Airspan Networks Inc.

Airspan IP Holdco LLC

Paul Nicholas Senior

Masayoshi Son

Eric Donald Stonestrom

An apparatus and method are described for providing enhanced network coverage in a wireless network. The apparatus has a first antenna system for providing a first sector of a network, and a second antenna system for providing a second sector of the network. Further, the apparatus has a third antenna system for communicating with a base station of the network to provide a common wireless backhaul link for the first sector and the second sector. The apparatus also comprises control circuitry to monitor a performance characteristic of the common wireless backhaul link, and in dependence on the performance characteristic, to implement at least one mechanism to influence whether items of user equipment within at least one of the first sector and the second sector connect to the network via the apparatus.

Apparatus and method for providing network coverage in a wireless network

An apparatus and method are provided, the apparatus having a first antenna system providing a first sector of a telecommunications network, a second antenna system providing a second sector of the telecommunications network, a third antenna system for communicating with a base station of the telecommunications network to provide a first wireless backhaul path for the first and second sectors, and a fourth antenna system providing a wireless communication link to facilitate coupling of the apparatus into a mesh network of devices, the mesh network having at least one point of access into the telecommunications network, providing at least one further wireless backhaul path. Backhaul management circuitry is arranged, in at least one mode of operation, to control utilisation of the third and fourth antenna systems to provide backhaul connectivity to the telecommunications network for items of user equipment connected to the apparatus via the first and second antenna systems.

Apparatus and method for improving connectivity for items of user equipment in a wireless network

An apparatus and method are provided for improving connectivity for items of user equipment in a wireless network. The apparatus has a first antenna system for providing a first sector of a network, and a second antenna system for providing a second sector of the network. Further, the apparatus has a third antenna system for communicating with a base station of the network to provide a common wireless backhaul link for the first sector and the second sector. In addition, an interface is provided to an internet connection of a building in which the apparatus is deployed, and backhaul management circuitry is then arranged, in at least one mode of operation, to control utilisation of both the internet connection and the common wireless backhaul link to provide backhaul connectivity to the network for items of user equipment connected to the apparatus via the first and second antenna systems. Through the use of such an apparatus, it has been found that significant improvements in network coverage can be readily obtained, and further the overall spectral efficiency of the network can be enhanced to improve network capacity, with the backhaul management circuitry maintaining an efficient backhaul connection through the combined use of the common wireless backhaul link and the internet connection.

Growing community of inventors

Bicester, United Kingdom

Paul Nicholas Senior