app may also enable adjustment of particular performance
parameters to improve one or more aspects of the operation of the
RF communication device. In one or more embodiments, app 357 may
employ Bluetooth, wifi, or any other wireless or wired
communication link to communicate with the RF communication
device.
[0122] Client computer 350 may include web browser application 359
that is configured to receive and to send web pages, web-based
messages, graphics, text, multimedia, and the like. The client
computer's browser application may employ virtually any programming
language, including a wireless application protocol messages (WAP),
and the like. In one or more embodiment, the browser application is
enabled to employ Handheld Device Markup Language (HDML), Wireless
Markup Language (WML), WMLScript, JavaScript, Standard Generalized
Markup Language (SGML), HyperText Markup Language (HTML),
eXtensible Markup Language (XML), HTMLS, and the like.
[0123] Memory 352 may include RAM, ROM, or other types of memory.
Memory 352 illustrates an example of computer-readable storage
media (devices) for storage of information such as
computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or
other data. Memory 352 may store BIOS 354 for controlling low-level
operation of client computer 350. The memory may also store
operating system 353 for controlling the operation of client
computer 350. It will be appreciated that this component may
include a general-purpose operating system such as a version of
UNIX, or LINUX.TM., or a specialized client computer communication
operating system such as Windows Phone.TM., Apple iOS.TM. or the
Symbian.RTM. operating system. The operating system may include, or
interface with a Java virtual machine module that enables control
of hardware components or operating system operations via Java
application programs.
[0124] Memory 352 may further include one or more data storage 355,
which can be utilized by client computer 350 to store, among other
things, applications 356 or other data. For example, data storage
355 may also be employed to store information that describes
various capabilities of client computer 350. The information may
then be provided to another device or computer based on any of a
variety of methods, including being sent as part of a header during
a communication, sent upon request, or the like. Data storage 355
may also be employed to store social networking information
including address books, buddy lists, aliases, user profile
information, or the like. Data storage 355 may further include
program code, data, algorithms, and the like, for use by a
processor, such as processor 351 to execute and perform actions. In
one embodiment, at least some of data storage 355 might also be
stored on another component of client computer 350, including, but
not limited to, non-transitory processor-readable removable storage
device 364, processor-readable stationary storage device 363, or
even external to the client computer.
[0125] Applications 356 may include computer executable
instructions which, when executed by client computer 350, transmit,
receive, or otherwise process instructions and data. Applications
356 may include, for example, analysis and control app 357, other
client applications 358, web browser 359, or the like. Client
computers may be arranged to exchange communications, such as,
queries, searches, messages, notification messages, event messages,
alerts, performance metrics, log data, API calls, or the like,
combination thereof, with application servers or network monitoring
computers.
[0126] Other examples of application programs include calendars,
search programs, email client applications, IM applications, SMS
applications, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) applications,
contact managers, task managers, transcoders, database programs,
word processing programs, security applications, spreadsheet
programs, games, search programs, and so forth.
[0127] Additionally, in one or more embodiments (not shown in the
figures), client computer 350 may include one or more embedded
logic hardware devices instead of CPUs, such as, an Application
Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array
(FPGA), Programmable Array Logic (PAL), or the like, or combination
thereof. The embedded logic hardware devices may directly execute
embedded logic to perform actions. Also, in one or more embodiments
(not shown in the figures), client computer 200 may include one or
more hardware microcontrollers instead of CPUs. In one or more
embodiments, the microcontrollers may directly execute their own
embedded logic to perform actions and access their own internal
memory and their own external Input and Output Interfaces (e.g.,
hardware pins or wireless transceivers) to perform actions, such as
System On a Chip (SOC), or the like.
Exemplary Schematics
[0128] FIG. 3C shows an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for RF
communication device 388A that is separate from a CPE device (not
shown). As discussed above, the RF communication device 388A may be
configured with all of its major components located on an outside
surface of a barrier, all of the components located on an inside
surface of the barrier, and a portion of the RF communication
device's components that include external antenna 380 located on
the barrier's outside surface and another portion of these
components that include internal antenna 383 located on the
barrier's inside surface.
[0129] In one or more embodiments, external antenna 380 employs a
scanning array antenna, such as an HMA, to communicate upload and
download RF signals with a remotely located wireless base station
(not shown). When RF communication device 388A is configured to be
located on the inside surface of a barrier, such as a glass window,
external antenna 380 is positioned to communicate the upload and
download RF signals through the glass barrier to the remote
wireless base station.
[0130] In one or more exemplary embodiments, external antenna 380
may adjust an HMA waveform employed by the HMA to compensate a
decrease in gain caused by the scan impedance of the glass window
during communication through the glass window of the upload and
download RF signals with the remote wireless base station. The scan
impedance may be caused by one or more factors, including thickness
of glass, index of refraction of the glass, layers of the glass,
coatings on the glass, or the like. In one or more embodiments, the
scan impedance compensation includes detecting a direction of the
HMA waveform to provide the strongest RF signal communication with
the remote wireless base station, and then employing the HMA to
adjust the scan impedance of the wave front of the radiated RF
signal. In one or more embodiments, the bias voltage to one or more
varactors that control scattering elements of the HMA may be
adjusted to increase the gain of the communicated RF signals.
[0131] In one or more embodiments, internal antenna 383 may be
configured as an array of patch antennas to communicate the upload
and download RF signals towards the CPE. However, in one or more
embodiments, internal antenna 383 may be configured with an HMA
instead of the patch antenna array to communicate the upload and
download RF signals to a remotely located CPE across relatively
long distances such as found in stadiums, factories, assembly
buildings, concert halls, or the like. Also, one or more of relay
devices, or reflector devices may be employed to further extend a
distance that the upload and download RF signals can be
communicated inside a large structure to reach a remotely located
CPE. Additionally, in one or more embodiments, the CPE may include
a beam forming antenna, e.g., an HMA, to communicate upload and
download RF communication signals with the RF communication
device.
[0132] Wireless interface 387 may be employed to perform various
functions with one or more different types of one or more different
wireless communication protocols, such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE,
Zigbee, WiFi, LTE, CDMA, GSM, TDMA, or the like. Further, in one or
more embodiments, a webpage and/or an application may employ
wireless interface 387 to provide different types of security,
controls, and/or information regarding the RF communication device
388A. The information may include metrics, notifications,
troubleshooting tips, software updates, strength of upload and
download RF signal, alerts, restart controls, RF signal scanning
controls, user permissions, metrics, or the like. In one or more
embodiments, wireless interface 387 may be employed to establish an
inband wireless communication channel between the CPE and RF
communication device 388A. In another embodiment, wireless
interface 387 may be employed to establish an out of band wireless
communication channel between a technician and RF communication
device 388A. Also, in yet another embodiment, wireless interface
387 may be employed to establish an out of band wireless
communication with one or more applications, e.g., an analytics and
control engine, located at network operations centers, data
centers, wireless base stations, or the like.
[0133] In one or more embodiments, RF coupler 381 may optionally be
included to communicate the upload and download RF signals through
a barrier, such as a glass window, when RF communication device
388A is physically located on an outside surface of the barrier or
one portion of the RF communication device's components are located
on the outside surface and another portion of the RF communication
device's components are located on the inside surface of the
barrier. However, in one or more embodiments when RF communication
device 388A is entirely located on an inside surface of a barrier,
then RF coupler 381 may not be included with the RF communication
device.
[0134] In one or more embodiments, location device 384 may
optionally be included with RF communication device 388A. Location
device 384 may include a gyroscope, accelerometer, GPS device, and
the like to detect an orientation, movement, and/or location of RF
communication device 388A. In one or more embodiments, location
device 384 may be employed by a technician to orient an
installation of RF communication device 388A in such a way as to
optimize communication of upload and download RF signals with a
remotely located wireless base station.
[0135] In one or more embodiments, inductive charger 386 may be
optionally included to provide electrical power when RF
communication device 388A is physically located on an outside
surface of the barrier or one portion of the RF communication
device's components are located on the outside surface and another
portion of the RF communication device's components are located on
the inside surface of the barrier. Although not shown, in one or
more embodiments, one or more solar panels may be employed to
provide electrical power to RF communication device 388A. Further,
in one or more embodiments, when RF communication device 388A is
entirely positioned on an inside surface of a barrier, electrical
power may be provided directly by an electrical outlet located
inside a structure.
[0136] In one or more embodiments, processing components 385 are
employed to control and/or manage operation of RF communication
device 388A and one or all of the components included with the RF
communication device. In one or more embodiments, processing
circuitry 385 includes one or more of a processor, memory,
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable
Gate Array (FPGA), or the like.
[0137] Also, in one or more embodiments, amplifier 382 may include
a bi-static amplifier that simultaneously provides continuous and
separate gains to upload RF wireless signals and download RF
wireless signals. The bi-static amplifier is configured to employ
separate upload and download amplifiers to separately provide a
gain to the upload RF wireless signal as it is radiated by the
exterior antenna and another gain to the download RF wireless
signal as it is radiated by the interior antenna to the CPE. Also,
in yet other embodiments, the bi-directional amplifier provides
separate gains to the upload and download RF wireless signals by
isolating and timing the communication of these upload and download
RF wireless signals.
[0138] FIG. 3D illustrates an embodiment of an exemplary schematic
for RF communication device 388B that includes CPE 389. Although
not shown, amplifier 382 may be configured to provide gain for the
upload RF wireless signal and not provide gain to the download RF
wireless signal because CPE 389 may be configured to receive the
download RF signal directly from external antenna 380. Also, an
internal antenna would not be included as a component of RF
communication device 388B. Additionally, external antenna 380, RF
coupler 381, location device 384, processing circuitry 385,
inductive charger 386 and wireless interface 387 are configured
substantially the same as discussed above for RF communication
device 388A and as shown in FIG. 3C.
[0139] FIG. 3E shows an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for
bistatic amplifier 382A that is employed by an RF communication
device. External antenna 380A is arranged to simultaneously
communicate upload and download RF wireless signals with a remotely
located wireless base station (not shown). Also, internal antenna
383A is arranged to simultaneously communicate upload and download
RF wireless signals with a CPE (not shown). Upload amplifier 391A
is arranged to provide gain for the upload RF wireless signal and
download amplifier 392A is arranged to provide gain for the
download RF wireless signal. Additionally, RF power detector 390A
is arranged to monitor a value of the power of the upload RF
wireless signal. Also, RF power detector 345A is arranged to
monitor a value of the power of the download RF wireless
signal.
[0140] FIG. 3F illustrates an embodiment of a configuration of
external antenna 392 formed from an HMA that provides separate
vertical and horizontal polarization for both uplink and downlink
RF signals.
[0141] FIG. 3G shows an embodiment of a configuration of external
antenna 393 formed from an HMA that provides combined vertical and
horizontal polarization for both uplink and downlink RF
signals.
[0142] FIG. 3H illustrates an embodiment of a configuration of
external antenna 394 formed from patch antennas that provide
combined vertical and horizontal polarization and combined uplink
and downlink communication for RF signals.
[0143] FIG. 3I shows an embodiment of RF isolation spacer 395 for
isolating and reducing coupling between the upload and download RF
wireless signals communicated by patch antennas 396 (positioned in
ports 397) through a barrier such as glass. Also, a plurality of
slits 398 are provided in spacer 395 to further reduce coupling. In
one or more embodiments, spacer 395 is employed with an RF coupler
(patch antennas used to separately and continuous communicate
upload and download RF signals through the barrier) when the
external antenna is located on an exterior surface of a barrier and
the internal antenna is located on an interior surface of the
barrier.
[0144] FIG. 3J illustrates a representation of a gain versus angle
relationship for an external antenna when using a radome, a radome
with WAIM, and no radome.
[0145] FIG. 3K shows an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for
bi-directional amplifier 382B that is employed by an RF
communication device. External antenna 380B is arranged to
communicate upload RF wireless signals and download RF wireless
signals with a remotely located wireless base station (not shown).
Also, internal antenna 383B is arranged to communicate download RF
wireless signals and upload RF wireless signals with a CPE (not
shown). Upload amplifier 391B is arranged to provide gain for the
upload RF wireless signal and download amplifier 392B is arranged
to provide gain for the download RF wireless signal. Additionally,
RF power detector 390B is arranged to monitor a value of the power
of the upload RF wireless signal. Also, RF power detector 345B is
arranged to monitor another value of the power of the download RF
wireless signal.
[0146] Moreover, upload/download switch control 342 is employed to
control a timing of external facing three-way switch 343 and
internal facing three-way switch 344. In one or more embodiments,
control 342 provides for timing a continuous switching of switches
343 and 344 between two different conductive states to share
external antenna 380B and internal antenna 383B on a common
communication path used by both the upload and download RF wireless
signals. In one or more embodiments, the timing of the continuous
switching of switch 343 and switch 344 may be staggered to provide
isolation of the upload and download RF wireless signals from each
other while sharing the external antenna 380B and internal antenna
383B on the common communication path. Furthermore, in one or more
embodiments, both external antenna 380B and internal antenna 383B
may include fewer components at least because they are shared in
the communication of both the upload and download RF wireless
signals.
[0147] Additionally, in one or more embodiments of the RF
communication device, RF absorbent material may be added to on top
of RF components to decrease RF feedback so that separate gains
provided for the upload and download RF wireless signals
communicated through a barrier may be optimized.
[0148] Furthermore, in one or more embodiments of the RF
communication device, the HMA may be characterized when optimizing
gain to reduce close coupling to adjacent RF components. Also, in
one or more embodiments, a gain for the uplink RF wireless signal
may be maximized due to a relatively long distance from the
remotely located wireless base station. In contrast, the RF
communication device may be employed to determine a distance away
from the CPE and use that distance to reduce a gain of the download
RF wireless signal communicated by the RF communication device to
the CPE.
[0149] In one or more embodiments, the external antenna may employ
the HMA to provide composite HMA waveforms to compensate for
objects affecting communication of the upload and download RF
wireless signals with the remote wireless base stations. Also, in
one or more embodiments, the composite HMA waveforms may be
employed to multicast communication of the upload and download RF
wireless signals with two or more remote wireless base
stations.
[0150] In one or more embodiments, automatic gain control (AGC)
circuitry is provided to automatically adjust the separate gains
provided for the upload RF wireless signal and the download RF
wireless signal until separately selectable gains are determined
that provide for optimal communication between the CPE and the RF
communication device and between the remote wireless base station
and the RF communication device.
Generalized Operations
[0151] In FIG. 4A, a method is shown for employing the invention to
communicate wireless signals through a barrier, such as a window in
a structure, to one or more wireless computing devices and/or wired
computing devices behind the barrier. Moving from a start block,
the process advances to block 402 where the RF communication device
employs an external antenna, that includes an HMA, to adjust a
shape and a direction of a beam pattern of the HMA waveform to
communicate upload and download RF wireless signals with one or
more authorized remote base stations. In one or more embodiments,
adjustment of the HMA waveform may be controlled out of band by a
separate wireless communication channel which may employ 4G or less
wireless communication protocols. At block 404, optional RF
couplers are disposed on opposite exterior and interior sides of a
barrier when an external antenna and an internal antenna are also
similarly positioned. The RF couplers are employed to communicate
(upload and download) RF wireless signals through the barrier.
However, in one or more embodiments when all of the substantive
components of the RF communication device are disposed on an
exterior surface or an interior surface of a barrier instead of on
both the interior and exterior surfaces, then the logic at block
404 for RF couplers would not be applied.
[0152] At decision block 406, a determination is made as to whether
the CPE is integrated with the RF communication device. If the
determination is no, then the process flows to block 408 where one
or more amplifiers are employed to separately provide gain to the
upload and download RF wireless signals that are communicated
through the window barrier. Moving to block 412, the upload and
download RF wireless signals are communicated with one or more
CPEs, which may further communicate with one or more wireless
devices and/or wired devices located behind the barrier and/or
inside a structure.
[0153] At decision block 414, if a value of the power of the upload
RF wireless signal is below a predetermined threshold and another
value of the power of the download RF wireless signal indicates a
presence of communication with a remote wireless base station, the
process loops back to block 402 where the process resumes
substantially the same actions. Alternatively, if the value of the
power of the upload RF wireless signal is not less than the
predetermined threshold and the other value of the power of the
download RF wireless signal indicates the presence of communication
with the remote wireless base station, the process loops back to
block 404 and resumes substantially the same actions.
[0154] Alternatively, if the determination at decision block 406 is
yes (one or more CPEs are integrated with the RF communication
device), then the upload and download RF wireless signals are
communicated by the one or more CPEs via one or more communication
protocols to one or more of the wireless devices and/or wired
devices disposed inside the structure. Next, the process advances
to decision block 414 and resumes substantially the same
actions.
[0155] In FIG. 4B, a method is shown for employing the invention to
automatically determine when an authorized remote wireless base
station is in communication with the CPE. Because a value of the
power of the upload RF wireless signals communicated by the RF
communication device are significantly greater when the CPE is in
communication with a remote base station that is authorized for
communication with the CPE and another value of the power of the
download RF wireless signals indicates the presence of
communication with the remote wireless base station. Thus, when
bistatic amplification is used for the upload and download RF
wireless signals, this power value of the upload RF wireless signal
may be employed to detect authorized communication without having
to further analyze other characteristics or content of the upload
RF wireless signal. Moving from a start block to block 420, the
process monitors a value of the power for the upload RF wireless
signal while a bistatic amplifier simultaneously provides
separately selectable gain to the upload and download RF wireless
signals. At decision block 422, a determination is made as to
whether the power value of the upload RF wireless signal exceeds a
predetermined threshold. If true, the process loops back to block
420. However, if the determination is false, then the process steps
to block 424 where a shape and/or direction of an HMA waveform
provided by the external antenna's HMA is adjusted to communicate
download and upload RF wireless signals with another remote
wireless base station. Also, in one or more embodiments, control of
the adjustment to the shape and/or direction of the HMA waveform is
controlled remotely through an out of band communication channel
employing a 4G or less wireless communication protocol. Next, the
process loops back to block 420, and performs substantially the
same actions.
Relay Based Network Architecture
[0156] In one or more embodiments, a physical distance that a base
station provides 5G wireless communication to wireless
communication devices employed by users is extended by the use of
communication HMA devices that are similar to RF communication
devices that employ HMAs for their external antennas, but somewhat
differently. FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment that
extends the physical distance that upload and download RF signals
can be communicated between a remote base station and an RF
communication device by employing in between different
configurations of communication HMA devices. The RF communication
device typically includes an external facing antenna that includes
at least one HMA which employs HMA waveforms to communicate by line
of sight with a remote base station. In contrast, a communication
HMA device includes two or more HMAs and a corresponding controller
that in addition to configuring HMA waveforms, it also is employed
to configure different communication modes of operation, including
a relay HMA device, a reflector HMA device, or a base station proxy
HMA device.
[0157] In one or more embodiments, the communication HMA devices
may typically consume less than 50 watts of power, and these
devices are able to reliably communicate HMA waveforms one
kilometer or more between the next HMA antenna. Also, the
configuration of two or more HMAs can be arranged at different
angles to each other, e.g., perpendicular, so that communication of
an HMA waveform can "bend" around a corner of a structure and/or
avoid an occlusion to line of sight communication with other
communication HMA devices and/or user HMA devices.
[0158] In one or more embodiments, a communication HMA device may
be configured to operate as a reflector HMA device that employs one
HMA to communicate with one or more RF communication devices
positioned at relatively static physical locations. The reflector
HMA device employs another HMA to communicate with one or more base
stations, base station proxy HMA devices, or relay HMA devices. In
the reflector mode of operation, the HMA waveform received by the
one or more user HMA devices is employed to provide 5G wireless
communication to users.
[0159] As shown in FIG. 5, illustrates an overview of system 500
for communicating data from one or more data centers 504 which
employs one or more network operations centers 502 to route the
data to one or more remote wireless base stations 508 that
communicate the data in the form of RF wireless signals to one or
more wireless communication devices (not shown). As shown, the data
is communicated from one or more data centers 504 and routed in
part by one or more NOCs 502 over network 506 to one or more remote
wireless base stations 508 that wirelessly communicate the data
with one or more RF communication devices 516, one or more user
wireless devices 518, and one or HMA communication devices
configured as one or more of relay devices 410, reflectors 512,
and/or base station proxies 514. Also, one or more client devices
505 may execute an app that provides remote analysis and control of
the one or more RF communication devices and/or different
configurations of one or more communication HMA devices.
[0160] Additionally, FIGS. 6A and 6B, show a communication HMA
device configured as a reflector HMA device with controller 604
arranged to operate HMA 602A to communicate RF wireless signals via
HMA waveforms to other communication HMA devices and HMA 602B to
communication RF wireless signals via HMA waveforms with a
plurality of RF communication devices 606.
[0161] In one or more embodiments, a communication HMA device may
be configured to operate as a relay HMA device that employs one HMA
to communicate RF signals with a base station, base station proxy
HMA device, a reflector HMA device or another relay HMA device. And
the relay HMA device employs another HMA to communicate RF signals
with another relay HMA devices, or reflector HMA device. In the
relay mode of operation, an HMA waveform of RF signals is generally
"relayed" from one communication HMA device to another
communication HMA device in the network fabric until the RF signals
are communicated to its destination, i.e., one or more RF
communication devices and/or one or more user wireless
communication devices.
[0162] Additionally, FIGS. 7A and 7B, show a communication HMA
device configured as a relay HMA device with controller 704
arranged to operate HMA 702A to communicate RF signals with HMA
waveforms with another communication HMA device 706 and HMA 702B to
communicate RF signals with HMA waveforms with yet another
communication HMA device 708.
[0163] In one or more embodiments, a communication HMA device may
be configured to operate as a base station proxy HMA device that
employs one HMA to communicate with a base station, or another base
station proxy HMA device. And the base station proxy HMA device
employs another HMA to multiplex communication of HMA waveforms
with one or more other communication HMA devices that may be
configured as one or more of relay HMA devices or reflector HMA
devices, RF communication devices, and/or user wireless
communication devices.
[0164] Additionally, FIGS. 8A and 8B, show a communication HMA
device configured as a base station proxy HMA device with
controller 804 that is arranged to operate HMA 802A to communicate
RF signals with HMA waveforms with a base station or another base
station proxy HMA device 806 and HMA 802B to multiplex
communication of the RF signa HMA waveforms with other
communication HMA devices 808 e.g., reflector HMA devices, relay
HMA devices, RF communication devices, and/or user wireless
communication devices.
[0165] In one or more embodiments, a plurality of communication HMA
devices are physically located on telephone poles, light poles,
towers, structures, and the like, throughout a city, town, factory,
industrial area, park, or the like. In one or more embodiments, a
network fabric is formed by the plurality of communication HMA
devices arranged in a physical area, which can be dynamically
controlled. The network fabric configuration provides for dynamic
real time load balancing, redundancy, and reconfiguration of
communication modes of the HMA communication devices to provide
reliable and economical 5G wireless communication for users of
wireless communication devices, such as mobile phones, tablets,
notebooks, vehicles or the like.
[0166] FIG. 9 illustrates a logical flow diagram of for an
exemplary method of employing different types of HMA devices to
communicate by HMA waveforms through a network fabric to one or
more wireless computing devices communicating with a user HMA
device that provides 5G wireless communication for wireless
communication devices.
[0167] Moving from a start block, the process advances to block 902
where a base station provisions for providing wireless
communication with one or more RF communication devices. Next, the
process advances to decision block 904, where a determination is
made as to whether direct HMA waveform communication is available
with one or more wireless communication device users. If yes, the
process advances to block 906 where an HMA waveform provides 5g
wireless communication with the user's wireless communication
device.
[0168] Alternatively, if the determination at block 904 is false,
the process advances to block 908 where one or more communication
HMA devices are configured as a relay, reflector, or base station
proxy to provide HMA waveform communication with a user HMA device
that enables 5G wireless communication with users' wireless
devices. Next, if an occlusion, load balancing, or distance issue
is identified that is affecting communication, the process loops
back to decision block 904 where the process performs substantially
the same actions in a dynamic real time mode of operation.
[0169] FIG. 10 illustrates a logical flow diagram of for exemplary
method 1000 for employing a value of power of an upload RF wireless
signal to determine communication with an authorized remote
wireless base station and customer premises equipment. Moving from
a start block, the process advances to block 1002 where a
separately selectable (continuous) gain is provided to both an
upload RF wireless signal and a download RF wireless signa. Next,
the process steps to block 1004 where a value of the power of the
upload RF wireless signal and another value of the power of the
download RF wireless signal is monitored.
[0170] Flowing to decision block 1006, a determination is made
whether the power value of the upload RF wireless signal meets a
threshold value for affirmative communication between an authorized
remote wireless base station and a CPE and the other power value of
the download RF wireless signal indicates a presence of
communication with a remote wireless base station. If false, the
process loops back to block 1002 to perform substantially the same
actions. However, if the determination at block 1006 is true the
process steps to block 1008 where the separately selectable gains
for the upload and download RF wireless signals are adjusted to
optimize communication between the CPE and the RF communication
device and between the remote wireless base station and the RF
communication device.
[0171] Next, the process advances to block 1010 where optional
adjustments to a shape and/or direction of the HMA waveform
provided by the external antenna are made to optimize communication
of the upload and download RF wireless signals between the RF
communication device and the remote wireless base station. Further,
the process returns to performing other actions.
[0172] Additionally, it will be understood that each block of the
flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the
flowchart illustrations, (or actions explained above with regard to
one or more systems or combinations of systems) can be implemented
by computer program instructions. These program instructions may be
provided to a processor to produce a machine, such that the
instructions, which execute on the processor, create means for
implementing the actions specified in the flowchart block or
blocks. The computer program instructions may be executed by a
processor to cause a series of operational steps to be performed by
the processor to produce a computer-implemented process such that
the instructions, which execute on the processor to provide steps
for implementing the actions specified in the flowchart block or
blocks. The computer program instructions may also cause at least
some of the operational steps shown in the blocks of the flowcharts
to be performed in parallel. Moreover, some of the steps may also
be performed across more than one processor, such as might arise in
a multi-processor computer system. In addition, one or more blocks
or combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustration may also be
performed concurrently with other blocks or combinations of blocks,
or even in a different sequence than illustrated without departing
from the scope or spirit of the invention.
[0173] Additionally, in one or more steps or blocks, may be
implemented using embedded logic hardware, such as, an Application
Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array
(FPGA), Programmable Array Logic (PAL), or the like, or combination
thereof, instead of a computer program. The embedded logic hardware
may directly execute embedded logic to perform actions some or all
of the actions in the one or more steps or blocks. Also, in one or
more embodiments (not shown in the figures), some or all of the
actions of one or more of the steps or blocks may be performed by a
hardware microcontroller instead of a CPU. In one or more
embodiment, the microcontroller may directly execute its own
embedded logic to perform actions and access its own internal
memory and its own external Input and Output Interfaces (e.g.,
hardware pins and/or wireless transceivers) to perform actions,
such as System On a Chip (SOC), or the like.
[0174] The above specification, examples, and data provide a
complete description of the manufacture and use of the invention.
Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention
resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
* * * * *