Packet detection in point-to-point wireless communication networks

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a receiving node, a plurality of packets;

adjusting, by an adjustable gain amplifier of the receiving node, a power level of the received plurality of packets;

controlling, by a gain control module, a gain of the adjustable gain amplifier, thereby controlling the power level of the received plurality of packets;

monitoring, by a statistical analysis block, the controlled gain of the gain control module over a period of time, comprising monitoring the controlled gain while the gain control module is operating in a free-running mode without any external control for the period of time, wherein the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier is not fixed;

after the period of time, selecting, by a statistical analysis block, a maximum gain for the gain control module based on a distribution of the monitored controlled gain of the gain control module over the period of time, wherein the maximum gain is a maximum level of gain provided; and

controlling, by the gain control module, the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier based on the selected maximum gain.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

predicting a timing of reception of interfering packets based on the monitoring of the controlled gain of the gain control module over the period of time.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein controlling the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier is additionally based on the identified timing of reception of the interfering packets and comprises setting the gain lower when reception of interfering packets is predicted and higher for when reception of desired packets is predicted.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier is set for the maximum gain when reception of desired packets is predicted.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein during the free-running mode the gain control module continually adjusts the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier based on a received signal power of the received plurality of packets.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising tracking the controlled gain of the gain control module over the period of time, generating a statistical analysis of the tracking, and controlling, by the gain control module, the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier based on the statistical analysis.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the receiving node performs at least a part of the generating the statistical analysis of the tracking.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein an external controller performs at least a part of the generating the statistical analysis of the tracking.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising further controlling, by the gain control module, the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier based on scheduling of transmitted packets.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving, by the receiving node, the scheduling of transmitted packets from an external controller.

11. A node comprising:

an RF (radio frequency) chain including a receiver to receive a plurality of packets;

an adjustable gain amplifier of the RF chain operative to adjust a power level of the received plurality of packets;

a processor; and

a memory for storing program instructions that are executable by the processor to:

operate a gain control module to control a gain of the adjustable gain amplifier, thereby controlling the power level of the received plurality of packets;

monitor the controlled gain of the gain control module over a period of time, comprising monitoring the controlled gain while the gain control module is operating in a free-running mode without any external control for the period of time, and wherein the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier is not fixed;

after the period of time, select a maximum gain for the gain control module based on a distribution of the monitored controlled gain of the gain control module over the period of time, wherein the maximum gain is a maximum level of gain provided;

control the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier based on the selected maximum gain.

12. The node of claim 11 , wherein a timing of reception of interfering packets is predicted based on the monitoring of the controlled gain of the gain control module over the period of time.

13. The node of claim 12 , wherein controlling the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier is additionally based on the identified timing of reception of the interfering packets and comprises setting the gain lower when reception of interfering packets is predicted and higher for when reception of desired packets is predicted.

14. The node of claim 13 , wherein the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier is set for the maximum gain when reception of desired packets is predicted.

15. The node of claim 11 , wherein during the free-running mode the gain control module continually adjusts the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier based on a received signal power of the received plurality of packets.

16. The node of claim 15 , further comprising tracking the controlled gain of the gain control module over the period of time, generating a statistical analysis of the tracking, and controlling, by the gain control module, the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier based on the statistical analysis.

17. The node of claim 16 , wherein the receiving node performs at least a part of the generating the statistical analysis of the tracking.

18. The node of claim 16 , wherein an external controller performs at least a part of the generating the statistical analysis of the tracking.

19. The node of claim 11 , wherein the gain control module further operates to control the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier based on scheduling transmitted packets.

20. The node of claim 19 , wherein the receiving node receives the scheduling transmitted packets from an external controller.