METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A REPEATER NETWORK THAT UTILIZES DISTRIBUTED TRANSCEIVERS WITH ARRAY PROCESSING
A device that comprises a plurality of distributed transceivers, a central processor and a network management engine may be configured to function as relay device, relaying an input data stream from a source device to at least one other device. The relaying may include configuring one or more of the plurality of distributed transceivers to particular mode of relay operation and receiving the input data stream from the source device via at least one of the configured one or more of the plurality of distributed transceivers. The relaying may also include transmitting at least one relay data stream corresponding to the input data stream to the at least one other device, via at least one of the configured one or more of the plurality of distributed transceivers.
1 . A method, comprising:
in a relay device that comprises a plurality of distributed transceivers, a central processor and a network management engine:
relaying an input data stream from a source device to at least one other device, wherein said relaying comprises:
configuring one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers to operate in a particular mode of relay operation;
receiving said input data stream from said source device via at least one of said configured one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers; and
transmitting at least one relay data stream corresponding to said input data stream to said at least one other device, via at least one of said configured one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one other device comprises another relay device or a destination device for said input data stream.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said source device comprises another relay device or an original source device for said input data stream.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising determining said particular mode of relay operation based on one or more performance criteria, said performance criteria comprising one or more of: link quality and propagation environment during said communication.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising selecting said particular mode of relay operation from a plurality of modes of relay operation.
6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein said plurality of modes of relay operation comprises a passive mode of relay operation and an active mode of relay operation, said passive mode of relay operation comprising forwarding said data stream unprocessed and said active mode of relay operation comprising performing digital signal processing by said central processor during said reception of said input data stream and/or transmission of said at least one relay data stream.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising monitoring, by said network management engine, one or more communication parameters or conditions associated with said configuration of said one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers.
8 . The method according to claim 7 , comprising configuring based on said monitoring, beamforming settings and antenna arrangement for said one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising determining connection types and communication protocols, and allocating resources to said one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers.
10 . The method according to claim 9 , comprising sharing resources among said one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers.
11 . A system, comprising:
a relay device that comprises a plurality of distributed transceivers, a central processor and a network management engine, said relay device being operable to relay an input data stream from a source device to at least one other device, wherein during said relay of said input data stream, said relay device is operable:
configure one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers to operate in a particular mode of relay operation;
receive said input data stream from said source device via at least one of said configured one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers; and
transmit at least one relay data stream corresponding to said input data stream to said at least one other device, via at least one of said configured one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers.
12 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein said at least one other device comprises another relay device or a destination device for said input data stream.
13 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein said source device comprises another relay device or an original source device for said input data stream.
14 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein said relay device is operable to determine said particular mode of relay operation based on one or more performance criteria, said performance criteria comprising one or more of: link quality and propagation environment during said communication.
15 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein said relay device is operable to select said particular mode of relay operation from a plurality of modes of relay operation.
16 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein said plurality of plurality of modes of relay operation comprises a passive mode of relay operation and an active mode of relay operation, said passive mode of relay operation comprising forwarding said data stream unprocessed and said active mode of relay operation comprising performing digital signal processing by said central processor during said reception of said input data stream and/or transmission of said at least one relay data stream.
17 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein said network management engine is operable to monitor one or more communication parameters or conditions associated with said configuration of said one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers.
18 . The system according to claim 17 , wherein said relay device is operable to configure based on said monitoring, beamforming settings and antenna arrangement for said one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers.
19 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein said relay device is operable to determine connection types and communication protocols, and allocating resources to said one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers.
20 . The system according to claim 19 , wherein said relay device is operable to share resources among said one or more of said plurality of distributed transceivers.