Abstract: A wireless system comprises a controlling node and multiple antenna processing nodes coupled to the controlling node but separated from each other. The controlling node receives (720) first soft bit information from a first antenna processing node, the first soft bit information corresponding to reception of a wireless transmission. Responsive to determining that it cannot decode transmitted bits using the first soft bit information, the controlling node requests (730) and receives (740) second soft bit information from a second antenna processing node, the second soft bit information also corresponding to the first wireless transmission from the wireless device and having been buffered by the second antenna processing node. The controlling node decodes (750) bits from the first wireless transmission using both the first and second soft bit information. The controlling node may then signal the antenna processing nodes that they can discard buffered information for the wireless transmission.

Abstract: Radio channel estimation in a radio node is provided. The radio node is configured to receive a number of wideband reference symbols corresponding to a wideband radio channel having a wideband bandwidth and convert the wideband reference symbols into a number of wideband taps each having a complex value and associated with a respective beam direction and a respective tap delay. The radio node dynamically determines a wideband power threshold based on channel information related to the wideband channel. Accordingly, the radio node determines a subset of the wideband taps based on the wideband power threshold and generates a channel estimate for the wideband radio channel based on the subset of wideband taps. As a result, the radio node may create a more accurate channel estimation across the wider channel bandwidth over a large span of SNR conditions.

Abstract: A first antenna processing node receives (710) one or more wireless transmissions from a wireless device and obtains first symbol values from the one or more wireless transmissions. The first antenna processing node receives (720) second symbol values from a second antenna processing node, the second symbol values corresponding to the one or more wireless transmissions as received at the second antenna processing node, and calculates (730) a first weight parameter based on at least a subset of the first symbol values and a corresponding subset of the second symbol values. The first antenna processing node calculates (740) third symbol values by computing a weighted sum of first symbol values and corresponding ones of the second symbol values, using the first weight parameter, and sends (750) the third symbol values to a third antenna processing node or to a controlling node. This combining of symbol values may approximate maximum ratio combining, MRC.

Abstract: A distributed wireless system comprises controlling node and two or more antenna processing nodes communicatively coupled to the controlling node but spatially separated from each other and from the controlling node. The controlling node sends commands to and exchanges data with a first subset of the antenna processing nodes, using a first twisted-pair lane of a physical layer interface having four twisted-pair lanes, and sends commands to and exchanging data with a second subset of the antenna processing nodes, using a second twisted-pair lane. In some embodiments, the controlling node also uses a third twisted-pair lane for communicating with the first subset, while using the fourth twisted-pair lane for communicating with the second subset. Corresponding antenna processing nodes terminate one or two twisted-pair lanes in a direction towards the controlling node, while terminating one or two twisted-pair lanes towards one or more antenna processing nodes further from the controlling node.

Abstract: A distributed wireless system comprises a controlling node (20) and two or more antenna processing nodes (22) communicatively coupled to the controlling node (20) but spatially separated from each other and from the controlling node (20). A method in the controlling node (20) comprises controlling (1110) a first subset of the antenna processing nodes (22) to transmit synchronization signal blocks, SSBs, having a first SSB identifier, the first subset including one or more of the antenna processing nodes, and controlling (1120) a second subset of the antenna processing nodes (22) to transmit SSBs having a second SSB identifier, the second subset including one or more of the antenna processing nodes (22) and being disjoint with the first subset.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficient scheduling of Random Access Channel (RACH) occasions in a cellular communications system are provided. In one embodiment, a method performed by a base station comprises transmitting Synchronization Signal Blocks (SSBs) on respective transmit beams in accordance with a beam sweeping scheme. The SSBs are mapped to one or more RACH occasions in accordance with an N-to-1 mapping scheme where N is greater than 1. The method further comprises, for each RACH occasion, processing receive signals from at least a subset of antenna elements in an antenna array of the base station using respective narrowband receivers, thereby providing narrowband receive signals, and performing, based on the narrowband receive signals, random access preamble detection for multiple beam directions that correspond to at least a subset of the transmit beams on which at least a subset of the SSBs to which the RACH occasion is mapped were transmitted.

Abstract: A wireless system comprises a controlling node and two or more antenna processing nodes coupled to the controlling node but separated from each other. The controlling node sends (720) a command to a first one of the two or more antenna processing nodes, instructing the first one of the two or more antenna processing nodes to transmit data to a wireless device. This may be preceded by selecting (715) the first one of the antenna processing nodes based on an estimated signal quality metric corresponding to the wireless device for each antenna processing node. In response to a determination by the controlling node that the wireless device has not successfully decoded the data, the controlling node sends (730) a command to a second one of the two or more antenna processing nodes, instructing the second one of the antenna processing nodes to transmit the data to the wireless device.

Abstract: A wireless system comprises at least one controlling node and two or more antenna processing nodes coupled to the controlling node but separated from each other. A first antenna processing node communicates (910) with a first controlling node in a first direction along a series of links serially connecting the first controlling node and two or more antenna processing nodes including the first antenna processing node, and relays (920) communications between the first controlling node and at least a second antenna processing node, in a second direction along the series of links. In response to determining (930) that communications with the first controlling node in the first direction have failed, the first antenna processing node communicates (940) with a controlling node in the second direction along the series of links.

Abstract: An over the air, OTA, procedure derives a propagation delay (Formula I) of radio signals transmitted between a first radio network node (BS1) and a second radio network node (BS1) operative in a wireless communication system. Using this propagation delay, a two-step synchronization procedure accurately synchronizes, or time-aligns, antennas at the radio network nodes (BS1, BS2) for both transmission and reception. In a first step, each radio network node (BS1, BS2) is accurately calibrated, to obtain a total calibrated delay (Formula II) reflecting the sum of delays through a calibrated receiver path (Formula II) and a calibrated transmitter path (Formula III). In a second step, a pair of radio network nodes (BS1, BS2) separately align their antenna transmit and receive timings in a procedure in which a first radio network node (BS1) is a master and a second radio network node (BS2) is a slave.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a system comprises a chain of serially coupled nodes, including a central processing node (CPN) and one or more radio communications nodes (RCNs). The CPN couples to a first RCN in the chain via a dielectric waveguide (DWG) link and any further RCNs in the chain are successively connected in serial fashion from the first RCN via further (DWG) links. The CPN generates outbound radio carrier signals that are waveguide-propagated in a downstream direction of the chain, for over-the-air (OTA) by targeted ones of the RCNs, while radio carrier signals received via OTA reception by respective ones of the RCNs are waveguide propagated as inbound radio signals in an upstream direction of the chain, for processing by the CPN. Advantages from he contemplated system include greatly simplified implementation of the RCNs, with lower cost and power consumption. Further, strategic placement of failover CPNs and DWG links provide for continued operation in the face of CPN or DWG link failures.

Abstract: A receiver (10) featuring a distributed antenna combining system performs two stages of antenna combining. An antenna array (30) receives (102) L streams, or information flows, from UEs (20), and outputs antenna signals on N antenna ports. N parallel radio receivers (40) frequency convert (104) the N received signals to baseband. A first antenna combining circuit (50) applies (106) a relatively low-complexity form of antenna combining (e.g., MRC) to the N radio signals to generate K streams of virtual information. A second antenna combining circuit (60) applies (108) a relative high-complexity form of antenna combining (e.g., IRC) to the K virtual streams to generate L information streams. In one embodiment, antenna elements may have different polarization directions, and the first antenna combining circuit (50) generates two, differently-polarized virtual information streams for each UE (20) stream.

Abstract: A receiver (10) featuring a distributed antenna combining system performs two stages of antenna combining. An antenna array (30) receives (102) L streams, or information flows, from UEs (20), and outputs antenna signals on N antenna ports. N parallel radio receivers (40) frequency convert (104) the N received signals to baseband. A first antenna combining circuit (50) applies (106) a relatively low-complexity form of antenna combining (e.g., MRC) to the N radio signals to generate K streams of virtual information. A second antenna combining circuit (60) applies (108) a relative high-complexity form of antenna combining (e.g., IRC) to the K virtual streams to generate L information streams. In one embodiment, antenna elements may have different polarization directions, and the first antenna combining circuit (50) generates two, differently-polarized virtual information streams for each UE (20) stream.

Abstract: Radio receiver test methods and apparatus are based on known relationships between the quality of a receiver that is measured based on signals before they enter a receiver decoder and the quality that is measured based on signals after the decoder. Thus, a signal generator can be set to transmit a known signal in a predetermined radio scenario (e.g., channel frequency, amplitude, etc.), and samples can be obtained of the receiver-processed known signal before the receiver's decoder. Tests in radio scenarios where noise is the dominant signal disturbance and/or tests in radio scenarios where receiver distortion is the dominant signal disturbance can be performed.

Abstract: Radio receiver test methods and apparatus are based on known relationships between the quality of a receiver that is measured based on signals before they enter a receiver decoder and the quality that is measured based on signals after the decoder. Thus, a signal generator can be set to transmit a known signal in a predetermined radio scenario (e.g., channel frequency, amplitude, etc.), and samples can be obtained of the receiver-processed known signal before the receiver's decoder. Tests in radio scenarios where noise is the dominant signal disturbance and/or tests in radio scenarios where receiver distortion is the dominant signal disturbance can be performed.

Abstract: A searcher uses an input signal, and for example, a matched filter to generate a first set of candidate paths. A selector uses the input signal and the first set of candidate paths to generate a second set of paths. The second set of paths is used to configure the fingers of a RAKE receiver. According to one aspect of the invention, the first set of candidate paths contains M paths, and the second stage uses M correlators to generate a set of M correlation values. The second stage uses the M correlation values to select N paths that are used to configure the N fingers of the RAKE receiver. According to another aspect of the invention, the first set of candidate paths contains M paths, and the second stage uses a multiple of M correlators to track the M paths and generate a set of M estimates. The second stage uses the M estimates to select N paths that are used to configure the N fingers of the RAKE receiver.

Abstract: A method and system enables matched filters of a CDMA system to be simplified using a two stage search. A course stage and a fine stage jointly produce the location(s) of received signal path-rays. In a first stage, an oversampled digital signal is decimated, and the decimated signal is applied to a matched filter to eventually produce an approximate location. In a second stage, the oversampled signal is shifted based on the determined approximate location and then correlated to a generated code, and a more-exact location is selected from the outputs of the correlations. Alternatively, a shifted version of the generated code is correlated to the oversampled signal, and the more-exact location is selected from the outputs of those correlations.

Abstract: A mobile station with a receiver having antenna diversity where the diversity processing is controlled from the base band processing circuit and only turned on when the performance gain justifies extra power consumption. The base band processing circuit may be instructed by the network that it can cease diversity reception after evaluating cell leads within a system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for providing a camera accessory to a wireless mobile terminal in a wireless radiocommunication system. The wireless mobile terminal has an image data interface and a physical interface for detachably coupling the camera accessory thereto. One or more frames of image data is captured in the camera accessory and compressed according to one or more compression formats. The captured and compressed frames are transferred to the wireless mobile terminal over the image data interface. The camera accessory does not include a display. Image data is captured in a predetermined format including a CIF format. Still image frames are compressed using a JPEG format and an image stream is compressed using an MPEG format. The captured and compressed frames are transferred to the wireless mobile terminal over the image data interface using respective predetermined formats including RGB CIF, YUV CIF, JPEG, MPEG, and MPEG-4 with CIF to QCIF conversion format.

Abstract: A technique for improving open loop power control in spread spectrum telecommunications systems is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the technique is realized by transmitting at least one first access channel probe for a first message from a mobile station to a base station, wherein the transmission power level of each access channel probe in the at least one first access channel probe is increased until a base station acknowledgment is received for a specific access channel probe of the at least one first access channel probe at a first transmission power level. The first transmission power level is then stored at the mobile station. At least one second access channel probe for a second message is then transmitted from the mobile station to the base station, wherein the transmission power level of an initial access channel probe of the at least one second access channel probe for the second message is based upon the first transmission power level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for reducing the power consumed by a RAKE receiver. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an environment variation estimator is implemented in a CDMA mobile station. The environment variation estimator is connected to the searcher of the RAKE receiver and provides an estimate of the rate at which the mobile station's environment is changing. By providing an estimate of the rate of change of the mobile station's environment, the duty cycle of the searcher can be optimized, thereby reducing the overall power consumed by the receiver. By also providing the estimate to the RAKE fingers, channel tracking can be improved.