Wireless packet switched communication systems and networks using adaptively steered antenna arrays

An apparatus for use in a wireless routing network, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one receiver configured to receive at least one incoming electromagnetic signal and output at least one corresponding received signal;
• at least one transmitter configured to receive a data signal and in response output a corresponding transmission signal;
• and
• at least one adaptive antenna operatively coupled to said at least one transmitter and at least one receiver and configured to receive said transmission signal and in response transmit corresponding outgoing multi-beam electromagnetic signals exhibiting a plurality of selectively placed transmission peaks and transmission nulls within a far field region of a coverage area, and to selectively receive at least one incoming electromagnetic signal directed through said coverage area, and wherein said at least one adaptive antenna is further configured to cross-correlate data sequences in said at least one received signal and based thereon selectively adjust said outgoing multi-beam electromagnetic signals.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, comprising:

• indexing data fields containing data representing identifiers associated with different communicating nodes within a wireless network and suitable for use in operatively controlling the selective transmission of at least one directed electromagnetic beam within said wireless network;
• weighting data fields containing data representing communication weighting values associated with corresponding indexing data fields;
• and
• subscriber information data fields representing subscriber routing information associated with said different communicating nodes.

A method for use in a wireless routing device that is operatively configured within a request to send (RTS)/clear to send (CTS) wireless routing network, the method comprising:

• determining if there is a potential for interference with neighboring nodes prior to transmitting an CTS message based at least in part on a cross-correlation of data sequences in received data packets;
• and
• if there is no significant potential for interfering with said neighboring nodes, then transmitting said CTS message to a targeted node using a narrow beam,
• otherwise, if there is a significant potential for interfering with one or more of said neighboring nodes, then transmitting said CTS message to said targeted node and said one or more of said neighboring nodes using one or more beams.

A reciprocal feedback method for use in a wireless routing network, the method comprising:

• at a first wireless routing device, measuring an unwanted signal from a second wireless routing device and updating routing information based at least in part on cross-correlated data sequences in received data packets;
• causing said first wireless routing device to provide information associated with said measured unwanted signal to said second wireless routing device;
• and
• causing said second wireless routing device to adaptively apply a transmission null in a direction towards said first wireless routing device based on said information associated with said measured unwanted signal, such that subsequent transmissions by said second wireless routing device will be substantially reduced in said direction towards said first wireless routing device.

A search receiver method for use in a wireless routing network, the method comprising:

• processing a signal received by at least one antenna array to corresponding produce element domain values;
• converting said element domain values into corresponding pattern domain values;
• estimating channel data and calculating total power based on said pattern domain values;
• cross-correlating header information using said estimated channel data;
• extracting system signal parameters based on said cross-correlation header information;
• conducting a division process using said calculated total power and said cross-correlation header information;
• extracting non-system signal parameters from resultant data from said division process;
• determining weighting values based on said extracted system signal parameters and said extracted non-system signal parameters;
• and
• storing said weighting values for subsequent use during signal transmission.