System and method of relay communication with electronic beam adjustment

A point-to-point millimeter wave communication system providing a relay link, the system comprising:

• a first transceiver located at a first location, and
• a second transceiver located at a second location,
• wherein the first transceiver is capable of transmitting and receiving a signal from the second transceiver, and the second transceiver is capable of transmitting and receiving a signal from the first transceiver,
• wherein the first transceiver comprises
• an electronically adjustable first narrow beam directional antenna capable of electronically switching a main beam of the first antenna between at least two directions, and
• a first measuring unit for measuring performance parameters of the relay link and forwarding them to a first control module of the first transceiver,
• wherein the first control module controls radiation pattern of the first antenna on the basis of performance parameters of the relay link and generates first control signals to control the radiation pattern of the first antenna,
• wherein the second transceiver comprises
• an electronically adjustable second narrow beam directional antenna capable of electronically switching a main beam of the second antenna between at least two directions, and
• a second measuring unit for measuring performance parameters of the relay link and forwarding them to a second control module of the second transceiver,
• wherein the second control module controls radiation pattern of the second antenna on the basis of performance parameters of the relay link and generates second control signals to control the radiation pattern of the second antenna,
• wherein the first control module generates instructions for obtaining an optimal direction of the second antenna, and the first transceiver is capable of transmitting to the second transceiver a signal with the instructions for obtaining an optimal direction of the second antenna,
• wherein the second control module generates instructions for obtaining an optimal direction of the first antenna, and the second transceiver is capable of transmitting to the first transceiver a signal with the instructions for obtaining an optimal direction of the first antenna.

A method for mutual alignment of an antenna of a first transceiver and an antenna of a second transceiver of a point-to-point millimeter wave communication system providing a relay link, the system comprising:

• a first transceiver located at a first location, and
• a second transceiver located at a second location,
• wherein the first transceiver is capable of transmitting and receiving a signal from the second transceiver, and the second transceiver is capable of transmitting and receiving a signal from the first transceiver,
• wherein the first transceiver comprises
• an electronically adjustable first narrow beam directional antenna capable of electronically switching a main beam of the first antenna between at least two directions, and
• a first measuring unit for measuring performance parameters of the relay link and forwarding them to a first control module of the first transceiver,
• wherein the first control module controls radiation pattern of the first antenna on the basis of performance parameters of the relay link and generates first control signals to control the radiation pattern of the first antenna,
• wherein the second transceiver comprises
• an electronically adjustable second narrow beam directional antenna capable of electronically switching a main beam of the second antenna between at least two directions, and
• a second measuring unit for measuring performance parameters of the relay link and forwarding them to a second control module of the second transceiver,
• wherein the second control module controls radiation pattern of the second antenna on the basis of performance parameters of the relay link and generates second control signals to control the radiation pattern of the second antenna,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• sending a signal by the first antenna of the first transceiver in at least one main beam direction of the first antenna of the first transceiver;
• receiving the signal by the second antenna of the second transceiver in at least one main beam direction of the second antenna of the second transceiver while maintaining the at least one main beam direction of the first antenna of the first transceiver unchanged;
• determining the main beam direction for each of the first and the second antenna of both transceivers such that a predetermined criterion is met;
• and
• applying the determined main beam directions to one or both of the first and the second antennas.