Patent Publication Number: US-10320467-B2

Title: Frequency-based radio beamforming waveform transmission

Description:
GOVERNMENT INTEREST 
     The innovation described herein may be manufactured, used, imported, sold, and licensed by or for the Government of the United States of America without the payment of any royalty thereon or therefor. 
    
    
     CROSS-REFERENCE 
     This application is related to a patent application with application Ser. No. 14/868,493, filed on Sep. 29, 2015. This application is also related to a patent application with application Ser. No. 14/868,509, filed on Sep. 29, 2015. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In communications, a signal can be transferred from one location to another. This signal can communicate information. In an environment that is complex, this information can be vital for mission success. As the environment becomes more complex, a desire can arise for multiple signals to be transmitted concurrently so more information can be quickly communicated. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a system comprises a first transmitter and a second transmitter. The first transmitter can be configured to transmit a first radio beamforming waveform that is a first arbitrary waveform at a first frequency. The second transmitter can be configured to transmit a second radio beamforming waveform that is a second arbitrary waveform at a second frequency, where the first frequency and the second frequency can be different frequencies. The first transmitter can be configured to transmit the first radio beamforming waveform and the second transmitter is configured to transmit the second radio beamforming waveform, at least in part, concurrently. 
     In one embodiment, a system comprises a first receiver configured to receive a response to a first radio beamforming waveform at a first frequency and a second receiver configured to receive a response to a second radio beamforming waveform at a second frequency. The first frequency can be a first frequency band, the second frequency can be a second frequency band, and the first frequency band and second frequency band can be separate and distinct. A plurality of transmitters can comprise a first transmitter that is configured to transmit the first radio beamforming waveform at the first frequency and a second transmitter that is configured to transmit the second radio beamforming waveform at the second frequency that is different from the first frequency. The first transmitter can be configured to transmit the first radio beamforming waveform and the second transmitter can be configured to transmit the second radio beamforming waveform, at least in part, simultaneously. 
     In one embodiment, a method is performed, at least in part, by a multiple input-multiple output beamforming system. The method can comprise transmitting, by way of a first transmitter that is part of a plurality of transmitters, a radio beamforming waveform at a first frequency. The method can also comprise transmitting, by way of a second transmitter that is part of the plurality of transmitters, the radio beamforming waveform at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency concurrently with transmitting the radio beamforming waveform at the first frequency. The method can additionally comprise receiving, by way of a first receiver that is part of a plurality of receivers, a response to the radio beamforming waveform that is transmitted at the first frequency. The method can further comprise receiving, by way of a second receiver that is part of the plurality of receivers, a response to the radio beamforming waveform that is transmitted at the second frequency. The first radio beamforming waveform and the second radio beamforming waveform can be a radio beamforming waveform set, where the radio beamforming waveform set is dependent on a frequency shift. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Incorporated herein are drawings that constitute a part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the detailed description. The detailed description will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a system comprising a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a system comprising a phase accumulator, a waveform definer, a digital-to-analog converter, and a low pass filter; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a layout of a multiple input-multiple output system; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a graph; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of three graphs; 
         FIGS. 6 a -6 d    illustrate the time vs. frequency of three waveforms—one graph for each waveform individually and one graph showing all three waveforms; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of a system comprising an analysis component and a selection component; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates one embodiment of a system comprising a processor and a computer-readable medium; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates one embodiment of a method comprising four actions; and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates one embodiment of a method comprising three actions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In one embodiment, multiple radio beamforming waveforms can be communicated in a multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) environment. These multiple waveforms can be redundant copies of the same waveforms or be different waveforms. If the multiple waveforms are transmitted concurrently without a shift, then the waveforms may not be clearly communicated. Therefore, multiple waveforms can be transmitted concurrently and these waveforms can be shifted from one another such that clear communication occurs. 
     Various types of shifts can occur. In one embodiment, shifting can be time based. With time based shifting, signal transmission can be staggered such that the signal does not conflict with itself. In one embodiment, shifting can be frequency based. Different signals with different frequencies can be transmitted simultaneously, and due to these different frequencies, signal confusion can be unlikely to occur. In one embodiment, shifting can be circular based. With circular based shifting, different signals can be moved with relation to time and frequency. 
     The following includes definitions of selected terms employed herein. The definitions include various examples. The examples are not intended to be limiting. 
     “One embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example”, “an example”, and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) can include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, or element, but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property or element. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment” may or may not refer to the same embodiment. 
     “Computer-readable medium”, as used herein, refers to a medium that stores signals, instructions and/or data. Examples of a computer-readable medium include, but are not limited to, non-volatile media and volatile media. Non-volatile media may include, for example, optical disks, magnetic disks, and so on. Volatile media may include, for example, semiconductor memories, dynamic memory, and so on. Common forms of a computer-readable medium may include, but are not limited to, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, other magnetic medium, other optical medium, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a memory chip or card, a memory stick, and other media from which a computer, a processor or other electronic device can read. In one embodiment, the computer-readable medium is a non-transitory computer-readable medium. 
     “Component”, as used herein, includes but is not limited to hardware, firmware, software stored on a computer-readable medium or in execution on a machine, and/or combinations of each to perform a function(s) or an action(s), and/or to cause a function or action from another component, method, and/or system. Component may include a software controlled microprocessor, a discrete component, an analog circuit, a digital circuit, a programmed logic device, a memory device containing instructions, and so on. Where multiple components are described, it may be possible to incorporate the multiple components into one physical component or conversely, where a single component is described, it may be possible to distribute that single component between multiple components. 
     “Software”, as used herein, includes but is not limited to, one or more executable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium that cause a computer, processor, or other electronic device to perform functions, actions and/or behave in a desired manner. The instructions may be embodied in various forms including routines, algorithms, modules, methods, threads, and/or programs including separate applications or code from dynamically linked libraries. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a system  100  comprising a plurality of transmitters  110  and a plurality of receivers  120 . The plurality of transmitters  110  comprises two or more transmitters with  FIG. 1  illustrating Transmitter 1 that can be considered a first transmitter, Transmitter 2 that can be considered a second transmitter, and Transmitter X with X being a positive integer valued at two or greater. Similar to the plurality of transmitters  110 , the plurality of receivers  120  comprises two or more receivers with  FIG. 1  illustrating Receiver 1 that can be considered a first receiver, Receiver 2 that can be considered a second receiver, and Receiver X with X being a positive integer. 
     While the plurality of receivers  120  and the pluralities of transmitters  110  are shown as separate elements, it is to be appreciated that these could be configured as one element. In one example, Transmitter 1 and Receiver 1 can function as one piece of hardware and therefore be co-located. This can be used when Transmitter 2 and Receiver 2 are either one piece of hardware or are separate. For both the plurality of transmitters  110  and the plurality of receivers  120 , while it visually appears that there are at least three transmitters and three receivers, the plurality can be implemented with two transmitters and/or two receivers. 
     The plurality of transmitters  110  can transmit a plurality of waveforms  130 ,  140 , and  150  (waveforms  130 - 150  can be the same waveforms or different waveforms). After transmission, the plurality of receivers  120  can receive the waveforms  130 - 150  and/or a response to the waveforms  130 - 150  (e.g., a reflection of the waveforms  130 - 150  off a surface). The waveforms  130 - 150  can be shifted from one another such that clear communication can occur between the plurality of transmitters  110  and the plurality of receivers  120 . 
     In one embodiment, transmitter 1 can be configured to transmit a first radio beamforming waveform (e.g., waveform  130 ) at a first time (τ 1 ). Transmitter 2 can be configured to transmit a second radio beamforming waveform (e.g., waveform  140 ) at a second time (τ 2 ). The second time has a delay from the first time such that Transmitter 1 is configured to transmit the second radio beamforming waveform after Transmitter 2 transmits the first radio beamforming waveform. The first radio beamforming waveform and the second radio beamforming waveform can be part of a radio beamforming waveform set (e.g., be either the entire waveform set or members with other waveforms in the waveform set). 
     In one embodiment, transmitter 1 can be configured to transmit the first radio beamforming waveform at a first frequency. Transmitter 2 can be configured to transmit a second radio beamforming waveform at a second frequency (e.g., transmitted, at least in part, concurrently with transmission of the first waveform). The first frequency and the second frequency can be different frequencies and/or be in different frequency bands that are separate and distinct (no overlap of the bands or adjacent overlap such that the end frequency of one band is the start frequency of the next band). 
     The plurality of receivers  120  can be configured to receive a response to the first radio beamforming waveform and the second radio beamforming waveform. The response, for example, can be the waveform itself, a distorted version of the waveform (e.g., due to interference), or a reflection of the waveform off the surface. The multiple receivers of the plurality of receivers can receive a response from the same waveform. 
     The plurality of receivers  120  can be configured to receive a response to transmission of the first radio beamforming waveform (e.g., at Receiver 1) and configured to receive a response to transmission of the second radio waveform (e.g., at Receiver 2). The first radio beamforming waveform and the second radio beamforming waveform can be either the same waveform or different waveforms, and/or can be part of the radio beamforming waveform set. When the first and second radio beamforming waveforms are the same signal, they can be transmitted at the same frequency. 
     In one embodiment, the first transmitter can be configured to transmit the first radio beamforming waveform and the second transmitter can be configured to transmit the second radio beamforming waveform. The first transmitter and the second transmitter can be such that they are non-synchronous to one another with regard to time and frequency. This can be that their respective transmission (e.g., the first and second waveforms respectively) can be non-synchronous to one another with regard to time and frequency. These transmissions can function concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) and/or be in the same frequency band. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a system  200  comprising a phase accumulator  210 , a waveform definer  220 , a digital-to-analog converter  230 , and a low pass filter  240 . The system  200  can function as an arbitrary waveform generator and be used in conjunction with the system  100  of  FIG. 1  to produce the waveforms  130 - 150  of  FIG. 1 . The phase accumulator  210  can produce clocked information and this information can be used by the waveform definer  220 . The waveform definer  220  can produce the basis of the waveforms  130 - 150 . This can be done through access of an internal memory bank that retains pre-stored definitions and/or received from an external source, such as a software-controller interface delivering custom-designed definitions. The digital to analog converter  230  can change the output of the waveform definer  220  to analog and this analog waveform can be filtered by the low pass filter  240  and outputted (e.g., transmitted). 
       FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a layout  300  of a MIMO system. The layout  300  is for a wavelength of 1 meter and illustrates a physical configuration for the plurality of transmitters  110  of  FIG. 1  and the plurality of receivers  120  of  FIG. 1 . Individual transmitters are triangles while individual receivers are circles. At position 0, both a transmitter and receiver are illustrated. This can be that the transmitter and receiver are co-located (e.g., next to one another) or that one device functions as a transmitter and a receiver, and thus is part of both pluralities  110  and  120 . 
     The MIMO system can comprise the plurality of transmitters  110  of  FIG. 1  and the plurality of receivers  120  of  FIG. 1 . The MIMO system (otherwise known as MIMO array) can transmit waveforms across a real array such that low correlation exists between transmitted signals (e.g., waveforms  130 - 150  of  FIG. 1 ) in the waveform vector s(t) [s 0 (t), . . . , s M-1 (t)]. Conditions for orthogonality can satisfy the following: ∫ τ (t)s H (t)dt=I M , where τ is the pulse duration, t is the time index, I M  is the M×M identity matrix, and (⋅) H  is the Hermitian transpose. Thus, convolution of the M sub-arrays can yield an increase in available degrees of freedom, as well as an increase in spatial resolution. Orthogonality can be ensured in various manners, such as in time, in frequency, or in some combination thereof. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a graph  400 . The graph  400  illustrates how to implement time-division duplex pulse-compressed MIMO radar waveforms. The graph  400  shows that orthogonality can be achieved through time. With this, the same waveform can be sent out three times (e.g., waveforms  130 - 150  are the same waveform). Transmission of the waveforms can be staggered such that a second waveform is not transmitted until after transmission of a first waveform is complete. 
     Ensuring orthogonality in the time domain can mean that only one transmitter in the MIMO array can be active at a time (active in transmission). That is, the transmitter firing sequence for a MIMO waveform construct can have intermittent delays across transmitters equal to at least one pulse repetition interval (PRI). The time-division duplex MIMO transmit waveform can be designed as:
 
 s   m ( t )=Σ l=0   L-1   u [ t −( Ml+m ) T   0 ]exp{ jπμt   2   },m= 0 . . .  M− 1  (1)
 
where M is the number of transmitters that are part of the plurality of transmitters  110  of  FIG. 1 , L is the number of pulses, T 0  is the PRI, and μ is the linear frequency modulated (LFM) chirp rate. In view of this, the members of the radio beamforming waveform set can be dependent on the PRI, the chirp rate (LFM chirp rate), pulse number, number of transmitters, or a combination thereof. By inspection of (1), the plurality of transmitters  110  of  FIG. 1  can transmit a pulse every MT 0  seconds. During a signal processing stage, channelization of the M×N MIMO array (N being number of receivers in the plurality of receivers  120  of  FIG. 1 ) can be streamlined to the equivalent of a uniform linear array (ULA) that can be in one example 1×MN since a matched filter (e.g., used in digital signal processing) can be identical for transmitted signals.
 
       FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of three graphs  510 - 530 . The three graphs  510 - 530  illustrate how to implement frequency-division duplex pulse-compressed MIMO radar waveforms. Orthogonalitiy in the frequency domain can function to not constrain an active state of the MIMO array, and therefore, the individual transmitters can operate simultaneously; however, orthogonality, along with unambiguity, in the frequency-domain can be ensured if the waveforms  130 - 150  of  FIG. 1  are separated by a frequency deviation equal to at least the swept bandwidth, β. As a result, a total frequency deviation can depend on the number of transmitters in the MIMO array. These transmitters can span an operational bandwidth of Mβ. The frequency-division duplex MIMO transmit waveform can be designed as
 
 s   m ( t )=Σ l=0   L-1   u [ t−lT   0 ]exp{ j π(2 m Δ(1−ε) t+μt   2 )}, m= 0 . . .  M− 1  (2)
 
where M is the number of individual transmitters, L is the number of pulses, T 0  is the PRI, Δf is the frequency shift, ε is the frequency offset used to control the amount of spectrum overlap in the transmitted signals (e.g., ε=0.5 is 50% overlap), and μ is the LFM chirp rate. In view of this, the radio beamforming waveform set can be dependent on PM, frequency shift, frequency offset, number of pulses, the number of transmitters in the plurality of transmitters  110  of  FIG. 1 , or a combination thereof.
 
     The individual transmitters, in one example designated as element 1, element 2, and element 3, can transmit the waveforms  130 - 150  of  FIG. 1  at different frequencies. By inspection of equation (2), the individual transmitters transmit pulses simultaneously, however, each pulse is swept over a frequency deviation of [m Δf(1−ε)+μt] Hz. During a signal processing stage, the channelization of the M×N MIMO array can be partitioned into M channels each having a matched filter that corresponds to the m th  transmit signal. 
       FIGS. 6 a -6 d    illustrate the time vs. frequency of the three waveforms  130 - 150 —one graph for each waveform individually (graphs  610 - 630 ) and one graph  640  showing all three waveforms. As graph  640  illustrates, the waveforms can be communicated simultaneously, occupying different bandwidths (or within distinct bandwidth ranges) at the same time. At time (t) of τ 1 , the first waveform  130  is at a frequency (f) of β 1 , the second waveform  140  is at a frequency (f) of β 3  and the third waveform  150  is at a frequency (f) of β 2 . Therefore, at the same time the waveforms  130 - 150  can be at different frequencies. At time of τ 2  the first waveform  130  is at a frequency (f) of β 2  while the second waveform  140  is at a frequency (f) of β 1  and the third waveform  150  is at a frequency (f) of β 3 . Therefore, the waveforms  130 - 150  can occupy the same frequency, but at different times. 
     By encoding a waveform (e.g., radar waveform) using a combination of time-division duplex pulse-compressed and frequency-division duplex pulse-compressed techniques (the combination can be considered a circular-shifted duplex pulse-compressed technique), orthogonality can be achieved in an efficient manner. That is, the MIMO system (e.g., MIMO radar system) can function without staggering a transmitter firing sequence, as is done with time-division duplex pulse compression, and the MIMO system can function without the need to span a large operational bandwidth as is done with frequency-division duplex pulse compression. By circular-shifting, the individual transmitters of the plurality of transmitters  110  of  FIG. 1  are able to fire simultaneously while operating over one instantiation of swept bandwidth, β. The circular-shifted duplex MIMO transmit waveform can be designed as:
 
 s   m ( t )=Σ l=0   L-1   a [ t−lT   0 ], m= 0 . . .  M− 1  (3)
 
where
 
 a ( t )=Σ m=0   M-1 Σ z=0   Z-1   u [ t−zT   b ]exp{ j π(2δ m,z   t+μt   2 )}  (4)
 
and where M is the number of transmit elements, L is the number of pulses, Z is the number of sub-pulses, T 0  is the PRI, T b =τ/Z is the sub-pulse defined as a function of the total pulse duration τ, δ m,z =Δf{(z−m)mod z} is the sub-carrier frequency step (mod Z) defined as a function of Δf=β/Z, and μ is the LFM chirp rate. Therefore, the radio beamforming waveform set can be dependent on the number of sub-pulses, the sub-pulse duration, and the number of sub-carriers, the sub-carrier frequency step, PRI, the number of pulses, the chirp rate, or a combination thereof. During signal processing stages, channelization of the M×N circular-shifted MIMO can be partitioned into M channels, which each have a matched filter that corresponds to the transmit signals.
 
       FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of a system  700  comprising an analysis component  710  and a selection component  720 . The analysis component  710  can perform an analysis on a situation to produce an analysis result. Based, at least in part, on the analysis result, the selection component  720  can select a pulse compression technique to use. 
     In one example, the analysis component  710  can analyze waveforms for transmission. The result from this analysis can be that the waveforms are identical. The selection component  720  can determine that time-division duplex pulse compression is appropriate. 
     In another example, the analysis component  710  can analyze waveforms for transmission. The result from this analysis can be that the waveforms are not identical. The selection component  720  can determine that either the circular-shifted duplex pulse compressed technique or the frequency-shifted duplex pulse compressed technique is appropriate. The selection component  720  can select one of these two techniques, such as through determining an available frequency band and subsequently basing this decision depending on the available frequency band. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates one embodiment of a system  800  comprising a processor  810  (e.g., a general purpose processor or a processor specifically designed for performing functionality disclosed herein) and a computer-readable medium  820  (e.g., non-transitory computer-readable medium). In one embodiment, the processor  810  is a pulse compression processor configured to process the first and second radio beamforming waveforms through pulse compression. In one embodiment, the computer-readable medium  820  is communicatively coupled to the processor  810  and stores a command set executable by the processor  810  to facilitate operation of at least one component disclosed herein (e.g., the analysis component  710  of  FIG. 7  or a selection component configured to select the delay). In one embodiment, at least one component disclosed herein (e.g., the selection component  720  of  FIG. 7 ) can be implemented, at least in part, by way of non-software, such as implemented as hardware by way of the system  800 . In one embodiment, the computer-readable medium  820  is configured to store processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor  810 , cause the processor  810  to perform a method disclosed herein (e.g., the methods  900 - 1000  addressed below). 
       FIG. 9  illustrates one embodiment of a method  900  comprising four actions  910 - 940 . At  910 , transmitting a first radio beamforming waveform at a first time can occur. This can be done by way of the first transmitter, which is part of the plurality of transmitters  110  of  FIG. 1 . At  920 , transmitting a second radio beamforming waveform can occur. This transmission can occur either at the first time or at a second time after transmission of the first radio beamforming waveform at the first time at  910 . Also, this transmission can be done by way of the second transmitter that is part of the plurality of transmitters  110  of  FIG. 1 . The first radio beamforming waveform and the second radio beamforming waveform can be either at the same frequency or different frequencies. At  930 , receiving a response to the first radio beamforming waveform can take place, and at  940 , receiving a response to the second radio beamforming waveform can take place. These two receptions can be performed by receivers of the plurality of receivers  120  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates one embodiment of a method  1000  comprising three actions  1010 - 1030 . At  1010 , transmitting a first radio beamforming waveform can occur. This can be by way of a first transmitter that is part of the plurality of transmitters  110  of  FIG. 1 . Also at  1010 , transmitting a second radio beamforming waveform can occur. This can be by way of a first transmitter that is part of the plurality of transmitters  110  of  FIG. 1 . At  1020 , receiving a response to the first radio beamforming waveform, which is transmitted by way of the first transmitter, can occur. This can be done by way of a first receiver that is part of the plurality of receivers  120  of  FIG. 1 . Also at  1020 , receiving a response to the second radio beamforming waveform, which is transmitted by way of the first transmitter, can occur. This can be done by way of a second receiver that is part of the plurality of receivers  120  of  FIG. 1 . At  1030 , processing the response to the first radio beamforming waveform can occur by way of channelization of the first radio beamforming waveform through partitioning of the first radio beamforming waveform into a number of channels that is at least equal to a number of transmitters in the plurality of transmitters. Also at  1030 , processing the response to the second radio beamforming waveform can occur by way of channelization of the second radio beamforming waveform through partitioning of the second radio beamforming waveform into a number of channels that is at least equal to a number of transmitters in the plurality of transmitters  110  of  FIG. 1 . This aforementioned processing can be performed by the processor  810  of  FIG. 8 . 
     While the methods disclosed herein are shown and described as a series of blocks, it is to be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the methods are not restricted by the order of the blocks, as some blocks can take place in different orders. Similarly, a block can operate concurrently with at least one other block.