Dual mode communications device with remote device feedback and methods for use therewith

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10945138-B2
Application number	US-202016783881-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2020
Priority date	Oct 19, 2017
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a communication device includes an antenna array configured to receive first millimeter wave (MMW) signals from a remote device in a millimeter wave (MMW) frequency band and to transmit second millimeter wave (MMW) signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band. A base transceiver station is configured to generate a consolidated steering matrix in accordance in a radio frequency (RF) band based on a consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with the RF band, wherein the MMW frequency band is above the RF band. A remote radio head is configured to: process the first MMW wave signals received from the remote device to recover an original feedback matrix in accordance with the MMW frequency band; convert the original feedback matrix in accordance with the MMW frequency band to the consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with the RF band; convert the consolidated steering matrix to a converted steering matrix that facilitates the transmission of the second MMW signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band, and is further configured to generate the second MMW signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A communication device, comprising:
an antenna array that facilitates receiving first signals from a remote device in a first frequency band and to transmit second signals to the remote device in the first frequency band; and
a base transceiver station that facilitates generating a consolidated steering matrix in accordance with a second frequency band based on a consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with the second frequency band, wherein the consolidated feedback matrix is received from a remote radio head (RRH), and wherein the base transceiver station further facilitates sending the consolidated steering matrix to the RRH,
wherein the RRH facilitates operations, comprising:
processing the first signals received from the remote device to obtain an original feedback matrix in accordance with the first frequency band;
generating, based on the original feedback matrix in accordance with the first frequency band, the consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with the second frequency band;
generating, based on the consolidated steering matrix, a converted steering matrix in accordance with the first frequency band that facilitates transmission of the second signals to the remote device in the first frequency band; and
generating the second signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix.

2. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the consolidated feedback matrix is generated by the RRH by converting the original feedback matrix.

3. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the converted steering matrix is generated by the RRH by converting the consolidated steering matrix.

4. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the first frequency band is above the second frequency band.

5. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the RRH includes a conversion processor that facilitates converting the consolidated steering matrix to the converted steering matrix and converting the original feedback matrix to the consolidated feedback matrix.

6. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the RRH includes a plurality of front ends that facilitate generating the second signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix and processing the first signals received from the remote device to obtain the original feedback matrix.

7. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna array is switchable in response to a control signal between an operation in the second frequency band and an operation in the first frequency band.

8. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the consolidated steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna array corresponding to an operation in the second frequency band.

9. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the converted steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna array corresponding to an operation in the first frequency band.

10. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the consolidated feedback matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna array corresponding to an operation in the second frequency band.

11. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the original feedback matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna array corresponding to an operation in the first frequency band.

12. A method, comprising:
receiving, via an antenna, first signals from a remote device in a first frequency band;
processing, via a remote radio head (RRH), the first signals received from the remote device to obtain an original feedback matrix in accordance with the first frequency band;
generating, via the RRH based on the original feedback matrix in accordance with the first frequency band, a consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with a second frequency band;
sending, via the RRH, the consolidated feedback matrix to a base transceiver station;
receiving, via the RRH, a consolidated steering matrix in accordance with the second frequency band generated by the base transceiver station in response to the consolidated feedback matrix;
generating, via the RRH according to the consolidated steering matrix, a converted steering matrix to facilitate transmission of second signals to the remote device in the first frequency band;
generating, via the RRH, the second signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix; and
transmitting, via the antenna, the second signals to the remote device in the first frequency band.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first frequency band is above the second frequency band.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the antenna is a dual-band antenna array that facilitates selectively transmitting to, and receiving from, the remote device in the second frequency band and further comprising switching the dual-band antenna array between a first operation in the second frequency band and a second operation in the first frequency band.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the consolidated steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna corresponding to an operation in the second frequency band.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the converted steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna corresponding to an operation in the first frequency band.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the consolidated feedback matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna corresponding to an operation in the second frequency band.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the original feedback matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the antenna corresponding to an operation in the first frequency band.

19. A communication device, comprising:
a dual-band antenna array that facilitates, in accordance with a first mode of operation, receiving first signals from a remote device in a first frequency band transmitting second signals to the remote device in the first frequency band, wherein the dual-band antenna array further facilitates, in accordance with a second mode of operation, operating in a second frequency band; and
a base transceiver station that facilitates generating a consolidated steering matrix in accordance with the second frequency band based on a consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with the second frequency band, wherein the consolidated feedback matrix is received from a remote radio head (RRH), and wherein the base transceiver station further facilitates sending the consolidated steering matrix to the RRH, and
wherein the RRH facilitates operations, comprising:
processing the first signals received from the remote device to obtain an original feedback matrix in accordance with the first frequency band;
generating, based on the original feedback matrix in accordance with the first frequency band, the consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with the second frequency band;
generating, based on the consolidated steering matrix, a converted steering matrix in accordance with the first frequency band that facilitates transmission of the second signals to the remote device in the first frequency band; and
generating the second signals in accordance with the converted steering matrix.

20. The communication device of claim 19 , wherein the converted steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the dual-band antenna array corresponding to a first operation in the first frequency band, wherein the consolidated steering matrix includes co-phasing parameters of the dual-band antenna array corresponding to a second operation in the second frequency band, wherein the original feedback matrix includes first

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Henry Paul Shala
• Vannucci Giovanni
• Willis Iii Thomas M

Classifications

• H01Q1/246 Primary

  specially adapted for base stations · CPC title

• H01Q25/00

  Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns (arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00) · CPC title

• H04W16/28 Primary

  using beam steering · CPC title

• H01Q3/40

  with phasing matrix · CPC title

• H01Q3/26

  varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture ({H01Q3/12,} H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence) · CPC title