IP Library Granted Patent US 10,616,090
Granted Patent B2
US 10,616,090 · App. 15/591,345 · Granted Apr 7, 2020

Load balancing in multiple-input multiple-output systems using a mesh network

Inventors: Kevin Ross (Saratoga Springs, UT); Muhammad Ahsan Naim (Lehi, UT)
Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
H04L43/16H04B7/0617H04L43/08H04W24/08H04W28/08H04W72/046H04B7/0413H04W40/16H04W84/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,616,090
App. No.
15/591,345
Granted
Apr 7, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques are described for enhancing wireless communication using millimeter wave (mmW) communication and mesh network topology. One method includes transmitting data to a first wireless device via a first mmW communication beam from a base station, determining that a performance level of the first mmW communication beam is below a threshold value based on transmitting the data, and communicating with the first wireless device over a transmission route based on a performance level of a second mmW communication beam. In some examples, the transmission route includes a first segment that includes the second mmW communication beam and a second segment that includes a wireless mesh network.

Claims (57)

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

transmitting data to a first wireless device via a first millimeter wave (mmW) communication beam from a base station;

determining that a performance level of the first mmW communication beam is below a threshold value based at least in part on transmitting the data;

comparing a number of hops between at least one neighboring wireless device and the first wireless device;

selecting a transmission path from the at least one neighboring wireless device to the first wireless device based at least in part on the comparing the number of hops, a topology of a wireless mesh network, and a resource utilization of the at least one neighboring wireless device in the wireless mesh network; and

communicating with the first wireless device in parallel over the first mmW communication beam and a transmission route between the base station and the first wireless device based at least in part on a performance level of a second mmW communication beam, wherein the transmission route comprises a first segment that includes the second mmW communication beam between the base station the at least one neighboring wireless device and a second segment that includes the selected transmission path from the at least one neighboring wireless device and the first wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the performance level of the second mmW communication beam from the base station is above the threshold value based at least in part on determining that the performance level of the first mmW communication beam is below the threshold value.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second mmW communication beam from the base station is associated with the at least one neighboring wireless device.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the wireless mesh network comprises the first wireless device at a first structure and the at least one neighboring wireless device at a second structure that is different from the first structure.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the base station is a serving base station for the first wireless device and the at least one neighboring wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performance level of the first mmW communication beam is based on data traffic, a quality of service (QoS), a quality of a communication link between the base station and the first wireless device, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a signal to noise ratio (SNR), or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performance level of the second mmW communication beam is based on a data traffic, a quality of service (QoS), a quality of a communication link between the base station and the at least one neighboring wireless device, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a signal to noise ratio (SNR), or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the performance level of the first mmW communication beam is below the threshold value comprises:

identifying one or more neighboring wireless devices each located at a different location, at least one of the one or more neighboring wireless devices comprising the at least one neighboring wireless device;

comparing a performance level of a mmW communication beam associated with each of the one or more neighboring wireless devices; and

determining that the performance level of the second mmW communication beam is above the threshold value based at least in part on the comparing.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein comparing the performance level of the mmW communication beam associated with each of the one or more neighboring wireless devices comprises:

comparing a network load capacity of the mmW communication beam associated with each of the one or more neighboring wireless devices based at least in part on network resources of the base station and a resource utilization of at least one service associated with each of the one or more neighboring wireless devices.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving a resource utilization indication identifying available resources for load balancing from at least one of the one or more neighboring wireless devices; and

redirecting communication over the first mmW communication beam to at least one mmW communication beam associated with the at least one neighboring wireless device based at least in part on the resource utilization indication.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

selecting the second mmW communication beam to transmit data associated with the first wireless device based at least in part on comparing the performance level of the mmW communication beam associated with each of the one or more neighboring wireless devices;

determining, in response to selecting the second mmW communication beam, a route for transmission of the data to the first wireless device via the second mmW communication beam and the wireless mesh network based at least in part on selecting the transmission path; and

transmitting the data to the first wireless device based at least in part on the determined route.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting a capability indication of the second mmW communication beam to the first wireless device via the selected transmission path.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting route information to the first wireless device via the selected transmission path, the route information indicating a path through the wireless mesh network to the at least one neighboring wireless device associated with the second mmW communication beam.

14. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

receiving data at a first wireless device via a first millimeter wave (mmW) communication beam of a base station;

identifying that a performance level of the first mmW communication beam is below a threshold value based at least in part on the data;

comparing a number of hops between at least one neighboring wireless device and the first wireless device;

selecting a transmission path from the at least one neighboring wireless device to the first wireless device based at least in part on the comparing the number of hops, a topology of a wireless mesh network, and a resource utilization of the at least one neighboring wireless device in the wireless mesh network; and

communicating data with the first wireless device in parallel over the first mmW communication beam and a transmission route between the first wireless device and the base station based at least in part on a performance level of a second mmW communication beam, wherein the transmission route comprises a first segment that includes the first wireless device and the selected transmission path from the at least one neighboring wireless device and a second segment that includes the second mmW communication beam between the at least one neighboring wireless device and the base station.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

identifying that the performance level of the second mmW communication beam from the base station is above the threshold value based at least in part on identifying that the performance level of the first mmW communication beam is below the threshold value.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving, from the base station, route information indicating a path to the at least one neighboring wireless device associated with the second mmW communication beam,

wherein transmitting data to the base station is based at least in part on the route information.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

receiving an indication that the at least one neighboring wireless device is associated with the second mmW communication beam;

determining the number of hops from the at least one neighboring wireless device to the first wireless device based at least in part on the topology of the wireless mesh network; and

selecting a route through the wireless mesh network from the first wireless device to the at least one neighboring wireless device based at least in part on determining the number of hops,

wherein transmitting data to the base station is based at least in part on the selecting the route.

18. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor; and

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

the processor and the memory configured to:

transmit data to a first wireless device via a first millimeter wave (mmW) communication beam from the apparatus;

determine that a performance level of the first mmW communication beam is below a threshold value based at least in part on transmitting the data;

compare a number of hops between at least one neighboring wireless device and the first wireless device;

select a transmission path from the at least one neighboring wireless device to the first wireless device based at least in part on the comparing the number of hops, a topology of a wireless mesh network, and a resource utilization of the at least one neighboring wireless device in the wireless mesh network; and

communicate with the first wireless device in parallel over the first mmW communication beam and a transmission route between the apparatus and the first wireless device based at least in part on a performance level of a second mmW communication beam, wherein the transmission route comprises a first segment that includes the second mmW communication beam between the apparatus the at least one neighboring wireless device and a second segment that includes the selected transmission path from the at least one neighboring wireless device and the first wireless device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, are further configured to cause the apparatus to:

determine that the performance level of the second mmW communication beam from the apparatus is above the threshold value based at least in part on determining that the performance level of the first mmW communication beam is below the threshold value.

Assignments (8)
AFTER-ACQUIRED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 27, 2025
From: VIVINT LLC; SMART HOME PROS, INC.; VIVINT AMIGO, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS PRIORITY COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 070349/0816 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 049283, FRAME 0566 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0137 →
RELEASE (REEL 047029/ FRAME 0304) Recorded Nov 1, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT LLC (F/K/A VIVINT, INC.)
Reel/Frame 069289/0468 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 056832/0824 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2019
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 049283/0566 →
SUPPL. NO. 2 SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA N.A.
Reel/Frame 047024/0048 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 047029/0304 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2017
From: ROSS, KEVIN; NAIM, MUHAMMAD AHSAN
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 042322/0117 →
Continuity (1)
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