Patent ID: 7627348
Filing Date: 2009-12-01
Classification: H04B,H04W

Abstract:
1. A point to multipoint device for use in a wireless network to provide wireless communication with a plurality of telecommunications units, for communication from the telecommunications units to the point to multipoint device, the point to multipoint device being configured to define a sequence of variable duration communication channels, each communication channel being allocatable to one of said telecommunications units, the point to multipoint device comprising: training sequence storage for storing a training sequence indication indicating a training sequence associated with the point to multipoint device; repetition rate storage for storing a repetition rate at which the training sequence is to be repeated in said sequence of variable duration communication channels, the repetition rate being the same for all point to multipoint devices in the wireless network; an interface for receiving a synchronization signal issued to all point to multipoint devices in the wireless network, the synchronization signal being used to determine a time at which a first occurrence of the training sequence is to occur within the sequence of variable duration communication channels; communication channel control logic for defining the sequence of variable duration communication channels and for causing control data to be transmitted to the telecommunications units identifying the sequence of variable duration communication channels, the training sequence indication and the repetition rate; an antenna array for providing a reception beam for receiving the communication from the telecommunications units; and beamforming logic for determining beamforming weights used to produce the reception beam, the beamforming weights being determined so as to improve received signal quality, the beamforming logic being configured to repeat the determination of beamforming weights at the repetition rate coincident with the appearance of the training sequence in the sequence of variable duration communication channels.