Software defined radio for auxiliary receiver

A first base station may be configured as an auxiliary receiver for a data stream sent on an uplink from a source device to a second base station. The second base station may be a base station that is engaged in conventional communications with the source device on uplink and downlink channels using a selected protocol. The first base station may be used to provide extra data redundancy/QoS for a data stream sent from the source device to a destination device through the second base station. The first base station may determine that it has available bandwidth and is able to serve as an auxiliary receiver. The first base station may be asked by the second base station to provide extra bandwidth when certain network conditions occur. The first base station may include a software defined radio (SDR) that may be configured to receive according to the selected protocol.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communications for media applications requires high quality of service (QoS) both on the uplink (from a source wireless device to a network eNodeB/access point (AP)) and on the downlink (from a network eNodeB/AP to a destination wireless device) directions. It is commonly understood that the downlink, as the last link (“last mile”, or “last access”), is a bottleneck for performance. However, it is not uncommon that the uplink from the source wireless device may be the limiting factor on performance. For example, uplink performance may suffer due to the limited transmission power that is available on small battery powered portable devices, while the downlink may be provided abundant eNodeB/AP transmission power. Also, the fact that the eNodeB AP is a device integrated into the network infrastructure may allow more efficient link management for the downlinks. Most networks, therefore, exhibit unbalanced performance between uplink and downlink.

SUMMARY

The embodiments provide implementations of a base station that may function as an auxiliary base station. The auxiliary base station includes a software defined radio (SDR) receiver that may be configured to operate as an auxiliary receiver on the uplink for a data stream sent from a source device to a primary base station. The auxiliary base station may be used to provide extra data redundancy/QoS for uplink transmissions of source device that is engaged in uplink and or downlink communications with a primary base station using a selected protocol and sending a data stream to a destination device. The auxiliary base station may determine that it has available bandwidth and is able to serve as an auxiliary receiver. The auxiliary base station may also be asked by a network controller or the primary base station to provide extra bandwidth when certain network conditions occur that negatively affect uplink quality for the source device. In order to configure itself as an auxiliary receiver, the auxiliary base station may scan uplink transmissions and determine the selected protocol of the source device. Alternately, the auxiliary base station may determine the selected protocol that the source device is using by receiving an indication of the protocol from the primary base station, a network controller, or from the source device. The auxiliary base station may then configure itself by retrieving code for the appropriate protocol from a database, either stored in the auxiliary base station or located remotely to the auxiliary base station. The code may also be retrieved from a cloud service managed by a third party. The auxiliary base station may then begin to intercept/receive the full data stream, or only a partial data stream, on the uplink from the source device. The data stream received on the uplink at the auxiliary base station may be forwarded onward from the auxiliary base station to the destination device as a data stream that is redundant to the data stream received at the primary base station on the uplink. A device along the transmission path to the destination device then may use the redundant data stream forwarded from the auxiliary base station to enhance overall performance and quality of the data at the destination device. For example, data combining techniques may be used in the destination device to combine the data stream front the primary base station and the redundant data stream from the auxiliary base station. In other implementations, the data combining may be performed elsewhere along the transmission path such as at a destination base station that sends the combined data streams to the destination device over a downlink channel.

In an implementation, a base station may include a SDR receiver configured to allow the base station to operate as an auxiliary receiver. In an example implementation, the base station may include a wideband receiver bank and a digital physical/media access control (PHY/MAC) layer receiver. In this example, the SDR receiver may use a protocol analyzer to determine the protocol used by the source device on the uplink to the primary base station, and then configure the digital PHY/MAC layer receiver for that protocol when operating as art auxiliary receiver. Also, the digital PHY/MAC layer receiver may be configured to operate according to another protocol when operating as a primary base station. In another example, the base station may include a receiver hank for a wireless system, for example, a fifth Generation (5G) receiver bank, and include an additional receiver having SDR configurable capability. The additional receiver may be, for example, a digital Wi-Fi receiver configurable to operate according to various Wi-Fi protocols. The base station may use a protocol analyzer to determine the particular Wi-Fi protocol used by the source device on the uplink to the primary base station. The base station may then configure the additional receiver as the auxiliary receiver for that Wi-Fi protocol.

In another implementation, the base station may transmit a beacon alerting some devices of the capability of the base station to operate as an auxiliary receiver. In an example of this implementation, the base station may transmit information on the beacon about one or more protocols according to which the base station may provide auxiliary reception for the source devices on the uplink.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The system, method and apparatus will non be described by use of example embodiments. The example embodiments are presented in this disclosure for illustrative purposes, and not intended to be restrictive or limiting on the scope of the disclosure or the claims presented herein.

The embodiments of the disclosure provide systems, apparatus, and methods that allow a first base station to be configured to operate as an auxiliary receiver for a data stream sent on an uplink from a source device to a second base station. The second base station may be a base station that is engaged in conventional 2-way communications with the source device as the primary base station while operating in a primary mode, for example, on uplink and downlink channels using a selected (usually identical) protocol. The first base station may be used to provide extra data redundancy/QoS for a data stream sent on the uplink from the source device to a destination device through the second base station. The first base station may determine that it has available bandwidth and is able to serve as an auxiliary receiver. The first base station may also be asked by a network controller or the second base station to provide extra bandwidth when certain network conditions occur that negatively affect uplink quality for the source device. The first base station may include a software defined radio (SDR) receiver that may be configured to receive according to the selected protocol when the first base station is operating as an auxiliary receiver. The term “base station” as used in this disclosure includes a base station, a terminal, an access point (AP), or any other apparatus that communicates with a wireless device to provide access to any type of network, for example a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, the internet, or a local access network (LAN).

Use of a SDR receiver according to the embodiments provides an advantage in that the first base station may operate as an auxiliary receiver for a source device by utilizing a protocol selected from one or more protocols in scenarios when uplink bandwidth/resources provided to the source device by a second or primary base station are not adequate. For example, when the first base station has available bandwidth it may be flexibly configured to provide uplink support for a variety of protocols when the uplinks in a system become overloaded. Using the first base station as an auxiliary receiver allows the resources of the first base station to be utilized in situations where the first base station would otherwise be idle and not utilized. If the resources of the first base station are needed for operation in primary mode, the first base station may switch back to primary mode from auxiliary mode. For example, depending on the hardware configuration, the first base station may be used to flexibly provide uplink support in systems operating according to one or more protocols such as the various IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi protocols, 3rd Generation Cellular (3G), 4thGeneration Cellular (4G) wide band code division multiple access (WCDMA), and Long Term Evolution (LTE) Cellular when a system needs the support and the first base station has available resources. The first base station may operate in a primary mode to provide conventional uplink and downlink communications to devices using, for example, any of the IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi, 3rd Generation Cellular (3G), 4thGeneration Cellular (4G), wide band code division multiple access (WCDMA), or Long Term Evolution (LTE) Cellular protocols. Then when operating in auxiliary mode, the first base station may configure itself as an auxiliary receiver as needed to provide uplink support using any of above protocols that it does not use for conventional uplink and downlink communications. The first base station may switch between primary mode and auxiliary mode as resource availability and resource requirements allow. Programs and code may be retrieved by the first base station for the SDR receiver as needed to configure the SDR receiver for the appropriate protocol. The embodiments allow flexible operation of a base station as an auxiliary receiver. For example, in one implementation the auxiliary receiver may be configured in one or more base stations implemented as micro-base stations that cover an area such as a mall, a hotel, a transportation hub, or other similar public/private areas to provide service according to a cellular protocol.

The term micro-base station as used in this specification means a low power base station that covers a relatively small area compared to conventional base stations. For example, while a conventional cellular base station may cover an area of up to 22 kilometers, a micro-base station may use power control to limit the radius of its coverage area. In one application, a micro-base station may provide coverage in an area of 2 kilometers or less (microcell). A micro-base station also includes a base station that provides coverage of an area on the order of 200 meters or less (picocell), or of an area of 10 meters or less (femtocell). Micro-base stations may be used to add network capacity in areas with very dense mobile device usage, such as train stations and are often deployed temporarily during sporting events and other occasions in which extra capacity is known to be needed at a specific location in advance. Use of micro-base stations with power control implemented in wireless networks makes it easier to prevent interference from nearby cells using the same frequencies. By subdividing cells, and creating more cells to help serve high density areas, a wireless network operator can optimize the use of spectrum and increase capacity.

In the micro-base station scenario, when cellular traffic is low and one or more of the micro-base stations are not being used or not being fully utilized, the one or more unused micro-base stations may be used as auxiliary receivers. When used as an auxiliary receiver each of the one or more unused micro-base stations may intercept a data stream sent on an uplink from a source device to an access point (AP) or base station according to a local network protocol different from the cellular protocol used by the unused micro-base station, and provide a redundant data stream at a destination device. For example, the cellular protocol may be a fifth generation (5G) protocol and the local network protocol may be a Wi-Fi protocol. In order to function as an auxiliary receiver, a micro-base station may first determine the protocol used by the source device, and then self-configure to receive according to that protocol. Micro-base stations according to this implementation may be used to add network capacity in areas with very dense mobile device usage, such as train stations and may also be deployed temporarily during sporting events and other occasions in Which extra capacity is known to be needed at a specific location in advance. While these micro-base stations are primarily added to provide cellular coverage, the ability to configure the micro-base stations to function as auxiliary receivers may be utilized, for example, to enhance QoS for data streams sent on the uplinks of a local Wi-Fi system that includes one or more APs.

In one example of this implementation, the source devices that generate/send the data streams and the APs that receive the data streams need not be aware of the auxiliary receiver operation. In this case, the micro-base stations may determine the protocol used by source devices by scanning and protocol analysis. This allows flexible installation and removal of the micro-base stations in the coverage areas of networks in which the micro-base stations may operate as auxiliary receivers. In another example, the APs may be aware of the auxiliary receiver operation of the micro-base stations. In this case applications may be installed on the APs and on the micro-base stations that allow information to be exchanged between the APs and micro-base stations to facilitate the operation of the micro-base stations as auxiliary receivers. For example, the APs may send requests to the micro-base station requesting bandwidth for a particular protocol. In a further example, a network controller may be implemented to coordinate the operation of the micro-base stations as auxiliary receivers

While implementations of the embodiments are described as using micro-base stations, the embodiments may be implemented in networks using any type of base station, or combination of types of base stations, where the disclosed techniques may provide an advantage.

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating a system including an example implementation of a base station operable as an auxiliary receiver. System100includes base station102and base station106. Base station102may be implemented as a Wi-Fi access point (AP) and base station106may be implemented as a 5G micro-base station. System100also includes base station130, which ma be implemented as a 5G micro-base station. Base stations102,106and130may configured to communicate with one another through a network implemented, for example, by communication paths through internet116. InFIG. 1, device104and device128, which are shown as an example laptop computer and an example tablet computing device, respectively, communicate with each other through internet116using base stations102and130. In an example, device104and device128may be communicating data streams for a user application such as a video/voice call application or another multimedia application that uses high data rate transmissions. Device104is shown sending an uplink data stream105to base station. Base station102then routes data stream105through the internet116to base station130which sends data stream105to device128on the downlink (DL) between base station130and device128. Device104is also shown receiving data stream103from base station102on the downlink (DL) channel between base station102and device104. Data stream103has originated at device128which sends data stream103to base station130on the uplink (UL) between device128and base station130. Base station130then routes data stream103through the internet116to base station102for sending to device104.

In the implementation ofFIG. 1, base station106may operate as an auxiliary receiver in auxiliary mode to provide extra data redundancy/QoS for base station102for data stream105when base station106has available bandwidth. In this scenario, base station106may intercept data stream105(as sent to base station102on the LT between device104and base station102) as data stream105axusing a Wi-Fi SDR and forward the intercepted data stream onward to internet116as redundant data stream105axfor routing to base station130which then sends data stream105axto device128on the downlink channel (DL) between base station130and device128as redundant data stream105ax. Device128may then combine the data streams105and105axutilizing the redundant data stream105axfor more accurate data decoding and better quality of service for the application with which the two devices are communication. For example, in one implementation, device128may determine that data stream105and redundant data stream105axare related by analyzing the source address of each data stream. The two data streams105and105axmay then be combined at the physical layer, provided to the network layer, and then provided to the destination application in device128. The destination application may combine the two data streams105and105axusing redundancy/error correction/combining techniques and process the bits for appropriate use at the application. The combining may be done using, for example, selective combining, maximal ration combining, or equal gain combining.

In certain implementations, base station106may be configured with applications that allow it to operate as an auxiliary receiver when communicating with other devices in the system. For example, base station106may be configured to communicate wirelessly, or through the internet, with base station102so that base station102may send requests fir auxiliary bandwidth to base station106, and base station106may respond appropriately. Base station106may also be configured to communicate with other devices in the network so that base station106may receive requests for bandwidth from these other devices. For example, a network controller may be configured in the system infrastructure or in the internet116to communicate with base station106so that requests for bandwidth may be received from the network controller. The network controller may be a device that manages bandwidth use in the system. In another example, base station106and device104may be configured to communicate so that base station106may receive requests for bandwidth from device104. In these implementations, each of the communicating devices may be equipped with an application that allows each device to be aware of each other's location and/or address in the system (for example an IP address) and send/receive appropriate communication signals. In one implementation, an initial registration of base station106for setup of the communications with other devices in the system100may be performed upon installation/activation of base station106.

In one example implementation, base station106may also function to operate it primary mode as a conventional 5G micro base station to provide uplink/downlink communications through the internet with any other 5G devices that move into the coverage area of base station106. When there is a light load of 5G devices or no 5G devices in the coverage area of base station106and bandwidth resources are available, base station106may configure itself to intercept the Wi-Fi data stream105and provide extra redundancy for base station102for data stream105(thereby improving the bandwidth of base station102and/or reducing the error rate of base station102). In another example implementation, base station106may function as a dedicated auxiliary receiver for uplink transmissions of devices such as device104. In this implementation, base station106may not have a primary mode of operation. When base station106has available bandwidth it may configure its SDR to intercept uplink data streams transmitted from various devices using various protocols, depending on the devices, to provide data redundancy to the devices for their uplink transmissions.

Devices104and128may be any type of mobile device such as a smart phone or laptop computer. Each of the devices104and128may also be alternatively implemented as any other type of device such as, for example, desktop PCs, gaming devices, media devices, smart televisions, home theater systems, smart automobile systems, smart house systems, multimedia cable/television boxes, smart phone accessory devices, tablet devices, tablet accessory devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable media players, smart watches, smart sensors, or industrial control systems. In other example implementations ofFIG. 1, base station102and/or base station106may be configured according to any other wireless interface standard such as 3GPP Wide Band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), or another wireless interface standard. Base station106may then be configured to provide auxiliary radio service based on an appropriate protocol of base station102.

In an example implementation ofFIG. 1, the operation of base station106to provide data redundancy to device104may be initiated by a request for bandwidth received at base station106from base station102, a request received from device104, or a request received from a network controller implemented in internet116. In this case, base station106may use protocol information received with the request for bandwidth to configure its SDR receiver to intercept data stream105using the appropriate protocol.

In another example implementation, the operation of base station106to provide data redundancy to device104may be self-initiated at base station106when base station106has available bandwidth. In this case, base station106may scan uplink transmissions from device104to determine the protocol used by base station102and configure its SDR receiver to intercept data stream105according to the determined protocol. In this case, the operation of base station106may be transparent to device104and base station102.

FIGS. 2A and 2Bare simplified functional diagrams showing example implementations of base station106ofFIG. 1. Each ofFIGS. 2A and 2Bshow a different example implementation according to which base station106may be implemented.

FIG. 2Ashows an example implementation of base station106in which base station106scans uplink transmissions from device104to determine the protocol used by device104.FIG. 2Aillustrates functions by which base station106determines the protocol used by device104on the uplink and configures itself to intercept the uplink data stream105axsent by device104. In the implementation ofFIG. 2A, base station106may include wideband RF receiver212, wideband mixed digital receiver216, protocol analyzer218, digital physical/media access control (PHY/MAC) receiver220, controller223, memory SDR database221, and 5G transmitter (XMIT)214. The functions of the various components in the implementations of base station106shown inFIG. 1Awill be described below in relation to the process ofFIG. 3.

In the implementation ofFIG. 2A, base station106may operate in both of a primary mode and an auxiliary mode. When operating in primary mode, base station106may provide uplink and downlink communications to devices in a conventional manner. For example, 5G transmitter (XMIT)214may be utilized for the downlink in primary mode. Also, in primary mode, wideband RF receiver212, wideband mixed digital receiver216, and digital physical/media access control (PHY/MAC) receiver220may be utilized by configuring digital physical/media access control (PHY/MAC) receiver220to operate according to the appropriate 5G protocol. In this implementation, if base station106is in primary mode when base station106has determined that it is to operate as an auxiliary receiver, base station106may switch to operate in auxiliary mode through the process ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 3shows basic operations that may be performed in the implementations of base station106shown inFIG. 2A. At302, when base station106has determined that it is to operate as an auxiliary receiver, for example, because base station106is operating in self initiation mode and has determined it has available bandwidth, controller223controls base station106to determine a protocol used on the uplink by devices such as source device104. To do this, controller223causes wideband RF receiver212to scan a range of frequencies of protocols that device104could be using to send uplink data. In the implementation ofFIG. 2Awideband RF receiver212scans and receives data stream105. The scanned transmissions are then converted into digital signals at wideband mixed digital receiver216and provided to protocol analyzer218. Protocol analyzer218identifies the protocol used to transmit data stream105using protocol analysis and provides a protocol indication to controller223. For example, protocol analyzer218may identify the protocol as a particular Wi-Fi protocol, for example Wi-Fi 802.11ag, and provide the protocol indication to controller223.

At304, controller223then retrieves SDR code for the protocol from memory/SDR database221and configures the software definable radio (SDR) portion of the digital PHY/MAC receiver220to receive and process the data stream105axaccording to the identified protocol. At306, base station106intercepts the data stream105axsent from device104to base station102using PHY/MAC receiver220. At308, base station106then may then send the data stream front PHY/MAC receiver220to the internet116as redundant data stream105ax. Redundant data stream105axmay then be sent to base station130, and sent from base station130to destination device128.

In an alternative implementation, at302controller223may receive an indication of the protocol used by a source device from another device such as base station102or a network controller. At304, controller223may then configure di stat PHY/MAC receiver220appropriately to function as an auxiliary receiver. The indication of the protocol may be included in a request for bandwidth sent to the base station106from base station102or from the network controller. The request for bandwidth may also identify a particular device, such as base station102, or channels that need extra bandwidth. In another implementation, the indication of the protocol may be sent to base station106in response to base station106sending an indication that base station106has available bandwidth to another device such as base station102or a network controller.

FIG. 2Bis a simplified diagram illustrating another example implementation of base station106ofFIG. 1. In the implementation ofFIG. 2B, base station106may function as an auxiliary Wi-Fi receiver or auxiliary 5G receiver in addition to its normal 5G base station functions.FIG. 2Billustrates functions by which base station106determines the protocol used by device104on the uplink and configures itself to intercept the uplink data stream105axsent by device104. Base station106may include 5G RF receiver bank234, wideband mixed digital receiver236, protocol analyzer239, 5G receiver238, digital Wi-Fi receiver240, controller241, memory SDR database243, and 5G transmitter (XMIT)245. The functions of the components of base station106in the implementation ofFIG. 2Bmay be described in relation the process ofFIG. 3.

In the implementation ofFIG. 2B, base station106may operate in both of a primary mode and an auxiliary mode. When operating in primary mode, base station106may provide uplink and downlink communications to devices in a conventional manner. For example, 5G transmitter (XMIT)245may be utilized for the downlink in primary mode. Also, in primary mode, 5G RF receiver bank234, wideband mixed digital receiver236, and 5G receiver238may be utilized to operate according to the appropriate 5G protocol. In this implementation, if base station106is in primary mode when base station106has determined that it is to operate as an auxiliary receiver, base station106may switch to operate in auxiliary mode through the process ofFIG. 3.

When base station106has determined that it is to operate as an auxiliary receiver (for example, because base station106is operating in self initiation mode and has determined it has available bandwidth), controller241may determine a protocol used by devices such as source deice104. Controller241may do using 5G RF receiver bank234to scan a range of frequencies of Wi-Fi and 5G protocols with which the devices such as device104could be sending uplink data stream105. In the implementation ofFIG. 2B, 5G RF receiver bank234scans and receives data stream105. The scanned transmissions are then converted into digital signals at wideband mixed digital receiver236and provided to protocol analyzer239. Protocol analyzer239identifies the protocol using protocol analysis and provides a protocol indication to controller241. For example, protocol analyzer may provide controller241with an indication of a particular Wi-Fi protocol that is used by device104.

At304, controller241then retrieves the SDR code for the indicated protocol from memory/SDR database243and configures the software definable radio (SDR) portion of the digital Wi-pi receiver240to receive and process the data stream105axat Wi-Fi receiver240according to the identified protocol. At306, base station106intercepts the data stream105sent from device104to base station102as data stream105axusing digital Wi-Fi receiver240. At308, base station106may then send the data stream105axto the internet116for destination device128as redundant data stream105ax. In other situations, if a device such as device104sends uplink transmissions using a 5G protocol base station106may function as an auxiliary receiver by using 5G receiver238to receive the 5G transmissions.

In an alternative implementation, base station106ofFIG. 2Bmay be implemented without protocol analyzer239. In this alternative, at operation302, controller241may receive an indication of the protocol used from another device such as base station102or a network controller. At304, controller241may then configure digital Wi-Fi receiver240appropriately or use the 5G receiver238to function as an auxiliary receiver. The indication of the protocol may be included in a request for bandwidth sent to the base station106from base station102or from the network controller. The request for bandwidth may also identify a particular device, such as base station102, or channels that need extra bandwidth. In another implementation, the indication of the protocol may be sent to base station106in response to base station106sending an indication to, another device (such as base station102or a network controller) that base station106has available bandwidth.

In a further implementation, base station106may transmit a beacon alerting source devices of the capability of the base station to operate as an auxiliary receiver. For example, the base station106may transmit information on a Wi-Fi beacon about one or more protocols according to which the base station106may provide auxiliary reception on an uplink for devices such as source device104. For example, source device104may utilize this information when the quality of the uplink on which the source device is transmitting to base station102falls below a certain level. When the uplink quality falls below the certain level, source device104may determine that base station106supports the protocol that source device104is using from the beacon and send a request for bandwidth to base station106for uplink bandwidth. The request for bandwidth may be sent from source device104to base station106on a paging channel using a protocol on which both source device104and base station106are able transmit and receive. The request fir bandwidth may include an indication of the protocol used by device104on the uplink. Base station106may then provide the requested bandwidth if it is able. In this implementation, source device104may also utilize the information that additional bandwidth is available to it by requesting the additional bandwidth, even though the uplink quality is acceptable. This may be done in order to increase uplink throughput and/or QoS for an application used on device104. For example, source device may request the additional bandwidth automatically, in another example, an indication may be displayed to a use of source device104that additional bandwidth is available and the user may select to set uplink video or audio quality to a higher level based on having the additional bandwidth available.

WhileFIGS. 2A and 2Bhave been described above using Wi-Fi and 5G as examples protocols, the use of the SDR receiver has application to any protocol or combinations of protocols. For example, base station106may operate in primary mode to provide conventional uplink and downlink communications to devices in system100using any of the IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi, 3rd Generation Cellular (3G), 4thGeneration Cellular (4G), wide band code division multiple access (WCDMA), or Long Term Evolution (LTE) Cellular protocols. Then when operating in auxiliary mode, base station106may configure itself as needed to provide uplink support using any of above protocols that it does not use for conventional uplink and downlink communications.FIG. 4Ais a flow diagram of example operations performed by a base station operating as an auxiliary receiver in a scan-protocol mode in scan-protocol mode the base station performs scanning and protocol analysis to determine protocols to use when functioning as an auxiliary receiver.FIG. 4Amay be described using an example of base station106ofFIG. 2Boperating in the system ofFIG. 1.

The process begins at402where base station106determines that it has available bandwidth. At402, controller241may determine that base station106has available bandwidth and/or resources that can be used to provide auxiliary receiver services to devices, such as device104, within its coverage area. Controller241may make this determination by monitoring communications with wireless devices that are in the coverage area of base station106. For example, controller241may monitor the 5G uplink traffic load handled by one or more of 5G RF receiver bank234, wideband mixed digital receiver236, and/or 5G receiver238. The uplink traffic load may include 5G traffic.

Controller241may monitor the traffic load over a time period, and if the traffic load remains below, or at, a selected level of traffic for the time period, controller241may determine that base station106has available bandwidth and/or resources to use as an auxiliary receiver. The selected level of traffic may be a value based on monitoring of one or more parameters indicative of traffic load on the uplink, such as total data throughput requirements, total data rate requirements, QoS, channel usage, etc. The selected level of traffic may be at any value raging from zero to a higher level of traffic and be set by the base station operator depending on the capabilities of base station106. In another example, controller241may also make the determination by monitoring the number of active connections with wireless devices in base station106's coverage area, and if the number of active connections is zero or below a certain number for a time period, controller241may determine that base station106has available bandwidth. Other parameters related to traffic load may also be considered in the determination. For example, the way in which uplink traffic patterns vary by according to time of day may be considered. In an example of this, during low traffic periods, base station106may determine it has available bandwidth based on less stringent requirements for traffic load, or with no requirements related to traffic load. Likewise, during high traffic periods, base station106may be less likely to determine that it has available bandwidth (e.g., based on more stringent requirements for traffic load).

At404, base station106scans uplink transmissions of devices in its coverage area. Controller241may control wideband 5G RF receiver bank234and wideband mixed digital receiver236to receive and scan transmissions in the frequency bands that base station106is configured to provide auxiliary services. The scanned transmissions are then provided by wideband mixed digital receiver236to protocol analyzer239. For example, base station106may be configured to provide auxiliary receiver services in particular Wi-Fi frequency bands using digital Wi-Fi receiver240. In this case, controller241may control wideband 5G RF receiver bank234and wideband mixed digital receiver236to provide scanned transmissions in those particular Wi-Fi frequencies to protocol analyzer239. For example, the Wi-Fi frequency bands scanned may be in the 2.5 GHz, 5.0 GHz, or television white space (TVWS) bands. In one example ofFIG. 1, the scanning may receive transmissions of data stream105sent by device104on the uplink to base station102in the 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi band.

At406, base station106determines the protocol used by a data stream source device. Protocol analyzer239may determine protocols used by any devices sending transmissions that were scanned. In the example ofFIG. 1, protocol analyzer239may detect that device104is transmitting on the uplink to base station102in the 5 GHz band using a particular Wi-Fi protocol such as the IEEE 802.11g protocol. Protocol analyzer may provide an indication of the protocol used by device104to controller241.

At408, base station106retrieves code for the protocol and configures itself for that protocol. Controller241may retrieve an SDR code from memory/SDR database243to use in configuring digital Wi-Fi receiver240for the protocol used by device104. Controller241then uses the retrieved SDR code to configure digital Wi-Fi receiver240to operate according to the correct protocol in order to receive transmissions from device104. In other example implementations, controller241may retrieve the SDR code from a location remote to base station106. For example, controller241could retrieve the SDR code from an internet database or a network controller.

At410, base station106intercepts the data stream from the source device104. Controller241may control 5G RF receiver bank234, wideband mixed digital receiver236, and digital Wi-Fi receiver240to intercept redundant data stream105ax, as shown inFIG. 1. Then, at412, controller241determines the destination address oldie data stream105axand sends the data stream105axto the internet116for routing to destination device128. Destination device128may then receive data stream105axin parallel with data stream105as shown inFIG. 1.

In one implementation ofFIG. 4A, base station106may function transparently as the auxiliary receiver, without device104and/or base station102having any knowledge of base station106. This allows base station106to be set up and configured to provide auxiliary reception without the need to reconfigure device104and/or base station102.

FIG. 4Bis a flow diagram of example operations performed by a base station operating as an auxiliary receiver in another scan-protocol mode. The process ofFIG. 4Bis similar to the process ofFIG. 4A, except that instead of base station106self-determining that it has available bandwidth, and self-initiating the process, inFIG. 4Bbase station106receives a request for bandwidth from an entity external to base station106that initiates the process.FIG. 4Bmay be described using the example of base station106ofFIG. 2Boperating in the system ofFIG. 1.

The process begins at414where base station106receives a request for bandwidth. The request for bandwidth may be received from another device such base station102. For example, base station102may monitor parameters related to data stream105sent by device104on the uplink. The parameters monitored by base station102may include any parameters related to the quality of uplink service the base station102may provide to device104. The monitored parameters may include, for example, QoS parameters such as data rate, bit error rate (BER), and packet error rate (PER) of data stream105. The monitored parameters also may include overall traffic load/parameters on base station102related to other devices which could affect uplink quality for device104. Base station102may monitor for a condition associated with the parameters to be met. For example, when base station102determines that it is not able to meet a desired service level for device104on the uplink, base station102may send, either wirelessly or through the internet, a request for bandwidth to base station106. In this implementation, base station106and base station102may each register their presence with each other using an application that allows for communications between the two related to the requests for bandwidth. In other example implementation, the request for bandwidth sent to base station106may be sent from a network controller that controls the network in which base station102is implemented. In this ease the network controller may determine that a condition is met and bandwidth is needed based on monitoring parameters related to quality oldie uplinks of base station102, for example, QoS parameters of data stream105. In another example implementation, the request for bandwidth may come from device104. In this implementation, device104may send the request for bandwidth when a condition is determined to be met based on the monitoring of parameters related to the quality of uplink service provided to device104. The monitoring of parameters may be performed similar to the monitoring of parameters as described above for base station102.

In the implementation ofFIG. 4B, base station106may only receive a request to provide available bandwidth. In this case, the process moves to416where base station106may begin to determine ho it may provide auxiliary bandwidth. Operations416,418,420,422, and424ofFIG. 4B, are then performed similar to operations404,406,408,410, and412, respectively, ofFIG. 4Ato provide data redundancy for data stream105. In another example implementation, at414, base station106may make a determination as to whether or not it has available bandwidth before deciding to continue at416. If base station106does not have bandwidth, it may send a denial of the bandwidth request back to the sending entity,

FIG. 5Ais a flow diagram of example operations performed by a base station operating as an auxiliary receiver in a receive-protocol mode. In receive-protocol mode the base station receives information that indicates the protocol to use when functioning as an auxiliary receiver.FIG. 5Amay also be described using the example of base station106ofFIG. 2Boperating in the system ofFIG. 1.

The process begins at502where base station106determines that it has available bandwidth. At502, controller241may determine that base station106has available bandwidth and/or resources that it can use to provide auxiliary receiver service to devices, such as device104, within its coverage area. The determination at502may be performed in a similar manner as was described for operation402ofFIG. 2A.

When it is determined that base station106has available bandwidth the process moves to504. At504, base station106informs base station102(primary base station) that it has available bandwidth. At506, base station102responds to base station106by informing base station106of its bandwidth needs. The bandwidth needs may be indicated to base station106as being in a particular protocol, for example, in a particular Wi-Fi protocol at a particular frequency. Base station102may also it base station106of a particular device, or the identity of channels, for which it needs extra bandwidth or redundancy. Next, Operations508,510, and512ofFIG. 5A, are performed similar to operations408,410, and412, respectively, ofFIG. 4Ato provide data redundancy for data stream105.

FIG. 5Bis a flow diagram of example operations performed by a base station operating as an auxiliary receiver in another receive-protocol mode.FIG. 5Bmay also be described using the example of base station106ofFIG. 2Boperating in the system ofFIG. 1.

The process begins at514where base station106receives a request for bandwidth. The request for bandwidth may be received from another device such as base station102. For example, base station102may monitor parameters related to data stream105sent by device104on the uplink. The parameters monitored by base station102may include any parameters related to the quality of uplink service the base station102may provide to device104. The monitored parameters may include, for example, QoS parameters such as data rate, bit error rate (BER), and packet error rate (PER) of data stream105. The monitored parameters also may include overall traffic load/parameters on base station102related to other devices which could affect uplink quality for deice104. When base station102determines a condition has been met, for example, base station102is not able to meet a desired service level for device104on the uplink, base station102may send, either wirelessly or through the internet, a request or bandwidth to base station106. In this implementation, base station106and base station102may each register their presence with each other using an application that allows for communications between the two related to the requests for bandwidth. In other example implementation, the request for bandwidth sent to base station106may be sent from a network controller that controls the network in which base station102is implemented. In this case the network controller may determine that a condition has been met and bandwidth is needed based on monitoring parameters related to quality of the uplinks of base station102, for example, QoS parameters of data stream105. In another example implementation, the request for bandwidth may come from device104. In this implementation, device104may send the request for bandwidth upon determining a condition has been met based on the monitoring of parameters related to the quality of uplink service provided to device104. The monitoring of parameters may be performed similar to the monitoring of parameters as described above for base station102. At516, base station106responds to base station102with available bandwidth information. At518, base station102informs base station106of its bandwidth needs that coincide with the available bandwidth at base station106. The coinciding bandwidth needs of base station102may be indicated to base station106as being in a particular protocol, for example, in a particular Wi-Fi protocol at a particular frequency. Base station102may also inform base station106of a particular device and/or the identity of channels for which it needs extra bandwidth or redundancy. Next, Operations520,522, and524ofFIG. 5B, are performed similar to operations408,410, and412, respectively, ofFIG. 4Ato provide data redundancy for data stream105.

In other implementations, base station106may be used as an auxiliary receiver to receive a data stream105axfrom device104on the uplink, where the received data stream105axis different from the data stream105being sent by device104to base station102. Base station106may send the received data stream105axonward to the destination device128as a data stream that includes additional data to what was sent in data stream105to the destination device128by base station102. In other words, in this implementation data stream105axis not redundant, and data stream105and data stream105axeach comprise diff rent data tor destination device128. This implementation provides greater throughput on the uplink from device104. In one example, base station106may communicate to device104that it is operating in auxiliary mode in order to allow source device104increase its uplink data rate to take advantage of the additional bandwidth.

FIG. 6is a simplified block diagram showing an example base station600operable as an auxiliary receiver. Base station600represents a possible implementation of base station106ofFIG. 1. Base station600includes processing unit604, transmitters616, receivers614, protocol analyzer618, and memory/storage606. Memory/storage606includes code and instructions for 5G control programs608, bandwidth monitoring programs610, auxiliary receiver control programs612, and SDR protocol code614.

Processing unit604may comprise one or more processors, or other control circuitry or any combination of processors and control circuitry that provide, overall control of base station600according to the disclosed embodiments. Memory606may be implemented as any type of as any type of computer readable storage media, including non-volatile and volatile memory. Protocol analyzer618may be configured to capture and analyze signals and data traffic received by receivers614. Protocol analyzer618may then identify protocols with which the signals and data traffic are sent.

In the embodiments, execution of 5G control programs608causes processing unit604to implement operations that cause base station600to perform appropriate operations to operate as a 5G base station. Execution of bandwidth monitoring programs610causes processing unit604to determine if base station600has available bandwidth to use as an auxiliary receiver. Bandwidth monitoring programs610may be omitted in an implementation that receives a request for bandwidth generated at another device.

Auxiliary receiver control programs612cause processing unit606to implement operations that cause base station600to perform appropriate operations to operate as an auxiliary receiver. SEA protocol code614includes code for various protocols that may be used by processing unit to configure SDR receiver614for appropriate operation as an auxiliary receiver. SDR protocol code614may be omitted in an implementation in which base station106retrieves the SDR code from a remote database.

In various implementations, execution of the 5G control programs608, bandwidth monitoring programs610, and auxiliary receiver control programs612, and use of the SDR protocol code614, allows base station600to perform the operations shown and describer in relation toFIG. 3,FIGS. 4A-4B, andFIGS. 5A-5B.

The example embodiments disclosed herein may be described in the general context of processor-executable code or instructions stored on memory that may comprise one or more computer readable storage media (e.g., tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage media such as memory606). As should be readily understood, the terms “computer-readable storage media” or “non-transitory computer-readable media” include the media for storing of data, code and program instructions, such as memory606, and do not include portions of the media for storing transitory propagated or modulated data communication signals.

While the functionality disclosed herein has been described by illustrative example using descriptions of the various components and devices of embodiments by referring to functional blocks and processors or processing units, controllers, and memory including instructions and code, the functions and processes of the embodiments may be implemented and performed using any type of processor, circuit, circuitry or combinations of processors and or circuitry and code. This may include, at least in part, one or more hardware logic components. For example, and without limitation, illustrative types of hardware logic components that can be used include field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), application specific standard products (ASSPs), system-on-a-chip systems (SOCs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), etc. Use of the term processor or processing unit in this disclosure is mean to include all such implementations.

The disclosed implementations include a first base station comprising a receiver including a definable radio portion, one or more processors in communication with the receiver, and memory in communication with the one or more processors, the memory comprising code that, when executed, causes the one or more processors to control the first base station to determine a protocol used by a source device on an uplink from the source device to a second base station, configure the definable radio portion of the receiver to operate according to the protocol, intercept, using the receiver, a data stream sent to the second base station on the uplink, the data stream intended for a destination device; and, send the intercepted data stream onward as a redundant data stream for the destination device. The code may be further executable to cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to determine that the first base station is to operate in an auxiliary mode, and configure the definable radio portion of the receiver, intercept the data stream, and send the intercepted data stream onward while operating in the auxiliary mode. The code may be executable to cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to determine that the first base station is to operate in the auxiliary mode by controlling the first base station to determine that the first base station has available bandwidth, send an indication of the available bandwidth to a network device, and receive an indication of bandwidth needs from the network device. The code may be executable to cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to determine that the first base station is to operate in the auxiliary mode by controlling the first base station to monitor at least one parameter at the first base station, and initiate operation in the auxiliary mode based at least one on the at least one parameter. The code may be executable to cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to determine that the first base station is to operate in the auxiliary mode by controlling the first base station to receive a request for bandwidth frons a network device, and initiate operation in the auxiliary mode based at least one on the request for bandwidth. The network device may be the second base station. The network device may be the source device. The first base station may operate in a primary mode or in an auxiliary mode, and the code may be further executable to cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to operate in the primary mode, determine that the first base station is to operate in the auxiliary mode, switch to operate in the auxiliary mode by configuring the definable radio portion of the receiver to operate according to the protocol, and, intercept the data stream and send the intercepted data stream onward while operating in the auxiliary mode. The code may be further executable to cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to determine that the first base station is to operate in the primary mode, and switch the receiver back from auxiliary mode to operate in primary mode. The code may comprise first code and the first code may executable to cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to configure the definable radio portion of the receiver by controlling the apparatus to obtain second code, the second code defining the protocol, and configure the definable radio portion using the second code. The first base station may further comprise a transmitter in communication with the one or more processors, and, the code, when executed, may further cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to transmit a beacon signal from the transmitter indicating that the first base station supports provision of additional bandwidth, receive a request for bandwidth from the source device in response to the beacon signal, and determine the protocol used by the source device for the uplink from the source device to the second base station based at least in part on the request for bandwidth. The first base station may further comprise a transmitter in communication with the one or more processors, and, the code, when executed, may further cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to send a signal to the source device indicating that the first base station is operating in auxiliary mode and that the source device has been provided auxiliary bandwidth.

The disclosed implementations also include a first base station comprising a receiver including a definable radio portion, one or more processors in communication with the receiver, and memory in communication with the one or more processors, the memory comprising code that, when executed, causes the one or more processors to control the first base station to determine a protocol used by a source device on an uplink from the source device to a second base station, configure the definable radio portion of the receiver to operate according to the protocol, receive, using the receiver, a data stream on the uplink, the data stream intended for a destination device, and send the data stream onward for the destination device. The first base station may operate in a primary and an auxiliary mode, and the code may further be executable to cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to operate in primary mode, determine that the first base station is to operate in the auxiliary mode, and configure the definable radio portion of the receiver, receive the data stream on the uplink, and send the data stream onward for the destination device while in the auxiliary mode. The code may be executable to cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to determine that the first base station is to operate in the auxiliary mode by controlling the first base station to determine that the first base station has available bandwidth, send an indication of the available bandwidth to a network device, and receive an indication of bandwidth needs from the network device. The code may be executable to cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to determine that the first base station is to operate in the auxiliary mode by controlling the first base station to monitor at least one parameter at the first base station, and determine that the first base station is to Operate in the auxiliary mode based at least one on the at least one parameter. The code may be executable to cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to receive the data stream by controlling the first base station to intercept, using the receiver, the data stream on the uplink, wherein the data stream is sent to the second base station and intended for a destination device, and send the data stream onward as a redundant data stream for the destination device. The code may be executable to cause the one or more processors to control the first base station to receive the data stream on the uplink by controlling the first base station to receive the data stream on the uplink, wherein the data stream is sent to the first base station and intended for the destination device, and send the data stream onward for the destination device.

The disclosed implementations further include a network comprising an auxiliary base station configured to determine the protocol used by a source device on an uplink channel, configure a receiver of the auxiliary base station to operate according to the protocol, intercept a data stream sent on the uplink channel from a source device to a primary base station, and, send the intercepted data stream onward to the destination device through a network path. The network may further comprise the primary base station, and the primary base station may be configured to determine that a condition on the uplink channel has been met and, in response to the condition being met, send a request for bandwidth to the auxiliary base station, and, the auxiliary base station may be further configured to, in response to receiving the request for bandwidth, determine the protocol, configure the receiver, and intercept the data stream. The network may further comprise a network controller, wherein the network controller is configured to determine that a condition on the uplink channel has been met and, in response to the condition being met, send a request for auxiliary bandwidth to the auxiliary base station, and, wherein the auxiliary base station is further configured to, in response to receiving the request, determine the protocol, configure the receiver, and intercept the data stream. The network may further comprise the source device, wherein the source device is configured to determine that a condition on the uplink channel has been met and, in response to the condition being met, send a request for auxiliary bandwidth to the auxiliary base station, and, wherein the auxiliary base station is further configured to, in response to receiving the request, determine the protocol, configure the receiver, and intercept the data stream.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example embodiments, implementations, and forms of implementing the claims and these example configurations and arrangements may be changed significantly without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, although the example embodiments have been illustrated with reference to particular elements and operations that facilitate the processes, these elements, and operations may be combined with or, be replaced by, any suitable devices, components, architecture or process that achieves the intended functionality of the embodiment. Numerous other changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications may be ascertained to one skilled in the art and it is intended that the present disclosure encompass all such changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications a falling within the scope of the appended claims.