Efficient beam search and data communication in millimeter-wave wireless networks

1. A computer-implemented method executed in a wireless communication system for establishing communication links in a millimeter wave (mmWave) network, the method comprising:

determining an active communication link between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device transmits probing packets to the second device;

employing a beam search technique to locate narrow beams by triggering the first device to adjust its transmission pattern to cover a fraction of an angular uncertainty region (AUR) at a beginning of a time-slot; and

adjusting transmission coefficients of the first device based on a response received from the second device;

wherein the second device sends an acknowledgment (ACK) packet to the first device and the first device updates the AUR such that the AUR is set to a probed angular interval when the second device receives a probing packet; and

a negative-acknowledgment (NACK) is interpreted by the first device and the first device updates the AUR to a complementary part of the probed interval when the second device does not receive the probing packet.

2. A computer-implemented method executed in a wireless communication system for establishing communication links in a millimeter wave (mmWave) network, the method comprising:

determining an active communication link between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device transmits probing packets to the second device;

employing a beam search technique to locate narrow beams by triggering the first device to adjust its transmission pattern to cover a fraction of an angular uncertainty region (AUR) at a beginning of a time-slot; and

adjusting transmission coefficients of the first device based on a response received from the second device; and

transmission of a series of probing packets followed by data transmission, wherein the beamwidth used in a data transmission interval is found based on a last probing packet and a reply of the second device to this last probing packet.

3. A computer-implemented method executed in a wireless communication system for establishing communication links in a millimeter wave (mmWave) network, the method comprising:

determining an active communication link between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device transmits probing packets to the second device;

employing a beam search technique to locate narrow beams by triggering the first device to adjust its transmission pattern to cover a fraction of an angular uncertainty region (AUR) at a beginning of a time-slot; and

adjusting transmission coefficients of the first device based on a response received from the second device;

wherein the fractions are functions of an initial beamwidth, a beam forming resolution, and an available rate in modulation and coding schemes.

4. A computer-implemented method executed in a wireless communication system for establishing communication links in a millimeter wave (mmWave) network, the method comprising:

determining an active communication link between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device transmits probing packets to the second device;

employing a beam search technique to locate narrow beams by triggering the first device to adjust its transmission pattern to cover a fraction of an angular uncertainty region (AUR) at a beginning of a time-slot; and

adjusting transmission coefficients of the first device based on a response received from the second device;

wherein the fractions are functions of a system overhead including control signals, preambles, propagation delay, and processing delay.

5. A computer-implemented method executed in a wireless communication system for establishing communication links in a millimeter wave (mmWave) network, the method comprising:

determining an active communication link between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device transmits probing packets to the second device;

employing a beam search technique to locate narrow beams by triggering the first device to adjust its transmission pattern to cover a fraction of an angular uncertainty region (AUR) at a beginning of a time-slot; and

adjusting transmission coefficients of the first device based on a response received from the second device;

wherein a beam used for the transmission is selected from a finite set that includes beams with beamwidths that are integer multiples of a base beamwidth.

6. A computer-implemented method executed in a wireless communication system for establishing communication links in a millimeter wave (mmWave) network, the method comprising:

determining an active communication link between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device transmits probing packets to the second device;

employing a beam search technique to locate narrow beams by triggering the first device to adjust its transmission pattern to cover a fraction of an angular uncertainty region (AUR) at a beginning of a time-slot; and

adjusting transmission coefficients of the first device based on a response received from the second device;

wherein the AUR is updated at the end of a time-slot as follows:

Ψ

k

=

{

Θ

k

if

⁢

⁢

A

k

=

1

,

Ψ

k

-

1

-

Θ

k

if

⁢

⁢

A

k

=

0

where Ψ k denotes the AUR, k denotes a time-slot, Θ k denotes an angular coverage region, and A k denotes a binary random variable which is one if the second device transmits the ACK at the end of time-slot k and zero otherwise.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer-readable program for establishing communication links in a millimeter wave (mmWave) network, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:

determining an active communication link between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device transmits probing packets to the second device;

employing a beam search technique to locate narrow beams by triggering the first device to adjust its transmission pattern to cover a fraction of an angular uncertainty region (AUR) at a beginning of a time-slot; and

adjusting transmission coefficients of the first device based on a response received from the second device;

wherein the second device sends an acknowledgment (ACK) packet to the first device and the first device updates the AUR such that the AUR is set to a probed angular interval when the second device receives a probing packet; and

a negative-acknowledgment (NACK) is interpreted by the first device and the first device updates the AUR to a complementary part of the probed interval when the second device does not receive the probing packet.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer-readable program for establishing communication links in a millimeter wave (mmWave) network, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:

determining an active communication link between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device transmits probing packets to the second device;

employing a beam search technique to locate narrow beams by triggering the first device to adjust its transmission pattern to cover a fraction of an angular uncertainty region (AUR) at a beginning of a time-slot; and

adjusting transmission coefficients of the first device based on a response received from the second device; and

transmission of a series of probing packets followed by data transmission, wherein the beamwidth used in a data transmission interval is found based on a last probing packet and a reply of the second device to this last probing packet.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer-readable program for establishing communication links in a millimeter wave (mmWave) network, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:

determining an active communication link between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device transmits probing packets to the second device;

employing a beam search technique to locate narrow beams by triggering the first device to adjust its transmission pattern to cover a fraction of an angular uncertainty region (AUR) at a beginning of a time-slot; and

adjusting transmission coefficients of the first device based on a response received from the second device;

wherein the fractions are functions of an initial beamwidth, a beam forming resolution, and an available rate in modulation and coding schemes.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer-readable program for establishing communication links in a millimeter wave (mmWave) network, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:

determining an active communication link between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device transmits probing packets to the second device;

employing a beam search technique to locate narrow beams by triggering the first device to adjust its transmission pattern to cover a fraction of an angular uncertainty region (AUR) at a beginning of a time-slot; and

adjusting transmission coefficients of the first device based on a response received from the second device;

wherein the fractions are functions of a system overhead including control signals, preambles, propagation delay, and processing delay.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer-readable program for establishing communication links in a millimeter wave (mmWave) network, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:

determining an active communication link between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device transmits probing packets to the second device;

employing a beam search technique to locate narrow beams by triggering the first device to adjust its transmission pattern to cover a fraction of an angular uncertainty region (AUR) at a beginning of a time-slot; and

adjusting transmission coefficients of the first device based on a response received from the second device;

wherein a beam used for the transmission is selected from a finite set that includes beams with beamwidths that are integer multiples of a base beamwidth.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer-readable program for establishing communication links in a millimeter wave (mmWave) network, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:

determining an active communication link between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device transmits probing packets to the second device;

employing a beam search technique to locate narrow beams by triggering the first device to adjust its transmission pattern to cover a fraction of an angular uncertainty region (AUR) at a beginning of a time-slot; and

adjusting transmission coefficients of the first device based on a response received from the second device;

wherein the AUR is updated at the end of a time-slot as follows:

Ψ

k

=

{

Θ

k

if

⁢

⁢

A

k

=

1

,

Ψ

k

-

1

-

Θ

k

if

⁢

⁢

A

k

=

0

where Ψ k denotes the AUR, k denotes a time-slot, Θ k denotes an angular coverage region, and A k denotes a binary random variable which is one if the second device transmits the ACK at the end of time-slot k and zero otherwise.

13. A system for establishing communication links in a millimeter wave (mmWave) network, the system comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors in communication with the memory configured to:

determine an active communication link between a first device and a second device, wherein the first device transmits probing packets to the second device;

employ a beam search technique to locate narrow beams by triggering the first device to adjust its transmission pattern to cover a fraction of an angular uncertainty region (AUR) at a beginning of a time-slot; and

adjust transmission coefficients of the first device based on a response received from the second device;

wherein the second device sends an acknowledgment (ACK) packet to the first device and the first device updates the AUR such that the AUR is set to a probed angular interval when the second device receives a probing packet; and

a negative-acknowledgment (NACK) is interpreted by the first device and the first device updates the AUR to a complementary part of the probed interval when the second device does not receive the probing packet.