BeamFlex
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.
zoom in zoom in
zoom in zoom in
Standards Compliance
Today, BeamFlex brings the benefits of smart antenna systems to 802.11b/g/a networks
without requiring the use of new signal processing silicon. Until the 802.11n standard
arrives, any silicon-based implementation of MIMO spatial multiplexing is subject to
obsolescence. Implemented at the physical antenna and driver software levels, BeamFlex
is compatible with all standard 802.11 chipsets, today and tomorrow.
Enhancing Installed Wi-Fi Devices
BeamFlex offers substantial performance and range improvements to the Wi-Fi installed
base even when implemented on only the access point or the station side; when it is
integrated on both, BeamFlex provides full transmit and receive diversity to deliver the
highest order of optimization.
Most Cost Effective
The cost of antenna material is minuscule compared to the cost of a radio chain. By using
a nimble, software-combinable antenna array to achieve diversity without additional radios
and by leveraging commoditized, mass market Wi-Fi chipsets, BeamFlex produces
performance and range optimization at a better price/performance ratio than pre-standard
MIMO chipsets with multiple radios.
Recent research has started focusing on reducing MIMO complexity, power consumption
and cost by employing a reduced number of radio chains and optimally allocating each
chain to one of a larger number of antennas controlled via an antenna selection scheme.
As an example, a minimum MIMO implementation that provides both spatial multiplexing
and receive diversity requires three sets of antennas and radios for single band and six
sets for dual-band (2.5 and 5 GHz) support.
With BeamFlex providing diversity coverage, a 2x2 MIMO implementation can achieve
improved spatial multiplexing and diversity gains at the same time with only two radios for
single band and four radios for dual-band support, thereby reducing cost, power
consumption and space.
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.
zoom in zoom in
zoom in zoom in
Standards Compliance
Today, BeamFlex brings the benefits of smart antenna systems to 802.11b/g/a networks
without requiring the use of new signal processing silicon. Until the 802.11n standard
arrives, any silicon-based implementation of MIMO spatial multiplexing is subject to
obsolescence. Implemented at the physical antenna and driver software levels, BeamFlex
is compatible with all standard 802.11 chipsets, today and tomorrow.
Enhancing Installed Wi-Fi Devices
BeamFlex offers substantial performance and range improvements to the Wi-Fi installed
base even when implemented on only the access point or the station side; when it is
integrated on both, BeamFlex provides full transmit and receive diversity to deliver the
highest order of optimization.
Most Cost Effective
The cost of antenna material is minuscule compared to the cost of a radio chain. By using
a nimble, software-combinable antenna array to achieve diversity without additional radios
and by leveraging commoditized, mass market Wi-Fi chipsets, BeamFlex produces
performance and range optimization at a better price/performance ratio than pre-standard
MIMO chipsets with multiple radios.
Recent research has started focusing on reducing MIMO complexity, power consumption
and cost by employing a reduced number of radio chains and optimally allocating each
chain to one of a larger number of antennas controlled via an antenna selection scheme.
As an example, a minimum MIMO implementation that provides both spatial multiplexing
and receive diversity requires three sets of antennas and radios for single band and six
sets for dual-band (2.5 and 5 GHz) support.
With BeamFlex providing diversity coverage, a 2x2 MIMO implementation can achieve
improved spatial multiplexing and diversity gains at the same time with only two radios for
single band and four radios for dual-band support, thereby reducing cost, power
consumption and space.
BeamFlex Dynamic Antenna
Array features
...................................................
BeamFlex Adaptive Beam
Control Software features
.................................................
Array features
...................................................
- Multiple directional high-gain
elements
- Dozens to hundreds of
software-controlled beam
patterns
- Long range with omni
coverage
- Massive path options
- Up to 20dB gain from diversity
and directionality
- Low cost, compact designs to
fit in consumer network
packaging
- Compatible with 802.11a/b/g
and future 802.11n
BeamFlex Adaptive Beam
Control Software features
.................................................
- Real time optimization expert
system
- Continuous learning based on
inputs from network layers 0
through 7
- RF, user and network
awareness
- On-the-fly antenna
reconfiguration and
transmission policy
management per packet, per
flow, per receiving device - Low CPU and memory
utilization
- AP and Station support
- VxWorks, Linux and Microsoft
Windows support
| Six high-gain directional antenna elements |
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