Patent ID: 6426814
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: H01Q,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
In a microwave network of the type having a plurality of spatially separated, mutually communicating network nodes, each mutually communicating node having a local microwave transmitter port and a local microwave receiver port, a spatially switched router for data packets comprising:an RF switch assembly associated with each of said mutually communicating network nodes; an RF optics focusing and collimating antenna capable of radiating RF energy received from a curved peripheral surface thereof, outwardly spanning an angular range covering the communicating nodes in line-of-sight relation without motion of the antenna, the antenna in RF communication with the RF switch assembly; and a plurality of RF optics microwave waveguide feeding-ports disposed side-by-side about the curved peripheral surface of the antenna, the microwave feeding ports communicating RF energy from the RF switch assembly and the RF optics and collimating antenna and using control signals that synchronously activate the RF switch assembly to route data packets modulating an RF signal from the local transmitter port towards the RF optics microwave feeding-ports, through the antenna and outwardly toward one of the network nodes and from another of the network nodes into the antenna and toward the RF optics microwave feeding-ports and then towards the local receiver port, the RF switch receiving routing information regarding transmission and reception timing schedules and a corresponding direction of transmission and reception of data packets, the switch synchronously switching directions of transmission and reception of data packets between nodes upon the reception and transmission of data packets, wherein the control signals for switching are based on the routing information in the data packets, including updated schedule information for transmission and reception timing and direction of transmission and reception of data packets between communicating nodes.