Management of Backhaul Nodes in a Microwave Backhaul

Abstract

A communications network is disclosed that includes one or more microwave backhaul nodes for routing communications between one or more near end mobile communications devices and one or more far end mobile communications devices. The communications network includes a central monitoring and control infrastructure, a remote monitoring and control infrastructure and/or a local monitoring and control infrastructure. The central monitoring and control infrastructure, the remote monitoring and control infrastructure and/or the local monitoring and control infrastructure can directly manage the one or more microwave backhaul nodes. Alternatively, the remote monitoring and control infrastructure and/or the local monitoring and control infrastructure can indirectly manage the one or more microwave backhaul nodes through the central monitoring and control infrastructure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 a backhaul circuit configured to:
 receive status information corresponding to one or more backhaul nodes of a plurality of backhaul nodes, and 
 dynamically manage a plurality of microwave pathways among the plurality of backhaul nodes according to the status information. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the status information comprises:
 loading of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   type of data to be communicated by the plurality of backhaul nodes;   Quality of Service (QoS) of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   power levels for the plurality of backhaul nodes; or   data rates for the plurality of backhaul nodes.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the backhaul circuit is configured to receive location information and impairment information corresponding to the one or more backhaul nodes of the plurality of backhaul nodes. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein wind causes a movement of a backhaul node as indicated by the impairment information. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the location information comprises:
 orientation of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   compass coordinates of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   azimuth of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   altitude of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   pitch of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   roll of the plurality of backhaul nodes; or   yaw of the plurality of backhaul nodes.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the backhaul circuit is configured to direct an antenna array toward a backhaul node of the plurality of backhaul nodes in response to a movement as a result of an environmental factor. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein wind causes a movement of a pole to which the antenna array is attached. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the backhaul circuit is configured to redirect an antenna array toward a second backhaul node of the plurality of backhaul nodes if a first backhaul node of the plurality of backhaul nodes becomes impaired by an environmental factor as indicated by the impairment information. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the backhaul circuit comprises a sensor configured to determine impairment information for a backhaul node. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the backhaul circuit is configured to access location information from a control infrastructure location. 
     
     
         31 . A method, comprising:
 receiving status information, by a backhaul circuit, corresponding to one or more backhaul nodes of a plurality of backhaul nodes; and   dynamically managing a plurality of microwave pathways among the plurality of backhaul nodes according to the status information.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the status information comprises:
 loading of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   type of data to be communicated by the plurality of backhaul nodes;   Quality of Service (QoS) of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   power levels for the plurality of backhaul nodes; or   data rates for the plurality of backhaul nodes.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the method comprises receiving location information and impairment information corresponding to the one or more backhaul nodes of the plurality of backhaul nodes. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein wind causes a movement of a backhaul node as indicated by the impairment information. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the location information comprises:
 orientation of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   compass coordinates of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   azimuth of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   altitude of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   pitch of the plurality of backhaul nodes;   roll of the plurality of backhaul nodes; or   yaw of the plurality of backhaul nodes.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the method comprises directing an antenna array toward a backhaul node of the plurality of backhaul nodes in response to a movement as a result of an environmental factor. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein wind causes a movement of a pole to which the antenna array is attached. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the method comprises redirecting an antenna array toward a second backhaul node of the plurality of backhaul nodes if a first backhaul node of the plurality of backhaul nodes becomes impaired by an environmental factor as indicated by the impairment information. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the method comprises using a sensor to determine impairment information for a backhaul node. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the method comprises accessing location information from a control infrastructure location.