Antenna array, network planning system, communication network and method for relaying radio signals with independently configurable beam pattern shapes using a local knowledge

US8977309B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KATHREIN-WERKE KG · DE

Inventors

• Georg Schmidt · Lindflur, DE
• Martin Weckerle · Rosenheim, DE
• Johannes Schlee · Ulm, DE
• Dirk Neumann · Essen, DE
• Johannes Fuchs · Vöhringen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 21, 2009
• Grant date: Mar 10, 2015
• Expiry date: Nov 12, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W16/28
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an antenna array (1) for relaying radio signals into a cell (10) of a communication network (500). The antenna array (1) comprises a plurality of uplink beam forming vectors (20u) selectable as an uplink beam shape for an uplink relaying and a plurality of downlink beam forming vectors (20d) selectable as a down link beam shape for a down link relaying. The plurality of uplink beam forming vectors (20u) and/or the plurality of the downlink beam forming vectors (20d) may be adjusted at a digital radio interface and forwarded from the digital radio interface to the antenna array (1). An individual one (22u) of the plurality of uplink beam forming vectors (20u) and an individual one (22d) of the plurality of downlink beam forming vectors (20d) are independently selectable using a local knowledge (60) about the cell 10. The present disclosure further provides a communication network (500) comprising a plurality of the antenna arrays (1-1, 1-2, . . . , 1-N) for relaying radio signals into the communication network (500). The communication network (500) further comprises a network playing system (200) adapted to independently select an individual one (22u-…