System and Method for Efficient Link Discovery in Wireless Networks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016353271-A1
Application number	US-201514727520-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 1, 2015
Priority date	Jun 1, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

It is possible to achieve fast high-frequency link discovery by communicating location parameters identifying a spatial location of a mobile device over a low-frequency interface to a low-frequency access point (AP). The location parameters are then used to identify antenna configuration parameters (e.g., precoders, etc.) for communicating discovery signals between the mobile device and a high-frequency access point. In one embodiment, the low-frequency AP relays the location parameters to the high-frequency AP, which uses the spatial location of the mobile device to perform link discovery. In another embodiment, the low-frequency AP communicates high-frequency antenna configuration parameters to the mobile device over the low-frequency interface.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A method for link discovery in high-frequency communications, the method comprising:
transmitting, by a mobile device, location parameters over a low-frequency interface extending between the mobile device and a low-frequency access point, the location parameters indicating a spatial location of the mobile device in a cell; receiving, by the mobile device, a high-frequency antenna configuration parameter over the low-frequency interface, the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter specifying a target angle or a target spatial location for configuring a high-frequency antenna array of the mobile device during link discovery; and performing link discovery in accordance with the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter to establish a high-frequency interface between the high-frequency antenna array of the mobile device and a high-frequency access point of the cell.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the location parameters are used to identify the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter for configuring the high-frequency antenna array of the mobile device during link discovery.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing link discovery in accordance with the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter comprises:
selecting a precoder in accordance with the target angle or the target spatial location specified by the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter; and applying the selected precoder to signals transmitted via the high-frequency antenna array over the high-frequency interface.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein selecting the precoder in accordance with the target angle or the target spatial location specified by the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter comprises:
identifying two or more precoders in accordance with the target angle or the target spatial location specified by the high-frequency antenna configuration; configuring the high-frequency antenna array in accordance with each of the two or more precoders to listen for a discovery signal transmitted by the high-frequency access point; and selecting, from the two or more precoders, the precoder that provides a highest reception quality for the discovery signal of the high-frequency access point.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter specifies the target spatial location for directing the high-frequency antenna array, and wherein selecting the precoder in accordance with the target spatial location specified by the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter comprises:
identifying a target direction of arrival (DoA) in accordance with a difference between the spatial location of the mobile device and the target spatial location specified by the high- frequency antenna configuration parameter; and selecting the precoder in accordance with the target DoA.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter specifies a spatial location of the high-frequency access point as the target spatial location for directing the high-frequency antenna array of the mobile device.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter specifies a spatial location of a radio reflection point as the target spatial location for directing the high-frequency antenna array, the radio reflection point being adapted to reflect high-frequency signals communicated between the mobile device and the high-frequency access point.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter specifies a direction of arrival (DoA) or an angle of arrival (AoA) as the target angle for directing the high-frequency antenna array of the mobile device.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the low-frequency interface is adapted to transport radio signals having wavelengths that are longer than ten millimeters, and wherein the high-frequency interface is adapted to transport millimeter wave (mmW) radio signals having wavelengths that are shorter than ten millimeters.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein multiple high frequency configuration parameters are received over the low-frequency interface, and wherein the mobile device selects the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter from the multiple high-frequency configuration parameter based on a spatial location of the mobile device.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the low-frequency access point is separate and distinct from the high-frequency access point.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the low-frequency access point and the high-frequency access point are components on the same base station.

13 . A mobile device comprising:
a processor; and a computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to:
transmit location parameters over a low-frequency interface extending between the mobile device and a low-frequency access point, the location parameters indicating a spatial location of the mobile device in a cell;
receive a high-frequency antenna configuration parameter over the low-frequency interface, the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter specifying a target angle or a target spatial location for configuring a high-frequency antenna array of the mobile device during link discovery; and
perform link discovery in accordance with the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter to establish a high-frequency interface between the high-frequency antenna array of the mobile device and a high-frequency access point of the cell.

14 . A method for link discovery in high-frequency communications, the method comprising:
receiving, by a high-frequency access point, location parameters from a low-frequency access point, the location parameters having been communicated to the low-frequency access point by a mobile device over a low-frequency interface, wherein the location parameters indicate a spatial location of the mobile device in a cell; identifying communication parameters associated with the spatial location of the mobile device in a database of the high-frequency access point, the communication parameters including one or more precoders for the high-frequency access point; and
performing link discovery in accordance with the one or more precoders to establish a high-frequency interface between the high-frequency access point of the cell and the mobile device.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the communication parameters further include a high-frequency antenna configuration parameter specifying a target angle or a target spatial location for configuring a high-frequency antenna array of the mobile device during link discovery, and wherein the method further comprises:
prompting the low-frequency access point to communicate the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter to the mobile device over the low-frequency interface, thereby triggering the mobile device to perform link discovery in accordance with the high-frequency antenna configuration parameter to establish the high-frequency interface.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein performing link discovery in accordance with the one or more transmit precoders to establish the high-frequency interface comprises:
transmitting discovery signals in accordance with each of the one or more precoders; and selecting, from the one or more transmit precoders, a transmit precoder providing a highest reception quality at the mobile device.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the database maps spati

Assignees

• Huawei Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Stephenne Alex
• Callard Aaron

Classifications

• H04W8/005 Primary

  Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals · CPC title