MXPA99004266A - System and method for broadband millimeter wave data communication - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for information communication between physically separated processor-based systems. Disclosed is a centralized communication array providing point to multipoint information communication between processor-based systems utilizing communication nodes. Such information communication may be between two processor-based systems, each utilizing communication nodes or may be between a processor-based system utilizing a communication node and a processor-based system coupled to the centralized communication array through a backbone.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE COMMUNICATION OF DATA BY WIDTH MULTIMETRIC WIDE BAND TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to systems and methods for broadband radio frequency communication, especially with a system and method for broadband information communication between processor-driven systems, by means of a centralized communications network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past, the communication of information between processor-driven systems, such as local area networks (LAN) and other general-purpose computers, separated by considerable physical space, constituted an obstacle to the integration of such systems. The options available to join the physical space between such systems were not only limited, but also required undesired exchanges in terms of cost, performance and reliability.

A group of historically available communication options includes solutions such as the use of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or multiplexing signals on an existing physical link, to unite the space and realize the communication of information between the systems. Although the implementation of these solutions is usually not expensive, it includes several undesired features. Specifically, since these existing links are usually not designed for data communications at high speeds, they do not have the bandwidth by which they can quickly communicate large amounts of data. Since the speeds of a LAN within a building increase to 100 Mbps, the voice-grade circuits of the PSTN represent even more markedly a concentration point to the broadband access to the metropolitan area and therefore are increasingly less alternative. desirable. In addition, such connections do not have the fault tolerance and reliability found in systems designed for the reliable transmission of important information by processor-driven systems.

Another group of options for historically available communication is at the opposite end of the price spectrum from the options mentioned above. This group includes solutions such as the use of fiber optic ring communications or point-to-point microwave. Normally these solutions have a prohibitive cost for all, except for the largest users. Point-to-point systems require a dedicated system at each end of the communication link, which does not offer the opportunity to divide the cost of such systems among a plurality of users. Even if these systems could be modified to be point-to-multipoint, to apply the economics of multiple system use of some elements of the system, current point-to-point microwave systems would not provide broadband data services but traditional services such as IT. and DS3. Moreover, these systems usually work with an interface protected by property rights and therefore it is not possible to use it to work with the interface of other systems managed by a general purpose processor.

Although a fiber optic ring is economical if it is used by a plurality of systems, it has to be physically coupled to such systems. Considering the high cost of acquisition, placement, and maintenance of such ring, in general, neither the economy of a use of several systems counteracts the prohibitive cost of its implementation.

Therefore, in the technique of information communications, there is a need for a communications system that offers an economic system for joining large physical spaces between systems managed by a processor.

In addition, there is also a need in the art for a communications system that offers high-speed broadband information communication between processor-driven systems.

Moreover, in the art there is also a need for a fault tolerant communication system that offers a reliable union of the physical spaces between the systems handled by the processor.

In addition, there is also a need in the art for a broadband communications system that offers simple connectivity to various processor-driven systems and communication protocols, including general-purpose computer systems and their normal communication protocols.

These and other objectives, needs and desires can be achieved in a system and method of communications in which the communications network, or hub, is centrally located to provide an air link between the systems handled by physically separate processes, or other sources. of communication such as voice communication, using a communication device, or node, of the present invention. Preferably, this central network can be physically linked to a central system for communication of information that provides communication between air-linked systems and physically linked systems. Moreover, several such systems can be used to join the large physical separations between the systems by intercommunication of several central networks. Moreover, it is possible to have a penetrating surface coverage through the network of a plurality of such communication networks in order to have an overlap pattern similar to the cellular one.

In a preferred embodiment, the central communications network includes a plurality of individual antenna elements in time division multiplexing (TDM) communication with a processor driven system. This system processes the signals received in each element of the antenna to be able to route them to the desired destination. An advantage of the use of a plurality of individual antennas in the central communications network is that only element antennas having a radiation pattern that overlap a remote site that requires communication services (subscriber) need to be implemented at the specific time. . Later, more antenna elements can be installed as more subscribers require the service of a special concentrator. This modular expansion of a hub's service capabilities results in a reduction in initial installation costs in which only a few subscribers initially require the service, while having the flexibility to implement omnidirectional communications coverage and / or with cell overlap, which is not possible with point-to-point systems.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the communication spectrum used by the communication system is frequency division multiplexing (FDM) to provide several channels for the simultaneous communication of information to a plurality of subscribers. In addition to the simultaneous communication of information to the subscribers, the FDM channels can also be used to communicate through a previously determined band, the control information to the element antennas of the network, simultaneously with the transmission of other data.

The present invention preferably uses a carrier frequency in the millimeter wavelength spectrum, for example from 10 to 60 GHz. These carrier frequencies are desirable in order to be able to communicate with the sufficient bandwidth for transmission when less 30 Mbps, for each defined FDM channel of approximately 10 MHz.

FDM channels can provide full duplicity by defining a pair of transmission (Tx) and reception (Rx) channels as a single frequency division duplex channel (FDD) for a subscriber to serve. However, it is necessary to observe that having full duplex by FDD is achieved at the expense of exhausting the available spectrum at an increasing speed, since the service to a single subscriber actually requires two channels.

In addition to the multiplexing communication in channels with divided frequency, time division multiplexing can be used to provide multiple, simultaneous communications in a single FDM channel. In this case, some of the FDM channels are divided into a predetermined number of discrete parts of time (burst periods) that form a frame. Each burst period can be used by a different subscriber to communicate the information contained in a single frame that has a number of TDM bursts routed to and from a number of subscribers on a single FDM channel.

Moreover, in a single FDM channel, full-duplex work can be synthesized using duplex communication by time division, through the use of burst periods similar to those used in TDM. By means of TDD, Tx and Rx frames, each frame that has one or more burst periods is defined to perform communication in a specific direction at a predefined time.

It can be seen that any of the aforementioned FDM, FDD, TDM, and TDD schemes, or their like, can be used in any combination that is considered advantageous. For example, a single frequency division channel can be multiplexed in time to provide communication to several subscribers, while working in time division duplex to synthesize the complete duplex communication with these subscribers.

In the embodiments described above, the communication system can use an initialization algorithm, perhaps including a password network for users with shared data, to group the subscriber's systems and determine the communication attributes of each of such systems in each antenna element of the central network. This information can be used to determine the optimal allocation of resources, including antenna elements, TDM burst periods, FDD frequency assignments, and TDD Tx and Rx time assignments for each such system. This information can also be used additionally to make the secondary allocation of resources and thus maintain the integrity of the system in case of anomalous events, thus providing a system tolerant to failures.

The foregoing describes rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order to better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Subsequently other additional features and advantages of the invention will be described, which constitute the object of the claims of the invention. Those who have knowledge of the technique will be able to appreciate that the specific conception and embodiment mentioned can be used as a basis to modify or design other structures that accomplish the same objective of the present invention. Those of skill in the art will also appreciate that such equivalent constructions do not deviate from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

----- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 illustrates the interconnection of processor-driven systems of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2A illustrates an isometric view of the centralized communications network of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2B illustrates a horizontal plane cross-sectional view of the centralized communications network shown in FIGURE 2A; FIGURE 2C illustrates a vertical plane cross-sectional view of the centralized communications network shown in FIGURE 2A; FIGURE 3A illustrates an embodiment of the composition of a signal communicated by the present invention, during a burst period with multiple access by "time division; FIGURE 3B illustrates an embodiment of the composition of a signal communicated by the present invention, during a period of duplex burst per time division; FIGURE 4 illustrates an embodiment of a node of the present invention; FIGURE 5 illustrates an embodiment of the initialization algorithm used to configure communication between the centralized communications network and the nodes of the present invention; FIGURE 6 illustrates the interconnection of processor-driven systems through a network of concentrators of the present invention; Y FIGURES 7-8 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the various components of a concentrator of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention offers high speed data communication by means of a broadband air interface that allows access to the data between the subscriber's remote systems. Referring to FIGURE 1, it can be seen that such wireless communication can be used, for example, to join at high speed a physical space between a plurality of processor-driven systems, as illustrated by system 100. Systems operated by processor they can include local area networks (LAN), such as LANs 110 and 120, or individual computing systems, such as PC 130. It should be noted that the processor-driven systems using the present invention can be general purpose computers, both independent as interconnected, for example, by a LAN. Moreover, the system can connect other communication systems, for example voice or video, in combination with the communications provided by the above-mentioned processor-driven systems, or instead of the same.

The systems linked by the present invention can use a communications device, hereinafter referred to as "node", to communicate with a centralized communications device also of the present invention, hereinafter referred to as "hub". Still with reference to FIGURE 1, a hub is illustrated as the element 101, and several nodes are illustrated as the elements 150, 151, and 152 connected to the LANs 110 and 120, as well as to the PC 130.

Also, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, such wireless communications can be used to provide high-speed communications between a processor-driven system, having a node installed therein, and the central communications system, such as the central system 160, by means of the concentrator 101. It is understood that the central system 160 may be any form of communication medium, such as a broadband fiber optic gate or any other connection with broadband data grade, IT communications lines, a communication system by cable, the Internet, or a similar one, physically connected to the hub 101. Moreover, central systems such as the one illustrated by the central system 160 can be used to interconnect a plurality of hubs in a communications network.

In FIGURE 6 a communication network including a plurality of hubs is illustrated. Through such a network, a node, such as node 150, in direct communication with a hub, such as hub 101, can communicate with a node, such as node 621, in direct communication with another hub, such as hub 620. communication can be achieved through the interconnection of two hubs by means of a central system, such as central system 160. Of course, it must be understood that intercommunication between hubs can be achieved by means of carrying information by air communication between two concentrators as illustrated with concentrators 101 and 630. It should be noted that a communications network can include any number of concentrators in communication with other concentrators, by means such as air or direct interconnection of the central system, or something similar . The information communicated from a node in direct communication with a concentrator can be routed by means of several such interconnections to a node in direct communication with any hub of the communication network.

In a preferred embodiment, the concentrator of the present invention is an omnidirectional antenna array having a plurality of individual antenna elements. FIG. 2A shows such an individual antenna element as the antenna element 200. The antenna elements are narrow beam directional antennas having a predetermined communication lobe. These antenna elements are configured in a network that provides an omnidirectional composite radiation pattern. However, it is necessary to understand that if desired, only the number of antenna elements required to communicate with a predetermined number of remote systems can be used, instead of an omnidirectional configuration.

Preferably, the antenna elements constituting the concentrator 101, such as the antenna element 200, provide an extremely high frequency (EHF) directional reception, such as the 38 GHz one that provides millimeter wave (Wave mm) communication in the band. Q. These frequencies are extremely useful since they have a very small wavelength, which is desirable for communications with highly directional antennas. Moreover, the antennas used for communication of such frequencies can be physically small and provide a wide signal gain.

The combination of such highly directional antennas with wide gain improves the reuse of frequency and reduces the possibility of multiple path interference. In addition, the wide gain obtained by such antennas is required to be able to communicate at a reasonable distance from the antenna, for example three (3) miles from point to point, while using a reasonable layer of power.

In addition, licenses for such frequencies were recently granted by the Government of the United States for use in radiocommunications. Therefore, the other communication technologies are not yet making general use of this frequency range. However, it should be understood that it is possible to obtain the advantages of the present invention through the use of any frequency band that has the capacity to communicate data at high speeds, as long as the selected band admits at least one channel of approximately 10 MHz .

In the preferred embodiment, in which omnidirectional coverage will be used by means of hub 101, the individual elements of the antenna have an azimuth configuration, as illustrated in FIGURE 2B, to cover a total radius of 360 degrees in a horizontal plane. It is necessary to appreciate that when configuring the antenna elements in this way a radial radio communication blocking coverage can be obtained around the concentrator 101, by selecting the communication lobe of each antenna element, to obtain coverage in areas where the elements of neighboring antenna do not provide such coverage.

Of course, as indicated above, the increase of the antenna elements in sufficient number to have a total radiation pattern of 360 degrees can be carried out in a modular manner, as the use of the system demands. It should be noted that although a 360 degree coverage is ultimately desirable, the modular nature of the individual antenna elements provides an inexpensive means by which limited coverage is initially provided in a developing area. For example, in places where only a few locations, or subscribers, within a geographic area covered by a specific hub, desire communication by means of the present invention, a hub may be placed that includes only those antenna elements necessary to service to these subscribers. Subsequently, as more subscribers want the service within the service area of the concentrator, additional antenna elements can be added to the concentrator to service their associated nodes. Finally the concentrator can be filled with all the individual antenna elements to have communication in a total radius of 360 degrees around the concentrator.

A concentrator like the one of the present invention, which can be expanded to include additional antenna elements, can be realized in several ways. For example, initially a frame can be constructed for the hub that is adapted to be able to accept individual antenna elements in a predetermined position. Subsequently, individual antenna elements can be connected to this frame of the concentrator in the positions corresponding to the areas requiring service, or in which the service density increases.

Likewise, initially you can build a pole or plate, or any other support structure for the concentrator. Individual antenna element structures can be added to the support structure of the concentrator, as the areas to which the concentrator offers service require more services or increase its service density. In this embodiment each antenna element includes its own support and mounting structure to be attached to the support structure of the concentrator and to all structures of the antenna element that is attached. It is necessary to appreciate that such an embodiment offers a reduced start-up cost, in which only a few antenna elements are required to provide the initial service to the area. Moreover, such an embodiment offers more flexibility in the location of the individual antenna elements, since the antenna elements are not limited to a location determined by an existing frame structure.

Preferably, to achieve a 360 degree communication around the concentrator 101, a total of 22 individual antenna elements are used, whose communication lobe has an azimuth beamwidth of approximately 16 degrees and a height of the elevational beam of 2.5 degrees. However, it is possible to use any number of individual elements, depending on the individual design limitations, such as the presence of reflected waves and their interference by multiple path. Furthermore, as indicated above, if desired, only the number of antenna elements necessary for communication with certain identified nodes 150 can be used.

The experimentation showed that the use of antenna elements with 16-degree azimuth beamwidth is very useful to obtain the desirable reuse of the channels, both in the concentrator and in a cellular superposition pattern that offers the reuse of the channel the various concentrators. For example, it has been discovered that an antenna element operating in Wave spectrum mm, configured as indicated above to have a beam of approximately 16 degrees, has characteristics of lateral lobe that allows the reuse of the same channel in the element of antenna located in the same concentrator, with a radial displacement of approximately 90 degrees.

Still referring to FIGURE 2B, it can be seen that each antenna element 200 of the preferred embodiment is formed by the horn antenna 210 and the module 220. In the preferred embodiment, in which EHF is used, the horn antenna 210 is a horn antenna corrected with lenses in hybrid mode to provide approximately 32 dB of gain. The module 220 is a synthesized millimeter wave front module that receives and transmits in 38 GHz radio frequency by means of the horn antenna 210 converted to / from an intermediate frequency (IF), for example in the range of 400 to 500 MHz, to communicate with a modem, for example, the modem 240 illustrated in FIGURE 2C. Of course, the components of the antenna elements may be different from those mentioned above, depending on the carrier frequency used. Similarly, the horn antenna and the module attributes of the antenna elements may be different from those indicated above, when, for example, a carrier frequency or a different beam pattern is used.

Preferably, modem 240 is a broadband modem with an output capacity of 42 Mbps that uses quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). As will be discussed later, the system can use a variable speed modem, such as that found in the market of various manufacturers, including BroadCom Corporation, Philips, and VLSI Technology. Such a variable speed modem enables the transmission of variable information densities (ie, several numbers of bits per symbol), for example from 17 to 51 Mbps (corresponding to 4 QAM, with coding of two bits per symbol, up to 256 QAM) , with 8 bits coding per symbol), at a fixed baud rate, for example 8.5 Mbaud. Typically, such a modem uses collated data filtering, which results in an occupied RF bandwidth, and this is 15 to 30% greater than the theoretical Nyquist bandwidth. The variable modem can be useful to increase the spectral efficiency by changing the density of the information communicated to the users that are served, depending on the communication attributes such as their relative distance from the concentrator.

For example, an increase in data density in a given time can be communicated to a node, placed geographically near a concentrator, by the use of 256 QAM, using the same busy RF bandwidth and almost the same capacity of the transmitter that the transmission of a signal containing a lower data density to a node, placed geographically in the marginal area of the radiation pattern of the concentrator, through the use of 4 QAM. The transmission of a higher density of data to a nearby node, without the need for more power, is achieved partly because of the diminished effects of signal attenuation, and therefore a higher signal-to-noise ratio related to a power layer given to the near node, "in comparison to the far node, the higher signal / noise ratio in the near node can usually support a higher information density, however, regardless of the transmission density finally established, when using a Variable-speed modem might be useful to initially synchronize the system using a lower order modulation and then switch to a higher order modulation for a given node.

The link handling information, such as the control signals that adjust the aforementioned information density, and / or the error correction information, may be multiplexed as control information in the data sequence communicated by the modem. For example, the control information may include multiplexed filtering and error correction information, for example the direct error correction (FEC) data included in the data stream. Of course, any number of methods can be used to perform link handling and error detection / correction, by using mutiplexed information through the data stream communicated by a modem of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the individual antenna elements are configured in a number of layers. These layers can simply be an identified group of antenna elements, or they can be a physically delineated arrangement of antenna elements. Regardless of the physical relationship between them, a layer of antenna elements includes any number of antenna elements having substantially non-superimposed radiation patterns. An embodiment including three vertical layers of antenna elements is illustrated in FIGURE 2C. Each layer of the concentrator is preferably arranged to provide substantially the same pattern of far-field radiation. However, antenna elements of different layers are preferably adapted to provide simultaneous communication in a channel, or channels, different from antenna elements having radiation patterns with overlap. For example, an antenna element of the first pike can communicate through the use of a first frequency band, while an antenna element of a second ply is communicated through the use of a second frequency band. Likewise, the antenna element of the first layer, although using the same set of channels as an antenna element of the second layer, can be communicated by means of a specific channel of the group, while the antenna element of the second layer can be communicated by means of a specific channel of the group. layer communicates through a different channel. The use of these different frequencies offers a convenient means, by means of which additional communication capacity can be reserved in a defined geographical area.

Of course, the concentrator is fully scalable and can include a number of layers, different from those illustrated. The present invention can use any number of layers, including any number of antenna elements. For example, when a higher communication density is not required, a single layer of antenna elements can be used to provide omnidirectional communication from the concentrator 101. Likewise, two layers can be used, each including only one antenna element, to give greater capacity in a limited area defined by the radiation pattern of the antenna elements.

Moreover, it is subsequently possible to increase layers to the concentrator, as discussed above in relation to the increase to individual antenna elements. For example, when it is determined that a concentrator including any combination of layers is insufficient to provide the required communication density, it is possible to increase antenna elements including any number of additional layers. Of course, when only a particular part of the area to which the concentrator serves requires increased communication density, the increased layers may include only that antenna element having a radiation pattern that covers the specific part that requires an increase. in the communication density.

Alternatively, the layers of antenna elements can be distributed to cover different areas of the radio communication coverage around the concentrator 101. These differences in radio communication coverage can be achieved, for example, by adjusting the different layers so that they have different amounts of radiation. descending slope "in relation to the vertical axis. The downward inclination of the layers can be achieved by the physical inclination of the individual antenna elements O by means of any number of techniques for beam orientation known in the art. In addition, the adjustment of the downward inclination can be carried out periodically, for example, dynamically during the operation of the antenna, by the inclusion of a mechanical adjustment, or by the aforementioned techniques for beam orientation.

In addition, it is possible to use antenna elements having different characteristics of the radiation pattern to provide the defined radio communication coverage areas mentioned above. For example, antenna elements used to provide communication in an area close to the hub can provide a radiation pattern having a wider beam, and therefore a gain lower than that of the preferred embodiment of the antenna elements before described. Likewise, the antenna elements used to provide communication in a more remote area of the concentrator can provide a radiation pattern having a narrower beam, and therefore a greater gain.

When the antenna elements of a layer have a descending slope or a different radiation pattern, the individual layers can be used to provide coverage patterns that form concentric circles. which combine to provide a substantially uninterrupted coverage of a previously defined area around the concentrate --- 101. Of course, only the individual antenna elements can be adjusted to have a downward slope or a different radiation pattern than that of the other antenna elements of the layer or concentrator. Any configuration can be used to provide a substantially homogeneous communication coverage, for example, there are geographic elements that interfere with the different radiation patterns. In the same way, this alternative embodiment can be used to compensate for any number of anomalies in the communication with near / far relation.

In FIGURE 2C it can be seen that the hub 101 includes an outdoor unit controller (ODU) 230, attached to each individual antenna element 200. The ODU controller 230 is attached to the RF modem 240 in the indoor unit controller (IDU) 250. Even though a connection is illustrated by 'separated from the ODU 230 controller to the modem 240 and to the CPU 260, it is necessary to appreciate that the communication between the ODU 230 controller and the IDU 250 controller can be carried out by means of the path that connects the modem 240 to the ODU controller and to the CPU 260. Likewise, the control information related to the operation of the ODU 230 controller can be generated by the modem 240, instead of the CPU 260, and therefore be communicated by means of a connection between the ODU 230 controller and the modem 240.

The ODU controller 230 includes the appropriate circuits to allow the various antenna elements of the hub 101 to communicate with the RF modem 240 at the correct intervals, so as to transmit or receive the desired signal. In one embodiment, the ODU controller 230 includes a time-controlled digital switch that operates in synchronization with the burst periods defined by the IDU controller 250. Preferably, the IDU controller 250 provides a selection pulse to the ODU controller switch 230 to create switching in synchronization with the burst periods defined by the IDU 250 controller. It is necessary to appreciate that the use of such a switch provides simple integration in the configuration of the antenna at low cost. However, if desired, any switching means synchronizable with the burst periods defined by the IDU 250 controller can be used.

The operation of the ODU controller 230 causes each individual antenna element to be in communication with the IDU controller 250, according to a previously determined rate of time in the communication sequence, ie, frames of the burst periods. This in turn causes each individual antenna element to be in communication with the modem 240 within the IDU controller 250. It should be appreciated that such switching results in time division multiplexing (TDM) of each antenna element to the modem 240 .

Of course, when the individual antenna elements provide bidirectional communication, a second connection can be made between the ODU 230 controller and the various antenna elements, such as those illustrated in FIGURE 8. Such a connection can be used to synchronize, example by means of the selection pulse discussed above, the circuits within the antenna elements in order to select between the transmission or reception circuits in a frame and / or correct burst period. By selecting the transmission and reception circuits, in combination with the switching of the ODU 230 controller, the antenna elements can be coupled to the modem 240 at the appropriate time to obtain bidirectional communication via the modem 240, which gives as a result the time division duplex ion (TDD) which is described in detail below in relation to a better way to put the invention into practice.

Moreover, in addition to controlling the TDD switching of the antenna elements, or alternatively, the connection between the antenna elements and the ODU 230 can be used for other control functions. For example, a control signal can be used by means of such a connection to dynamically adjust an antenna element for the specific frequency that has been determined to be the best for communication with a communication device during a burst period or a specific frame In a preferred embodiment, the CPU 810 provides a control signal to a tuner, for example to the up / down converters 892 and 893 within the antenna module 220, as shown in FIGURE 8. Such a control signal can be provided by the control processor for programming the synchronized phase interaction circuits, or by a synthesizing hardware, within the various antenna modules to select a specific frequency for the transmission and / or reception of the communicated information. In the same way a control signal can be provided to adjust the amplitude of a transmitted or received signal. For example, the tuners 892 and / or 893 may include adjustable amplification / attenuation circuits under the control of such control signal. It is necessary to note that the two control functions described above result in a method by which the various antenna elements can be configured - dynamically so that they communicate with the nodes of the system.

The IDU controller 250 includes a processor identified as CPU 260, an electronic memory identified as RAM 270, and an interface and / or router identified as interface / router 280. In RAM 270 a switching instruction algorithm is stored which gives the switching instruction or synchronization to the ODU controller 230. The RAM 270 may also function as a non-permanent memory for the information communicated by means of the modem 240 or interface / router 280. Similarly RAM 270 may also contain additional stored information, for example : correlation tables of the antenna element, link handling information, initialization instructions, modem configuration instructions, power control instructions, error correction algorithms, and other operating instructions that will be discussed later.

Although only one modem is shown in FIGURE 2C, it is necessary to observe that the concentrator system of the present invention is fully scalable to include any number of modems, depending on the information communication capacity that one wants to have in the concentrator. It is necessary to pay attention in FIGURE 7, in which the IDU controller of the present invention, adapted for TDD communication, is illustrated with two modems.

Modems 240 and 700 of FIGURE 7 have a similar configuration, include burst mode 720 and 721 controllers, QAM modulators 730 and 731, QAM demodulators 710 and 711, as well as channel direction control circuits, illustrated as the switches TDD 740 and 741. However, it should be noted that the burst mode controller 721 is synchronized with the burst mode master controller 720, as is the sync channel modulator 760. This burst mode controllers synchronization , illustrated as a control signal provided by the master controller of the burst mode 720, is to provide a means by which the burst periods, and therefore the communication frames, of the modems can be fully synchronized. that of the TDM commutator loo individual antenna elements. In the preferred embodiment, the synchronization clock is handled by the interface / router 280 and is derived from the bit sequence of the burst mode master controller 720. Of course, if desired, synchronization can be achieved by means other than use of a control signal provided by a burst mode master controller, for example by the use of an internal or external clock. One advantage of the synchronization of the various components of the hub is to limit the transmission and reception of each of the individual antenna elements to periods defined in advance, which allows a better reuse of the channels, as discussed in detail in connection with the best mode for carrying out the present invention.

It is necessary to understand that the sync channel modulator 760 offers a means by which the time-related information of the burst mode controllers can be modulated for input to the ODU 230 controller. It should be noted that in the preferred embodiment, wherein the CPU 260 provides the control signals to the ODU for the aforementioned control functions, the sync channel modulator 760 also includes the MUX 761 to send a multiplexed signal to the modulator 762.

Preferably, the signals of the various modems of the hub are imposed on different carrier frequencies, as illustrated by IFi of modem 240, and IF2 of modem 700. Similarly, the modulator of synchronization channel 760 imposes the control signal, including the time information of the burst mode and the control functions, in a correct IF. Subsequently these separate signals can be easily combined by the separator / combiner 750 for transmission via a unitary coupling to the ODU 230 controller. Of course the hub modems can use the same IF as a carrier if, for example, between the controller IDU 250 and the ODU 230 controller have multiple connections or a multiplex connection.

It should be noted that increasing capacity by adding several modems to the IDU 250 controller requires circuits in the ODU 230 controller, in addition to the switch that allows TDM access to a single data stream from one of the modems discussed above. Now we will pay attention to FIGURE 8, which shows the controller circuit that corresponds to the inclusion of several modems inside the IDU 250 controller.

It should be noted that the switches 870 and 871, and the separators / combiners 880, 881 and 882, in combination with the synchronizer 830 carry out the TDMA switching of the antenna elements, in relation to the individual modems, as described above. in relation to the use of a single modem. Also illustrated, in communication with the CPU 810, is the sync channel modulator 860 used to demodulate the burst mode control signal and various other control signals provided to the ODU by the illustrated unit connection. In the preferred embodiment, in which the control signals are transmitted from the IDU controller to the ODU controller, the synchronization channel modulator includes a MUX 861 in combination with the demodulator 862 to send the control information to the CPU 810, and the information of time to synchronizer 830. Of course, the sync channel modulator 860 can be omitted when multiple connections are used between the ODU and the IDU.

The switches 870 and 871 are adapted to send to the antenna elements a selection of the different data sequences provided by each modem, tuned by the tuners 840 and 841 at a common intermediate frequency. In the preferred embodiment discussed above, the module 220 of the antenna element is adapted to accept intermediate frequencies and convert them for transmission at the desired frequency by means of the horn antenna 210. In the preferred embodiment, the module 220 is adapted to accept a single IF. Therefore, the ODU controller 230 includes the tuners 840 and 841 to adjust the various intermediate frequencies of the different modems, here the IFi and IF2, to a common intermediate frequency Ifa. It should be noted that although a single bidirectional tuner is illustrated for each IF, if desired, a separate tuner can be used for the transmission and reception of the signal path, coupled to the bidirectional signal path by means of TDD switches. This configuration is discussed in detail below, in relation to the antenna module 220.

Although they are set to a common frequency, the signals from the modems are physically separated to make a switchable connection to the correct antenna element, by means of the combiners 880, 881, and 882, with the switches 870 and 871 under the control of the Synchronizer 830. It should be noted that, by controlling the switches 870 and 871, any antenna element can transmit any sequence of burst periods of any modem.

Although we already discussed the selection of the signal modulated by a modem especially in relation to the switches that operate under the control of a synchronizing circuit, it is necessary to observe that this function can be performed with any means. For example, the module 220 can be adapted to accept several intermediate frequencies. A variable tuner could be used in the module 220, for example through the use of synchronized phase circuits, to select a signal modulated by a specific modem from a composite signal by tuning a specific intermediate frequency under the control of the CPU 810 and the synchronization circuits 830. Of course, if desired, when tuners are used to discriminate between the different signals modulated by the modems, the tuners 840 and 841 can be eliminated, like the switches 870 and 871, and the 880, 881, and 882 signal combiners.

It should be noted that the use of short burst periods, such as those in the order of microseconds 3, requires that such a variable tuner be tuned to the desired frequency and quickly reach the ready state, in order to avoid a significant alteration of the signal. Consistent with this, the experiments have shown that the use of the aforementioned switching matrix is useful for selecting the different signals within the predicted burst periods.

In the preferred embodiment, each antenna element is adapted for bidirectional communication. Therefore, each antenna module 220 may include TDD switches 890 and 891 coupled to the synchronizer 830 to provide synchronous switching to the antenna element during transmission and reception of frames, as illustrated in relation to the antenna element 200.

Moreover, it is envisaged that the RF communication frequency of the system will be different from that of the IF used within the various components of the communication system, each antenna module 220 may also include a tuner to convert upwards and / or in a manner descending the IF to the desired RF for radio communication. The use of tuners to convert both the up and down signal, is illustrated in FIGURE 8 as the upstream converter 892 and the downstream converter 893. It should be noted that although a converter is illustrated both for the transmission and reception of route signal inside the antenna module 220, if desired a single bidirectional converter can be used. Of course, when a bidirectional converter is used, the TDD switches 890 and 891 can be eliminated to obtain the configuration discussed above in relation to the IF 840 and 841 tuners.

It is necessary to appreciate that it is possible to use a series of converters to perform the up and / or down conversion of the signal. For example, in the reference embodiment, where an intermediate frequency of 400 to 500 MHz and a radiofrequency of approximately 38 GHz are used, a one-stage converter for up and down conversion between the frequencies requires a significant filtering of the signal to discriminate between the various sidebands generated very close to the frequency in question. Therefore, it is preferable to do up or down conversion of the signal in stages, for example by an intermediate frequency of 3 GHz. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, the converters 892 and 893 include multiple stages of converters for the conversion ascending or descending signal between 400 to 500 MHz, 3 GHz, and 38 GHz.

It should be known that an intermediate frequency close to the radiofrequency can be used, thus eliminating the need for both the precise filtering of the signal and the multiple stage conversion described above. However, it should be appreciated that it is usually more economical to manufacture a suitable switching matrix for low frequencies than for high frequencies. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, an intermediate frequency is used which is much lower than the radiofrequency to be transmitted.

In the preferred embodiment, where EHF radiofrequency is used, data communication is carried out by fragmenting the available spectrum into discrete channels for frequency division multiplexing (FDM). In cases where it is used, for example 38 GHz, the available spectrum can be the 1.4 GHz spectrum between 38.6 GHz to 40.0 GHz. This 1.4 GHz spectrum can be subdivided into 14 channels of 100 MHz each. Of course, as discussed below in connection with the best mode for carrying out the present invention, other divisions of the available spectrum can be adopted which provide sufficient signal bandwidth to communicate the desired information.

In order to achieve full duplex using the FDD, as mentioned above, a single 100 MHz channel can be subdivided into a 50 MHz channel pair, thus obtaining a defined transmission channel (Tx) of 50 MHz and a reception channel (Rx) of 50 MHz. Of course, if desired, each channel of 100 MHz can be used in its entirety as a transmission or reception channel. 'Those who have knowledge of the technique can note that the use of the entire 100 MHz spectrum of a channel results in a half-duplex channel, since there is no spectrum in that channel to be able to reverse the transmission of information. However, as discussed below in relation to the best mode, the total duplex can be synthesized in a single channel through the use of TDD, in order to have a Tx and Rx frame within the channel.

Likewise, each Tx and Rx channel can be divided into 5 discrete subchannels of 10 MHz each, obtaining multiplexing by frequency division of the Tx and Rx channels of 50 MHz. Due to the aforementioned TDMA of each antenna element, each channel is divided into previously defined TDMA time segments. These TDMA time segments can be further segmented into protocol time segments; a protocol time segment with enough time to communicate a packet of formatted information to a predefined protocol. For example, each 10 MHz subchannel can be used to communicate three 10 Mbps Ethernet data packets in a TDMA time segment of 250 μsec, using 64 QAM. Alternatively, these subchannels can be used to obtain different data throughputs, such as an Ethernet data packet of 10 Mbps in a 250 μsec frame with phase shift manipulation (QPSK). Moreover, if desired, each Tx and Rx channel can be used as a single channel to travel the entire 50 MHz bandwidth, without frequency division.

FIGURE 3A shows an example of a 30 Mbps communication of the sub-channel per TDMA time segment formatted as three Ethernet data packets. Here the 250 μsec frame contains ol control header 300, followed by the security time synchronization field 301. The synchronization field is followed by the 10 Mbps LAN data pack 302 and the direct error correction data 303, which is followed by the security time synchronization field 304. Similarly, the synchronization field 304 is followed by the 10 Mbps LAN data packet and the direct error correction data 306, as well as by the field of security time synchronization 307. The synchronization field 307 is finally followed by a 10 Mbps LAN data packet and the direct error correction data 309, which is also followed by the 310 security time synchronization field. it should be noted that this example of 30 Mbps communication is only one embodiment of the composition of a signal within a single channel of the present invention. There are innumerable methods with which you can use the communications of the frequency spectrum indicated above. It should be understood that any such method may be used in accordance with the present invention.

In addition to information communication between processor-driven systems by means of hub 101, control functions may also be communicated between hub 101 and node 150. FIGURE 3A illustrates, as control head 300, an example of such control communications. Alternatively, the control functions can be communicated by means of a predetermined channel or subchannel of the FDM spectrum. These control functions may include requests for retransmission of a data packet, requests to adjust the amplitude of the transmitted signal, information on the TDM time allocation, instructions for adjusting the modulation density, or dynamic allocation of the resources of the concentrator. The use of such control functions is discussed below in greater detail.

The information communicated to the controller IDU 250 by means of the antenna elements, the concentrator 101 can be redirected by means of a central system, such as for example the central system 160 that is illustrated in FIGURE 6, and finally to other systems managed by processor. It is necessary to know that in a single concentrator 101 a plurality of such central system communication means can be coupled.

Alternatively, the information communicated to the IDU controller 250 can be redirected by the concentrator 101 by means of a previously selected antenna element, switched in communication with the controller 250, finally to be received by another processor-driven system. Paying attention again to FIGURE 6, this communication path is illustrated, for example, with network 110 in communication via hub 101 to network 120.

The longest geographical distances between two communication systems managed by processor can be linked through the use of several hubs. For example, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, hubs 101 and 630 are in communication via an air link via antenna elements. These two hubs can communicate information between any combination of processor-driven systems in communication with any hub.

It should be appreciated that the information received by the controller IDU 250 of the hub 101 can be redirected in various ways. In one embodiment, the controller IDU 250 correlates the communication by means of a specific antenna element 200, or by the burst period related thereto, as indicated by the control of the ODU 230 controller, with a communication path already defined. According to this method, the communication received by the controller IDU 250 in the antenna element 200a illustrated in FIGURE 2C, for example, can be routed by the controller IDU 250 via the antenna element 200b, as indicated in the table of correlation, or something similar, in RAM 270. Such a correlation table, or other correlation information, can be used by the IDU 250 controller to direct any communication received by means of a specific element, burst period, or hub channel 101. Such an embodiment is efficient when, for example, a processor-driven system, in communication with the concentrator 101 by means of the antenna element 200a, wishes to be in communication only with a processor-driven system, in communication with the concentrator 101 by means of the element 200b.

However, the correlation table described above may not be efficient when a processor-driven system wishes to be in communication via hub 101 with a plurality of systems handled by a different processor, or when a single antenna element is used by a plurality of systems managed by processor. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the information communicated via the hub 101 includes the routing information. Such information is preferably in the form of data packets that adhere to the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model. An example of the OSI routing information that can be used in this embodiment is the transmission control protocol (TCP) standard. However, it is necessary to understand that if desired, the present invention can use any addressing information indicating the destination of a received data packet, regardless of whether or not it adheres to the OSI model.

It is necessary to understand that the modem 240 modulates and demodulates the communication between the antenna elements and the IDU controller 250. Therefore, the RF communication received in any antenna element can be stored as digital information in RAM 270. The interface / Router 280 may use predetermined segments of the information contained within the digital information, such as that stored in RAM 270, to determine the routing of the received communication. In the preferred embodiment, the routing information is provided by the network layer of a data packet that adheres to the OSI model. Such information could be, for example, contained within each LAN data packet illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Once the correct routing has been determined by using the information contained within the information communicated, the digital information can be redirected by the hub 101 through the central system 160 or by means of an antenna element by modem 240. It should be understood that, due to the use of TDMA, the digital information can be stored in RAM 270 until the ODU 230 controller couples the correct antenna element, as determined by the routing information, to the IDU 250 controller, and thus provides the route necessary for communication.

Once the concentrator 101 of the present invention has been described in detail, we will now turn our attention to FIGURE 4 in which the node 150 is best illustrated. In a preferred embodiment, the node 150 is formed by two main components, the outdoor unit 410 and the indoor unit 450, as shown in FIGURE 4.

The outdoor unit 410 includes the antenna 420, the module 430 and the modem 440. When EHF is used, the antenna 420 is preferably a parabolic dish antenna that provides approximately 42 dB of gain with a communication lobe of approximately 2 degrees. Module 430, like the module 220 mentioned above, is a synthesized millimeter wave front module that receives and transmits 38 GHz RF by means of antenna 420 converted to an IF in the range of 400 to 500 MHz for communication with the RF modem 440. Preferably, the module 430 includes the different TDD tuning and switching elements illustrated in FIGURE 8, in relation to the module 220. However, it should be understood that any number of configurations of the components is acceptable. , for use in the module 430, since they are in the module 220. It should be noted that the illustrated link between the CPU 460 and the module 430 can provide a signal that controls the synchronized switching of the TDD switches, according to a table TDD of a related hub. Modem 440 can be a variable speed modem, with fixed baud rate and a variable density of bits per symbol, corresponding to the use of a variable speed modem used in a related hub. Of course, the attributes of the antenna and node module 150 may be different from those previously established, when, for example, a different carrier frequency or beam pattern is desired.

The indoor unit 450 includes the CPU 460, the RAM 470 and the interface 480. It should be understood that the indoor unit 450 and the unit 410 are coupled so that the information received by the antenna 420 as RF energy is communicated to the unit 450 interior The interface 480 provides data communication between the indoor unit 450, and therefore the node 150, and the processor-driven system co or for example the LAN 490 illustrated in FIGURE 4. Moreover, the 480 interface formats the communication of data to be compatible with the system handled by coupled processor. If for example the LAN 490 is coupled to the node 150, the interface 480 can both send and receive Ethernet data packets when the LAN 490 uses a communication protocol compatible with Ethernet. However, when the node 150 is coupled to a single computer, it may be useful for the interface 480 to provide the asynchronous reception / transmission protocol. Those of skill in the art should appreciate that the interface 480 may include several communication protocols within a single embodiment, the user being able to select, or individual modules may be included within the controller 450, according to the needs.

The RAM 470 is coupled to both the interface 480 and the CPU 460. When TDM is being used in the hub 101, the RAM 470 can store the information received in the node 150 via the interface 480, while waiting for the transmission to the hub 101. The RAM 470 may also contain additional saved information, for example initialization instructions, and link handling information, such as instructions for j-modem configuration, instructions for power control, and instructions for correcting errors, which are discussed in detail later.

Once the concentrator 101 and the node 150 of the present invention have been described in detail, we must now describe the interaction of these elements. As discussed above, RAM 270 of hub 101 and RAM 470 of node 150 may include instructions for the operation of CPUs 260 and 460, respectively. These instructions may include, for example, a method for programming the hub 101 and the node 150 for communication, and a method for handling the link, including correcting communication errors.

In addition, both the RAM 270 and the RAM 470 can temporarily store the information communicated by means of the retransmission device, in case of detecting an error in the transmission. Transmission errors can be detected by CPUs 260 and 460 by several methods. One such method well known in the art is the transmission of the error detection information that accompanies the packets of the transmitted data. This method is defined in the data link layer of the aforementioned OSI model.

Attention is now directed to FIGURES 3A and 3B, in which each of the three illustrated data packets includes the sending of error correction information (FEC). It should be appreciated that the FEC information may include a summary indication of the contents of the data packet. associated, using means co or sum of verification, an indication of parity, or similar. This summary indication can be generated by the transmitting CPU, CPUs 260, or 460, or it can be integrated into the transmission protocol used by processor-driven systems, such as data packets that are switched off to the Ethernet protocol. Regardless of its origin, this information can be used to correct errors in the transmitted data and subsequently correct the error, for example by requesting the retransmission of the affected data packets.

As discussed above, both the RAM 270 and the RAM 470 store the information communicated in readable form for the 260 and 460 CPUs, respectively. Therefore, the CPUs 260 and 460 can use predetermined segments of the information contained within the digital information in RAM 270 and RAM 470, respectively, to detect communication errors, for example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE. 3A, the receiving CPU can generate a summary indication of the contents of each LAN data packet stored in the RAM and compare it against the FEC information related thereto.After having determined a difference between the two summarized indications, the receiving CPU can request the retransmission of the LAN data packet by means of the sending CPU.

However, in a preferred embodiment, the FEC information includes data redundancy in the data stream, using special encoders. When detecting an error in the transmission, the decoders available in the receiver site can be used to make the error correction of parts of the data sequences. This error correction of the encoded redundant data can correct transmitted information that includes up to a certain percentage of errors in the transmission. Preferably, the FEC information thus used is a block code, such as the FEC Reed-Solomon protocol.

For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3B, the receiver CPU can decode the information transmitted within the FEC data packet and compare this information against the content of each ATM data packet stored in RAM. Upon detecting a transmission error by means of such a comparison, the receiving CPU can correct the ATM data packet using the redundant data encoded in the FEC data packet. Of course, when the transmission of the data packet is affected to the point of being beyond correction using the redundant data encoded from the FEC data packet, then if desired, the retransmission of the data packet can be used.

As discussed above, a predetermined sub-band of a communication channel can be used for the transmission of control functions, such as the aforementioned retransmission request, or other control functions, such as adjustment of the power layer and the adjustment of information density. Alternatively, the control functions can be included in each TDM burst transmission, such as for example the control head 300 that is illustrated in FIGURE 3A, or the control channel block 363 that is illustrated in FIGURE 3B. For example, the corresponding CPU will detect the retransmission request present in the predetermined control function sub-band or in the control head, and will respond with the retransmission of the requested LAN data packet.

Of course, the aforementioned error correction method can be omitted, if desired, if the transmission of information is performed without error or if the error correction of the transmitted information is handled by any other means. Moreover, if the EDM is not used and it is not desired to correct the errors by means of the retransmission of the information, the storage of the communication information in RAM 270 and RAM 470 can be omitted.

The preferred embodiment also includes a link maintenance algorithm for monitoring communication parameters, such as communication errors related to specific nodes 150 in RAM 270 of the hub. In determining the existence of unacceptable communication parameters, such as an unacceptable error rate, determined by comparison with a previously determined acceptable error rate, the CPU 260 can instruct the node 150 to adjust the transmission capability of the communication to In order to achieve an acceptable error rate or to adjust the signaling layer M-ary QAM (that is, adjust the number of bits per symbol, hereinafter referred to as the QAM index) to which the information is transmitted. Of course the CPU 260 can also provide control signals to the different QAM modulators related to the concentrator, in order to obtain the correct modulation / demodulation of the signal communicated to the node. As before, these control functions related to link maintenance can be communicated between the CPU 260 and the CPU 460, by means of the designated control function sub-band or a control header.

Upon detecting a control instruction to adjust communications, the CPU 460 provides the relevant component with the necessary instruction. For example, as discussed above in relation to the concentrator, the CPU 460 can make the module 430 adjust the transmit power or can cause the modem 440 to adjust the QAM index, depending on the attribute affected or the transmitted control information. by the concentrator.

For example, the CPU 460 can output a control signal to the tuner within the antenna module 430. Such a control signal can be provided by the control processor to program the synchronized phase circuits, or the synthesizer hardware, into the antenna module. to select a specific frequency for the transmission and / or reception of the information communicated. In the same way, a control signal can be provided to adjust the amplitude of a transmitted or received signal. For example, tuners within module 430, such as those illustrated in module 220 in FIGURE 8, may include adjustable amplification / attenuation circuits under the control of such a control signal. These attributes, as well as the adjustment of the information density of the communicated data, can be done by the node in response to a determination node in the concentrator and communicated by means of a control channel, or they can be done by means of of an algorithm in the node. It should be noted that the adjustment of some attributes made by the node may require a corresponding adjustment in the hub, as with the adjustment of the QAM index or the channel. Therefore, in such situations the node can communicate control functions to the concentrator.

It should be appreciated that it may be necessary to make a periodic adjustment of the communication parameters, even when an initialization algorithm has been used, such as the one detailed below, to correctly initialize such communication parameters, due to the presence of anomalies that affect communication. For example, even though an initial QAM index and the transmission power layer could have been selected during the initialization of the communication, there are several atmospheric conditions such as rain, which can cause a significant attenuation of the signal. It is therefore useful to monitor the communication parameters in order to make a compensation of the settings because of the presence of such anomalies. It should be appreciated that the supervision of communication parameters and communication control functions may be from a node to a hub, when such node has detected unacceptable communication attributes.

In addition to storing the communication information and related link maintenance algorithms, in the preferred embodiment, the RAM 470 is used to store the instructions that the CPU 460 will use in the operation node 150. Such instructions may include channels in the spectrum available that will not be used by the node 150, by the communication windows available for communication between the node 150 and the hub 101 because of TDM, and the synchronization information, such as the time of the frames and the delay compensation of propagation, in order to allow TDM and / or TDD communication. Moreover, the RAM 470 can also store the instructions that will be used by the CPU 460 for the dynamic allocation of the concentrator resources, such as the aforementioned channels available for communication and for the communication windows, or burst periods, as will be discussed later.

It should be appreciated that although in the preferred embodiment the antenna elements of the concentrator 101 and the antenna 420 of the node 150 are preselected to use narrow beams, the environments in which it is possible to use the invention may include a physical topology that causes the reflection of the signals transmitted. Such reflections are prone to cause multiple path interference in the communication between the node 150 and the hub 101. Therefore, the RAM 470 includes an initialization algorithm as part of the aforementioned communication instructions. Of course, such an initialization algorithm may be stored in a processor-driven system in communication with the node 150, in order to obtain the same results, if desired.

The initialization algorithm operates in conjunction with a similar algorithm stored in the hub 101. As with the initialization algorithm of the node 150, the initialization algorithm used by the hub 101 may alternatively be stored in a processor-driven system in communication with the concentrator 101 to achieve the same results. The initialization algorithm of the concentrator 101 operates to cause the node 150 to transmit a predetermined signal by the available spectrum to allow the tracing of the communication parameters, such as the strength of the signal, as it is received in each antenna element. of the concentrator 101. This information can then be used by the present invention to determine the most suitable individual antenna elements for communication between the node 150 and the concentrator 101. This in turn determines the time of the communication windows, or burst periods, available for node 150 according to the TDM of these antenna elements. This time information can be stored in the RAM 470 so that the CPU 460 can allocate the time to the transmission by the antenna 410 to synchronize the switching of the antenna elements, by means of the ODU 230 controller. Of course, it could not result It is useful to use such initialization algorithms when, for example, there is no concern of interference by multiple route or common channel. Therefore, if desired, it is possible to omit the use of such initialization algorithms.

Furthermore, when a plurality of nodes are in communication with the hub 101, there is the possibility of interference by common channel because of the communication between several nodes. Therefore, in each of such nodes the initialization algorithm discussed above can be driven, wherein the concentrator 101 stores the communication parameters of each node. Subsequently, the concentrator 101 can determine the possibility of interference by common channel between several nodes 150 and limit the communication in each of said nodes 150, in a subset of the available spectrum, that is, assigning different channels or different burst periods to each one such node 150. In addition, this information can be used in the dynamic allocation of the concentrator resources for use by a specific node. This dynamic allocation may involve the temporary allocation of channels or burst periods, previously assigned to a first node, to another node of such nodes at times when they are sub-utilized by the first node.

The information of the communication parameters of each node can be used to determine the initial QAM index, available with a variable modem, as discussed above, to be used for a specific node. The determination of the initial QAM index can be made based on the power of a specific signal that provides a correct carrier / noise index (C / N) for a specific QAM index. For example, it has been found that a C / N index (BER = 10 ~ 6) of 11 dB is sufficient to sustain a modulation of 4 QAM. Similarly, it has been found that a C / N index (BER = 10-6) of 21.5 dB is sufficient to sustain a modulation of 64 QAM.

Of course, since the signal strength is attenuated with distance, the determination of the QAM index can alternatively be made by measuring the propagation delay of the transmitted signal, and therefore the distance from the hub to the node. In the preferred embodiment, the propagation delay and therefore the distance between the node and the concentrator is determined by initially synchronizing the node according to the frame time set by the concentrator.

Subsequently, the node transmits a shorter burst during a predetermined time segment. The frame time of the concentrator compensates for this transmitted burst, by means of the propagation delay time. The concentrator uses this compensation to calculate the propagation delay, and therefore the distance of the concentrator, in relation to the transmitting node. Subsequently, a specific propagation delay or distance can be related to the selection of a specific QAM index for the node.

Regardless of how the determination is made, the selection of a maximum QAM index for a specific node allows a more efficient use of the available spectrum, increasing the density of information to those nodes that have adequate communication attributes. This greater density of information is possible, for example, for nodes located near the concentrator, without an increase in transmission power, compared to a less dense information communication to the nodes located far from the concentrator.

Attention is now directed to FIGURE 5 in which the preferred embodiment of the initialization algorithm of the concentrator 101 is illustrated. Although a single interaction of the initialization program is illustrated it must be understood that the initialization program can be repeated for each node in communication with the hub 101 to create a data set that reflects the communication attributes of each node in relation to the hub 101.

The counter of the antenna element N is initialized in step 501. It should be noted that the counter of the antenna element N can be used by the initialization program to refer to the number of individual antenna elements N included in the configuration of the antenna element. 101 concentrator antenna Subsequently, in step 502, the counter of the antenna element N is increased by one.

In step 503, the initialization program transmits a control signal via the antenna element N, requesting a node to transmit a predetermined sample signal. It should be understood that the transmission of the control signal is directed towards a predetermined node. The node can be selected from the data set of the nodes known to be in communication with the hub 101, or it can be selected by input from the operator, such as a control signal from a node, or it can be determined of the responses to a signal emission in conjunction with the concentrator 101.

In step 504 the initialization program monitors the antenna element N for a predetermined period of time. It should be understood that the amount of time that is monitored from the antenna element is predetermined which is the amount of time adequate to receive the signals from the node, sufficient to cause multi-path interference. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined amount of time to monitor the antenna element N is the time needed for a complete TDM cycle through all the antenna elements N of the concentrator 101.

In step 505 it is determined whether a predetermined sample signal was received by the antenna element N, within the predetermined monitoring time. If no such signal is received, then it is assumed that the antenna element N is not in communication with the node for which the initialization information was sought. Therefore, the initialization program proceeds to step 509 to determine if all antenna elements are being monitored. If this is not the case, the program returns to step 502 and increases the indicator of the antenna element to monitor other antenna elements.

It should be understood that the transmission of a control signal and the subsequent monitoring of a sample signal can be repeated with a single antenna element N. The repeated interactions in the antenna element N can be used to have a more accurate sample, by the statistical analysis of several results, ignoring or minimizing the anomalous results caused by substitution factors.

However, if a sample signal is detected in the antenna element N, the initialization program goes to step 506 and determines the propagation delay of the signal transmission of the node. It should be understood that by knowing the transmission time of the control signal of the antenna element N, and the time of reception of the signal shown in the antenna element N, the initialization program can determine the propagation delay of a signal transmitted from the node to the concentrator 101. Furthermore, by increasing the accuracy of this determination, the initialization program may analyze several transmissions, as discussed above.

The initialization program also determines the signal strength of the sample signal received in the antenna element N in step 507. It should be understood that the signal power information is useful for determining the individual antenna elements of the concentrator 101 which are most desirable for use in communication between the hub 101 and the node. Moreover, as discussed above, information on signal strength and / or distance, determined by the initialization program, can be used to select a QAM index that provides the maximum possible communication of information density to a specific node . It should be appreciated that, although the selection of such QAM is discussed here in relation to the initialization communication parameters, such determination can also be made dynamically by means of subsequent communications between the various nodes and the hub.

In step 508, the initialization program stores information determined in the previous steps in a data set related to the specific node that responds to the control signal. It should be understood that such stored information can be used by the hub 101, not only to initially allocate the individual channels and antenna elements for communication with the node, but also can be used to dynamically configure the communications between the devices, in the case of hardware failure or other event that causes communication interruptions.

In step 509 the initialization program determines if in the previous steps there was access to all the antenna elements N. If not, the initialization program returns to step 502 to increase the counter of antenna element N. If there was access to all the antenna elements, then the initialization program stops the operation for the selected node.

Having stored, in a data set associated with the node, the attributes related to the communication through each antenna element of the concentrator 101, the initialization program can then perform the statistical analysis of the data to determine communication parameters, such as as the primary and secondary antenna element, by means of which communication is carried out between a selected node and the concentrator 101. It should be appreciated that the information contained in the data sets, as the power of a high signal and a short propagation delay detected in an antenna element, indicates the probability of a direct air link between the node and the concentrator 101. As such, the initialization program may assign this antenna element for communication with the selected node. Because each antenna element is in TDM communication with the RF modem, this mapping also identifies the time of the communication windows between the node and the hub 101.As mentioned before, the layout of the communication characteristics can be repeated for each node. Therefore, the previous statistical analysis can also compare the communication attributes of other nodes, when allocating antenna elements for communication with a specific node. For example, if it is determined that an antenna element provides optimal communication between the hub 101 and more than one node, only the selected channels available in the spectrum can be assigned to each of those nodes. Or, as will be discussed below in relation to a better mode for carrying out the present invention, each of such nodes can be assigned different TDM bursts within a channel, within which communication can be performed. Alternatively, the initialization program may assign such an antenna element to only one such node and assign a secondary antenna element, possibly offering less than optimal communication, to another such node.

After determining the allocation of the antenna elements and channels for one of the nodes in communication with the hub 101, the initialization program transmits control signals to these other nodes. The control signal may include the information of the available channels for communication between a specific node, as well as the time information, to allow synchronization of the communication between the node and the TDM antenna element of the concentrator 101.

The time information provided by the hub may include the aforementioned compensation, which is determined during the initialization of the link, so that a node can anticipate the transmission of a burst period to the hub, or delay the reception of a burst period of the hub. concentrator, for a period of time sufficient to adjust the propagation delay of the signal. It should be appreciated that the inclusion of such compensation information in the TDM time information allows a maximum communication of information during a burst period. Of course, when maximum information communication is not desired, the weather information may not include the compensation information. Here, a period of delay can be included in the burst period, in which no information is transmitted, with sufficient duration to accommodate the propagation delay. However, it should be understood that such a method to compensate for the delay in the propagation of the signal implies a decrease in the output of information in order to accommodate the delay.

As discussed above, the control information may be communicated by the concentrator via a predetermined sub-channel used for control information, or may be included within a logical channel or control channel embedded in the communication data packets, as already commented. The node receiving such control information will store it in the RAM 470 for later use by the CPU 460. Of course when the hub 101 uses FDD, it is not necessary for the RAM 470 to include the time information related to the communication windows with the concentrator 101, and, therefore, such information can be omitted from the control information. Likewise, when the communication between the hub and the node is made only on a single channel, the information related to the channels available for communication can be omitted from this control information.

As mentioned before, this initialization information can also be used by the concentrator for the dynamic allocation of the concentrator resources to the nodes with which it is in communication. It should be understood that by monitoring the communication of information between the nodes and the concentrator, on a continuous basis, the concentrator can determine the utilization statistics of any of the nodes. In case it is determined that any such node is sub-using the concentrator resources available in the node, such as, for example, not transmitting information over a channel assigned to the node, the hub may change the allocation of such nodes. 'resources, or a part thereof, to another node. It should be appreciated that this change of allocation can be made through the use of the control signals that are discussed in detail later.

Once various embodiments of the operation of the present invention have been described in detail, a better contemplated method for practicing this invention will now be described. The above comments described both frequency division duplexing (FDD) and time division duplexing (TDD), as means by which a full duplex link between the hub and a node or subscriber is possible. It is contemplated that the best way to practice this invention is through the use of a TDD configuration, as described below. The best mode will be described in relation to FIGURES 7 and Experimentation has shown that the use of a single channel in each antenna element of the concentrator 101 that provides Tx and Rx TDD frames, such as tables 351 and 352 illustrated in FIGURE 3B, allows a desirable factor of reuse of the channels available. It should be understood that a cellular frequency reuse pattern of a plurality of concentrators of the present invention is provided. Such cellular pattern presents a greater complexity in the reuse of. individual channels, since the use of the channels of each concentrator must also take into consideration the use of the channels of the adjacent concentrators.

To minimize the possibility of interference by common channels, and to some extent interference by multiple routes, it is convenient to synchronize the. transmission _ and reception in each antenna element. For example, each antenna element of the concentrator 101 will transmit only during a predetermined Tx frame, and will receive only during a predetermined Rx frame. Likewise, each hub of a network of such hubs can be synchronized to transmit and receive only during the same predetermined Tx and Rx frames. 'It should be noted that the above schemes define a TDD communication system.

By means of the division of the spectrum available in discrete channels of 10 MHz each, there are convenient means by means of which the present invention can be put into practice. Preferably, each antenna element of the concentrator 101 is adapted to transmit and receive on a single 10 MHz channel, according to what the system defines. As described above, the antenna elements adapted for a specific 10 MHz channel can be distributed throughout the concentrator 101 in order to be able to reuse each defined channel.

In addition, each Tx and Rx box can be divided into discrete burst periods in order to make the TDMM utilization of each channel. Preferably, the Tx and Rx frames, each being 250 μsec, are divided into eight burst periods, as illustrated in FIGURE 3B, by means of which total Duplexing can be synthesized in sixteen such burst periods. As described above, the TDMA burst periods can be further segmented into protocol time slots; A protocol time segment is sufficient time to communicate a packet of formatted information to a predefined protocol. For example, each channel can be used to communicate two 53-byte ATM cells in a TDMA burst period using QAM.

It should be appreciated that the use of a 53-byte ATM cell is preferred, since the protocol includes a 5-byte header which in the present invention can be used for routing information, as discussed in detail below. In addition, the use of 53-byte cells offers a sufficiently compact data packet to have acceptable waiting periods when transmitting full-duplex voice or other signals sensitive to signal delay or waiting time.

A preferred embodiment of information formatting, within a TDMA burst period is illustrated as the burst 360 in FIGURE 3B. Here each burst contains ramp 361 followed by preamble 362. Preamble 362 is followed by a block CCH 363. Block CCH 363 is followed by ATM cells 364 and 365, which in turn are followed by block FEC 366. The FEC block 366 is likewise followed by a ramp 367.

It should be understood that in the TDMA burst period identified above, ramps 361 and 367 are time segments within the burst period to allow a transmitter to reach full power and gain deenergization without affecting the capacity to which the information of the transmitter is transmitted. message. The preamble 362 and the direct error correction block (FEC), as well as the ramp components, are indirect components of the system that are used to assist in the transmission of the information contained in the ATM cells 364 and 365. Specifically, the preamble 362 contains a dot pattern to resynchronize the symbol clock at the receiving site. The FEC 366 performs the detection and correction of errors of the information transmitted. The control channel (CCH) 363, as discussed above, is for communicating the control information of the system.

It should be appreciated that this example of information formatting is only one embodiment of the communication using TDMA burst periods. There are innumerable methods by which the burst periods indicated above of the Tx and Rx frames can be used for communication. For example, if desired, any of the above components can be removed, as can adding any number of different components. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated TDMA burst period format.

It should be appreciated that through the use of QAM, as discussed above, the information density of each ATM cell of burst 360 can be increased. For example, using two ATM cells, as illustrated in FIGURE 3B, with 4 QAM, one obtains a capacity of the time segment of 1/2 DSl. Moreover, this capacity can be decreased by using an increased modulation. Using 16 QAM a time segment capacity of 1 DSl is obtained; using 64 QAM a capacity of the time segment of 1 1/2 is obtained; and using 256 QAM a time segment capacity of 2 DSl is obtained. It should be understood that a single concentrator and / or antenna element can achieve any combination of these densities, through the use of the variable speed modem and the initialization algorithm discussed above.

It should be understood that a single antenna element can use the burst periods of each Tx frame and Rx to give TDMA per channel to several nodes located within the radiation pattern of the antenna element. For example, the burst periods 1 and 2 can be used by an antenna element for communication to a first node, while the burst periods 3 to 7 are used by the same antenna element for communication to a second node. Likewise, several different antenna elements can use a single Tx or Rx frame.

For example, a first antenna element may use burst periods 1 to 4 for communication to a first node, while a second antenna element uses burst periods 5 to 8 for communication to a second node.

It should be appreciated that the present invention can use the combinations of the aforementioned TDMA use of the burst periods, by means of a single antenna element and the distribution of the Tx and Rx frames between the different antenna elements. For example, an antenna element may use the burst periods 1 and 2 for the communication • TDMA to a first node and a second node, while a second antenna element may use the burst periods 3 and 4 for communication to a third node.

Although FIGURE 3B illustrates the balanced duplexing by the burst periods of eight one-way and eight return channels, it should be understood that the present invention can use any combination of round-trip channel distribution. Of course, when all burst periods are used in the forward or reverse direction, that channel already does duplexing by time division.

Experimentation has shown that the information reported by a system such as that of the present invention usually falls into one of three categories; that which is substantially fully balanced duplex communication, mainly downlink communication, and mainly uplink communication. Therefore, an embodiment of the present invention can fully satisfy these communication needs by utilizing any of the three duplexing schemes for a particular subscriber.

The first duplexing scheme is the channel distribution 50% forward / 50% in reverse of the burst periods described above in relation to the TDD. It should be appreciated that the 50% / 50% distribution is useful when a significant amount of information is communicating with uplink and downlink.

The "second duplex scheme is when approximately 94% of the burst periods is used to transmit information from the hub to the nodes (downlink), and the remaining 6% of the burst periods is used to transmit information at the address Inverse (uplink) Preferably, such a 94% / 6% duplex scheme is carried out by using fifteen of the sixteen burst periods illustrated in FIGURE 3B as downlink burst periods and using the remaining burst period as an uplink burst period.

The 94% / 6% distribution is useful when a significant amount of information is communicating with a downlink, and very little or no information is communicating with uplink. It should be appreciated that the present invention preferably maintains communication with 6% per inverse channel, even when the subscriber does not want information communication by reverse channel, since this small amount of bandwidth can be used by the system for the functions of link maintenance and control, such as those described above. For example, this 6% of the reverse channel communication can be used to request the retransmission of a data packet, for requests to adjust the amplitude of the transmitted signal, the TDM time information, the dynamic allocation of the resources of the concentrator, or it can be used to monitor communication attributes for periodic adjustments of QAM modulation.

The third duplexing scheme is when approximately 6% of the burst periods are used to transmit information from the hub to a node (downlink, and the remaining 94% of the burst periods are used to transmit information in the reverse direction ( uplink.) It should be noted that this scheme is simply the opposite of the abovementioned 94% / 6% scheme that provides information communication in the uplink direction.

Although it is possible to define the TDD frames in combinations other than the three combinations discussed above, as well as to define combinations of Tx and Rx frames for each of these various schemes including different numbers of individual burst periods, the preferred embodiment limits the schemes used to a predetermined number of combinations, each of which includes the same total number of burst periods. It should be appreciated that the three duplexing combinations mentioned above fully satisfy the information communication requirements that are normally presented. Moreover, when channels are reused in the system, it is useful to use a combined number of TDD schemes, each of which completes a communication frame per round-trip channel, with the same total number of burst periods. By limiting the number and time of such schemes, it is possible to simplify both the reuse patterns of the various channels in a single concentrator and the reuse patterns of the cellular frequency.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that it is possible to make changes, substitutions and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (1)

1. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS 1 A system for the communication of broadband information among a plurality of places, said system including: . a plurality of nodes, each node being related to a node antenna adapted for broadband communication in a frequency band of the millimeter wave frequency spectrum, said node antenna having a single communication beam predetermined to provide directional communication, said plurality of nodes including: a first node of said plurality of nodes, adapted to communicate by means of at least a first frequency band of the millimeter wave frequency spectrum; and - a second node of said plurality of nodes, adapted to communicate by means of at least a second frequency band of the millimeter wave frequency spectrum; Y a processor hub driven by processor, including: a plurality of concentrator antennas, each concentrator antenna having a predetermined communication beam to provide "directional" communication, wherein at least one of said plurality of concentrator antennas is switchably connected to an internal signal provided within said concentrator; a first antenna of the concentrator of said plurality of antennas adapted to communicate with said first node by means of said first frequency band of the millimeter wave frequency spectrum; Y a second antenna of the concentrator of said plurality of antennas adapted to communicate with said second node by means of said second frequency band of the millimeter wave frequency spectrum; Y 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second frequencies are equal. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second concentrator antennas are equal. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said concentrator is coupled to a central communications system. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the broadband access is provided between said concentrator and said coupled communication system. 6. The system of claim 4, wherein said central communications system includes an information communication link selected from the group consisting of: a public switched network; a cable communication network; a multiple connection for broadband data; and Internet. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said concentrator can be extended to provide additional directional communication, by coupling thereto of an individual antenna unit, said individual antenna becoming coupled to a concentrator antenna of said plurality of antennae of the antenna. concentrator. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein said concentrator also includes a first radiofrequency modem, said first modem providing said internal signal switchably connected to at least said concentrator antenna. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said hub further includes a second radio frequency modem, said second modem providing a second signal switchably connected to at least said hub antenna. 11. The system of claim 9, wherein said first modem is dynamically configurable to provide a variable information density within said internal signal. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the communication between some of said plurality of concentrator antennas and some of said plurality of nodes is sampled to identify at least one communication parameter. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said variable information density is dynamically configured as a function at least of said communication parameter. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein at least said communication parameter is selected from the group consisting of: an error rate of a reception signal; a signal / noise index a signal / interference index a power layer of a reception signal; a distance between said concentrator antenna of said plurality of concentrator antennas and said node of said plurality of nodes; Y a delay of signal propagation suffered in the communication, between said concentrator and said node of said plurality of nodes. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein said internal signal is divided by time to include a plurality of information bursts. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of information bursts includes at least one set of bursts of information per direct channel and one set of bursts of information per inverse channel. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein said set of bursts per direct channel and said set of bursts per reverse channel each includes a predetermined number of bursts as a function of reusing the frequencies in said hub. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein said predetermined number of bursts can be dynamically configured. 19. The system of claim 16, wherein said set of bursts per direct channel includes a different number of bursts than the set of bursts per reverse channel. 20. The system of claim 16, wherein said information per direct channel includes a predetermined percentage of said plurality of information bursts, and said bursts of information per inverse channel include the remaining percentage of said plurality of information bursts. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein said bursts of information per direct and inverse channel include a percentage of said plurality of bursts of information selected from the group consisting of: approximately 94% of the bursts of information per direct channel and approximately 6% of bursts of information per inverse channel; approximately 50% of the bursts of information per direct channel and approximately 50% of the bursts of information per inverse channel; Y approximately 6% of information bursts per direct channel and approximately 94% of information bursts per reverse channel. 22. The system of claim 1, wherein said switchable connection is achieved in accordance with a predefined regime for providing time division multiple access of said internal signal to hub antennas of said plurality of concentrator antennas. 23. The system of claim 22, which also includes; means for said hub to initially communicate with nodes of said plurality of nodes, according to a predetermined rate; and means for causing the attributes of said initial communication with nodes of said plurality of nodes to be stored in said hub. 24. The system of claim 23, wherein said predefined regime is determined at least in part as a function of said stored attributes. 25. The system of claim 1, wherein nodes of said plurality of nodes further include a radio frequency modem, said modem being coupled to said node antenna. 26. The system of claim 25, wherein said modem is dynamically configurable to provide a variable information density. 27. The system of claim 26, wherein said modem is adjusted to provide a particular information density when receiving a control signal from said hub. 28. The system of claim 26, wherein said variable information density includes the use of quadrature amplitude modulation. 29. The system of claim 25, wherein a signal from said modem is divided by time to include a plurality of information bursts. 30. The system of claim 29, wherein said plurality of bursts of information include bursts of information per direct channel and bursts of information per inverse channel. 31. The system of claim 30, wherein said bursts of information per direct channel include a predetermined percentage of said plurality of bursts of information, and said bursts of information per inverse channel include the remaining percentage of said plurality of information bursts. 32. The system of claim 31, wherein said bursts of information per direct and inverse channel are defined to include a percentage of said plurality of bursts of information selected from the group consisting of: approximately 94% of the bursts of information per direct channel and approximately 6% of bursts of information per inverse channel; approximately 50% of the bursts of information per direct channel and approximately 50% of the bursts of information per inverse channel; Y approximately 6% of information bursts per direct channel and approximately 94% of information bursts per reverse channel. 33. The system of claim 31, wherein said predetermined percentage can be adjusted dynamically. 34. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second frequency bands are within the range of 10 to 60 GHz. 35. The system of claim 1, wherein hub antennas of said plurality of concentrator antennas include a horn antenna corrected with hybrid mode lenses that provide approximately 32 dB of gain with a predetermined communication lobe of approximately 16 degrees, which operates within 10 to 60 GHz. 36. The system of claim 1, wherein nodes of said plurality of nodes include an antenna comprising a parabolic dish that provides approximately 42 dB of gain with a predetermined communication lobe of approximately 2 degrees, operating within 10 to 60 GHz 37. The system of claim 1, further including a plurality of processor hubs, wherein said plurality of hubs are arranged to provide a reuse pattern of the cellular communication frequency. 38. The system of claim 37, wherein one of the concentrators of said plurality of concentrators is in information communication by means of a link provided, at least in part, by an antenna unit of each of the concentrators of said plurality. of concentrators. 39. The system of claim 38, wherein said link provides broadband access between some of the concentrators of said plurality of hubs. 40. The system of claim 38, wherein said information communication link is used at least in part to provide a carry of information between two concentrators, at least, of said plurality of hubs. 41. The system of claim 37, wherein concentrators of said plurality of concentrators are in information communication by means of a link provided by a physical link interconnecting each of those concentrators of said plurality of concentrators. 42. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first set of antennae of the concentrator of said plurality of antennas adapted to communicate by means of at least said first frequency band of said plurality of frequency bands, each antenna of the concentrator of said first one being group, arranged to provide substantially directional communication of non-overlap. 43. A communication hub for communicating information between a plurality of geographically dispersed locations, said communication hub including: a first radio frequency modem providing a first signal; a plurality of concentrator antenna units, each concentrator antenna unit having a predetermined radiation pattern to make - a directional communication, one of said concentrator antenna units providing communication to a different location of said geographically dispersed locations, including said plurality of antenna units of the concentrator a first group having at least one antenna unit of the concentrator connected thereto; Y switching means for switchably connecting said first group to said first signal, said switching means providing said first multiple time division access group to said first signal. 44. The communication of claim 43, including, further; a second group having at least one concentrator antenna related thereto, wherein said first and second groups are not mutually exclusive; Y a second radio frequency modem providing a second signal, and said switching means also include means for switchably connecting said second group to said second signal, said switching means providing said second time division multiple access group to said second group. signal. 45. The communication hub of claim 43, wherein a first set of antenna units of the concentrator of said plurality of antenna units are adapted to communicate by means of a first frequency band of the millimeter wave frequency spectrum, and a The second set of antenna units of the concentrator of said plurality of antenna units are adapted to communicate by means of a second frequency band of the millimeter wave frequency spectrum. 46. The concentrator of claim 43, wherein said concentrator is adapted to accept the coupling of an individual antenna thereto, said individual antenna unit being coupled to an antenna of the concentrator of said plurality of antenna units of the concentrator. 47. The concentrator of claim 46, wherein said coupled individual antenna unit is arranged to provide directional communication to an area that was previously not within a radiation pattern of the composite antenna unit provided by said communication hub. 48. The concentrator of claim 46, wherein said coupled individual antenna unit is arranged to provide directional communication to an area that was previously already within a radiation pattern of the composite antenna unit provided by said communication hub, said individual coupled antenna unit adapted to provide increased communication capacity in said area. 49. The concentrator of claim 43, wherein said first signal is divided by time to include a plurality of information bursts. 50. The concentrator of claim 49, wherein said plurality of information bursts includes a set of bursts of information per direct channel and a set of bursts of information per inverse channel, each of said bursts of information being per direct channel and channel. Inverse defined to include a percentage of said plurality of bursts of information, which together represent 100%. 51. The concentrator of claim 50, wherein said forward channel and said reverse channel are selected from the group consisting of: approximately 94% of the bursts of information per direct channel and approximately 6% of bursts of information per inverse channel; approximately 50% of the bursts of information per direct channel and approximately 50% of the bursts of information per inverse channel; and approximately 6% of information bursts per direct channel and approximately 94% of information bursts per reverse channel. 52. The concentrator of claim 43, wherein said switchable connection is achieved in accordance with a predefined regime for providing time division multiple access of said first signal to said first group of antenna units. 53. The concentrator of claim 52, wherein said predefined rate is determined at least in part by an attribute of said communication provided by ones of said plurality of antenna units. 54. The hub of claim 43, wherein said first modem can be dynamically configured to provide a variable information density within said first signal. 55. The concentrator of claim 54, wherein said variable information density includes the use of quadrature amplitude modulation of an input signal. 56. The concentrator of claim 54, wherein said variable information density is dynamically configured at least in part as a function of an attribute of said communication provided by antenna units of said plurality of antenna units. 57. The hub of claim 56, wherein said attribute of said communication is selected from the group consisting of: an error rate of the reception signal; a signal / noise index of said communication; a signal / interference index of said communication a power layer of a reception signal; a distance from said communication; Y a signal propagation of said communication. 58. The concentrator of claim 43, wherein said concentrator is arranged to provide communication in a previously defined cell of a cell overlap pattern including a plurality of communication hubs. 59. The concentrator of claim 58, wherein said concentrator is coupled to at least one concentrator of said plurality of concentrators by means of a central communications system. 60. The concentrator of claim 59, wherein said central communications system is selected from the group consisting of: a public switched network; a cable communication network; a multiple connection for broadband data; and Internet. 61. The concentrator of claim 58, wherein said hub is in information communication with at least one hub of said plurality of hubs by means of an air link provided at least in part by an antenna unit of said plurality of antenna units. . 62. The concentrator of claim 43, wherein said frequency band of the millimeter wave frequency spectrum is within 10 to 60 GHz. 63. The concentrator of claim 43, wherein concentrator antennas of said plurality of concentrator antennas include a corrected horn antenna with hybrid mode lenses that provide approximately 32 to 38 dB of gain with a predetermined communication lobe of approximately 4 to 20 degrees, which operates within 10 to 60 GHz. 64. A system for providing information communication between a plurality of systems handled by a processor, including said system: a plurality of communication nodes, each node of said plurality of nodes adapted to be coupled to a processor-driven system, each node of said plurality of nodes also adapted for the communication of information by an air link, said communication of the information of node including a single beam directed toward a predetermined area; Y a processor hub driven by a processor, said hub adapted to communicate information with said plurality of nodes via an air link, said information communication of the hub including a plurality of beams, each directed toward a predetermined area. 65. The system of claim 64, wherein each node of said plurality of nodes is substantially permanently attached to a predetermined geographic location. 66. The system of claim 64, wherein said concentrator includes a plurality of antenna units, each antenna unit being of said plurality of antenna units adapted to receive radiofrequency communication. 67. The concentrator of claim 66, wherein said concentrator is adapted to accept coupling thereto of an individual antenna unit, said individual antenna unit being coupled to an antenna unit of said plurality of antenna units. 68. The system of claim 66, wherein the communication of information received by antenna units of said plurality of antenna units is routed for transmission in said hub by means of a processor. 69. The system of claim 68, wherein said received information communication is routed to a second communication hub. 70. The system of claim 68, wherein said received information communication is routed to at least one node of said plurality of nodes. 71. The system of claim 68, wherein said route is indicated by the information contained within said information communication. 72. The system of claim 68, wherein said route is indicated by the routing information contained within an electronic memory coupled to said processor, said routing information including correlation data sets of the antenna unit indicating a route for the communication of the information received by a specific antenna unit of said plurality of said antenna units. 73. The system of claim 66, wherein said radio frequency is a band frequency of about 1.4 GHz within 10 to 60 GHz. 74. The system of claim 66, wherein antenna units of said plurality of antenna units include a horn antenna corrected with hybrid mode lenses that provide approximately 32 to 48 dB of gain with a predetermined communication lobe of approximately 4. at 20 degrees, which operates within 10 to 60 GHz. 75. The system of claim 73, wherein antenna units of said plurality of antenna units include a communication module adapted to convert said radiofrequency to an intermediate frequency. 76. The system of claim 66, wherein said hub also includes a radio frequency modem, said modem being switchably coupled to antenna units of said plurality of antenna units. 77. The system of claim 76, wherein said modem is configurable to provide a variable information density within said first signal. 78. The concentrator of claim 77, wherein said variable information density is achieved at least in part by the use of quadrature amplitude modulation. 79. The concentrator of claim 78, wherein said variable information density can be configured at different times, said configuration being a function of an attribute of said communication provided by antenna units of said plurality of antenna units. 80. The system of claim 76, wherein said hub further includes a controller unit that includes a processor attached to an electronic memory and said switch, said processor also being attached to said modem, said processor controlling said switch, said switch joining said modem and said plurality of antenna units. 81. The system of claim 80, wherein said hub also includes an initialization algorithm stored in said electronic memory, said initialization algorithm causing said hub to initially communicate with nodes of said plurality of nodes, according to a predetermined rate , said initialization algorithm also causing the attributes of said initial communication together with the nodes of said plurality of nodes to be stored in said electronic memory. 82. The system of claim 64, wherein nodes of said plurality of nodes include an antenna unit, said antenna unit being adapted to receive radiofrequency communication. 83. The system of claim 82 wherein said antenna unit provides approximately 40 to 42 dB of gain with a predetermined communication lobe of approximately 2 degrees, within the frequency spectrum of 10 to 60 GHz. 84. The system of claim 82, wherein said antenna units include a communication module adapted to convert said radiofrequency to an intermediate frequency. 85. The system of claim 82, wherein nodes of said plurality of nodes also include a radio frequency * modem, said modem being coupled to said antenna unit. 86. The system of claim 85, wherein nodes of said plurality of nodes also includes a controller unit that includes a processor attached to an electronic memory and an interface, said processor also being attached to said modem. 87. The system of claim 85, wherein said processor executes an error detection algorithm, said detection algorithm analyzing predetermined parts of the information communicated to determine the existence of a communication error. 88. The system of claim 86, wherein said controlling unit of said nodes of said plurality of nodes controls the communication of information between said nodes of said plurality of nodes and said concentrator at least in part, according to an attribute of communication between said hub and said plurality of nodes. 89. The system of claim 86, wherein said interface includes when monkeys two different communication protocol standards for selectively coupling said node to said processor-driven systems. The system of claim 86, wherein said interface is removably attached to said controller unit. 91. The system of claim 66, wherein said hub is also adapted to join a central information communication system. 92. The system of claim 91, wherein a plurality of hubs are coupled to said central information communication system, said plurality of hubs being arranged to provide a reuse pattern of the cellular communication frequency. 93. The system of claim 66, wherein said hub is in information communication with a second hub to provide, at least, information communication between a node of said plurality of nodes and a second node in information communication with said second node. concentrator. 94. A system for providing an information communication link between a plurality of systems handled by a processor, said system including: a layer including at least one radio frequency antenna element, said antenna element of said layer providing communication in a predetermined substantially directional pattern, wherein said at least one antenna element includes a communication module adapted to convert said radiofrequency to a intermediate frequency; a radio frequency modem adapted to demodulate communication of information received in said plurality of antenna elements in discrete data sets, wherein said intermediate frequency is suitable for communication of information between said communication module and said radio frequency modem. a switch for temporarily coupling said antenna element of said layer to said modem; an electronic memory adapter for storing said discrete data sets, said electronic memory also being adapted to store a control algorithm; Y a processor, said processor being connected to said electronic memory and said switch. 95. The system of claim 94, wherein said layer includes a plurality of said antenna elements, each antenna element of said plurality being arranged such that said predetermined substantially directional pattern does not substantially overlap. 96. The system of claim 94, also including a plurality of said layers. 97. The system of claim 96, wherein the antenna elements of said plurality of layers are arranged such that said predetermined communication patterns of said antenna elements substantially overlap. to increase the capacity of information communication. * 98. The system of claim 94, wherein said processor controls the operation of said switch, in accordance with said control algorithm stored in said electronic memory. 99. The system of claim 94, wherein said system is adapted to be joined at least to a central information communication system. 101. The system of claim 94, wherein the communication of the received information at least said antenna element is routed into said system by means of said processor, said route being indicated by the information contained within said information communication. 102. The system of claim 94, wherein the communication of the information received in said at least said antenna element is routed into said system by means of said processor, said route being indicated by the routing information contained therein. electronic memory, said routing information including a set of correlation data with the antenna element indicating a route for communication of the information received by a specific antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements. 103. A method for communicating information between a plurality of physically separated processor-managed systems using a plurality of communication nodes that provide directional communication in a predetermined lobe directed towards a communication hub having a plurality of antenna units, said method including The steps of: joining each of the nodes of said plurality of nodes to systems of said plurality of systems; directing an antenna of each node so that as a result said predetermined lobe is operably aligned with said hub; transmitting information of a selected system of said plurality of systems by means of a node coupled to a predetermined antenna unit of said plurality of antenna units of said concentrator; receiving said information transmitted from said selected system of said plurality of systems in said concentrator, wherein said received information includes a signal that is divided by time to include a plurality of bursts of information assigned to a reverse link, wherein said plurality of bursts of information per reverse link correspond to a plurality of information bursts assigned to a forward link, and in which the allocation of said, r? phages of information to said direct link and said bursts of information assigned to said reverse link of dynamically adjust; Y Routing said received information to at least one system of said plurality of systems by means of said concentrator. 105. The system of claim 104, wherein the allocation of said portion of information bursts to said forward link and said portion of information bursts to said reverse link includes a percentage of said plurality of information bursts selected from the group consisting of : approximately 94% of the bursts of information per direct channel and approximately 6% of bursts of information per inverse channel; approximately 50% of the bursts of information per direct channel and approximately 50% of the bursts of information per inverse channel; Y approximately 6% of information bursts per direct channel and approximately 94% of information bursts per reverse channel. 106. The method of claim 103, wherein said step of transmitting information of a system selected from said plurality of systems by means of a coupled node includes the substeps of: receiving said information from said coupled system of said plurality of systems in said coupled node; storing said received information in an electronic memory in said node; format said received information in a form suitable for transmission to said concentrator, said formatted information including the routing information indicated in at least one system of said plurality of systems to receive said information. 107. The method of claim 103, wherein said step of receiving the information includes the use of a radio frequency modem adapted for variable information density modulation. 108. The method of claim 107, wherein said variable information density modulation includes the use of quadrature amplitude modulation. 109. The method of claim 107, wherein said step of receiving information from a selected system of a plurality of systems in said hub includes substeps of storing said received information from an electronic memory in said hub. 110. The method of claim 109, wherein said routing step of said received information to at least said system indicated by said routing information, includes the sub-step of reading the routing information of a predetermined location within said electronic memory containing said information received. 111. The method of claim 110, wherein said routing step of said received information to at least said system indicated by said routing information also includes the sub-step of transmitting said information stored in said electronic memory by means of the central communication system of information attached to said hub. 112. The method of claim 110, wherein said routing step of said received information to at least said system indicated by said routing information also includes the sub-step of transmitting said information stored in said electronic memory to a node of said plurality of nodes. , said node being linked to at least said system indicated by said routing information. 113. The method of claim 103, wherein said routing step of said information received at least in said system includes the sub-step of determining a route of the information stored within said hub. 114. The method of claim 103, further comprising the step of initializing said communication hub for communication of information with nodes of said plurality of nodes, said initialization step including the substeps of: determining the communication attributes between said hub and each node of said plurality of nodes; Y allocating the available resources to said concentrator to be used by each node of said plurality of nodes, based at least partially on said determined attributes of communication. 115. A system for providing broadband information communication among a plurality of processor-driven systems, including such systems: a first communication node coupled to a first processor-driven system, said first node including: a communication unit including an antenna, a first radio frequency modem, and a first communication module joined together, said antenna adapted to receive radiofrequency communication in the extremely higher frequency spectrum; Y a first controller unit including a processor linked to a first electronic memory and an interface, said processor also being linked to said first modem, said interface being adapted to be joined to a processor-driven system; a second communication node linked to a second processor-driven system, said second node including: a communication unit that includes an antenna, a second radio communication modem, a second communications module connected to each other, said antenna being adapted to receive communication by radiofrequency in the extremely higher frequency spectrum; Y a second controller unit including a processor attached to a second electronic memory and an interface, said processor also being attached to said second modem, said interface being adapted to join a processor-driven system; a communication hub adapted for communicating information with said first node and said second node, said hub including: a plurality of antenna elements, each antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements adapted to receive radiofrequency communication in the extremely high frequency spectrum, each antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements having a hub communication module attached to it; a third radio frequency modem, said third modem being switchably linked to at least one module of said plurality of antenna elements by means of a first switch, said third modem being adapted to receive said communication from said hub module; a fourth radio frequency modem, said fourth modem being switchably linked to at least one module of said plurality of antenna elements by means of a second switch, said fourth modem being adapted to receive said communication from said hub module; a third controller unit including a processor linked to a third electronic memory and said first and second switch, said processor also being linked to said third modem. 116. The system of claim 115, wherein said hub is adapted to accept thereon the union of an individual antenna element, said individual antenna element being coupled to an antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements. 117. The system of claim 115, wherein antenna elements of said antenna elements include a group of antenna elements, said antenna elements including said group having radiation patterns substantially without overlap. 118. The system of claim 115, wherein the antenna elements of said antenna elements include a first group of antenna elements, and other elements of said antenna elements include a second group of antenna elements, and wherein the antenna elements of said antenna elements of said first group have radiation patterns that substantially overlap other elements of said antenna elements of said second group. 120. The system of claim 115, wherein said hub includes a plurality of radiofrequency modems, each modem of said plurality being switchably linked to at least one module of said plurality of antenna elements by means of a switch. 121. The system of claim 115, wherein each of said first, second and third modems is adapted to communicate information at various predetermined information densities. 122. The system of claim 121, in each of said first, second and third modems can be dynamically configured to select from said various predetermined information densities. 123. The system of claim 115, wherein said concentrator is also adapted to join a central information communication system. 124. The system of claim 123, wherein said central communications system provides information communication between a plurality of hubs, each hub of said plurality of hubs being arranged to provide information communication within a predetermined area substantially without overlap. 125, The system of claim 115, wherein said third controlling unit routes the communication of the information received by said concentrator for transmission by said concentrator, according to the information contained within said information communication. 126. The system of claim 115, wherein said third controller unit routes the communication r of information received by said concentrator for transmission by said concentrator, according to the information stored within said third controller unit. 127. The system of claim 115, wherein said extremely high frequency spectrum is a band of about 1.4 GHz to about 38 GHz. 128. The system of claim 115, wherein said hub communication module is adapted to convert said received extremely high frequency to a first intermediate frequency, and said first communication module is also adapted to convert said first intermediate frequency to a second frequency. intermediate. 129. The system of claim 128, wherein said first intermediate frequency is approximately 3 GHz. 130. The system of claim 129, wherein said second intermediate frequency is approximately 400 to 500 MHZ. The system of claim 115, wherein said antenna includes a parabolic dish that provides approximately 42 dB of gain with a predetermined communication lobe of approximately 2 degrees. 132. The system of claim 115, wherein antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements include a horn antenna corrected with hybrid mode lenses that provide approximately 32 dB of gain with a predetermined communication lobe of approximately 16 degrees. 133. The system of claim 115, wherein said first switch is controlled by said processor, according to a rate stored in said second electronic memory. 134. The system of claim 133, wherein said hub also includes an initialization algorithm stored in said third electronic memory, said initialization algorithm causing said hub to communicate with nodes of said first and second nodes, said initialization algorithm causing also that the attributes of said communication together with those of the first and second nodes are stored in said third electronic memory. 135. The system of claim 134, wherein said first controller unit of said first node controls the communication of information between said first node and said concentrator, at least in part, according to said regime and said communication attributes stored in said second node. electronic memory.