Abstract: A multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) receiving system configured for receiving multiple transmission layers is provided herein. The system includes a plurality of beamformed tunable receiving antennas configured to receive a plurality of transmitted layers; and a control module configured to select for the beamformed antennas a single set of discrete weights for tuning said antennas for all of the transmitted layers so that the weights are selected for optimal performance of said receiving system, wherein said selection is carried out based on an extended Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC) metric or other quality metric measured by the MIMO baseband module, and using said measured metric separately for each beamformed antenna to determine gain or attenuation independently of phase selection.

Abstract: A mobile device in a (e.g., full rank N×N) MIMO system is augmented by a plurality of kn antennae coupled to at least one of N beamformers such that the total number of antennae M=?n=1n=N is greater than the total number of beamformers N. A highest gain anchor (e.g., optimal) antenna set may be selected from among a plurality of antenna sets, each antenna set comprising a different one of the kn antennae for each nth beamformer. The phase(s) of the non-selected kn?1 antennae may be set to align with the phase of the selected anchor antenna for each nth beamformer. Using TDD communication, the highest gain anchor antenna set for transmitting during the uplink periods may be determined using information measured by at least some of the plurality of M antennae while receiving during one or more downlink periods.

Abstract: A method for modifying a signal transmitted from a mobile communication device comprising perturbing a transmit diversity parameter from its nominal value by modulating the parameter with respect to the nominal value in alternating directions, receiving a feedback signal including feedback information relating to the modified signal as received at a feedback device, and based at least on the feedback information, adjusting the nominal value of the transmit diversity parameter by increasing, decreasing, or preserving the nominal value. The perturbations are selected to minimize phase discontinuities.

Abstract: A wireless User Equipment (UE) receiving system, may include tunable receiving antennas; a channel estimation module configured to: carry out a periodic, non-continuous channel estimation to a plurality of desired signals and undesired co-channel downlink signals which are transmitted from different base stations and received by said plurality of antennas, causing interference; wherein the UE receiving system is configured to select between: tuning said plurality of tunable receiving antennas so as to maximize the total average power of said desired signals; and tuning said plurality of tunable receiving antennas so as to minimize the total average power of the strongest undesired co-channel base station's signals. Alternatively, the tuning is carried out so as to maximize a power ratio between said desired signals and a combination of said undesired co-channel downlink signals having the strongest interference level and an internal noise of the receiving system.

Abstract: A system and method for providing multi-beam Wi-Fi access points. The system includes one or more Wi-Fi transmit antennas beamformers; one or more Wi-Fi receive antennas or receive beamformers; and a number N of co-channel Wi-Fi access points (APs) and a number of M non co-channel APS, where all APs comply with IEEE802.11xx standard, connected to the Wi-Fi transmit antennas beamformers, wherein the Wi-Fi transmit antennas beamformers are configured to produce a plurality of non spatially adjacent beams of a common frequency, directed at a plurality of Wi-Fi user equipment (UE) such that the directional beams are sufficiently isolated from each other, and at least some of the Wi-Fi UEs communicate simultaneously with the plurality of Wi-Fi access points.

Abstract: A system and method may include a plurality of transmit and receive antennas covering one sector of a cellular communication base station; a multi-beam RF beamforming matrix connected to the transmit and receive antennas; a plurality of radio circuitries connected to the multi-beam RF beamforming matrix; and a baseband module connected to the radio circuitries. The multi-beam RF beamforming matrix may be configured to generate one sector beam and two or more directional co-frequency beams pointed at user equipment (UEs) within the sector, as instructed by the baseband module. A number M denotes the number the directional beams and a number N denotes the number of the radio circuitries and wherein M>N.

Abstract: A system and method may include a plurality of transmit and receive antennas covering one sector of a cellular communication base station; a multi-beam RF beamforming matrix connected to the transmit and receive antennas; a plurality of radio circuitries connected to the multi-beam RF beamforming matrix; and a baseband module connected to the radio circuitries. The multi-beam RF beamforming matrix may be configured to generate one sector beam and two or more directional co-frequency beams pointed at user equipment (UEs) within the sector, as instructed by the baseband module. A number M denotes the number the directional beams and a number N denotes the number of the radio circuitries and wherein M>N.

Abstract: A system and a method for applying a blind tuning process to M antennas coupled via N beamformers to a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) receiving system having N channels, wherein M>N, are provided herein. The method includes the following steps: Periodically measuring channel fading rate at a baseband level to determine the number of antennas L out of K antennas connected to each one of the beamformers, to be combined at each one of the N beamformers; assigning the antennas to the subset L according to some criteria such as best quality indicator; repeatedly applying a tuning process to L antennas in each one of the N beamformers.

Abstract: A system for selectively and discretely amplifying or attenuating antennas in a hybrid multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radio distribution network (RDN) receiving system is provided herein. The system includes a MIMO receiving system comprising a MIMO baseband module having N branches; an RDN connected to the MIMO receiving system, the RDN comprising at least one beamformer fed by two or more antennas, so that a total number of antennas in the system is M, wherein M is greater than N, wherein each one of the beamformers include a passive combiner configured to combine signals coming from the antennas coupled to a respective beamformer into a combined signal, wherein the at least one beamformer is further configured to selectively amplify or attenuate in discrete steps, one or more of the signals coming from the M antennas, based on qualitative metrics measured by the MIMO baseband module.

Abstract: A system for selecting optimal phase combinations for RF beamformers in a MIMO hybrid receiving systems augmented by RF Distribution Network. The system addresses the issue of providing beamforming gains for a plurality of layers using one common set of weights for each beamformer. The specification may be based on channel estimation of all layers as viewed by all receiving antennas, and maximizing metrics that capture the total received power.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for modifying a transmit diversity signal comprising receiving at least one input parameter, calculating at least one virtual parameter based on the at least one input parameter, converting the at least one virtual parameter into an actual parameter, and modifying a transmit diversity signal based on the actual parameter. Variations of the invention are possible, including mapping the input parameter to an actual parameter by various methods, for example, quantization, hysteresis and other methods. Embodiments of the invention may include an apparatus adapted to modify a transmit diversity signal comprising a processor to calculate at least one virtual parameter based on at least one input parameter, convert said at least one virtual parameter to an actual parameter, and modify said transmit diversity signal based on said actual parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applications of identification of variations of propagation path to transmit diversity control. Transmit diversity parameters may be modified according to detected dynamics, which may, for example, be related to changes in actual propagation and network conditions. Such dynamics may be referred to as mobility parameters. Mobility parameters may apply to variability in a propagation path due to any conditions. Determination of a mobility parameter may be conducted using one or more of multiple parameters available to the mobile terminal. Such feedback information indication, which is related to the propagation path conditions, may be provided to the apparatus, which would attempt to find a more desired mode of operation, which may lead to reduction in power and the improvement of the quality of transmission.

Abstract: Communication is performed for a first communication device having a set of antenna elements. A quality-indication signal is received from a second communication device (e.g., a basestation). A complex weighting is calculated based on the quality-indication signal. A pre-transmission signal is modified based on the complex transmit diversity weighting to produce a set of modified-pre-transmission signals, wherein the modifications are symmetric by making approximately half the magnitude of the transmit diversity modification to one signal in a first direction, and approximately half the magnitude of the transmit diversity modification to the other signal in a second direction, opposite the first direction. Each modified pre-transmission signal from the set of modified-pre-transmission signals is uniquely associated with an antenna element from the set of antenna elements. The set of modified-pre-transmission signals is sent from the set of antenna elements to produce a transmitted signal.

Abstract: A system and method of maintaining performance of an RF Distribution Network that combines signals (phases and amplitudes) passing through components that are subjected to parameters variations due to aging and temperature is disclosed; resultant distortion is reduced or eliminated via a real time calibration.

Abstract: A system for distinguishing between any one of a plurality of antennas in a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system having an augmented number of antennas is provided herein. The system includes a MIMO receiving system having N branches and configured to operate in accordance with a channel estimation MIMO receiving scheme; a radio distribution network (RDN) connected to the MIMO receiving system, the RDN comprising at least one beamformer, being fed by two or more antennas, so that a total number of antennas in the system is M, wherein M is greater than N, wherein each one of the beamformers include a combiner configured to combine signals coming from the antennas into a single signal; and at least one antenna distinguishing circuitry, each associated with a respective beamformer, wherein the antenna distinguishing circuitry is configured to distinguish between the signals coming from the antennas which feed the respective beamformer.

Abstract: A multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) receiving system configured for receiving multiple transmission layers is provided herein. The system includes a plurality of beamformed tunable receiving antennas configured to receive a plurality of transmitted layers; and a control module configured to select for the beamformed antennas a single set of discrete weights for tuning said antennas for all of the transmitted layers so that the weights are selected for optimal performance of said receiving system, wherein said selection is carried out based on an extended Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC) metric or other quality metric measured by the MIMO baseband module, and using said measured metric separately for each beamformed antenna to determine gain or attenuation independently of phase selection.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for modifying a transmit diversity signal comprising receiving at least one input parameter, calculating at least one virtual parameter based on the at least one input parameter, converting the at least one virtual parameter into an actual parameter, and modifying a transmit diversity signal based on the actual parameter. Variations of the invention are possible, including mapping the input parameter to an actual parameter by various methods, for example, quantization, hysteresis and other methods. Embodiments of the invention may include an apparatus adapted to modify a transmit diversity signal comprising a processor to calculate at least one virtual parameter based on at least one input parameter, convert said at least one virtual parameter to an actual parameter, and modify said transmit diversity signal based on said actual parameter.

Abstract: A wireless User Equipment (UE) receiving system, may include tunable receiving antennas; a channel estimation module configured to: carry out a periodic, non-continuous channel estimation to a plurality of desired signals and undesired co-channel downlink signals which are transmitted from different base stations and received by said plurality of antennas, causing interference;, wherein the UE receiving system is configured to select between: tuning said plurality of tunable receiving antennas so as to maximize the total average power of said desired signals; and tuning said plurality of tunable receiving antennas so as to minimize the total average power of the strongest undesired co-channel base station's signals. Alternatively, the tuning is carried out so as to maximize a power ratio between said desired signals and a combination of said undesired co-channel downlink signals having the strongest interference level and an internal noise of the receiving system.

Abstract: A system for enhancing performance of a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) receiving system is provided. The performance enhancement system includes a MIMO receiving system having N branches and is configured to operate in accordance with one or more legacy MIMO receiving classes, types and schemes; a radio distribution network (RDN) connected to the MIMO receiving system and including one or more beamformers, wherein at least one of the beamformers is being fed by two or more antennas so that a total number of the antennas in the system is M which is larger than N; and a control module configured to tune the one or more beamformers based on legacy MIMO signals derived from the MIMO receiving system in various methods depending on the MIMO class/type, so that the RDN adds gain and antenna directivity to the MIMO receiving system.

Abstract: A system having a multi-layer (multi-stream) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) receiving system, having a MIMO baseband module and a radio distribution network (RDN) connected to the MIMO receiving system. The RDN has two or more beamformers that are fed by two or more antennas, so that a total number of antennas in the system are greater than the number of branches of the MIMO baseband module. Each of the beamformers combines RF signals coming from the antennas. The system further implements an antenna routing module that swaps antennas between different beamformers according to one or more qualitative indicators derived from the baseband module, thus increasing the probability of grouping antennas that have lower conflicts between best phases of different layers' transmitted signals. The system increases the range of antenna selection beyond the set of antennas available for each beamformer.