Antenna selection scheme for multiple antennae

US 8,417,205 B2
Filed: 09/17/2007
Issued: 04/09/2013
Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
Status: Expired due to Fees

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1. A method to select an antenna among a plurality of antennae based on at least one quality indicator, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one antenna of the antennae during a fraction of at least one preamble period of a frame to derive at least one quality indicator corresponding to the at least one antenna;

storing the at least one quality indicator derived from monitoring the at least one antenna during the fraction of at least one preamble period of a frame; and

selectively switching to a selected antenna of the antennae after a number of frames, based on the at least one quality indicator corresponding to the at least one antenna, wherein the number of frames equals or exceeds the number of antennae in the plurality of antennae.

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Abstract

Techniques to select an antenna from a plurality of antennae used for wireless communications are described. A first embodiment of the techniques is a method to select an antenna from a plurality of antennae. The method includes monitoring at least one antenna during a fraction of at least one preamble period of a frame to derive at least one quality indicator corresponding to the antenna; storing the quality indicator derived from monitoring the antenna during the fraction of the preamble period of a frame; and selectively switching to a selected antenna after a number of frames, based on the quality indicator. A second embodiment is another method to select an antenna from a plurality of antennae. These embodiments can be applied in several wireless communication applications using multiple antennae.

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1. A method to select an antenna among a plurality of antennae based on at least one quality indicator, the method comprising:
- monitoring at least one antenna of the antennae during a fraction of at least one preamble period of a frame to derive at least one quality indicator corresponding to the at least one antenna;
  
  storing the at least one quality indicator derived from monitoring the at least one antenna during the fraction of at least one preamble period of a frame; and
  
  selectively switching to a selected antenna of the antennae after a number of frames, based on the at least one quality indicator corresponding to the at least one antenna, wherein the number of frames equals or exceeds the number of antennae in the plurality of antennae.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- - 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in a transceiver equipped with the antennae.
  - 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of frames equals a nonzero integer multiplied by a number of antennae in the plurality of antennae.
  - 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in a transceiver equipped with the antennae, the transceiver is one of a wireless base station, an access point device, and a mobile device.
  - 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of frames is determined by performing a round-robin sequence of monitoring each antenna of the plurality of antennae for one or more frames.
  - 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of at least one antenna of the plurality of antennae monitors the at least one antenna during a fraction of at least one preamble period during a plurality of frames before selectively switching to the selected antenna.
  - 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one quality indicator of the selected antenna must exceed the at least one quality indicator corresponding to each antenna of the remaining antennae of the plurality of antenna by a pre-defined quality indicator margin, before selectively switching to the selected antenna.
  - 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectively switching to a selected antenna occurs during a portion of a preamble period of one frame.
  - 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennae is used in wideband applications substantially compatible with a wireless standard.

10. A method to select an antenna among a plurality of antennas based on at least one quality indicator, the method comprising:
- monitoring each of the antennas during a fraction of at least one preamble period of a frame to derive at least one quality indicator corresponding to the each of the antennas;
  
  storing the at least one quality indicator derived from monitoring the each of the antennas;
  
  comparing the stored at least one quality indicator with the at least one quality indicator corresponding to an antenna currently being used, wherein the antenna currently being used is one of the antennas; and
  
  selectively switching to a selected antenna of the antennas after a number of frames when the stored at least one quality indicator corresponding to the selected antenna is significantly better than the at least one quality indicator corresponding to the antenna currently being used, wherein the number of frames equals or exceeds the number of antennas.
- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
- - 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the antennas are equipped in a wireless transceiver.
  - 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the number of frames equals a nonzero integer multiplied by the number of antennae in the plurality of antennae.
  - 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the number of frames equals the number of antennae in the plurality of antennae.
  - 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the number of frames is determined by performing a round-robin sequence of monitoring each antenna of the plurality of antennae for one or more frames.

15. A method implemented in a transceiver equipped with at least a first antenna and a second antenna and for selecting one of the at least first and second antennas for the transceiver to continue communication, the method comprising:
- monitoring the first antenna during a fraction of a preamble period of a frame to derive a quality indicator corresponding to the first antenna;
  
  comparing the quality indicator corresponding to the first antenna with a quality indicator corresponding to the second antenna currently being used; and
  
  switching from the second antenna to the first antenna after a number of frames when the quality indicator corresponding to the first antenna is significantly better than the quality indicator corresponding to the second antenna currently being used, or continuing to use the second antenna when the one quality indicator corresponding to the first antenna is not significantly better than the quality indicator corresponding to the second antenna currently being used, wherein the number of frames equals or exceeds two.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- - 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the quality indicator is related to one or more of a bit error rate (BER), a frame error rate (FER), or a receipt Not Acknowledged (NACK) rate.
  - 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the transceiver has a single radio-frequency base-band (RF-BB) path.
  - 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the transceiver is a wireless base station, an access point device, or a mobile device.
  - 19. The method of claim 15, wherein said switching from the second antenna to the first antenna occurs during a portion of a preamble period of one frame.
  - 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the transceiver is used in wideband applications substantially compatible with a wireless standard.

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Current Assignee
Frequency Systems, LLC (Brian Yates)
Original Assignee
SUN MANAGEMENT, LLC
Inventors
Tang, Xiangguo, Shen, Jun
Primary Examiner(s)
PHU, SANH D

Application Number

US11/856,685
Publication Number

US 20090073062A1
Time in Patent Office

2,031 Days
Field of Search

455/272, 455/277.1, 455/422.1, 455/456.1
US Class Current

455/272
CPC Class Codes

H04B 7/0608 Antenna selection according...

Antenna selection scheme for multiple antennae

First Claim

5 Assignments

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Abstract

28 Citations

20 Claims

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Antenna selection scheme for multiple antennae

First Claim

5 Assignments

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Litigations

0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

28 Citations

20 Claims

Specification

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