WO2014186624A1

WO2014186624A1 - Hybrid wired and wireless network communication system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2014186624A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/038269
Authority: WO
Inventors: Branislav Petrovic; David Barr; Ltzhak GURANTZ; Michail Tsatsanis; Zong L. Wu; Changwen Liu
Original assignee: Entropic Communications, Inc.
Priority date: 2013-05-15
Filing date: 2014-05-15
Publication date: 2014-11-20

Abstract

A hybrid wired and wireless communication network that advantageously utilizes the widespread spatial positioning of multiple wireless MIMO radio units coupled to a wired network backbone, such as a MoCA-based communications network, to create a virtual MIMO antenna that substantially improves the effective range and throughput of the hybrid communication network.

Description

H Α ^'Π WT ^'R FT V S S N ET WO K

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

(1 ) Technical Field

[0001] The disclosed method and apparatus relates generally to communication networks, and more particularly, some embodiments relate to systems and methods for enhancing the range and throughput of multiple wireless local network resources coupled through a wired local network.

(2) Background

[0002] A local network may include several types of devices configured to deliver subscriber services throughout a home, office, or other similar environments. These subscriber services include delivering multimedia data content, such as streaming audio and video data, to devices located throughout the location of the network. As the number of available subscriber services has increased and have become more popular, the number of devices being connected within each local network has also increased. With increasing devices delivering and accessing multimedia data content in such environments, the number and types of networks over which such content is shared has also increased. The increase in the number of services, devices, and networks increases the complexity of coordinating communication between network nodes. This increase also generally tends to increase the amount and types of data traffic carried on such networks.

[0003] The network of FIG. 1 is one example of a multimedia network implemented in a residence 101. In this example, a wired communications medium 100 is shown deployed in the residence 100. The wired communications medium might be a coaxial cable system, a power line system, a fiber optic cable system, an Ethernet cable system, or other similar communications medium. As one example of a wired communication medium, using a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) network technology, the communications medium 100 is coaxial cabling deployed within the residence 101. The systems and methods described herein are often discussed in terms of this example coaxial network application, however, after reading this descrip- tion, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand how these systems and methods can be implemented in alternative network applications as well as in environments other than a residence.

[0004] The network of FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of network nodes 102, 103, 1 04, 105, 106 in communication according to a communications protocol. For example, the communications protocol might conform to a networking standard, such as the well-known MoCA standard. In the example of FIG. 1 , the communications protocol specifies a packet based communications system. Nodes in such a network can be associated with a variety of devices. For example, in a system deployed in a residence 101 , a node may be a network communications module associated with one or more computers 109, 1 10. Such nodes allow the computers 109, 1 10 to communicate over the communications medium 100. Alternatively, a node may be a module incorporated into a television 107 or associated with a television 1 1 1 to allow the television 107,

1 1 1 to receive and display media streamed from one or more other network nodes. A node might also be associated with a speaker or other media playing devices that plays music. Set-top boxes 108 and other devices also may be configured to include sufficient functionality integrated therein to communicate directly over the communications medium 100. A node 104 might also be associated with a module configured to interface w ith a wide-area network service provider

1 12 through the Internet "cloud" 120, for example, to provide Internet access, digital video recording capabilities, media streaming functions, and/or network management services to the residence 101.

[0005] With the many continued advancements in communications technology, more and more devices are being introduced in both the consumer and commercial sectors with advanced communications capabilities. Many of these devices are equipped with communication modules that can communicate over a wired network (e.g., over a MoCA Coaxial Network) as well as modules that can communicate wirelessly with other devices. Indeed, many homes also have a wireless network, such as a Wi-Fi network that complies with one or more IEEE 802.1 1 standards. In some instances, it is advantageous for devices that communicate over the wired network to communicate over the wireless network as well. With such configurations, a "hybrid" device that is hardwired to the wired network can send information it received over the wired network to devices that are portable and that rely on a wireless network connection to communicate information. Similarly, the hybrid device can relay onto the wired home network information received from portable or other devices transmitting over the wireless network. [0006] For example, video content (such as a movie) may enter the home from the Internet over a cable modem. The cable modem, may then communicate with a set top box within the home over a MoCA network. In addition, the cable modem may be connected to a storage device that services the network by storing content to be distributed to devices within the home. That content may then be communicated to devices connected to Wi-Fi networks through any of the MoCA devices that can serve as a bridge between the wired and wireless networks.

[0007] In some cases, activity on a network is controlled by a Network Coordinator (NC). In such networks, the NC manages access to the shared communications medium and manages the "'quality-of-service" (QoS) of transmissions on the network. QoS generally refers to the reliability of access to the communications medium for devices attempting to transmit information on the network.

[0008] In one case, one of the network nodes is selected to perform the functions of the NC based upon a process defined by the communications protocol. For example, in a MoCA network, the first node to communicate over a communication medium will search to see whether any other node is already performing the functions of the NC. Being the first node, there will not be another node on the network performing such a search. Accordingly, the first node will become the NC and send a beacon signal indicating that status. When a second node does a similar search, the beacon from the first node will be detected by the second node. An admission process will occur between the nodes according to the admission procedures of the MoCA protocol. The result of the admission process will be the admission of the second node to the network. The NC also performs admission procedures as each other new node requests admission to the network. In one such case, after two or more nodes form the network, a protocol is used to select which node will continue to function as the NC by using a set of well-defined criteria.

[0009] In some networks employing an NC, the NC schedules network communications between network nodes using a Media Access Plan (MAP). The MAP is sent as a data packet. Such MAP data packets are sent on a regular basis. MAPs schedule all of the traffic on the communications medium 100. That includes scheduling the times during which nodes can transmit. Transmit times for data packets are scheduled by the NC in response to reservation requests (RRs) by the nodes of the network. The NC may also schedule control and management packets on its own (without receiving a RR from another node). [0010] Additional description of a MoCA-based wired network is set forth in U.S. Patent No. 8,41 1 ,565, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

[0011] Some proponents of wireless networks have claimed that the data communication needs of an entire household can be serviced entirely with a single Wi-Fi network. However this has not always proven to be practical, or even possible in some circumstances, liven with contemporary multiple-input multiple-output (M1MO) systems such as IB EE 802.1 I n, limitations on providing high enough data rates to increasing numbers of devices distributed throughout a home hinder many practical uses, such as reliable video distribution. Therefore, with the proliferation of devices, it is becoming more commonplace to use multiple networks to service the growing number of devices in a home or like setting. For example, in some environments, combinations of wired and wireless networks are used to service all the devices to which the user desires to connect. As a further example, some local network implementations use the combination of a MoCA network with multiple Wi-Fi networks to share content among a plurality of devices in a home. In such environments, the MoCA network can be used for longer runs, such as to run from the initial cable drop to each room or group of rooms in the environment. At each room (or group of rooms), a Wi-Fi network radio can be provided as an access point to communicate to the group of dev ices in that space.

[0012] FiG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home networking environment using a combination of a wired network and a wireless network. The example illustrated in FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 . but shows the second-story rooms of the residence 101 as having bridges 1 13, 1 14 between the wireless and wired networks. In particular, this example shows radio-based bridges 1 13, 1 1 4 that can communicate with a wired (e.g., MoCA based) communications network 100 and can also communicate wirelessly to wireless (e.g., IEEE 802.1 1 based) network devices. Examples of wireless network devices with which the bridges 1 13, 1 14 can communicate include televisions 221 -226. In this example, the bridges 1 13, 1 14 may also communicate with other wireless devices 230-234, which can include, for example, DVD players, gaming consoles, computers, smart phones, tablets, and other devices with wireless networking capabilities.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a bridge 300 between two networks having two separate subsystems, each communicating via a standard interface. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, network 1 is a MoCA network and network 2 is a Wi-Fi network. The transmit/receive chain for the MoCA network includes a transceiver 131 , appropriate amplification, including power amplifiers and low noise amplifiers 141 , and a diplexer 137. Likewise, the transmit/receive chain for the Wi-Fi network includes transceivers 132, 1 33, 134, amplifiers 142, 143, 144, a diplexer 138, and a filter 139. In this example, transceivers 132, 133, 134 include a 2.4 GHz transceiver and two 5 GHz transceivers. An interface 140 can be included to facilitate bridging between wired and wireless subsystems, such as by allowing communications between MoCA baseband 121 and Wi-Fi baseband 122. Examples of interface 140 can include RGMli, GMI1, ΜΠ, TMIl (double clocked Mil), PCI, and the like. Although not illustrated, the bridge 300 can also include additional communication interfaces to communicate with devices through means other than via the associated networks.

[0014] MIMO (Multiple-In Multiple Out) is a known technique in radio networks, particularly Wi-Fi radio networks, which uses multiple transmit and receive antennas to increase data throughput capacity by means of multiple spatial channels. A MIMO system transmits multiple data streams over multiple antennas which can be demultiplexed when received by multiple antennas, and exploits the spatial diversity provided by spaced antennas. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the basic concepts of MIMO in a Wi-Fi network configuration. Transmit data Tx comprising a sequence of bits b₃b₂bi, is sent through a data splitter 400, which provides separate bit streams b₃, b₂, b] to two or more transmitters 402i-402„ each coupled to corresponding antennas 404]-404„. The separate radio signals propagate through a wireless channel 406 to two or more receiver antennas 408i-408„ and corresponding receiver modules 410i-410„. A vector signal processor 412 combines the separate received bit streams into the original sequence of bits b₃b₂bi as received data Rx.

[0015] Another capability of a MIMO system involves the use of the system's multiple transmit and receive antennas for "beamforming". Beamforming or spatial filtering is a signal processing technique used in radio arrays for directional signal transmission or reception. This is achieved by combining elements in a phased array in such a way that signals at particular locations or angles experience constructive interference while others experience destructive interference. To change the directionality of the array when transmitting, a beamformer controls the phase and relative amplitude of the signal at each transmitter, in order to create a pattern of constructive and destructive interference in the wavefront. Beamforming can be used at both the transmitting and receiving ends in order to achieve spatial selectivity. When receiving, information from different sensors is combined in a way where the expected pattern of radiation is preferentially observed. The improvement compared with omnidirectional recep- tion/transmission is known as the receive/transmit gain (or loss). Using beam orniing, the available transmit power can be selectively directed at a receiving module more efficiently, and is particularly useful for increasing the range or signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of wireless communication networks or reducing the power needed for such communications. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the basic concept of beam forming in a Wi-Fi network configuration, A beamformer transmitter 450 selects the phase and relative amplitude of the signal at each of two or more antennas to preferentially direct transmitted wave fronts 452, 454 to one or more receivers 456, 458. Beamforming extends the range of such a wireless system even in the presence of sources of interference 460, 462.

[0016] While MIMO and beamforming technologies can help extend the range or SNR of a wireless communication network or reduce power requirements, sources of interference (e.g., microwave ovens, cordless phones, electronic equipment, neighboring wireless networks) and signal attenuation (e.g. , furniture and appliances, and walls, floors, and ceilings of varying materials) adversely affect the range and throughput of even these advanced technologies.

SUMMARY OF THE TECHNOLOGY

[0017] The disclosed technology includes a hybrid wired and wireless communication network that advantageously utilizes the wide-spread spatial positioning of two or more individual wireless MIMO radio units coupled to a wired network backbone, such as a MoCA based communications network, to create a virtual MIMO antenna that substantially improves the effective range and throughput of the hybrid communication network.

[0018] In one embodiment of the disclosed technology, a hybrid wired and wireless communication network is configured to perform some or all of the fol lowing steps;

[0019] Measure delay between wired and wireless networks: Each radio module in the hybrid communication network will have some delay time between receiving data from a wired network and transmitting that data over its associated antenna. One way of measuring this delay is to send special time-stamped data packets between a wired radio and the wireless radio of each radio module. The receiving radio may timestamp the packet and return it to the sending radio, which in turn timestamps the receiving packet. The time of to-and-fro transmission is thus established. Alternatively, the receiving radio may simply acknowledge receipt of a packet from the sending radio, allowing the sending radio to perform all time stamping using only its local oscillator (clock), thus avoiding the need to synchronize the clocks in both radios. The sending radio can thus determine the round trip time for the packet.

[0020] Measure delay between radio modules: Since each radio module may be placed nearly anywhere in a residence or other environment, the physical distance between any two radio modules on the wired backbone will vary. In addition, the electrical signal propagation time through splitters and across potentially different wire or cable types will vary. Accordingly, each radio module may measure the time delay to a target radio module by transmitting one or more data packets to the target radio module and receiving back either a time-stamped data packet or an acknowledgement data packet.

[0021] Establish and maintain phase coherence between radio modules: In order for two radio modules to utilize their respective MIMO antenna sets as part of a larger "virtual" MIMO antenna set, the phase angle difference between the transmitted radio signals of the radio modules must be substantially constant in time. This may be done by utilizing, for example, a phase lock loop within a radio module that periodically synchronizes to the phase information derived internally from a local oscillator signal, used as reference signal, distributed to all wireless radi- os over the wired communications network (for example, in a MoCA signaling band over a coaxial cable).

[0022] Adjust MIMO and beamforming parameters of at least one radio module: Once the time delay and phase angle difference measurements described above have been made, that information may be used by a single radio module to synchronize its MIMO-based beamforming to coordinate with the MI MO-based beamforming of at least one other radio module, allowing, for example, their respective transmission wavefronts to overlap a target wireless device. Alternatively, at least two radio modules that have exchanged such measurements may actively coordinate their MIMO-based beamforming so as to more efficiently target beam formed wavefronts towards a target wireless device.

[0023] By utilizing the "virtual" MIMO antenna set synthesized by combining the actual MIMO antenna sets of spatially distributed radio modules, the disclosed technology can be configured to substantially improve the effective range and throughput of the hybrid communication network as a whole.

[0024] Other features and aspects of the disclosed method and apparatus will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features in accordance with embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus. For example, though example embodiments presented herein are described in relation to particular local network configurations and technologies, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the features and functionality of the disclosed method and apparatus can be implemented using other configurations and technologies. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims attached hereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a diagram of one example of a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) network implemented in a home.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home networking environment using a combination of a wired network and a w ireless network.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a bridge between a wired network and a wireless network, the bridge having two separate systems mutually communicating through a standard interface.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the basic concepts of MI MO (Multiple-In Multiple Out) in a Wi-Fi network configuration.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the basic concept of beamforming in a Wi-Fi network configuration.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a hybrid wired and wireless communication network that may be used with the disclosed technology.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing one example of a configuration of the disclosed technology in which two of the radio modules from FIG. 6 are shown coupled to a wired communication network backbone.

[0032] FIG. 8 is a flow chart of one embodiment of the disclosed technology, showing a profiling process in accordance with the disclosed technology.

[0033] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating one example of a computing module in accordance with one embodiment of the systems and methods described herein.

[0034] The disclosed method and apparatus is described in detail with reference to the following drawings, which are provided for purposes of illustration only. Accordingly, these drawings shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the claimed invention. Note that for clarity and ease of illustration, these drawings are not necessarily made to scale. Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. ΟΕΐΛΙ Ι .ΚΙ ⁾ DESCRIPTION OF Ti l l - TECH NOLOGY

[0035] The technology disclosed here in in various embodiments comprises a hybrid wired and wireless communication network that advantageously utilizes the wide-spread spatial positioning of two or more individual wireless MIMO radio units coupled to a wired network backbone, such as a oCA based communications network, to create a virtual MIMO antenna that substantially improves the effective range and throughput of the hybrid communication network.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a hybrid wired and wireless communication network that may be used in accordance with the technology described herein. The wired "backbone" network in this example is a cable-based network utilizing MoCA technology, but other wired networks could be used. In this example, one or more coaxial cable lengths ("runs") 500 are coupled to a point-of-entry signal splitter 502, either directly or through one or more intermediate splitters 504, 506. Coupled to at least two of the cable runs 500 are MIMO enabled/capable radio modules 508, 509, 510, which can each form an associated wireless network and serve as bridges between the wired network and its associated wireless network.

[0037] Each radio module 508, 509, 510 includes a transceiver radio 520 for propagating an encoded digital signal along the wired communications network; in this example, the radio encoding conforms to the MoCA standard. Each radio module 508, 509, 510 also includes a transceiver radio 522 for wirelessly propagating an encoded digital signal through an associated MIMO antenna set 524; in this example, the radio encoding conforms to one or more of the IEEE 802.1 1 (also known as "Wi-Fi") standards. Each radio module 508, 509, 5 1 0 further includes a control module 526 for establishing, maintaining, and controlling communications between the wired and associated wireless communications networks.

[0038] Each radio module 508, 509, 510 may include one or more wireless radios each with one or more antennas (only one wireless radio/antenna per node is shown in FIG. 6 for simplicity). In the case of multiple antennas per node, in one embodiment each antenna is treated as a separate antenna in the system, thus increasing the size of the MIMO array to a greater count than the number of nodes. In another embodiment, the multiple antennas in a node are treated as one lumped antenna with directional properties, i. e. , equivalent to a multiple-element directional antenna. Each element in this case is fed with substantially the same signal, but phase-shifted relative to each other, as to achieve desired directivity, i. e. , desired radiation direction. A radio can be shared in this case, with a phase shifter for each antenna. [0039] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing one example of a configuration in which two of the radio modules 508, 510 from FIG. 6 are shown coupled to a wired communication network backbone 500, which again may be a cable-based network utilizing MoCA technology, but may also be a power line system, a fiber optic cable system, an Ethernet cable system, or other similar communications medium. Each radio module 508, 510 in this example is MIMO enabled. In addition, in various embodiments, each radio module 508, 510 is configured and equipped to utilize beamforming to preferentially direct radio transmission and reception 560, 562 from its associated MIMO antenna set 524 towards the MIMO antenna set 550 of a wireless device 552, such as a personal computer, tablet computer, sinartphone, etc. Each wireless device 552 may be MIMO enabled, but does not have to be MIMO enabled. Embodiments can be implemented in which wireless device 552 utilizes a single-antenna radio unit, benefitting from beamforming provided by the technology disclosed herein.

[0040] In a conventional hybrid communication system similar in general architecture to the configuration shown in FIG. 7, the radio modules 508, 510 are commonly not coordinated and thus act independently. Further, a wireless device 552 will normally communicate with only one radio module 508, 510 at a time. Furthermore, not being coordinated, the other radio module may increase interference with respect to the wireless device 552, particularly if it operates on the same frequency channel.

[0041] In various embodiments, systems and methods can be implemented such that, by profiling and controlling the signal timing and phase differences of two or more radio modules 508, 510, the wireless radio components of the radio modules can be coherently synchronized and phase locked, so that the MIMO antenna sets of at least two such radios may operate cooperatively as a much larger "virtual" MIMO antenna set that spans the spatial distance between the radio modules. Such cooperative action can be implemented to substantially improve the effective antenna size, range, and throughput of the hybrid communication network.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a flow chart of one embodiment of the technology disclosed herein, showing a profiling process (note that many of the steps are order-independent and thus may be performed in a different order than shown). Each control module 526 of each radio module 508, 510 may be programmed to perform some or all of the profiling process.

[0043] At operation 800, the delay is measured between the wired and wireless networks. Each radio module 508. 510 will have some delay between the time data is received from its as- sociated wired network 500 and corresponding data is transmitted from its associated antenna 524. Such delays may vary between radio module products from different manufacturers, and even between radio module products from the same manufacturer due to component differences, component aging, differences in ambient temperatures, etc. in addition, the delay may be different depending on the direction of communications; for example, receiving and decoding wireless signals to a baseband state may take more time than encoding and transmitting the same data. Further, each radio module 508, 510 may have an ability to affect (e.g. , stabilize) overall time delays, such as by buffering data before transmission or after reception.

[0044] One way of measuring the overall time delay is to send special time-stamped data packets between the wired radio 520 and the wireless radio 522 of each radio module 508, 510. The receiving radio may timestamp the packet and return it to the sending radio, which in turn timestamps the received packet. The time of to-and-fro transmission is thus established. Alternatively, the receiving radio may simply acknowledge receipt of a packet from the sending radio, allowing the sending radio to perform all time stamping using only its local oscillator (clock), thus avoiding the need to synchronize the clocks in both radios. The sending radio can thus determine the round trip time for the packet. Because both the w ired radio 520 and the wireless radio 522 may perform such measurements, each can share its results with the other radio by exchanging conventional control data packets, thus allowing both directions of communication to be measured, characterized and controlled. Such measurements may be done on an ongoing basis in order to account for time-varying factors, such as temperature changes.

[0045] Because signals from different nodes appear as multipath signals, exact transmission time, or time delay of transmitted symbols is not critical. Time delay precision might only be sufficient to not significantly increase the wireless channel delay spread. Time delay precision is not needed to prevent fading due to phase rotation - this must be insured by coherency of RF signals from different antennas, which is achieved by phase-locking the RF carriers as described in the operations below. Various clock synchronization technologies to synchronize the radio modules may be utilized, such as the following: IEEE-1588v2 Precision Clock Sync Protocol for Networked Control Systems; MPEG-TS style PTS time-stamping & PCR clock recovery {e.g., counter-locked loop); Synchronous Ethernet (e.g., using ITU-T G.8261); strictly synchronous MAP cycles under the MoCA2 standard; a modulated local oscillator signal with time information (e.g., a time stamp) and distributed to other wireless radios over the wired communications network (for example, in a MoCA signaling band over a coaxial cable); and/or broadcast transmission by one of the wireless radio modules (acting as a "master") of an RF carrier based on a local clock (e.g., a crystal oscillator), where other radio modules synchronize their local clock to the received broadcast signal.

[0046] At operation 802, the delay between radio modules is measured. Because each radio module 508, 510 might be placed nearly anywhere in a residence or other environment, the physical distance between two radio modules on the wired backbone 500 may vary. In addition, the electrical "distance" (i.e. , propagation time) through splitters and across potentially different wire or cable types may also vary. Accordingly, each radio module may be configured to measure the time delay to a target radio module by transmitting one or more data packets to the target radio module and receiving back either a time-stamped data packet or an acknowledgement data packet.

[0047] It may be desirable to reduce delay in the wired portion of the network in order to minimize the latency in the wireless network. This may be achieved by optimizing the protocol in the wired network by prioritizing transmission of data packets that participate in wireless network MIMO.

[0048] At operation 804, phase coherence is established and maintained between the radio modules. In order for two radio modules 508, 510 to utilize their respective MIMO antenna sets as part of a larger "virtual" MIMO antenna set, the phase angle difference between the transmitted radio signals of the radio modules 508, 510 are preferably substantially constant in time, i.e., it should not change faster than the ability of the system to track channel changes and update the MIMO channel matrix coefficients. This may be done by utilizing, for example, a phase lock loop within a radio module that periodically synchronizes to the phase information derived internally from a local oscillator signal, used as reference signal, distributed to all wireless radios over the wired communications network (for example, in a MoCA signaling band over a coaxial cable). In some systems, such as MoCA, the local oscillator signal is not transmitted continuously, but is instead discontinuous due to transmission being permitted in certain time slots (because the transmit time on the wire is allocated to different nodes at different times). In this case, a gated phase lock loop may be used, which updates the phase information when the reference signal is present, and free runs when the reference signal is absent. While free running, the RF phase is ideally reasonably stable, i.e. , the phase drift does not exceed the limits acceptable to the system. This should be achieved in each node participating in MIMO, to maintain coher- ency of different RF signals from different nodes and maintain the integrity of

MIMO/beamforming signal.

[0049] At operation 806. the M1MO and beam forming parameters of at least one radio module are adjusted. Once the time delay and phase angle difference measurements described above have been made, that information may be used by a radio module to synchronize its MlMO- based beamformmg to coordinate with the MlMO-based beam forming of at least one other radio module, allowing, for example, their respective transmission wavefronts to overlap a target wireless device 552. Alternatively, at least two radio modules that have exchanged such measurements may actively coordinate their MlMO-based beamforming to more efficiently target beam- formed wavefronts toward a target wireless device 552.

[0050] By utilizing the "virtual" MIMO antenna set synthesized by combining the actual MIMO antenna sets of spatially distributed radio modules 508, 510, the disclosed technology may substantially improve the effective range and throughput of the hybrid communication network as a whole.

[0051] As used herein, the term module might describe a given unit of functionality that can be performed in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosed technology. A module might be implemented utilizing any form of hardware, software, or a combination thereof, such as with one or more processors, controllers. Application Speci ic Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Programmable Logic Arrays (PLAs), Programmable Array Logic (PAL), Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), logical components, software routines or other mechanisms. In implementation, the various modules described herein might be implemented as discrete modules or the functions and features described can be shared in part or in total among one or more modules, and such description shall not require or imply that separate hardware or software components are used to implement such features or functionality. Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than those depicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Accordingly, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this description, the various features and functionality described herein may be implemented in any given application and can be implemented in one or more separate or shared modules in various combinations and permutations.

[0052] In one embodiment, when components or modules are implemented in whole or in part using software, these software elements can be implemented using any computing or pro- cessing module capable of carrying out the described functionality. An example of this is the controller that can be included in the network devices. One example of such a computing module is shown in FIG. 9. Various embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus include this computing module 600. The computing module 600 may represent computing or processing capabilities found within: desktop, laptop, and notebook computers, hand-held computing devices (Personal Data Assistants (PDAs), smart phones, cell phones, palmtops, etc.), mainframe computers, supercomputers, workstations, servers, set-top boxes, residential gateways, or any other type of special-purpose or general-purpose computing devices, as may be desirable or appropriate to perform the described functionality for a given application or environment. The computing module 600 might also represent computing capabilities embedded within or otherwise available to a given device. For example, a computing module 600 might be found in or implemented by electronic devices such as digital cameras, navigation systems, cellular telephones, portable computing devices, modems, routers, Wireless Access Points (WAPs), terminals and other electronic devices that might include some form of processing capability.

[0053] The computing module 600 might include, for example, one or more processors, controllers, control modules, or other processing devices, such as a processor 604. The processor 604 might be implemented using a general-purpose or special-purpose processing engine such as, for example, a microprocessor, controller, or other control logic. In the illustrated example, the processor 604 is connected to a bus 602, although any communication medium can be used to facilitate interaction with other components of the computing module 600 or to communicate externally.

[0054] The computing module 600 might also include one or more memory modules, simply referred to herein as the memory 608. In one embodiment. Random Access Memory (RAM) or other volatile or non-volatile read/write memory might be used for storing information and instructions to be executed by the processor 604. The memory 608 might also be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by the processor 604. The computing module 600 might also include a Read Only Memory ("ROM^"') or other read-only storage device coupled to bus 602 for storing information and instructions for the processor 604.

[0055] The computing module 600 might also include one or more mechanisms for information storage 610, which might include, for example, a media drive 612 and a storage unit interface 620. The media drive 612 might include a drive or other mechanism (e.g., hard disk drive, floppy disk drive, magnetic tape drive, optical disk drive, or a media dock) to support fixed or removable storage media 614 (e.g., a hard disk, a floppy disk, magnetic tape cartridge, optical disk, or other fixed or removable medium) that is read by, written to, or accessed by the media drive 612. As these examples illustrate, the storage media 614 can include a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software or data.

[0056] In alternative embodiments, the information storage 610 might include other similar instrumentalities for allowing computer programs or other instructions or data to be loaded into the computing module 600. Such instrumentalities might include, for example, a fixed or removable storage unit 622 and an interlace 620. Examples of such storage units 622 and interfaces 620 can include a program cartridge and cartridge interface, a removable memory (for example, a flash memory or other removable memory module) and memory slot, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, and other fixed or removable storage units 622 and interfaces 620 that allow software and data to be transferred from the storage unit 622 to the computing module 600.

[0057] The computing module 600 might also include a communications interface 624. Communications interface 624 might be used to allow software and data to be transferred between the computing module 600 and external devices. Examples of communications interface 624 might include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet, network interface card, WiMedia. IEEE 802. XX, or other interface), a communications port (such as for example, a USB port, infra-red (IR) port, RS232 port Bluetooth®, interface, or other port), or other communications interface. Software and data transferred via the communications interface 624 might typically be carried on signals, which can be electronic, electromagnetic (which includes optical), or other signals capable of being exchanged through the communications interface 624. These signals might be provided to the communications interface 624 via a channel 628. This channel 628 might carry signals and might be implemented using a wired or wireless communication medium. Some examples of a channel might include a MoCA channel over coaxial cable, phone line, a cellular link, an RF link, an optical link, a network interface, a local or wide area network, and other wired or wireless communications channels.

[0058] It should be clear from the broad scope of processing and storage devices disclosed, that any devices that can perform the functions disclosed would be within the scope of the disclosed method and apparatus. [0059] In this document, the terms "computer program medium" and "computer usable medium-" are used to generally refer to physical storage media such as, for example, memory 608, storage unit 622, and media 614. These and other various forms of computer program storage media or computer usable storage media may be involved in storing and providing one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a processing device for execution. Such instructions embodied on a medium are generally referred to as "computer program code'^*' or a "computer program product" (which may be grouped in the form of computer programs or other groupings). When executed, such instructions might enable the computing module 600 to perform features or functions of the disclosed method and apparatus as discussed herein.

[0060] Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: "including" should be read as meaning "including, without limitation" or the like; "example" is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; "a" or "an" should be read as meaning "at least one," "one or more" or the like; the presence of broadening words and phrases such as "one or more," "at least," "but not limited to," or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent; and adjectives such as "conventional," "traditional," "normal," "standard," "known" and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.

[0061] Programmed Embodiments

[0062] Unless otherwise specified, the algorithms included as part of the disclosed technology are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. In particular, various general purpose computing machines may be used with programs written in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may be more convenient to use a special purpose computer or special- purpose hardware (such as integrated circuits) to perform particular functions. Thus, the disclosed technology may be implemented in one or more computer programs executing on one or more programmed or programmable computer systems (which may be of various architectures, such as distributed, client/server, or grid) each comprising at least one processor, at least one data storage system (which may include volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), at least one input device or port, and at least one output device or port. Program code is applied to input data to perform the functions described herein and generate output information. The output information is applied to one or more output devices, in known fashion.

[0063] Each such computer program may be implemented in any desired computer language (including machine, assembly, or high level procedural, logical, or object oriented programming languages) to communicate with a computer system, and may be implemented in a distributed manner in which different parts of the computation specified by the software are performed by different computers. In any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language. Computer programs implementing some or all of the disclosed technology may form one or more modules of a larger program or system of programs. Some or all of the elements of the computer program can be implemented as data structures stored in a computer readable medium or other organized data conforming to a data model stored in a data repository.

[0064] Each such computer program may be stored on or downloaded to (for example, by being encoded in a propagated signal and delivered over a communication medium such as a network) a tangible, non-transitory storage media or device (e.g., solid state memory or media, or magnetic or optical media) readable by a general or special purpose programmable computer, for configuring and operating the computer when the storage media or device is read by the computer system to perform the procedures described herein. The inventive system may also be considered to be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium, con igured with a computer program, where the storage medium so configured causes a computer system to operate in a specific and predefined manner to perform the functions described herein.

[0065] Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions, and method claims, the order in which the blocks are presented herein shall not mandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise. For example, some of the steps described above may be order independent, and thus can be performed in an order different from that described.

[0066] While various embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosed method and apparatus, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the disclosed method and apparatus. The claimed invention is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical, or physical partitioning and configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features of the disclosed method and apparat us. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

Claims

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . A method of operating a wired communication network and a coupled wireless communication network comprising a plurality of independent, spaced apart wireless radios each having a beamforming capability and configured to communicate data over the wired communication network and by radio signals directed by the beamforming capability, including the operations of:

measuring a first time delay as the time to communicate data between the wired communication network and the wireless communication network over a first wireless radio; measuring a second time delay as the time to communicate data over the wired communication network from the first wireless radio to a second wireless radio;

maintaining phase coherence between the first wireless radio and the second wireless radio; and

adjusting the beamforming characteristics of the first wireless radio based on the first time delay, the second time delay, the third time delay, and the maintained phase coherence so as to re-direct the radio signals directed by the beamforming capability towards at least one desired direction.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring a third time delay as the time to communicate data between the wired communication network and the wireless communication network over the second wireless radio.