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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless communication system, said system comprising:
 a plurality of antennas;   a beam-forming network connected via a plurality of array ports to said plurality of antennas and via multiple beam ports to a receiver and configured to separately process signals received by said plurality of antennas from different directions of arrival, said beam-forming network being configured to:   beamform a first intermediate signal from first wireless signals arriving at said plurality of antennas from a first direction of arrival and concentrate the first intermediate signal into a beam port of said multiple beam ports; and   beamform a second intermediate signal from second wireless signals arriving at said plurality of antennas from a second direction of arrival and concentrate the second intermediate signal into a different beam port of said multiple beam ports; wherein the second wireless signals are multi-path versions of the first wireless signals; and   said receiver being configured to combine said first and second intermediate signals into a single data stream.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first radio-frequency switching fabric configured to route one of said beam-ports of said 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 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.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second wireless signals conform to an IEEE-802.11 communication standard. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second wireless signals conform to an IEEE-802.11n communication standard. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second wireless signals conform to an IEEE-802.11ac communication standard. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless signals are within a frequency range of 2.4 Ghz to 2.5 Ghz, and said beam-forming networks are configured to operate directly in the frequency range. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless signals are within a frequency range of 4.8 Ghz to 5.8 Ghz, and said beam-forming network is configured to operate directly in the frequency range. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said beam-forming network is 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. 
     
     
         9 . A method for combining signals from a plurality of beam-forming networks, comprising:
 beamforming, by a beam-forming network, wireless signals arriving at a plurality of antennas from a first direction of arrival, into first intermediate signals;   concentrating the first intermediate signals into a beam port connecting the beamforming network to a receiver;   beamforming, by the beamforming network, wireless signals arriving at said plurality of antennas from a second direction of arrival, into second intermediate signals, wherein the second wireless signals are multi-path versions of the first wireless signals;   concentrating the second intermediate signals into a different beam port connecting the beamforming network to the receiver; and   processing, by the receiver, said first and second intermediate signals into a single data stream, using maximum ratio combining.