WO2017184827A1

WO2017184827A1 - Maintenance of wireless data link

Info

Publication number: WO2017184827A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/028540
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric J. Black; Jeffrey A. Bowers; Brian Mark Deutsch; Russell J. Hannigan; Alexander Remley Katko; Kent R. Lundgren; Melroy Machado; Jay Howard MCCANDLESS; Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
Original assignee: Searete Llc
Priority date: 2016-04-21
Filing date: 2017-04-20
Publication date: 2017-10-26
Also published as: CN109314585A

Abstract

Embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. The system includes an antenna gain controller implementing a selected pointing angle in an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. The pointing angle selected from a plurality of electronically implementable pointing angles. Each pointing angle is configured to direct a radiofrequency beam from the beamforming antenna to a target antenna. An alignment sampling circuit instructs the antenna gain controller to implement a test group of radiofrequency beams from the beamforming antenna to the target antenna using at least two different trial pointing angles. A receiver circuit receives data indicative of an alignment quality of the radiofrequency beam between the beamforming antenna and the target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle. An evaluation circuit selects the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality. An update controller instructs the antenna gain controller to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna.

Description

MAINTENANCE OF WIRELESS DATA LINK

[0001] All subject matter of the Priority Application(s) is incorporated herein by reference to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith.

Summary

[0002] For example, and without limitation, an embodiment of the subject matter described herein includes a system. The system includes an antenna controller configured to implement a selected pointing angle in an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna in response an instruction. The pointing angle is selected from a plurality of pointing angles electronically implementable in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. Each pointing angle of the plurality of pointing angles is respectively configured to direct a radiofrequency beam transmitted by the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna toward a target antenna. The system includes an alignment sampling circuit configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement a test group of radiofrequency beams from the beamforming antenna to the target antenna using at least two different trial pointing angles selected from the plurality of pointing angles. The system includes a receiver circuit configured to receive data indicative of an alignment quality of the radiofrequency beam between the beamforming antenna and the target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles. The system includes an evaluation circuit configured to select the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles. The system includes an update controller configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna.

[0003] In an embodiment, the system includes an analytics circuit configured to analyze a radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and generate the data indicative of the radiofrequency beam alignment quality. In an embodiment, the system includes the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the system includes the target antenna.

[0004] For example, and without limitation, an embodiment of the subject matter described herein includes an operational flow. The operational flow includes

implementing a test group of radiofrequency beams in an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. The test group including at least two different trial pointing angles selected from a plurality of pointing angles electronically implementable in the beamforming antenna. The operational flow includes receiving data indicative of an alignment quality of a radiofrequency beam between the beamforming antenna and a target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles. The operational flow includes selecting the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles. The operational flow includes instructing the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna. The operational flow includes implementing the selected trial pointing angle in the

beamforming antenna.

[0005] In an embodiment, the operational flow includes updating a current pointing angle of the beamforming antenna by implementing another test group of radiofrequency beams in the beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the operational flow includes analyzing a radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and generating data indicative of the radiofrequency beam alignment quality.

[0006] For example, and without limitation, an embodiment of the subject matter described herein includes an apparatus. The apparatus includes circuitry configured to implement a test group of radiofrequency beams in an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. The test group including at least two different trial pointing angles selected from a plurality of pointing angles electronically implementable in the beamforming antenna. The apparatus includes circuitry configured to receive data indicative of an alignment quality of a radiofrequency beam between the beamforming antenna and a target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles. The apparatus includes circuitry configured to select the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles. The apparatus includes circuitry configured to instruct the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna.

[0007] In an embodiment, apparatus includes circuitry update a current pointing angle by implementing another test group of radiofrequency beams from the beamforming antenna to the target antenna. In an embodiment, apparatus includes circuitry configured to analyze a radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and generating data indicative of the radiofrequency beam alignment quality.

[0008] For example, and without limitation, an embodiment of the subject matter described herein includes a system. The system includes means for implementing a test group of radiofrequency beams in an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. The test group including at least two different trial pointing angles selected from a plurality of pointing angles electronically implementable in the beamforming antenna. The system includes means for receiving data indicative of an alignment quality of a radiofrequency beam between the beamforming antenna and a target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles. The system includes means for selecting the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles. The system includes means for instructing the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna.

[0009] In an embodiment, the system includes means for updating a current pointing angle by implementing another test group of radiofrequency beams from the beamforming antenna to the target antenna. In an embodiment, the system includes means for analyzing a radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and generating data indicative of the radiofrequency beam alignment quality.

[0010] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an environment in which embodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example operational flow in which embodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 3 illustrates an environment in which embodiments may be implemented; FIG. 4 illustrates an example environment that includes the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna, the target antenna, and an apparatus in which embodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 5 illustrates an environment that includes an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna having a chromatic dispersion, a target antenna, and a system;

FIG. 6 illustrates a one-dimensional end or side view of the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna with radiofrequency electromagnetic waves conducted by a waveguide to the plurality of electronically reconfigurable elements and emitted by the transmissive surface;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna with radiofrequency electromagnetic waves emitted by the transmissive surface;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example operational flow in which embodiments may be implemented; and

FIG. 9 illustrates an example environment in which embodiments may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the

accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. [0012] Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the art has progressed to the point where there is little distinction left between hardware, software, and/or firmware implementations of aspects of systems; the use of hardware, software, and/or firmware is generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardware and software can become significant) a design choice representing cost vs.

efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are various implementations by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologies described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred implementation will vary with the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and/or firmware implementation; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible implementations by which the processes and/or devices and/or other technologies described herein may be effected, none of which is inherently superior to the other in that any implementation to be utilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the implementation will be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary. Those skilled in the art will recognize that optical aspects of implementations will typically employ optically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware. [0013] In some implementations described herein, logic and similar

implementations may include software or other control structures suitable to implement an operation. Electronic circuitry, for example, may manifest one or more paths of electrical current constructed and arranged to implement various logic functions as described herein. In some implementations, one or more media are configured to bear a device-detectable implementation if such media hold or transmit a special-purpose device instruction set operable to perform as described herein. In some variants, for example, this may manifest as an update or other modification of existing software or firmware, or of gate arrays or other programmable hardware, such as by performing a reception of or a transmission of one or more instructions in relation to one or more operations described herein.

Alternatively or additionally, in some variants, an implementation may include special- purpose hardware, software, firmware components, and/or general -purpose components executing or otherwise invoking special-purpose components. Specifications or other implementations may be transmitted by one or more instances of tangible transmission media as described herein, optionally by packet transmission or otherwise by passing through distributed media at various times.

[0014] Alternatively or additionally, implementations may include executing a special-purpose instruction sequence or otherwise invoking circuitry for enabling, triggering, coordinating, requesting, or otherwise causing one or more occurrences of any functional operations described below. In some variants, operational or other logical descriptions herein may be expressed directly as source code and compiled or otherwise invoked as an executable instruction sequence. In some contexts, for example, C++ or other code sequences can be compiled directly or otherwise implemented in high-level descriptor languages (e.g., a logic-synthesizable language, a hardware description language, a hardware design simulation, and/or other such similar mode(s) of expression). Alternatively or additionally, some or all of the logical expression may be manifested as a Verilog-type hardware description or other circuitry model before physical

implementation in hardware, especially for basic operations or timing-critical applications. Those skilled in the art will recognize how to obtain, configure, and optimize suitable transmission or computational elements, material supplies, actuators, or other common structures in light of these teachings.

[0015] In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments described herein can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by various types of electro-mechanical systems having a wide range of electrical components such as hardware, software, firmware, and/or virtually any combination thereof; and a wide range of components that may impart mechanical force or motion such as rigid bodies, spring or torsional bodies, hydraulics, electro-magnetically actuated devices, and/or virtually any combination thereof. Consequently, as used herein "electromechanical system" includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry operably coupled with a transducer (e.g., an actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal, a Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS), etc.), electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, module, communications switch, optical-electrical equipment, etc.), and/or any non-electrical analog thereto, such as optical or other analogs. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that examples of electro-mechanical systems include but are not limited to a variety of consumer electronics systems, medical devices, as well as other systems such as motorized transport systems, factory automation systems, security systems, and/or communication/computing systems. Those skilled in the art will recognize that electro- mechanical as used herein is not necessarily limited to a system that has both electrical and mechanical actuation except as context may dictate otherwise.

[0016] In a general sense, those skilled in the art will also recognize that the various aspects described herein which can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, and/or any combination thereof can be viewed as being composed of various types of "electrical circuitry."

Consequently, as used herein "electrical circuitry" includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), and/or electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch, optical-electrical equipment, etc.). Those having skill in the art will recognize that the subject matter described herein may be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or some combination thereof.

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an environment 100 that includes an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna 110, a target antenna 192, and a system 120. The system includes an antenna controller 122 configured to implement a selected pointing angle (θ, φ) in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna in response an instruction. The pointing angle is selected from a plurality of pointing angles

electronically implementable in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. Each pointing angle of the plurality of pointing angles respectively configured to direct a radiofrequency beam EM transmitted by the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna toward the target antenna. The pointing angle is illustrated in FIG. 1 in a spherical coordinate system by a polar angle Θ and an azimuthal angle φ against a background x, y, z orthogonal coordinate system 112.

[0018] The system 120 includes an alignment sampling circuit 124 configured to instruct the antenna controller 122 to implement a test group of radiofrequency beams from the beamforming antenna 110 to the target antenna 192 using at least two different trial pointing angles. In an embodiment, the at least two different trial pointing angles are selected from the plurality of pointing angles. The system includes a receiver circuit 126 configured to receive data indicative of an alignment quality of the radiofrequency beam between the beamforming antenna and the target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles. In an embodiment, the alignment quality includes a value of the alignment quality. The system includes an evaluation circuit 128 configured to select the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles. The system includes an update controller 132 configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the pointing angle (θ, φ) is a propagation direction of radio-frequency waves where the antenna radiation pattern has a maximum gain. In an embodiment, a first pointing angle of the plurality of pointing angles include a first beam profile and a second pointing angle of the plurality of pointing angles include a second beam profile. A beam profile is the 2D intensity plot of a beam at a given location along the beam path.

[0019] In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna 110 includes a dynamically and electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a metamaterial surface antenna configured to electronically steer a

radiofrequency beam. An embodiment of a steerable metamaterial surface antenna is described in R. Stevenson, et al US Patent App. No. 20150222021, and art cited therein. An embodiment of a steerable metamaterial surface antenna is described in R. Stevenson, et al US Patent App. No. 20150222014, and art cited therein. An embodiment of a steerable metamaterial surface antenna is described in D. Brady et al, US Patent App. No. 20150030256, and art cited therein. An embodiment of a steerable metamaterial surface antenna includes the mTenna™ using a holographic approach to electronically steer a radiofrequency beam developed by Kymeta Corporation, of Redmond, WA. https://www.kymetaco .com/technology/mtenna/ (last accessed March 29, 2016). In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes an electronically steerable directional antenna. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a flat panel electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes electronically controllable subwavelength unit cells.

[0020] In an embodiment of the system 120, a small cellular access point includes the beamforming antenna 110 and a macro cellular base station includes the target antenna 192. In an embodiment of the system, the beamforming antenna and the target antenna are components in a wireless backhaul link.

[0021] In an embodiment, the beamforming antenna 110 has a narrow gain pattern configured to wirelessly transfer data over a distance greater than 2D²/ λ (where D is the effective diameter of the beamforming antenna). In an embodiment, a frequency of the radiofrequency beam is between approximately 0.5-25 GHz. In an embodiment, a frequency of the radiofrequency beam is between approximately 25-50 GHz. In an embodiment, a frequency of the radiofrequency beam is greater than approximately 50 GHz.

[0022] In an embodiment of the alignment sampling circuit 124, the test group includes a pattern of different trial pointing angles selected from the plurality of pointing angles. For example, the test group may include an ordered pattern of different trial pointing angles. For example, a pattern may include 12 points about a circle

corresponding to a clock face, with a currently implemented pointing angle at the center of the circle, or with the currently implemented pointing angle at one of the 12 points. For example, a pattern may include four points around a circle, with a currently implemented pointing angle at the center of the circle, or with the currently implemented pointing angle at one of the four points. For example, a pattern may include a "+" shaped pattern. For example, a pattern may include a triangular pattern. For example, the test group may include an arbitrary pattern of different trial pointing angles. For example, the test group may include a pattern of different trial pointing angles selected from the plurality of pointing angles based upon a pre-established criterion. For example, a criterion may include a locality to a current pointing angle, e.g. testing the adjacent beam pointing angles. For example, a criterion may include an extend locality, e.g. test the neighbors two positions away from a current pointing angle. For example, a criterion may include quadrature detection, e.g. a five element "+" pattern including the current pointing angle. For example, a criterion may include a global search, e.g. test all pointing angles. In an embodiment, a trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles of the test group is within one degree of a currently implemented pointing angle in the beamforming antenna.

[0023] In an embodiment, the alignment sampling circuit 124 is further configured to instruct the antenna controller 122 to implement a second test group in less than one second after implementing a first test group. In an embodiment, the alignment sampling circuit is further configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement a second test group in less than one millisecond after implementing a first test group. In an embodiment, the alignment sampling circuit is further configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement a second test group in less than one microsecond after

implementing a first test group. In an embodiment, the alignment sampling circuit is further configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement the test group of radiofrequency beams in response to a detected movement or motion of the beamforming antenna. For example, the movement or motion may be caused by wind, thermal changes, earth movement, etc. For example, the movement or motion may cause beam wander or jitter, which may cause the centroid or peak value of the beam profile to move with time. In an embodiment, the beamforming antenna is carried on pliant structure, and the alignment sampling circuit is further configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement the test group of radiofrequency beams in response to a movement or motion of the beam forming antenna, for example relative to the earth. For example, in an embodiment, a pliant structure does not include a mobile structure. [0024] In an embodiment of the receiver circuit 126, the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a quality responsive to an alignment of radiofrequency beam pathway between the beamforming antenna and the target antenna. In an embodiment, the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a wireless channel state information report. In an embodiment, the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a reference signal received power measurement metric. For example, the reference signal received power measurement information may be generated in conjunction with a LTE based. In an embodiment, the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a reference signal received quality measurement metric. In an embodiment, the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a receive signal strength indicator metric. In an

embodiment, the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a channel quality indicator metric. For example, the channel quality indicator metric may be generated in conjunction with a WiMAX or an OFDM based system. In an embodiment, the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio metric. In an embodiment, the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a carrier to interference + noise ratio metric. In an embodiment, the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to an equalizer response metric for each subcarrier, or for each pilot. In an embodiment, the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes (i) a first radiofrequency beam alignment quality of a first frequency or a first wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and (ii) a second radiofrequency beam alignment quality of a second frequency or a second wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the

beamforming antenna. [0025] In an embodiment, the evaluation circuit 128 is configured to select a trial pointing angle at least in partially in response to a comparison of (i) a first radiofrequency beam alignment quality of the first frequency or a first wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and (ii) a second radiofrequency beam alignment quality of the second frequency or a second wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna for each respective implementation of the at least two different selected trial pointing angles of the test group. In an embodiment, the comparison does not include a comparison of trivial quality values. In an embodiment, the evaluation circuit is configured to select a trial pointing angle at least in partially in response to assigning a high alignment quality rating to a pointing angle where the radiofrequency beam alignment quality and second radiofrequency beam alignment quality are within a selected percentage or range of each other. In an embodiment, the evaluation circuit is configured to select a trial pointing angle at least in partially in response to assigning a high alignment quality rating to a pointing angle where the radiofrequency beam alignment quality and second radiofrequency beam alignment quality are outside a selected percentage or range of each other.

[0026] In an embodiment, the system 120 includes an analytics circuit 134 configured to analyze a radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna 192 from the beamforming antenna 110 and generate the data indicative of the radiofrequency beam alignment quality. In an embodiment, the system includes the electronically

reconfigurable beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the system 120 includes the target antenna. [0027] FIG. 2 illustrates an example operational flow 200 in which embodiments may be implemented. After a start operation, the operational flow includes an antenna alignment test operation 210. The antenna alignment testing operation includes implementing in an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna a test group of radiofrequency beams. The test group including at least two different trial pointing angles selected from a plurality of pointing angles electronically implementable in the

beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a metamaterial surface antenna configured to electronically steer a radiofrequency beam. In an embodiment, the test group of radiofrequency beams includes a test group of radiofrequency beams from the beamforming antenna to a target antenna. In an embodiment, the antenna alignment test operation may be implemented using the antenna controller 122 and the alignment sampling circuit 124 described in conjunction with FIG. 1. A reception operation 220 includes receiving data indicative of an alignment quality of a radiofrequency beam between the beamforming antenna and a target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles. In an embodiment, the reception operation may be implemented using the receive circuit 126 described in conjunction with FIG. 1. An alignment optimization operation 230 includes selecting the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles. In an embodiment, the alignment optimization operation may be implemented using the evaluation circuit 128 described in conjunction with FIG. 1. An alignment update operation 240 includes instructing the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the alignment update operation may be implemented using the update controller 132 described in conjunction with FIG. 1. The operational flow includes an end operation.

[0028] In an embodiment of the alignment update operation 240, the instructing includes instructing the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement a second test group in less than one second after implementing a first test group. In an embodiment of the alignment update operation, the instructing includes instructing the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement a second test group in less than one millisecond after implementing a first test group.

[0029] In an embodiment of the reception operation 220, the receiving data includes receiving data indicative of a respective radiofrequency beam alignment quality of each of the at least two different trial pointing angles, the radiofrequency beam alignment quality including (i) a first radiofrequency beam alignment quality of a first frequency or a first wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and (ii) a second radiofrequency beam alignment quality of a second frequency or a second wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna. In an embodiment of the alignment optimization operation 230, the selecting includes selecting a trial pointing angle at least in partially in response to minimizing a difference between (i) a first radiofrequency beam alignment quality of the first frequency or a first wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and (ii) a second radiofrequency beam alignment quality of the second frequency or a second wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna for each respective implementation of the at least two different selected trial pointing angles of the test group. [0030] In an embodiment, the operation flow 200 includes an operation 250 implementing the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the operation flow includes an operation 260 updating a current pointing angle of the beamforming antenna by implementing another test group of radiofrequency beams in the beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the operation flow includes an operation 270 analyzing a radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and generating data indicative of the radiofrequency beam alignment quality. [0031] FIG. 3 illustrates an environment 300 in which embodiments may be implemented. The environment includes the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna 110, the target antenna 192, and an apparatus 320. The apparatus includes circuitry 322 for implementing in an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna a test group of radiofrequency beams. The test group including at least two different trial pointing angles selected from a plurality of pointing angles electronically implementable in the beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the test group includes a test group of radiofrequency beams from the beamforming antenna to the target antenna. The apparatus includes circuitry 324 for receiving data indicative of an alignment quality of a

radiofrequency beam between the beamforming antenna and a target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles. The apparatus includes circuitry 326 for selecting the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles. The apparatus includes circuitry 328 for instructing the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna.

[0032] In an embodiment, the apparatus 320 includes circuitry 332 for updating a current pointing angle by implementing another test group of radiofrequency beams from the beamforming antenna to the target antenna. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes circuitry 334 for analyzing a radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and generating data indicative of the radiofrequency beam alignment quality.

[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates an example environment 400 that includes the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna 110, the target antenna 192, and an apparatus 420. The apparatus includes means 422 for implementing in an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna a test group of radiofrequency beams. The test group including at least two different trial pointing angles selected from a plurality of pointing angles electronically implementable in the beamforming antenna. The apparatus includes means 424 for receiving data indicative of an alignment quality of a

radiofrequency beam between the beamforming antenna and a target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles. The apparatus includes means 426 for selecting the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles. The apparatus includes means 428 for instructing the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna.

[0034] In an embodiment, the system 420 includes means 432 for updating a current pointing angle by implementing another test group of radiofrequency beams from the beamforming antenna to the target antenna. In an embodiment, the system includes means 434 for analyzing a radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and generating data indicative of the radiofrequency beam alignment quality.

[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates an environment 500 that includes an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna 510 having a chromatic dispersion, a target antenna 592, and a system 520. The system includes an antenna controller 522 configured to implement a plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff at a nominal radiofrequency f₀ in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the antenna controller is configured to bring about or effectuate the plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff. In an embodiment, each pointing angle of the plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff is respectively configured to direct a radiofrequency beam EM / ₀ transmitted by the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna toward the target antenna. The pointing angle is illustrated in FIG. 5 in a spherical coordinate system by a polar angle Θ and an azimuthal angle φ against a background of an x, y, z orthogonal coordinate system 512.

[0036] The system 520 includes a beam direction circuit 524 configured to cause the antenna controller 522 to implement a selected effective radiofrequency

electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff of the plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff. The system includes an alignment tuning circuit 526 configured to evaluate a relative signal strength between a first dispersion frequency /+i signal and a second dispersion frequency /-i signal of the radiofrequency electromagnetic beam EM/₀ having the nominal radiofrequency f₀ received by the target antenna 592 from the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna 510. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate aspects of chromatic dispersion by the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna 510. In an embodiment, the beamforming antenna includes a transmissive surface 512 and a plurality of subwavelength electronically reconfigurable elements 514, which may be plurality of electronically controllable subwavelength unit cells, a plurality of metamaterial or a plurality of electronically controllable subwavelength scattering elements. Because the beamforming antenna has a chromatic dispersion, radiofrequency electromagnetic beams frequencies on either side of the nominal radiofrequency f₀ will disperse around EM/₀, and are illustrated as EM/+i for the first dispersion frequency /+i signal and as EM/.i for the second dispersion frequency f-i signal in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 illustrates a one-dimensional end or side view of the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna with radiofrequency electromagnetic waves 194 conducted by a waveguide 516 to the plurality of electronically reconfigurable elements and emitted by the transmissive surface. For example, the pointing angle 0_eff for the radiofrequency electromagnetic beam EM/₀ may be determined using the formula

neff — ~ ^c^^/—^fo - - ^si■n a ^ueff where "c" is the speed of light, n_e^ is the effective refractive index, and Λ is the fundamental period of a holographic modulation pattern implementing the selected effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff at the nominal radiofrequency f₀. Other frequencies in the radiofrequency electromagnetic waves 194, illustrated as the first dispersion frequency /+i and the second dispersion frequency will tilt or move as a group as the fundamental period Λ changes. The alignment circuit is also configured to select a next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency f₀ in a direction toward the stronger one of the first dispersion frequency /+i signal and the second dispersion frequency /-i signal. FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna 510 with radiofrequency electromagnetic waves emitted by the transmissive surface 512 with an effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff as defined by the fundamental period Λ of an electronically selectable holographic modulation pattern. As in the previous figure, other frequencies in the radiofrequency electromagnetic waves 194, illustrated as the first dispersion frequency /+i and the second dispersion frequency will tilt or move as a group as the fundamental period A of an electronically selectable holographic modulation pattern 518 changes. [0037] The system 520 includes an update controller circuit 528 configured to instruct the beam direction circuit 524 that the next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff is the selected effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff. [0038] In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna 510 is configured to implement a plurality of electronically selectable holographic modulation patterns 518. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable

beamforming antenna includes a real-time electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a metamaterial surface antenna. In an embodiment, the electronically

reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a steerable directional antenna. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a flat panel electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the flat panel may include a curved panel. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a plurality of electronically controllable subwavelength unit cells. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a surface scattering antenna with a plurality of electronically controllable or adjustable scattering elements. For example, Chen et al, Modulating patterns for surface scattering antenna, US Pat. App. 20150372389, Dec. 24, 2015, describes embodiments of electronically controllable or adjustable scattering elements. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a waveguide 516 coupled with and configured to feed radiofrequency electromagnetic waves 194 to a plurality of

electronically controllable scattering elements 514 of the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a transmissive surface 512 with a plurality of substrate fed scattering elements or unit cells. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a holographic antenna with at least one integrated waveguide. For example, the integrated waveguide may include a substrate integrated wave guide. For example, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna does not include a reflectarray antenna. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a plurality of electronically controllable subwavelength unit cells. For example, the unit cells may be abutting or spaced apart in a selected pattern. In an embodiment, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna has an inherent chromatic dispersion.

[0039] In an embodiment of the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna 510, each selectable effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff of the plurality of selectable effective electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff is implemented by a respective holographic modulation pattern 518 having a fundamental period Λ.

[0040] In an embodiment, the beam direction circuit 524 is configured to cause the antenna controller 522 to implement a selected effective radiofrequency

electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff of the plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff directed at the target antenna 592. In an embodiment, the beam direction circuit is configured to cause the antenna controller to implement a selected effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff of the plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff by electronically implementing a fundamental period Λ of the holographic modulation pattern 518 in the surface antenna 510 corresponding with the selected pointing angle.

[0041] In an embodiment, the alignment circuit 526 configured to (i) evaluate a relative signal strength between a first dispersion frequency /+i signal at a pointing angle 0eff +i and a second dispersion frequency /-i signal at a pointing angle 0_eff -ι of a radiofrequency electromagnetic beam having the nominal radiofrequency f₀ received by a target antenna from the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna, and (ii) select a next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency fo in a direction toward the stronger one of the first dispersion frequency /+i signal and the second dispersion frequency / -i signal. In an embodiment, the alignment circuit is configured to evaluate data indicative of the relative signal strength between the first dispersion frequency / +i signal and the second dispersion frequency / -i signal of the radiofrequency electromagnetic beam having the nominal radiofrequency / ₀ received by the target antenna from the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna, and if the relative signal strength is not balanced select the next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency / ₀ in a direction toward the stronger of the first dispersion frequency / +1 signal and the second dispersion frequency / -i signal.

[0042] In an embodiment, the system 520 includes the electronically

reconfigurable beamforming antenna 510. In an embodiment, the system includes a radiofrequency generator 532 configured to deliver radiofrequency electromagnetic waves having the nominal frequency f₀ to the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the system includes a receiver circuit 534 configured to receive the data indicative of a relative signal strength between a first dispersion frequency / +i signal and a second dispersion frequency / +i signal received at the target antenna 592. In an embodiment, the system includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium 536 storing a table correlating each selectable effective radiofrequency

electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff of the plurality of selectable effective

radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff at the nominal radiofrequency /₀ with a respective fundamental period Λ of a holographic modulation pattern. In an embodiment, the beam direction circuit 524 is further configured to calculate the fundamental period Λ of a holographic modulation pattern implementing the selected effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff at a nominal

radiofrequency / ₀ using the formula neff — ^c/—^fo - - ^si■n a ^ueff where "c" is the speed of light, and n_e^ is the effective refractive index.

[0043] FIG. 8 illustrates an example operational flow 800 in which embodiments may be implemented. After a start operation, the operational flow includes a comparison operation 810. The comparison operation includes evaluating a relative strength between a first dispersion frequency /+i signal and a second dispersion frequency /-i signal of a radiofrequency electromagnetic beam having a nominal radiofrequency f₀ received by a target antenna from an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna having an inherent chromatic dispersion. The electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna configured to implement a plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff at a nominal radiofrequency /₀. In an embodiment, the comparison operation may be implemented using the alignment tuning circuit 526 described in conjunction with FIG. 5. A choosing operation 820 includes selecting a next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency f₀ toward the stronger of the first dispersion frequency /+i signal and the second dispersion frequency /-i signal. In an embodiment, the choosing operation may be implemented using the alignment tuning circuit 526 described in conjunction with FIG. 5. An effecting operation 830 includes implementing the selected next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the effecting operation may be implemented using the antenna controller 522 and the beam directing circuit 524 described in conjunction with FIG. 5. The operational flow includes an end operation.

[0044] In an embodiment, each selectable effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff of the plurality of selectable effective electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff is effectuated in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna by a respective holographic modulation pattern having a fundamental period A.

[0045] In an embodiment of the effecting operation 830, the implementing includes establishing in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna a holographic modulation pattern having a fundamental period A implementing the selected next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff. [0046] In an embodiment, the operational flow 800 may include at least one additional operation, illustrated as at least one additional operation 840. In an

embodiment, the at least one additional operation may include another comparison operation 842 evaluating a relative signal strength between another first dispersion frequency /+i signal and another second dispersion frequency /-i signal of another radiofrequency electromagnetic beam having the nominal radiofrequency f₀ received by the target antenna from the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the at least one additional operation may include another choosing operation 844 selecting another next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency f₀ in a direction toward the stronger of the another first dispersion frequency /+i signal and the another second dispersion frequency /-i signal of the another transmission. In an embodiment, the at least one additional operation may include another effecting operation 846 implementing the another selected next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. [0047] FIG. 9 illustrates an example environment 900 in which embodiments may be implemented. The environment includes the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna 510 and the target antenna 592 described in conjunction with FIG. 5. The environment includes a system 920. The system includes means 922 for evaluating data indicative of a relative signal strength between a first dispersion frequency /+i signal and a second dispersion frequency /-i signal in a transmission received by the target antenna from the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna having an inherent chromatic dispersion. The electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna configured to implement a plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff at a nominal radiofrequency /₀. The system includes means 924 for selecting a next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency f₀ in a direction toward the stronger one of the first dispersion frequency /+i and the second dispersion frequency The system includes means 926 for implementing the selected next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. In an embodiment of the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna, each selectable effective

electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff is implemented by a respective holographic modulation pattern having a fundamental period Λ.

[0048] In an embodiment, the system 920 includes means 928 for evaluating data indicative of a relative signal strength between another first dispersion frequency /+i signal and another second dispersion frequency /-i signal in another transmission received by the target antenna from the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. In an embodiment, the system includes means 932 for selecting another next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency f₀ in a direction toward the stronger one of the another first dispersion frequency /+i signal and the another second dispersion frequency /-i signal of the another transmission. In an embodiment, the system includes means 934 for implementing the another selected next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna.

[0049] All references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety or to the extent their subject matter is not otherwise inconsistent herewith.

[0050] In some embodiments, "configured" or " configured to" includes at least one of designed, set up, shaped, implemented, constructed, or adapted for at least one of a particular purpose, application, or function. In some embodiments, "configured" or

"configured to" includes positioned, oriented, or structured for at least one of a particular purpose, application, or function.

[0051] It will be understood that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims, are generally intended as "open" terms. For example, the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to." For example, the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least." For example, the term "has" should be interpreted as "having at least." For example, the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc. It will be further understood that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of introductory phrases such as "at least one" or "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a receiver" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one receiver"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, it will be recognized that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number {e.g., the bare recitation of "at least two chambers," or "a plurality of chambers," without other modifiers, typically means at least two chambers).

[0052] In those instances where a phrase such as "at least one of A, B, and C,"

"at least one of A, B, or C," or "an item selected from the group consisting of A, B, and C," is used, in general such a construction is intended to be disjunctive {e.g., any of these phrases would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together, and may further include more than one of A, B, or C, such as Ai, A₂, and C together, A, Bi, B₂, Ci, and C₂ together, or Bi and B₂ together). It will be further understood that virtually any disjunctive word or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

[0053] The herein described aspects depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely examples, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being "operably connected," or "operably coupled," to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being "operably couplable" to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable or physically interacting components or wirelessly interactable or wirelessly interacting components.

[0054] With respect to the appended claims the recited operations therein may generally be performed in any order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in a sequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may be performed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Use of "Start," "End," "Stop," or the like blocks in the block diagrams is not intended to indicate a limitation on the beginning or end of any operations or functions in the diagram. Such flowcharts or diagrams may be incorporated into other flowcharts or diagrams where additional functions are performed before or after the functions shown in the diagrams of this application. Furthermore, terms like "responsive to," "related to," or other past-tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictates otherwise.

[0055] Aspects of the subject matter described herein are set out in the following numbered clauses:

1. A system comprising:

an antenna controller configured to implement a selected pointing angle in an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna in response an instruction, the pointing angle selected from a plurality of pointing angles electronically implementable in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna, each pointing angle of the plurality of pointing angles respectively configured to direct a radiofrequency beam transmitted by the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna;

an alignment sampling circuit configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement a test group of radiofrequency beams from the beamforming antenna to a target antenna using at least two different trial pointing angles selected from the plurality of pointing angles;

a receiver circuit configured to receive data indicative of an alignment quality of the radiofrequency beam between the beamforming antenna and the target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles;

an evaluation circuit configured to select the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles; and an update controller configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna.

2. The system of clause 1, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a dynamically and electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna 3. The system of clause 1, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a metamaterial surface antenna configured to electronically steer a radiofrequency beam.

4. The system of clause 1, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a flat panel electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna.

5. The system of clause 1, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes electronically controllable subwavelength unit cells.

6. The system of clause 1, wherein a small cellular access point includes the beamforming antenna and a macro cellular base station includes the target antenna.

7. The system of clause 1, wherein the beamforming antenna and the target antenna are components in a wireless backhaul link.

8. The system of clause 1, wherein the beamforming antenna has a narrow gain pattern configured to wirelessly transfer data over a distance greater than 2D²/ λ.

9. The system of clause 1, wherein a frequency of the radiofrequency beam is between approximately 0.5-25 GHz.

10. The system of clause 1, wherein a frequency of the radiofrequency beam is between approximately 25-50 GHz.

11. The system of clause 1, wherein a frequency of the radiofrequency beam is greater than approximately 50 GHz.

12. The system of clause 1, wherein the test group includes a pattern of different trial pointing angles selected from the plurality of pointing angles.

13. The system of clause 1, wherein the test group includes a pattern of different trial pointing angles selected from the plurality of pointing angles based upon a pre-established criterion.

14. The system of clause 1, wherein a trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles of the test group is within one degree of a currently implemented pointing angle in the beamforming antenna. 15. The system of clause 1, wherein the alignment sampling circuit is further configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement a second test group in less than one second after implementing a first test group.

16. The system of clause 1, wherein the alignment sampling circuit is further configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement a second test group in less than one millisecond after implementing a first test group.

17. The system of clause 1, wherein the alignment sampling circuit is further configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement a second test group in less than one microsecond after implementing a first test group.

18. The system of clause 1, wherein the alignment sampling circuit is further configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement the test group of radiofrequency beams in response to a detected movement or motion of the beam forming antenna.

19. The system of clause 1, wherein the beamforming antenna is carried on pliant structure, and the alignment sampling circuit is further configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement the test group of radiofrequency beams in response to a movement or motion of the beam forming antenna.

20. The system of clause 1, wherein the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a quality responsive to an alignment of radiofrequency beam pathway between the beamforming antenna and the target antenna.

21. The system of clause 1, wherein the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a wireless channel state information report.

22. The system of clause 1, wherein the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a reference signal received power measurement metric.

23. The system of clause 1, wherein the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a reference signal received quality measurement metric.

24. The system of clause 1, wherein the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a receive signal strength indicator metric.

25. The system of clause 1, wherein the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a channel quality indicator metric. 26. The system of clause 1, wherein the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio metric.

27. The system of clause 1, wherein the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a parameter responsive to data included in a carrier to interference + noise ratio metric.

28. The system of clause 1, wherein the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes (i) a first radiofrequency beam alignment quality of a first frequency or a first wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and (ii) a second radiofrequency beam alignment quality of a second frequency or a second wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna.

29. The system of clause 28, wherein the evaluation circuit is configured to select a trial pointing angle at least in partially in response to a comparison of

(i) a first radiofrequency beam alignment quality of the first frequency or a first wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and

(ii) a second radiofrequency beam alignment quality of the second frequency or a second wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna

for each respective implementation of the at least two different selected trial pointing angles of the test group.

30. The system of clause 28, wherein the evaluation circuit is configured to select a trial pointing angle at least in partially in response to assigning a high alignment quality rating to a pointing angle where the first radiofrequency beam alignment quality and second radiofrequency beam alignment quality are within a selected percentage of each other.

31. The system of clause 1, further comprising:

an analytics circuit configured to analyze a radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and generate the data indicative of the radiofrequency beam alignment quality.

32. The system of clause 1, further comprising:

the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna. 33. The system of clause 1, further comprising:

the target antenna.

34. A method comprising:

implementing a test group of radiofrequency beams in an electronically

reconfigurable beamforming antenna , the test group including at least two different trial pointing angles selected from a plurality of pointing angles electronically implementable in the beamforming antenna;

receiving data indicative of an alignment quality of a radiofrequency beam between the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna and a target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles;

selecting the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles; and

instructing the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna.

35. The method of clause 34, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a metamaterial surface antenna configured to electronically steer a radiofrequency beam.

36. The method of clause 34, wherein the instructing includes instructing the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement a second test group in less than one second after implementing a first test group

37. The method of clause 34, wherein the instructing includes instructing the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement a second test group in less than one millisecond after implementing a first test group.

38. The method of clause 34, wherein the receiving data includes receiving data indicative of a respective radiofrequency beam alignment quality of each of the at least two different trial pointing angles, the radiofrequency beam alignment quality including (i) a first radiofrequency beam alignment quality of a first frequency or a first wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the

beamforming antenna and (ii) a second radiofrequency beam alignment quality of a second frequency or a second wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna.

39. The method of clause 38, wherein the selecting includes selecting a trial pointing angle at least in partially in response to minimizing a difference between (i) a first radiofrequency beam alignment quality of the first frequency or a first wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and

40. The method of clause 34, further comprising:

implementing the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna.

41. The method of clause 34, further comprising:

updating a current pointing angle of the beamforming antenna by implementing another test group of radiofrequency beams in the beamforming antenna.

42. The method of clause 34, further comprising:

analyzing a radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and generating data indicative of the radiofrequency beam alignment quality.

43. An apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to implement a test group of radiofrequency beams in an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna, the test group including at least two different trial pointing angles selected from a plurality of pointing angles electronically implementable in the beamforming antenna;

circuitry configured to receive data indicative of an alignment quality of a radiofrequency beam between the beamforming antenna and a target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles;

circuitry configured to select the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles; and circuitry configured to instruct the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna.

44. The apparatus of clause 43, further comprising: circuitry configured to update a current pointing angle by implementing another test group of radiofrequency beams from the beamforming antenna to the target antenna.

45. The apparatus of clause 43, further comprising:

circuitry configured to analyze a radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and generating data indicative of the

radiofrequency beam alignment quality.

46. A system comprising:

means for implementing a test group of radiofrequency beams in an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna, the test group including at least two different trial pointing angles selected from a plurality of pointing angles electronically implementable in the beamforming antenna;

means for receiving data indicative of an alignment quality of a radiofrequency beam between the beamforming antenna and a target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles;

means for selecting the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles; and

means for instructing the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna. 47. The system of clause 46, further comprising:

means for updating a current pointing angle by implementing another test group of radiofrequency beams from the beamforming antenna to the target antenna.

48. The system of clause 46, further comprising:

means for analyzing a radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and generating data indicative of the radiofrequency beam alignment quality.

49. The system of clause 46, further comprising:

50. A system comprising: an antenna controller configured to implement a plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff at a nominal radiofrequency f₀ in an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna having a chromatic dispersion; a beam direction circuit configured to cause the antenna controller to implement a selected effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff of the plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff;

an alignment tuning circuit configured to (i) evaluate a relative signal strength between a first dispersion frequency /+i signal and a second dispersion frequency /-i signal of a radiofrequency electromagnetic beam having the nominal radiofrequency f₀ received by a target antenna from the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna, and (ii) select a next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency f₀ in a direction toward the stronger one of the first dispersion frequency /+i signal and the second dispersion frequency /-i signal; and

an update controller circuit configured to instruct the beam direction circuit that the next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff is the selected effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff.

51. The system of clause 50, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna is configured to implement a plurality of electronically selectable holographic modulation patterns.

52. The system of clause 50, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a real-time electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna

53. The system of clause 50, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a metamaterial surface antenna.

54. The system of clause 50, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a flat panel electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna.

55. The system of clause 50, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a plurality of electronically controllable subwavelength unit cells.

56. The system of clause 50, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a surface scattering antenna with a plurality of electronically controllable scattering elements. 57. The system of clause 50, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a waveguide coupled with and configured to feed radiofrequency electromagnetic waves to a plurality of electronically controllable scattering elements of the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna.

58. The system of clause 50, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a transmissive surface with a plurality of substrate fed scattering elements or unit cells.

59. The system of clause 50, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a holographic antenna with at least one integrated waveguide.

60. The system of clause 50, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a plurality of electronically controllable subwavelength unit cells.

61. The system of clause 50, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna has an inherent chromatic dispersion.

62. The system of clause 50, wherein each selectable effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff of the plurality of selectable effective electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff is implemented by a respective holographic modulation pattern having a fundamental period Λ.

63. The system of clause 50, wherein the beam direction circuit is configured to cause the antenna controller to implement a selected effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff of the plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency

electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff directed at the target antenna.

64. The system of clause 50, wherein the beam direction circuit is configured to cause the antenna controller to implement a selected effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff of the plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency

electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff by electronically implementing a fundamental period Λ of the holographic modulation pattern in the surface antenna corresponding with the selected pointing angle.

65. The system of clause 50, wherein the alignment tuning circuit configured to (i) evaluate a relative signal strength between a first dispersion frequency /+i signal at a pointing angle 0f+i and a second dispersion frequency /-i signal at a pointing angle 0f-i of a radiofrequency electromagnetic beam having the nominal radiofrequency f₀ received by a target antenna from the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna, and (ii) select a next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency f₀ in a direction toward the stronger one of the first dispersion frequency /+i signal and the second dispersion frequency /-i signal.

66. The system of clause 50, wherein the alignment tuning circuit is configured to evaluate data indicative of the relative signal strength between the first dispersion frequency /+i signal and the second dispersion frequency /-i signal of the radiofrequency electromagnetic beam having the nominal radiofrequency f₀ received by the target antenna from the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna, and if the relative signal strength is not balanced select the next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency f₀ in a direction toward the stronger of the first dispersion frequency /+i signal and the second dispersion frequency /-i signal.

67. The system of clause 50, further comprising:

the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna.

68. The system of clause 50, further comprising:

a radiofrequency generator configured to deliver radiofrequency electromagnetic waves having the nominal frequency f₀ to the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna.

69. The system of clause 50, further comprising:

a receiver circuit configured to receive the data indicative of a relative signal strength between a first dispersion frequency /+i signal and a second dispersion frequency /+i signal received at the target antenna.

70. The system of clause 50, further comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a table correlating each selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff of the plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff at the nominal radiofrequency f₀ with a respective fundamental period Λ of a holographic modulation pattern.

71. The system of clause 50, wherein the beam direction circuit is further configured to calculate the fundamental period Λ of a holographic modulation pattern implementing the selected effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff at a nominal radiofrequency f₀ using the formula ^L / J 0 _ . _Ω

neff — ~^ ^{sin u}eff

where "c" is the speed of light, and n_eff ^1S the effective refractive index.

72. A method comprising:

evaluating a relative strength between a first dispersion frequency /+i signal and a second dispersion frequency /-i signal of a radiofrequency electromagnetic beam having a nominal radiofrequency f₀ received by a target antenna from an electronically

reconfigurable beamforming antenna having an inherent chromatic dispersion, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna configured to implement a plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff at a nominal radiofrequency /₀;

selecting a next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency f₀ toward the stronger of the first dispersion frequency /+i signal and the second dispersion frequency /-i signal; and

implementing the selected next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna.

73. The method of clause 72, wherein each selectable effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff of the plurality of selectable effective electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff is effectuated in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna by a respective holographic modulation pattern having a fundamental period Λ.

74. The method of clause 72, wherein the implementing includes establishing in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna a holographic modulation pattern having a fundamental period Λ implementing the selected next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff.

75. The method of clause 72, further comprising:

evaluating a relative signal strength between another first dispersion frequency /+i signal and another second dispersion frequency /-i signal of another radiofrequency electromagnetic beam having the nominal radiofrequency f₀ received by the target antenna from the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna; selecting another next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency f₀ in a direction toward the stronger of the another first dispersion frequency /+i signal and the another second dispersion frequency /-i signal of the another transmission; and

implementing the another selected next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna.

76. A system comprising:

means for evaluating data indicative of a relative signal strength between a first dispersion frequency /+i signal and a second dispersion frequency /-i signal in a transmission received by a target antenna from an electronically reconfigurable

beamforming antenna having an inherent chromatic dispersion, the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna configured to implement a plurality of selectable effective radiofrequency electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff at a nominal radiofrequency /₀;

means for selecting a next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency f₀ in a direction toward the stronger one of the first dispersion frequency /+i and the second dispersion frequency and

means for implementing the selected next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna.

77. The system of clause 76, wherein each selectable effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff of the plurality of selectable effective electromagnetic beam pointing angles 0_eff is implemented by a respective holographic modulation pattern having a fundamental period Λ.

78. The system of clause 76, further comprising:

means for evaluating data indicative of a relative signal strength between another first dispersion frequency /+i signal and another second dispersion frequency /-i signal in another transmission received by the target antenna from the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna;

means for selecting another next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff pointing the nominal frequency f₀ in a direction toward the stronger one of the another first dispersion frequency /+i signal and the another second dispersion frequency /-i signal of the another transmission; and

means for implementing the another selected next effective electromagnetic beam pointing angle 0_eff in the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna.

[0056] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:

an evaluation circuit configured to select the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles; and

an update controller configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a dynamically and electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a metamaterial surface antenna configured to electronically steer a radiofrequency beam.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a flat panel electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes electronically controllable subwavelength unit cells.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the beamforming antenna has a narrow gain pattern configured to wirelessly transfer data over a distance greater than 2D²/ λ.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the test group includes a pattern of different trial pointing angles selected from the plurality of pointing angles based upon a pre-established criterion.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the alignment sampling circuit is further configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement a second test group in less than one second after implementing a first test group.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the alignment sampling circuit is further configured to instruct the antenna controller to implement the test group of radiofrequency beams in response to a detected movement or motion of the beam forming antenna.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes a quality responsive to an alignment of radiofrequency beam pathway between the beamforming antenna and the target antenna.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the radiofrequency beam alignment quality includes (i) a first radiofrequency beam alignment quality of a first frequency or a first wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna and (ii) a second radiofrequency beam alignment quality of a second frequency or a second wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the beamforming antenna.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the evaluation circuit is configured to select a trial pointing angle at least in partially in response to assigning a high alignment quality rating to a pointing angle where the first radiofrequency beam alignment quality and second radiofrequency beam alignment quality are within a selected percentage of each other.

15. A method comprising:

implementing a test group of radiofrequency beams in an electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna , the test group including at least two different trial pointing angles selected from a plurality of pointing angles electronically implementable in the beamforming antenna;

receiving data indicative of an alignment quality of a radiofrequency beam between the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna and a target antenna for each respective trial pointing angle of the at least two different trial pointing angles; selecting the trial pointing angle having a highest alignment quality from the at least two different selected pointing angles; and

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

implementing the selected trial pointing angle in the beamforming antenna.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna includes a metamaterial surface antenna configured to electronically steer a radiofrequency beam.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the instructing includes instructing the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement a second test group in less than one second after implementing a first test group

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the instructing includes instructing the electronically reconfigurable beamforming antenna to implement a second test group in less than one millisecond after implementing a first test group.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the receiving data includes receiving data indicative of a respective radiofrequency beam alignment quality of each of the at least two different trial pointing angles, the radiofrequency beam alignment quality including (i) a first radiofrequency beam alignment quality of a first frequency or a first wavelet component of the radiofrequency beam received by the target antenna from the

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the selecting includes selecting a trial pointing angle at least in partially in response to minimizing a difference between