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 signal 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 signal 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 signal 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. The transceivers are configured based on at least one of measured power of the input signal or a distance between the device and the other device.
1. A method, comprising:
in a relay device that comprises a plurality of antenna arrays:
receiving a signal from a source device;
measuring signal power of the received signal;
selecting, based on the measured signal power, a first set of antenna arrays in the plurality of antenna arrays to establish a first link between the relay device and the source device, wherein the signal is received through the first link;
selecting a second set of antenna arrays in the plurality of antenna arrays to establish a second link between the relay device and a destination device, wherein the second set of antenna arrays is selected based on a distance between the relay device and the destination device;
selecting between an active mode or a passive mode of relay operation;
in the active mode of relay operation:
demodulating the received signal to obtain demodulated signal; and
transmitting the demodulated signal on the second link, wherein the signal is received concurrently with the transmitting of the demodulated signal; and
in the passive mode:
forwarding the received signal to the destination device on the second link without demodulating the received signal.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second set of antenna arrays is further selected based on at least one of a transmit power per antenna and a desired width of antenna pattern.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising configuring a first beamforming setting for the first set of antenna arrays.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising configuring a second beamforming setting for the second set of antenna arrays.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in the passive mode:
down-converting a first radio frequency signal, comprising the received signal, to an intermediate frequency signal; and
up-converting the intermediate frequency signal to a second radio frequency signal for transmission on the second link.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a frequency band of the first radio frequency signal is same as the frequency band of the second radio frequency signal.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving the first radio frequency signal by utilizing the first set of antennas configured based on a first beam forming setting; and
transmitting a second beam forming setting by utilizing a second set of antennas configured based on the second beam forming setting, wherein the first beam forming setting is different from the second beam forming setting.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving the first radio frequency signal at first time slot; and
transmitting the second radio frequency signal at a second time slot, while the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal utilize same frequency band.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein a frequency band of the first radio frequency signal is different from the frequency band of the second radio frequency signal.
10. The method of claim 5 , further comprising switching a frequency band of the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal based on one or more network parameter associated with the first link and the second link.
11. A system, comprising:
a relay device that comprises a plurality of antenna arrays, wherein the relay device is configured to:
receive a signal from a source device;
measure signal power of the received signal;
select, based on the measured signal power, a first set of antenna arrays in the plurality of antenna arrays to establish a first link between the relay device and the source device, wherein the signal is received through the first link;
select a second set of antenna arrays in the plurality of antenna arrays to establish a second link between the relay device and a destination device, wherein the second set of antenna arrays is selected based on a distance between the relay device and the destination device;
select between an active mode or a passive mode of relay operation;
in the active mode of relay operation:
demodulate the received signal to obtain demodulated signal; and
transmit the demodulated signal on the second link, wherein the signal is received concurrently with the transmitting of the demodulated signal; and
in the passive mode:
forward the received signal to the destination device on the second link without demodulating the received signal.
12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the second set of antenna arrays is further selected based on at least one of a transmit power per antenna and a desired width of antenna pattern.
13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the relay device is further configured to configure a first beamforming setting for the first set of antenna arrays.
14. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the relay device is further configured to configure a second beamforming setting for the second set of antenna arrays.
15. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the relay device is further configured to:
in the passive mode:
down-convert a first radio frequency signal, comprising the received signal, to an intermediate frequency signal; and
up-convert the intermediate frequency signal to a second radio frequency signal for transmission on the second link.
16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein a frequency band of the first radio frequency signal is same as the frequency band of the second radio frequency signal.
17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the relay device is further configured to:
receive the first radio frequency signal by utilizing the first set of antennas configured based on a first beam forming setting; and
transmit a second beam forming setting by utilizing a second set of antennas configured based on the second beam forming setting, wherein the first beam forming setting is different from the second beam forming setting.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the relay device is further configured to:
receive the first radio frequency signal at first time slot; and
transmit the second radio frequency signal at a second time slot, while the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal utilize same frequency band.
19. The system according to claim 15 , wherein a frequency band of the first radio frequency signal is different from the frequency band of the second radio frequency signal.
20. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the relay device is further configured to switch a frequency band of the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal based on one or more network parameter associated with the first link and the second link.