Abstract: The invention relates to a method for digital and directional data transmission between aircraft and ground stations. In this arrangement data is exchanged digitally and directly, in other words directly by means of directional antennae, between the aircraft and the ground stations. Furthermore, transmission lobes are adapted during flight, and the directional antennae on the aircraft only illuminate regions on the ground that are located at a minimum distance across the flight path of the aircraft.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for providing improved position-location (e.g., time-of-arrival) measurement and enhanced position location in wireless communication systems. In an embodiment, an access point may replace information (e.g., data) transmission by a “known” transmission (or “reference transmission”) at a predetermined time known to access terminals in the corresponding sectors. The access terminals may use the received reference transmission to perform a position-location measurement, and report back the measured information. The access point may also send a reference transmission on demand, e.g., in response to a request from an access terminal in need for a location-based service.

Abstract: A method and apparatus configures a beamforming coefficient based on the signal strength information without collecting channel information by adjusting the phase of the antennas through random perturbation. An antenna control method of a base station in a wireless communication system using a beamforming technique includes measuring nth received signal strength at nth phase of at least one receive antenna, measuring (n+1)th received signal strength at (n+1)th phase shifted randomly from the nth phase in one of forward and backward directions, and configuring a beamforming coefficient with the phase at which the received signal strength is greatest through comparison of received signal strengths. The random perturbation-based beamforming method and apparatus of the present disclosure is capable of configuring the beamforming coefficient appropriate for the normal cellular environment using a plurality analog array antenna without channel estimation overhead.

Abstract: One or more input signals are used to generate a Pseudo noise generator and re-inject the signal to obtain a more efficient method of control of a receiver using adaptive antenna array technology. The antenna array automatically adjusts its direction to the optimum using information obtained from the input signal by the receiving antenna elements. The input signals may be stored in memory for retrieval, comparison and then used to optimize reception. The difference between the outputs of the memorized signals and the reference signal is used as an error signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for relocatable wireless communication links to locations that may present accessibility problems using, for example, small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). An sUAS implemented as an easy-to-operate, small vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft with hovering capability for holding station position may provide an extended range, highly secure, high data rate, point-to-point wireless communication link (also referred to as a “crosslink”) that is easily relocatable with very fast set-up and relocating times. A transceiver using beam forming and power combining techniques enables a very high gain antenna array with very narrow beam width and superb pointing accuracy. The aircraft includes a control system enabling three-dimensional pointing and sustaining directivity of the beam independently of flight path of the aircraft.

Abstract: An antenna system (10) comprises a transmitter part (12) comprising n inputs (40.1 to 40.n) to the antenna system, a transmitter part antenna array 18 comprising k radiating elements; a respective beam-forming network (20.1 to 20.n) connected to each of the n inputs with each beam-forming network having a plurality of outputs; and k signal combiners (22.1 to 22.k) each having a plurality of inputs and a respective output. Each output of each beam-forming network is connected to a respective input of each of the signal combiners and the output of each signal combiner is connected via an output stage to a respective one of the k radiating elements. The beam-forming networks are configured such that each of the transmitter part inputs is associated with a respective transmitter part beam (24.1 to 24.n) having a respective beam-width.

Abstract: A system for adaptively generating a sidelobe null in a radar transmit antenna pattern by positioning a small air vehicle along the radial of the sidelobe to be suppressed. The air vehicle is fitted with a receiver and antenna facing the radar, as well as a GPS device for maintaining the designated position. The vehicle further includes a communication link to the processor of the main radar transmitter to form a closed loop that enables adjustment of the attenuators and phase shifters of the auxiliary channel(s) to suppress signals transmitted in the sidelobe to be nulled. The com link may be replaced by a suitable transponder.

Abstract: By effectively utilizing the beam pattern used at the time of the last communication, a directional link can be efficiently established, thereby reducing overhead. When establishing a link, a communication apparatus 100 transmits a preparation frame by using the last used transmit beam pattern, thereby efficiently establishing a directional link and reducing overhead. Also, when establishing a link, the communication apparatus 100 uses the last used receive beam pattern to receive a preparation frame whose transmission timing is known, thereby efficiently establishing a directional link and reducing overhead.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a beam direction is for use in a beamforming system. The beam direction selection method of a reception device having a plurality of antenna elements in a wireless communication system using beamforming according to the present disclosure includes acquiring a first reception beam angle estimated as optimal by allocating a first predetermined number of antenna elements to each of beam ports and scanning signals and acquiring a second reception beam angle estimated as optimal by allocating a second predetermined number of antenna elements, which is greater than the first predetermined number, to some of the beam ports and scanning the signals using the first reception beam angle. The beam selection apparatus and method of the present disclosure is capable of selecting a reception beam direction efficiently in a beamforming system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for orienting a satellite antenna. In the methods, systems, and devices of the present disclosure, a satellite may provide multiple spot beams, each of the spot beams associated with a specific coverage area. The satellite may also transmit a wide beam downlink signal over a wide area beam having a coverage area that includes each of the spot beams. The satellite may receive an uplink beacon signal. The satellite antenna may be positioned according to azimuth and elevation determined from ground measurements of the spot beams and the satellite measurements of the uplink beacon signal.

Abstract: An RF/digital signal-separating receiver is provided for GNSS and other RF signals. The receiver includes a first master antenna and a second slave antenna, which are positioned in spaced relation for directional, radio compass applications. First and second downconverters and first and second ADCs are located under the first and second antennas in analog signal areas, which configuration minimizes cross-coupling RF signals from the antennas and reduces noise. The first and second ADSs are connected to respective first and second correlators in a digital signal location, which is centrally located relative to the antennas. The correlators are connected to a microprocessor for computing distances for the received signals, from which the receiver's orientation or attitude is determined. A method of manufacturing receivers with this configuration is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer instructions to obtain at least one operational parameter associated with a communication device and to adjust a steerable antenna of the communication device when the communication device does not satisfy an impedance threshold, where the satisfying of the impedance threshold is determined based on the at least one operational parameter. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An arrival angle estimation system includes a transmitting device and a receiving device and estimates an arrival angle at which frames transmitted by radio from the transmitting device arrive at the receiving device. The transmitting device includes two directional antennas each arranged so that its directivity is tilted at ±? degrees with respect to the front of the transmitting device. The receiving device includes a directional antenna having directivity toward the front of the receiving device. Frames are transmitted alternately from the respective directional antennas of the transmitting device, and received signal strengths of the frames on the receiving device side for the respective transmitting directional antennas are compared with each other to estimate the arrival angle.

Abstract: Information may be communicated between two or more wireless devices via adaptive or steered antennas or antenna systems and 60 GHz signals. The adaptive or steered antennas or antenna systems may be initialized based upon location information determined from a beacon signal and/or a reference system. The beacon signal may be swept through an angle and may be utilized along with reference system information to determine the direction and/or distance between the two or more wireless devices. Spatial relationships between the two or more wireless devices may vary. The two or more wireless devices may communicate and coordinate communications between them via alternate lower frequency signals.

Abstract: An electronically beam-steerable antenna device comprises a dielectric lens having at least one flat surface, a high frequency dielectric board, a plurality of at least one primary antenna element with at least one transmission line formed on the high frequency dielectric board, and a switching network electrically connected to the said plurality of at least one primary antenna element and at least one transmission line and adapted to apply electric power to the at least one primary antenna element. The switching network is a semiconductor integrated circuit mounted in or on the high frequency dielectric board, and the high frequency dielectric board with the plurality of at least one antenna element and at least one transmission line formed thereon is adjacent to the flat surface of the dielectric lens. The electronically beam steerable antenna device according to the present invention allows for electronic beam steering in a continuous angle sector while increasing radiation efficiency.

Abstract: A navigation system and associate methods are described that include a plurality of fixed terrestrial based reference devices that calibrate the system by tracking positional error between the fixed terrestrial based reference devices. A navigation system and associated methods are also described that include a laser positioning system. A navigation system and associated methods are described that include an RF positioning system. In one example, the laser positioning system, and the RF positioning system cross check one another to ensure reliability and accuracy of a position measurement.

Abstract: A system and method for antenna optimization for wireless broadband communication is provided. Such an enhanced antenna array includes higher-gain antenna and lower-gain antenna. The beamforming antenna, both higher-gain and lower-gain, are designed to be able to transmit to and receive from another transceiver. The higher-gain antenna may be designed to form a more directional beam substantially closer to the horizon; whereas the lower-gain antenna is capable of forming a less directional beam at a distance further from the horizon. In both cases, the antenna may form their respective beams anywhere in the 360 degrees horizontally around the antenna array. The higher-gain antenna may include a coverage area from the horizon to a substantially acute angle from the horizon in the vertical direction. In contrast, the lower-gain antenna may have coverage from the substantially acute angle from the horizon to substantially vertical. The substantially acute angle may be approximately 10 degrees in some cases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a first node (1) in a wireless communication system (2), where the first node (1) comprises at least two antenna ports (3, 4), and is arranged for communication with a second node (5) via a channel (H) by means of at least one antenna radiation lobe (6, 7, 8, 9). The second node (5) comprises at least two antenna ports (10, 11) and is positioned at a certain direction (12) in relation to the first node (1), and is arranged for transmitting one of at least two precoding weight set requests to the first node (1) at certain times. Each transmitted precoding weight set request is chosen in dependence of the channel (H) such that the first node (1) receives instructions for a certain beam-forming. The first node (1) is arranged to apply such a beam-forming that the precoding weight set requests received from the second node (5) have one certain distribution, of a set of at least one certain distribution, over a certain time period.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for controlling transmit power of a mobile node in air-to-ground communications to a fixed node. Power is controlled by taking into consideration the position of the mobile node, the ground position of a plurality of fixed nodes, and the RF pattern of an antenna. The ground position of the plurality of fixed nodes is determined by at least using a tower i.d. broadcast by the fixed nodes. Preferably, a power level is selected that will excite the fewest number of the plurality of fixed nodes while still maintaining a stable connection with at least one of the fixed nodes. The system may also utilize a repeater to receive communication signals from one or more mobile phones. This repeater then pre-amplifies the signal with a gain control signal received from one of the plurality of fixed nodes. The repeater would then pass the pre-amplified signal to the power amplifier for further amplification as controlled by the power controller.

Abstract: Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of wireless communication via multiple antenna assemblies. For example, a device may include a wireless communication unit to transmit and receive signals via one or more quasi-omnidirectional antenna assemblies, wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit, via each quasi-omnidirectional antenna assembly, a plurality of first transmissions, to receive, in response to the first transmissions, a plurality of second transmissions from another device via one or more of the quasi-omnidirectional antenna assemblies, and, based on the second transmissions, to select at least one selected transmit antenna assembly for transmitting to the other device and a selected receive antenna assembly for receiving transmissions from the other device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for providing directional spectral awareness via an antenna system which includes a single parasitic antenna and a processor, the processor being communicatively coupled with the parasitic antenna. The antenna system allows for quick scanning of all sectors included in a plurality of sectors of an RF environment being monitored by the antenna system. The antenna system also allows for monitoring sectors of interest. The directionality of the parasitic antenna of the antenna system may reduce interference and multipath along with providing improved SNR due to antenna gain, thereby allowing for collection of signals of interest in a more favorable environment, thereby enabling analysis such as frequency and spatial use, signal detection, signal identification, and source geolocation to succeed when it may have failed if an omni-directional antenna were used.

Abstract: A method includes generating a first data unit to be transmitted during a first time period, including generating a field that specifies a first number of beamforming training data units that can be communicated during a first training session; processing a second data unit received during a second time period, including determining whether the first training session was accepted based on a first field of the second data unit, and determining a second number of beamforming training data units that can be communicated during a second training session based on a second field of the second data unit; and if the first training session was accepted, causing the specified first number of beamforming training data units to be communicated during the first training session.

Abstract: In various embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus for wirelessly transmitting or receiving communication signals may include multiple active elements to transmit or receive communication signals wirelessly; and multiple active modules correspondingly coupled to the multiple active elements and configured to cooperate with respective ones of the multiple active elements; in which the respective ones of the multiple active modules include a power amplifier configured to amplify communication signals to be transmitted and a low noise amplifier configured to amplify communication signals received, and in which the respective ones of the multiple active modules further include a first phase shift configured to shift phases of the communication signals to be transmitted and a second phase shift configured to shift phases of the communication signals received. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A method of automatic alignment of two directional beams having a known path attenuation, and an antenna gain pattern, for mutual transmission, comprises: determining a beam width between two angles of minimal detectable connection on either side of a beam maximum; then mapping points onto a scan field in a regular pattern, the pattern based on the beam width, such that a beam with the determined beam width is detected once if the beam is in the scan field at all; scanning the first antenna over the mapped scan points; and for each point allowing the second antenna to scan over all of its own set of mapped scan points, thereby providing a coarse alignment of the two antennas to achieve at least a minimal mutual connection. The coarse alignment may be followed by a fine alignment to maximize the signal.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to enable computation of beamforming weights for beamforming MIMO wireless communication between first and second wireless communication devices. At the first device comprising a first plurality of antennas, signals are received that are wirelessly transmitted from a different one of a second plurality of antennas of the second device during a corresponding one of a plurality of time slots. The first device computes beamforming weights from the received signals. When signals are to be transmitted from the first device to the second device, the first device applies the beamforming weights to signals to be transmitted from the first plurality of antennas of the first device to the second plurality of antennas of the second device.

Abstract: A system and method for reusing existing directional information to configure antennas in a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes retrieving existing directional information, the existing directional information having been established in a previous antenna training session with a receiver. The method further includes performing a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimation procedure comprising: transmitting an SNR estimation probe message to the receiver via a directional antenna tuned with the existing directional information, and determining whether an estimated SNR value associated with the SNR estimation probe message is equal to or greater than a threshold SNR value. The method further includes transmitting a data message to the receiver via the directional antenna tuned with the existing directional information if it is determined that the estimated SNR value is equal to or greater than the threshold SNR value.

Abstract: Provided are an ad-hoc wireless communication method using a sector antenna, a recovery method in ad-hoc wireless communication, and an ad-hoc wireless communication system. The ad-hoc wireless communication method using a sector antenna according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, includes: transmitting a requesting message for setting a communication link while changing transmission power to each sector of the sector antenna; receiving a response message corresponding to the requesting message from a receiving node of each sector; configuring a routing table for the transmission power for each sector based on the received response message; and transmitting data at the transmission power for each sector by referring to the routing table.

Abstract: A wireless communication device forms a second directivity response pattern having a null value in the direction of a main lobe of a first directivity response pattern, and communicates with a communication partner device by using the first directivity response pattern and the second directivity response pattern.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein to generate beamforming weight vectors for transmissions to be made from a first wireless communication device, e.g., a base station, to a second wireless communication device, e.g., a client device. The first device has a plurality of antennas and receives uplink transmissions from the second device, each uplink transmission comprising a group of frequency subcarriers. The first device computes channel information from the received uplink transmission and computes one or more trigonometric waveforms determined to approximate the channel information. One or more downlink beamforming weight vectors are computed at any given frequency subcarrier (thus in any frequency subband) by interpolation using the one or more trigonometric waveforms.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which a gesture made with a source device (e.g., a cellular telephone), such as a throwing or pointing motion, is used to automatically set up a connection with another device to which the gesture is directed. Audio signals output during the gesture, e.g., such as at the start and end of the gesture, are detected by candidate (listening) devices. The device having the least time difference between detection of the start and end signals is the device that is generally best aligned with the throwing or pointing motion, and thus may be selected as the target device. Once selected, a connection such as a network connection may be set up between the source device and the target device for further communication, such as for application data exchange.

Abstract: A base station has a first antenna for emitting radio waves at a first tilt angle and a second antenna for emitting radio waves at a second tilt angle different from the first tilt angle. If the antennas have different propagation lengths, a transmission diversity gain is not obtained and interference occurs in an adjacent area. In such a case, when one antenna having a shorter propagation length, which means less interference in the adjacent area, is used for transmission, the throughput of each terminal is increased at the area. For example, a controller changes two antenna transmission to one antenna transmission when the difference between the reception qualities of signals sent from the base station and an adjacent base station adjacent to the base station is smaller than a predetermined reference, the reception qualities being measured at the terminal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting and geo-locating a target transmitting a CDMA or other spread-spectrum signal within an area of interest. Targets are identified by spatially-dividing the area of interest into a number of cells. First and second receiving beams are sequentially directed toward each of the cells from two or more different intercept sites. The presence of the spread-spectrum signal within each cell is identified from the signals received at each directional beam, and if the spread-spectrum signal is present in both the first and the second receiving beams, then the target can be indicated to be present within the cell.

Abstract: A wireless mesh network includes at least one data collection device. The wireless mesh network also includes a plurality of directional antennas operatively coupled to each other and the at least one data collection device. The wireless mesh network is configured to transmit information with a data rate of approximately 250 Kilobits per second (Kbits/sec) or less, and at a frequency of approximately 2.4 GigaHertz (GHz) or less.

Abstract: Measurement opportunities are provided to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) operating with a switched beam antenna in a CDMA wireless communication system. The switched beam antenna is a smart antenna generating a plurality of directional beams and an omni-directional beam. The bursty nature of packet data transmission generates periods of inactivity or low traffic during a call. The WTRU switches to antenna beams other than the selected antenna beam for receiving and measuring signals during these periods of inactivity or low traffic. Moreover, if the network has knowledge of the fact the WTRU is operating using a switched beam antenna, the network can use this information when making decisions on channel allocations, thus providing frequent measurement opportunities to the WTRU in order to support the switched beam antenna operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining stream weights is provided herein. During operation, an uplink direction of arrival (DOA) and a downlink direction of departure (DOD) calibration procedure is implemented using uplink signals and GPS information from a subset of mobiles without the need of calibration circuitry at the base. Because the presented calibration procedure needs no new hardware it can be deployed in existing deployments with only a soft-ware upgrade.

Abstract: An optical path is configured to propagate an input optical signal. A plurality of electrodes are configured to produce a plurality of discrete phase shifts on the optical signal. An output optical signal is phase-shifted with respect to the input optical signal by a sum of the plurality of discrete phase shifts.

Abstract: A system and method for discovering and tracking communication directions is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, communication directions for two devices with asymmetric antenna systems are discovered. In one embodiment, a contention access period (CAP) is partitioned into an association CAP and a regular CAP, either of which may be further partitioned into sub-CAPs corresponding to different reception directions. In one embodiment, an association request command is transmitted by a device at different association sub-CAPs to train a transmission direction of the device. In one embodiment, further training is performed to find the best communication directions, as collisions may occur when association request commands are transmitted at different association sub-CAPs.

Abstract: A system for automatically aligning two data antennae is disclosed. Each antenna is provided with a pan and tilt unit, a GPS receiver for locating a respective antenna's location, a position reporting radio for broadcasting a local position to the remote antenna, and a magnetic compass including tilt sensors for determining tilt of the antenna and for establishing a reference heading. A computer at each location receives the local coordinates, remote coordinates reference heading and tilt information, and calculates a difference between the reference heading and bearing to the remote antenna. This information is converted to pan and tilt commands to drive the antenna to the bearing of the remote antenna. Two antenna equipped in this manner can be aligned simultaneously.

Abstract: Antenna beam angles of one or more directional antennas of a wireless device are updated to communicate with a plurality of other wireless devices. Each one of the antenna beam angles is associated with one of the plurality of other wireless devices. At least one angle correction is determined to update the antenna beam angle associated with at least one first wireless device among the plurality of other wireless devices. The antenna beam angle associated with at least one second wireless device is first updated using the determined at least one angle correction of the antenna beam angle associated with the first wireless device.

Abstract: Electronic communication messages are routed according to a user's current physical location and the physical locations of communication devices. A plurality of communication devices such as telephones and computers are associated with the user. The physical locations of the plurality of communication devices are tracked. The current physical location of the user is also tracked in real-time. Incoming communication messages to the user and outgoing communication messages from the user are routed according to routing preferences based on at least the current physical location of the user and physical locations of at least one of the communication devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of millimeter-wave communication systems and methods for communicating using millimeter-waves are described. In some embodiments, a directional antenna (102) may direct millimeter-wave signals substantially in a horizontal plane (115), and one or more reflectors (104) may be positioned to reflect the millimeter-wave signals to user devices (108).

Abstract: A method for obtaining directions to fixed location such as a restaurant includes using a telephone to call the restaurant, and providing a prompt to the caller during the call to push a button on the telephone to download GPS location of the restaurant. The GPS information is transferred from the telephone to a navigation module in a vehicle which displays a map showing the route to the restaurant.

Abstract: This invention discloses directional antenna systems, antenna combining and transmission antenna selection mechanism for wireless communication terminals such mobile handsets, mobile embedded laptops, mobile CPEs (Customer premises equipment), nomadic wireless CPEs, fixed wireless terminals and etc. The disclosed systems and methods only require analog circuitry and compass readings therefore are easy to implement and well fit into the current wireless terminals architectures. The inventive systems and methods resolve the problem that a directional antenna may not receive properly when user turn around and the antenna direction is deviated from transmitter; the inventive systems and methods further reduce the interference caused by omni antenna systems by selecting a directional antenna for transmit.

Abstract: With a power supply provided for a smart antenna, whether the antenna is connected is determined according to whether the power supply is connected. When it is determined that the smart antenna is not connected, power supply to units related only to controlling of the smart antenna is stopped, whereby power saving is realized. Further, user's setting for discriminating kinds of antennas becomes unnecessary and, when a smart antenna is not connected, power supply for the same can be prevented.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods that facilitate orienting the direction of an antenna for viewing digital television signals from available broadcast stations. An embodiment includes an antenna directional guide displayable on a screen of a television enabling the viewer to select an antenna direction to view television signals receivable by the antenna from broadcast stations located along selected reception direction of the antenna.

Abstract: For transmitter-side processing of information it is decided in which direction of transmission signals for a receiver are to be transmitted, the direction of transmission being a linear combination of one of a number of antenna directional diagrams corresponding to a first plurality. In a baseband processing section (REC), a number of antenna directional diagram signal sequences (X(1),X(2)), corresponding to the first plurality is determined from a signal sequence (T), determined for the receiver by weighting of the signal sequence (T) for each of the antenna directional diagrams with a coefficient (a(1), a(2)) corresponding to each of the linear combinations. Each antenna directional diagram signal sequence (X(1),X(2)) is transmitted by a dedicated logical connection from the baseband processing section (REC) to a high frequency processing section (RE).

Abstract: A system and method to normalize a tracking control signal in a directional antenna system to reduce interference from an interfering adjacent transponder is presented. The system and method scans for the tracking signal along a scan path to produce a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) signal, coherently detects an RSSI image from the RSSI signal, and performs a morphologic feature estimation of the RSSI signal image to produce and output a normalized tracking correction.

Abstract: A method of and system for vessel authentication and location validation. The method includes detecting a radio transmission from a target vessel in a vessel control area; determining a time and date of the radio transmission; generating a triangulated geographical location of the radio transmission; extracting a maritime mobile service identity from the radio transmission; extracting from the radio transmission a frequency, a power level and a waveform of the radio transmission; and authenticating or not authenticating the target vessel based on the triangulated geographical location and one or more of the frequency of the radio transmission, the power level of the radio transmission and the waveform of the radio transmission.

Abstract: By effectively utilizing the beam pattern used at the time of the last communication, a directional link can be efficiently established, thereby reducing overhead. When establishing a link, a communication apparatus 100 transmits a preparation frame by using the last used transmit beam pattern, thereby efficiently establishing a directional link and reducing overhead. Also, when establishing a link, the communication apparatus 100 uses the last used receive beam pattern to receive a preparation frame whose transmission timing is known, thereby efficiently establishing a directional link and reducing overhead.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for association in contention access periods and to a method for multi-cycle training in channel time allocation periods.