Method and system for utilizing smart antennas in establishing a backhaul network

Abstract

A method and system for utilizing smart antennas in transmission of messages between nodes are disclosed. A wireless communication system includes a plurality of nodes, and each node is capable of being connected to each other node. At least a portion of the nodes are provided with a smart antenna configured to generate a plurality of directional beams. Each node maintains a list of other nodes and beam configuration information to be used in transmission of messages to other nodes. When a source node is required to transmit to a target node, the source node retrieves the beam configuration information and transmits with a directional beam directed to the target node.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A node comprising:
 a wired connection to a core network configured to receive backhaul information for at least a second node with the core network, wherein the second node is connected to the core network only through the node;   a controller, operatively coupled to an antenna array, configured to select an antenna radiation pattern for wireless transmissions to a second node;   the antenna array configured to send access control and security control information to the second node using the selected antenna radiation pattern; and   the antenna array further configured to transmit wireless backhaul data to the second node using a second selected antenna radiation pattern, wherein the node is on a list of nodes available for communication that is stored in a memory of the second node.   
     
     
         2 . The node of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless backhaul data is transmitted in at least a first frequency and the antenna array is further configured to transmit data to a third node in a second antenna radiation pattern on the first frequency. 
     
     
         3 . The node of  claim 2  wherein the data transmitted to the third node is wireless backhaul data for the third node. 
     
     
         4 . The node of  claim 1  wherein the antenna radiation pattern is dynamically selected in response to channel conditions. 
     
     
         5 . The node of  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to receive load information from at least a third node and the antenna array is further configured to transmit the wireless backhaul data in response to the received load information. 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a network node, backhaul information for at least a second node from a core network over a wired connection, wherein the second node is connected to the core network only through the network node;   transmitting, by the network node, access control and security control information to the second node using an antenna radiation pattern transmitted by an antenna array, wherein a controller selects the antenna radiation pattern; and   transmitting, by the network node, wireless backhaul data to the second node using a second antenna radiation pattern, wherein the node is on a list of nodes available for communication that is stored in a memory of the second node.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the wireless backhaul data is transmitted in at least a first frequency and the network node transmits data to a third node in a second antenna radiation pattern on the first frequency. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the data transmitted to the third node is backhaul data for the third node. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the antenna radiation pattern is dynamically selected in response to channel conditions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the network node, load information from at least a third node and transmitting, by the network node, the wireless backhaul data in response to the received load information.