US 12,348,980 B2
Cell-free wireless communication network for communicating with distributed users and related methods
Yasser Al-Eryani, Winnipeg (CA); and Ekram Hossain, Winnipeg (CA)
Assigned to University of Manitoba, Winnipeg (CA)
Filed by UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA, Winnipeg (CA)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/158,567.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/302,710, filed on Jan. 25, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0328536 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. H04W 16/18 (2009.01); H04W 16/28 (2009.01)
CPC H04W 16/18 (2013.01) [H04W 16/28 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wireless communication network for a plurality of user devices distributed in a geographical area comprising:
a plurality of access points having antennas and configured to wirelessly communicate with the user devices, wherein each of the access points further includes a respective processor, and a respective non-transitory memory that is operatively connected to the respective processor and on which there are stored instructions to be executed;
wherein the access points are arranged at spaced locations across the geographical area;
a central server having another processor, and another non-transitory memory that is operatively connected to said another processor and on which there are stored instructions to be executed, wherein the central server is communicatively connected to the access points and configured to control the wireless communication network;
wherein the access points are grouped, based on channel state information, to form a plurality of communication clusters each in wireless communication with a subset of the user devices in geographically proximal location thereto;
where each communication cluster and the subset of the user devices communicated therewith forms a subnetwork;
wherein the subnetworks are arranged for wireless communication in non-overlapping portions of the geographical area;
wherein the access points of a common subnetwork are configured to wirelessly exchange data with the user devices of the subnetwork using a common frequency range; and
wherein each of the communication clusters comprises an edge computing device formed by one or more of the access points belonging thereto and configured to exchange data with the central server.