BeamFlex, a first-of-its-kind smart
antenna technology, delivers MIMO's benefits to 802.11a/b/g
devices today and can be incorporated in future 802.11n
devices to further increase MIMO diversity gain and maximize
the potential of spatial multiplexing at minimal incremental
costs. Adaptable to any standard
802.11 a/b/g/n chipset, BeamFlex comprises a compact antenna
array with multiple antenna elements capable of forming a
large number of unique antenna patterns along with expert
system software that continuously learns and selects the
optimum antenna pattern for each communicating device in
real time. By steering transmissions to high quality signal
paths all the time, BeamFlex enables a Wi-Fi device to
maximize and sustain its transmission speeds and minimize
transmission errors.
As a result, BeamFlex technology
offers more than 3X increase in performance and range, 8X
expanded coverage for 802.11g/a networks. More importantly,
Beamflex stabilizes wireless network performance to enable
picture-perfect video streaming and crystal-clear voice
communications to all corners of the home.
Smart Antennas with Unmatched Agility
Central to BeamFlex is an agile antenna system with multiple
high-gain, directional antenna elements that can be combined
in real time to offer an exponential increase in diversity
order. With N number of high-gain, directional antenna
elements, a BeamFlex antenna array provides 2N-1 unique
radiating patterns to maximize range and coverage. A
diversity combiner composed of low cost, software-controlled
circuitry allows the BeamFlex software to configure antenna
patterns in real time. The BeamFlex expert system software
constantly learns the environment - the RF conditions,
communicating devices, network performance and application
flows - and ranks the optimum antenna patterns for each
communicating device. Capable of re-configuring the antenna
on a per packet basis the transmit control module selects a
high quality signal path and optimum data rate for each
receiving device. The BeamFlex software interfaces to the
802.11 MAC layer and is compatible with standard 802.11
chipsets. Residing in the host processor, it adds minimal
incremental CPU load and memory utilization.
A Systems Approach to MIMO Diversity
In addition to offering a massive
order of diverse path options, joint-optimization of the
antenna structure and transmission policies based on real
time, multi-disciplinary knowledge allows BeamFlex to
maximize signal coverage, throughput, network capacity,
ensuring consistent and instantaneous bandwidth delivery to
real-time applications such as video and online games.
Active Interference Avoidance
Unlike omni-directional antennas that
radiate signals in all directions, BeamFlex specifically
directs transmit energy towards the best path to the
receiving device. And unlike fixed-positioned directional
antennas, BeamFlex dynamically configures its "beam" on a
per-station, per packet basis to achieve omni-directional
coverage in a home. Offering the best of both antenna
technologies, BeamFlex maximizes power efficiency while
minimizing noise to nearby networks and devices.
In addition, an interference avoidance
algorithm enables the BeamFlex software to detect the
direction of interference from, for example, a neighboring
network, a microwave oven or a nearby blue tooth device. In
response, BeamFlex is able to select antenna patterns that
direct energy away from the direction of interference;
thereby attenuating noise to the receiving station.
The following performance report
demonstrates the power of the BeamFlex Interference
Avoidance algorithm |