Methods and systems for using a beam-forming network in conjunction with maximal-ratio-combining techniques

Abstract

Various methods and systems for (i) combining the capabilities of beam-forming networks together with the benefit of using maximal-ratio-combining techniques, and (ii) selecting receiving directions for wireless data packets in conjunction with beam-forming networks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for receiving multiple signals using maximal-ratio-combining and a beam-forming network, comprising:
 concentrating by a beam-forming network comprising a plurality of beam-ports: (i) a first wireless signal arriving at a plurality of array ports belonging to said beam-forming network, substantially into one of said plurality of beam-ports, and (ii) a second wireless signal arriving at said plurality of array ports, substantially into another of said plurality of beam-ports, said second wireless signal is a multi-path version of said first wireless signal; and   combining, by a receiver, said first and second wireless signals, which arrive at said receiver via said one and another of beam-ports respectively, into a third resulting signal, using maximal-ratio-combining, thereby optimizing quality of said third resulting signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one of beam-ports is determined substantially by an angle of arrival of said first wireless signal into said plurality of array ports, and said another beam-ports is determined substantially by an angle of arrival of said second wireless signal into said plurality of array ports. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said beam-forming network is selected from a group consisting of: (i) a rotman-lens, (ii) a butler-matrix, (iii) a blass-matrix, and (iv) a fixed or passive beam-forming network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first wireless signals is an orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing signal or an orthogonal-frequency-division-multiple-access signal, having a plurality of sub-carriers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said maximal-ratio-combining is done at a level of said plurality of sub-carriers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first wireless signals is a direct-sequence-spread-spectrum signal or cck modulated signal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 using, by a wireless communication system to which said beam-forming network and receiver belong, information from said maximal-ratio-combining to generate a first and a second transmit signals which are coherent; and   transmitting coherently, by said wireless communication system, said first and a second transmit signals via said one and another of said beam-ports respectively.   
     
     
         8 . A wireless communication system operative to boost reception range of wireless signals using a rotman-lens or butler-matrix, comprising:
 a rotman-lens or butler-matrix comprising a plurality of beam-ports operative to: (i) focus a first wireless signal arriving at a plurality of array ports belonging to said rotman-lens or butler-matrix, substantially into one of said plurality of beam-ports, said one of beam-ports is determined substantially by an angle of arrival of said first wireless signal into said plurality of array ports, and (ii) focus a second wireless signal that is a multi-path version of said first wireless signal, arriving at said plurality of array ports, substantially into another of said plurality of beam-ports, said another beam-port is determined substantially by an angle of arrival of said second wireless signal into said plurality of array ports; and   a receiver, operative to combine said first and second wireless signals, which arrive at said receiver via said one and another of beam-ports respectively, into a third resulting signal, using maximal-ratio-combining, thereby optimizing quality of said third resulting signal.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said first wireless signal is an orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing signal or an orthogonal-frequency-division-multiple-access signal, having a plurality of sub-carriers. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said maximal-ratio-combining is done at a level of said plurality of sub-carriers. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said first wireless signal is a direct-sequence-spread-spectrum signal or cck modulated signal. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second wireless signals conform at least partially to IEEE-802.11n or IEEE-802.11 ac. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said wireless signals are transported using a frequency range of between 2.4 Ghz and 2.5 Ghz, and said rotman-lens or butler-matrix is configured to operate directly in said frequency range. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said wireless signals are transported using a frequency range of between 4.8 Ghz and 5.9 Ghz, and said rotman-lens or butler-matrix is configured to operate directly in said frequency range. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising: a plurality of antennas connected to said plurality of array-ports respectively, operative to receive from a remote transceiver said first and second wireless signals, thereby facilitating a substantial array gain associated with said plurality of antennas. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of antennas are operative to produce a gain in excess of 14 dBi. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of antennas are operative to produce a gain in excess of 18 dBi. 
     
     
         18 . A method for receiving multi-path wireless signals via a beam-forming network, comprising:
 detecting, using a beam-forming network comprising a plurality of beam-ports and belonging to a wireless communication system, a first and a second directions through which a first and a second wireless signals arrive at said wireless communication system respectively, said second wireless signal is a multi-path version of said first wireless signal;   connecting, by said wireless communication system, (i) a first of said beam-port, that is associated with said first direction, to a first input of a receiver belonging to said wireless communication system, and (ii) a second of said beam-port, that is associated with said second direction, to a second input of said receiver; and   decoding using maximal-ratio-combining, by said receiver, the first and second wireless signals received via said first and second inputs.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said detecting of said first and second directions further comprising:
 measuring a plurality of output power levels of at least some of said plurality of beam-ports respectively, by using a plurality of power detectors connected to said plurality of beam-ports respectively, said plurality of power detectors belonging to said wireless communication system; and   identifying, by said wireless communication system, said first and second beam-ports having strongest of said plurality of output power levels, thereby detecting said first and second directions associated with said first and a second wireless signals respectively.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said detecting of said first and second directions further comprising:
 searching, by said wireless communication system, among said plurality of beam-ports, for a signature belonging to said first wireless signal; and   identifying said first signature as being present at said first and second beam-ports, thereby associating said first and second wireless signals with said first and second beam-ports, thereby associating said first and second wireless signals with said first and second directions, thereby achieving said detection.   
     
     
         21 . A method for selecting receiving directions for wireless data packets, each direction selected separately and dynamically for each wireless data packet, comprising:
 detecting, using a beam-forming network comprising a plurality of beam-ports and belonging to a wireless communication system, a direction through which a beginning of a wireless data packet arrives at said wireless communication system;   connecting, by said wireless communication system, one of said beam-port that is associated with said direction, to a receiver belonging to said wireless communication system; and   receiving, by said receiver, at least a majority of said wireless data packet via said beam-port.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said detection is done during a first 4 microsecond of said wireless data packet arriving at said wireless communication system. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said connection is done at most 2 microseconds after said detection. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said detection and said connection are done fast enough, thereby allowing said receiver enough time to perform said reception and decode said wireless data packet by receiving said majority of the wireless data packet. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said beam-forming network is selected from a group consisting of: (i) a rotman-lens, (ii) a butler-matrix, (iii) a blass-matrix, and (iv) a fixed or passive beam-forming network, and said beam-forming network further comprising a plurality of array-ports. 
     
     
         26 . A method of receiving a wireless communication, comprising:
 receiving, substantially concurrently, at each of a set of array ports an instance of a data bearing signal;   concentrating physically directional components of said instances of data bearing signal onto directional specific beam-ports, such that common directional components received at the set of array ports are directed to a common direction specific beam-port;   selecting a subset of the set of directional specific beam-ports for said data bearing signal; and   switching the selected subset of direction specific beam-ports to input terminals of a wireless modem.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising maximal-ratio-combining of signals from the selected subset of direction specific beam-ports. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said concentrating physically is done by a beamforming network. 
     
     
         29 . A wireless system, comprising:
 a set of array ports, each adapted to substantially concurrently receive an instance of a data bearing signal;   a beamforming network adapted to concentrate physically directional components of said data bearing signal received at the set of array ports onto direction specific beam-ports, such that common direction signal components received at the set of array ports are directed to a common direction specific beam-port; and   a switching circuit adapted to select a subset of said directional specific beam-ports and to switch the subset of directional specific beam-ports to input terminals of a wireless modem.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a receiver, operative to combine first and a second signals associated with said input terminals, into a third resulting signal, using maximal-ration-combining.