Multi-hop wireless backhaul network and method

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention provide an implementation for a multi-hop wireless backhaul network. These embodiments can advantageously be deployed in dense urban areas and/or co-located with wireless access nodes, such as base-stations of a cellular wireless communication system. Preferably wireless links between constituent network nodes are set-up hierarchically. A basic result of this is that peer-to-peer (child-to-child) communication is generally prohibited and circuits are forced to conform to a topology. The multi-hop wireless backhaul network may be used to carry delay sensitive, high-density last mile circuit traffic over Non-Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) broadband radio links. Moreover, some embodiments of the invention provide a method of path-healing for re-routing of circuit traffic from circuits that have experienced catastrophic failures.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An aggregation node (AGN) comprising:
 a plurality of spatially switched antennas; and   a transceiver configured to establish active connections with other network nodes using the plurality of spatially switched antennas;   wherein the AGN is configured to perform a bi-directional relay function for backhaul traffic through the active connections with the other network nodes using at least one virtual circuit.   
     
     
         15 . The AGN according to  claim 14 , wherein the spatially switched antennas are configured to form multiple beams, the transceiver is configured to switch between the multiple beams, and the transceiver is configured to establish one of the active connections using one of the multiple beams. 
     
     
         16 . The AGN according to  claim 14 , wherein the virtual circuit has an allocated bandwidth for delay sensitive traffic. 
     
     
         17 . The AGN according to  claim 14 , wherein the AGN is further configured to store a table of destination addresses associated with one or both of a wireline link identifier and a wireless link identifier, the table being used to perform layer 2 switching on traffic on the at least one virtual circuit. 
     
     
         18 . The AGN according to  claim 14 , wherein the AGN is further configured to schedule transmission on the spatially switched antennas in accordance with a resource assignment specifying for each of at least two connections and at least one of: time slots of communications, an encoding format, a signaling format, a modulated format and transmission power. 
     
     
         19 . The AGN according to  claim 14 , wherein the AGN is further configured to establish at least one alternate connection in addition to the active connections. 
     
     
         20 . The AGN according to  claim 19 , wherein the AGN is further configured to perform automatic path healing upon failure of an active connection or a node in the network, using the at least one alternate connection. 
     
     
         21 . The AGN according to  claim 19 , wherein the AGN is further configured to allocate a bandwidth at least for signaling and/or ranging for each alternate connection. 
     
     
         22 . The AGN according to  claim 19 , wherein the AGN is further configured to perform a scheduling operation to determine for each active connection and each alternate connection and at least one of: time slots of communications, an encoding format, a signaling format, a modulated format and transmission power. 
     
     
         23 . The AGN according to  claim 14 , wherein the AGN is further configured to schedule time slots for ranging and signaling functions. 
     
     
         24 . A method for multi-hop wireless backhaul operation, the method comprising:
 establishing active connections to other network nodes using a plurality of spatially switched antennas; and   performing a bi-directional relay function for backhaul traffic through the active connections using at least one virtual.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24  further comprising, establishing one of the active connections using one of multiple beams formed by the spatially switched antennas. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the virtual circuit has an allocated bandwidth for delay sensitive traffic. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising storing a table of destination addresses associated with one or both of a wireline link identifier and a wireless link identifier, the table being to perform layer 2 switching on traffic on the at least one virtual circuit. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising scheduling transmission on the spatially switched antennas in accordance with a resource assignment specifying for each of at least two connections and at least one of: time slots of communications, an encoding format, a signaling format, a modulated format and transmission power. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising establishing at least one alternate connection in addition to the active connections. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising performing automatic path healing upon failure of an active connection or a node in the network, using the at least one alternate connection. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising allocating bandwidth for at least one of: signaling and ranging for each alternate connection. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising performing a scheduling operation to determine for each active connection and each alternate connection and at least one of: time slots of communications, an encoding format, a signaling format, a modulated format and transmission power. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising scheduling time slots for ranging and signaling functions. 
     
     
         34 . An aggregation node (AGN) comprising:
 a plurality of spatially switched antennas; and   a transceiver configured to establish active connections with other network nodes using the plurality of spatially switched antennas;   wherein the AGN is configured to wirelessly transmit and receive backhaul traffic through the active connections with the other network nodes using at least one virtual circuit.