Methods and systems for using a beam-forming network in conjunction with spatially multiplexed wireless signals

Abstract

Various methods and systems for combining the capabilities of beam-forming networks together with the benefit of using spatially multiplexed wireless signals.

1 . A wireless communication system, said system comprising:
 a plurality of antennas;   first and second beam-forming networks, each connected via a plurality of array ports to said plurality of antennas, said first beam-forming network configured to combine coherently a first wireless signal arriving at said plurality of antennas from a first direction of arrival, into a first intermediate signal and said second beam-forming network configured to combine coherently a second wireless signal arriving at said plurality of antennas from a second direction of arrival, into a second intermediate signal; and   a receiver connected to output ports of said first and second beam-forming networks and configured to process said first and second intermediate signals into a single data stream.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said plurality of antennas are arranged as at least a first and a second antenna array;   said first beam-forming network is connected via said plurality of array ports to said first antenna array and is configured to combine coherently the first wireless signal arriving at said first antenna array, into said first intermediate signals; and   said second beam-forming network is connected via said plurality of array ports to said second antenna array and is configured to combine coherently the second wireless signal arriving at said second antenna array, into said second intermediate signal.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said receiver is connected to said first and second beam-forming networks via a plurality of beam-ports of said first and second beam-forming networks. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first radio-frequency switching fabric configured to route one of said beam-ports of said first beam-forming network to a first input of said receiver according to a detection criterion, said first input being configured to admit the first intermediate signal into said receiver; and   a second radio-frequency switching fabric configured to route one of said beam-ports of said second beam-forming network to a second input of said receiver according to a detection criterion, said second input being configured to admit said second intermediate signal into said receiver.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing of the first and second intermediate signals by said receiver comprises combining the first and second intermediate signals using maximal-ratio-combining techniques. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first and second wireless signals are a mixture of first and second spatially multiplexed wireless signals generated by a remote transceiver from a single data stream; and   the processing of the first and second intermediate signals comprises decoding the first and second wireless signals into the single data stream, thereby achieving the decoding together with a reception gain comprising gains of said first and second beam-forming networks.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second spatially multiplexed wireless signals are generated by the remote transceiver according to an IEEE-802.11n communication standard in order to boost transmission rates of the single data stream. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second wireless signals at least partially conform to an IEEE-802.11 communication standard. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second wireless signals at least partially conform to an IEEE-802.11n communication standard. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second wireless signals at least partially conform to an IEEE-802.11ac communication standard. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second wireless signals are within a frequency range of 2.4 Ghz to 2.5 Ghz, and said first and second beam-forming networks are configured to operate directly in the frequency range. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second wireless signals are within a frequency range of 4.8 Ghz to 5.8 Ghz, and said first and second beam-forming networks are configured to operate directly in the frequency range. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second beam-forming networks are selected from a group consisting of: (i) a rotman-lens, (ii) a butler-matrix, (iii) a blass-matrix, and (iv) a fixed or passive beam-forming network. 
     
     
         14 . A method for combining signals from a plurality of beam-forming networks, comprising:
 combining coherently, by a first and a second beam-forming networks, respectively, first and a second wireless signals arriving from different directions at a plurality of antennas connected to said first and second beam-forming networks, into a first and a second intermediate signals respectively; and   processing, by a receiver connected to said first and second beam-forming networks, said first and second intermediate signals into a single data stream.   
     
     
         15 . A method for transmitting spatially multiplexed wireless signals using a plurality of beam-forming networks, comprising:
 generating, by a transmitter, first and second spatially multiplexed signals from a single data stream;   injecting, by the transmitter, the first spatially multiplexed signal into a first beam-port of a first beam-forming network;   injecting, by the transmitter, the second spatially multiplexed signals into a second beam-port of a second beam-forming network; and   transmitting, by the first and second beam-forming networks, the first and second spatially multiplexed wireless signals.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second spatially multiplexed wireless signals at least partially conform to an IEEE-802.11 communication standard. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second spatially multiplexed wireless signals at least partially conform to an IEEE-802.11n communication standard. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second spatially multiplexed wireless signals at least partially conform to an IEEE-802.11ac communication standard. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second wireless signals are within a frequency range of 2.4 Ghz to 2.5 Ghz, and said first and second beam-forming networks are configured to operate directly in the frequency range. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second wireless signals are within a frequency range of 4.8 Ghz to 5.8 Ghz, and said first and second beam-forming networks are configured to operate directly in the frequency range.