Granted Patent B2

US 9,872,327 · App. 15/085,335 · Granted Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

Claims (32)

1. A multi-mode antenna system configured to enable one or more social networking capabilities between a designated device and one or more linkable devices each connected within a wireless network, the antenna system comprising:

a modal antenna coupled to an antenna tuning module for configuring the modal antenna in one of a plurality of possible antenna modes, wherein the modal antenna is configured to produce a distinct radiation pattern when configured in each of the plurality of possible antenna modes; and

an adaptive processor coupled to each of the modal antenna and the antenna tuning module, the adaptive processor being configured with an algorithm for adjusting a radiation pattern associated with the modal antenna, the algorithm configured to:

identify the one or more linkable devices within the wireless network, said linkable devices being within a user-defined proximity with the designated device containing the multi-mode antenna system; and

send control signals to the antenna tuning module for adjusting the radiation pattern of the modal antenna;

wherein the multi-mode antenna system is configured to: selectively produce one of: a gain maxima or a null in a direction associated with each of the identified linkable devices.

2. The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the modal antenna comprises: an antenna radiator disposed above a ground plane forming an antenna volume therebetween, a first parasitic element at least partially disposed within said antenna volume, said first parasitic element being coupled with a first active tuning element for varying a reactance of the antenna; and a second parasitic element positioned outside of the antenna volume and adjacent to the antenna radiator, said second parasitic element being coupled with a second active tuning element for varying a current mode thereon.

3. The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the antenna system is configured to:

communicate with each of the linkable devices;

obtain a device identification tag from each of the linkable devices; and

process each of the identification tags to determine for each linkable device whether to link or to block communications therewith.

4. The antenna system of claim 3 , wherein the antenna system is further configured to:

compare each of the identification tags with a lookup table to identify a user-specified instruction for each device, wherein the instruction comprises one of: connect or block; and

implement the user specified instruction by adjusting the radiation pattern of the modal antenna.

5. The antenna system of claim 1 , comprising: two or more modal antennas configured in an array.

6. The antenna system of claim 5 , wherein the antenna system is configured to adjust the radiation pattern of each of the modal antennas to adjust the overall radiation pattern of the array.

7. In a designated device comprising a multi-mode antenna system as described in claim 1 , a method for enabling one or more social networking capabilities between the designated device and another device within a wireless network, the method comprising:

identifying one or more linkable devices located within proximity to the designated wireless device; and

at least one of:

optimizing a communication link between the designated device and one or more of the linkable devices in the network;

terminating communication between the designated device and one or more of the linkable devices;

adjusting transmit power of one or more of the designated device and linkable devices for improving communication therebetween;

categorizing one or more of the linkable devices into one or more user-defined groups;

transmitting a data file to one or more of the linkable devices based on group assignment or proximity within the network; or

providing communication with one or more linkable devices determined to be present within a pre-determined proximity with the designated device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said optimizing comprises forming gain maxima in the radiation pattern by selecting an optimum antenna mode of the modal antenna.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said optimizing comprises steering the antenna radiation pattern of the designated device to maximize link quality in a direction of one or more of the linkable devices.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein said terminating comprises creating a null in the antenna radiation pattern and orienting said null in a direction of one or more of the linkable devices.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein said terminating comprises reducing antenna transmit power in a direction of one or more of the linkable devices.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein said terminating comprises steering the null in a direction of one or more of the linkable devices.

13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

communicating data to one or more of the linkable devices, wherein said data comprises instructions for configuring a mode of a modal antenna associated with the linkable device.

Assignments (6)