Claims:We Claim:
1. A method for performing beam-forming between relay nodes, the method comprising:
estimating a required energy for performing beam-forming between one or more relay nodes selected amongst a plurality of relay nodes for data transmission;
determining that the required energy for the beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes is less than an available energy associated with the one or more relay nodes;
updating a plurality of relay beam-forming matrices at a plurality of receiver beam-forming matrices; and
performing beam steering in response to finalization of a beam-forming vector associated with the one or more relay nodes, wherein the beam steering comprises formation of a beam forming matrix and steering one or more beams by an antenna in at least one desired direction.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
initializing a current position of one or more source nodes and a plurality of relay nodes upon initializing a time slot;
determining the one or more relay nodes amongst the plurality of nodes for the initialized time slot; and
setting an input power for the one or more relay nodes and the one or more source nodes based on the current positions associated with the one or more relay nodes and the one or more source nodes.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
extracting an additional energy required for the beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes in response to determining that the available energy is less than the required energy, wherein the additional energy is calculated based on a difference between the required energy and the available energy; and
updating, the available energy in response to extraction of the additional energy.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
determining that an MMSE is minimized in response to updating the plurality of relay beam-forming matrices at the plurality of receiver beam-forming matrices; and
finalizing the beam-forming vector in response to minimization of the MMSE.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
incrementing the initialized time slot in response to determining one of:
a communication based on the one or more relay nodes between a transmitter and a receiver is not aborted; and
the initialized time slot is not equal to a maximum time slot;
updating a new current position of the one or more source nodes and the plurality of relay nodes.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 & 5, further comprising:
determining whether a value corresponding to a N-dimensional position vector between the source node, the one or more nodes and a destination node is greater than a maximum permissible position vector with respect to the one or more relay nodes steering the one or more beams upon updating the new current position of the one or more relay nodes and the one or more source nodes;
performing one of:
a relay switching by selecting at least one relay node for the incremented time slot in response to determining that the value corresponding to the N-dimensional position vector between the source node, the one or more nodes and the destination node is greater than the maximum permissible position vector with respect to the one or more relay nodes steering the one or more beams; and
updating another new current position of the one or more source nodes and the plurality of relay nodes in response to determining that the value corresponding to the N-dimensional position vector between the source node, the one or more nodes and the destination node is less than the maximum permissible position vector with respect to the one or more relay nodes steering the one or more beams;.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source node is a transmitter node amongst the plurality of nodes configured to initiate the beam-forming towards other relay nodes in the plurality of relay nodes, wherein the plurality of nodes is equipped with smart antennas configured to steer beams based on updated beam forming vectors.
8. A system (202) for performing beam-forming between relay nodes, the system (202) comprising:
estimating, by an estimation engine (216), a required energy for performing beam-forming between one or more relay nodes selected amongst a plurality of relay nodes for data transmission;
determining, by a determining engine (212), that the required energy for the beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes is less than an available energy associated with the one or more relay nodes;
updating, by a updating engine (218), a plurality of relay beam-forming matrices at a plurality of receiver beam-forming matrices; and
performing, by a steering engine (220), beam steering in response to finalization of a beam-forming vector associated with the one or more relay nodes, wherein the beam steering comprises formation of a beam forming matrix and steering one or more beams by an antenna in at least one desired direction.
9. The system (202) as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:
initializing, by a initialization engine (210), a current position of one or more source nodes and a plurality of relay nodes upon initializing a time slot;
determining, by the determining engine (212), the one or more relay nodes amongst the plurality of nodes for the initialized time slot; and
setting, by a powering engine (214), an input power for the one or more relay nodes and the one or more source nodes based on the current positions associated with the one or more relay nodes and the one or more source nodes.
10. The system (202) as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:
extracting, by an extraction engine (222), an additional energy required for the beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes in response to determining that the available energy is less than the required energy, wherein the additional energy is calculated based on a difference between the required energy and the available energy; and
updating, by the updating engine (218), the available energy in response to extraction of the additional energy.
11. The system (202) as claimed in claim 8 further comprising:
determining, by the determining engine (212), that an MMSE is minimized in response to updating the plurality of relay beam-forming matrices at the plurality of receiver beam-forming matrices; and
finalizing, by the determining engine (212), the beam-forming vector in response to minimization of the MMSE.
12. The system (202) as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:
incrementing, by the initialization engine (210), the initialized time slot in response to determining one of:
a communication based on the one or more relay nodes between a transmitter and a receiver is active; and
the initialized time slot is not equal to a maximum time slot;
updating, by the updating engine (218), a new current position of the one or more source nodes and the plurality of relay nodes.
13. The system (202) as claimed in claim 8 & 12, further comprising:
determining, by the determining engine (212), whether a value corresponding to a N-dimensional position vector between the source node, the one or more nodes and a destination node is greater than a maximum permissible position vector with respect to the one or more relay nodes steering the one or more beams upon updating the new current position of the one or more relay nodes and the one or more source nodes;
performing one of:
a relay switching, by the steering engine (220), by selecting at least one relay node for the incremented time slot in response to determining that the value corresponding to the N-dimensional position vector between the source node, the one or more nodes and the destination node is greater than the maximum permissible position vector with respect to the one or more relay nodes steering the one or more beams; and
updating, by the updating engine (218), another new current position of the one or more source nodes and the plurality of relay nodes in response to determining that the value corresponding to the N-dimensional position vector between the source node, the one or more nodes and the destination node is less than the maximum permissible position vector with respect to the one or more relay nodes steering the one or more beams;
14. The system (202) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the source node is a transmitter node amongst the plurality of nodes configured to initiate the beam-forming towards other relay nodes in the plurality of relay nodes, wherein the plurality of nodes is equipped with smart antennas configured to steer beams based on updated beam forming vectors.

Dated this 04th day of August 2021.


Md. AZHARUDDIN
AGENT FOR THE APPLICANTS
IN/PA No. 3823

, Description:
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See Section 10 and Rule 13]

1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION
“NOVEL BEAM-FORMING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RELAY ASSISTED COMMUNICATION”

2. APPLICANT
a) ASHOK K,
b) a national of India,
c) Elayattu Nair House, Thadukkassery PO, Keralassery via, Palakkad Dist, Kerala, Pin: 678641, India;

a) SUDHA T,
b) a national of India,
c) No:12, Navaneetham, Thomas Nagar, Kallekulangara, Palakkad, Kerala, Pin: 678009, India.

3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

 
[001] Field of invention
[002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to performing beam-forming and particularly to a method and system for reducing power wastage in performing beam-forming between the relay nodes.
[003] Description of Related Art
[004] Traditionally, the long distance wireless communication performed through the relay nodes witnesses a frequent connectivity failure between the relay nodes.
[005] Also, the relay nodes transmitting data between two destinations further cause excessive power wastage due to continuous usage of selected relay nodes even in unwanted time slots. The power wastage is mainly due to dynamic behavior of mobile nodes and fast selection and replacement of relay nodes with respect to fast moving user nodes.
[006] Further, the excessive Power spill over towards undesired nodes leads to error in data transmission
[007] There is thus a need for a system and method to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.
[008] SUMMARY
[009] Embodiments according to the present invention providea system for performing beam-forming between relay nodes is disclosed. The system includes estimating, by an estimation engine a required energy for performing beam-forming between one or more relay nodes selected amongst a plurality of relay nodes for data transmission. The system includes determining by a determining engine that the required energy for the beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes is less than an available energy associated with the one or more relay nodes. The system includes updating by an updating engine a plurality of relay beam-forming matrices at a plurality of receiver beam-forming matrices. The system further includes performing by a steering engine, beam steering in response to finalization of a beam-forming vector associated with the one or more relay nodes, wherein the beam steering comprises formation of a beam forming matrix and steering one or more beamsby an antenna in at least one desired direction.
[0010] Embodiments according to the present invention further provide a method for performing beam-forming between relay nodes is disclosed. The method includes estimating a required energy for performing beam-forming between one or more relay nodes selected amongst a plurality of relay nodes for data transmission. The method includes determining that the required energy for the beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes is less than an available energy associated with the one or more relay nodes. The method includes updating a plurality of relay beam-forming matrices at a plurality of receiver beam-forming matrices. The method further includes performing beam steering in response to finalization of a beam-forming vector associated with the one or more relay nodes, wherein the beam steering comprises formation of a beam forming matrix and steering one or more beams by an antenna in at least one desired direction.
[0011] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0012] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram depicting a method for performing beam-forming between relay nodes, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a system for performing beam-forming between relay nodes, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates an operational diagram depicting a process for performing beam-forming between relay nodes, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0019] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.
[0020] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[001] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram 100 depicting a method for performing beam-forming between relay nodes, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, the beam-formingmay be performed for performing a long distance wireless communication. In an embodiment, the beam-forming may be performed for transmitting data from one destination to another destination through the relay nodes. In an embodiment, the beam-forming may be based on Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) Algorithm with energy extraction in relay nodes. In an embodiment, the relay nodes may be selected using a modified cuckoo search optimization algorithm to facilitate beam-forming and data transmission towards a destination node.
[002] In an embodiment, the method includes, estimating (step 102) a required energy for performing beam-forming between one or more relay nodes selected amongst a plurality of relay nodes for data transmission one or more unknown malicious activities in the network.
[003] Further, the method includes, determining (step 104) that the required energy for the beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes is less than an available energy associated with the one or more relay nodes;
[004] In response to determining that the required energy for the beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes is less than the available energy, the method includes updating (step 106) a plurality of relay beam-forming matrices at a plurality of receiver beam-forming matrices.
[005] Continuing with the above embodiment, the method includes performing (step 108) beam steering in response to finalization of a beam-forming vector associated with the one or more relay nodes, wherein the beam steering comprises formation of a beam forming matrix and steering one or more beams by an antenna in at least one desired direction.
[006] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram 200 of a system 202 for performing beam-forming between relay nodes, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, the system 202 may be configured to curb power wastage between one or more relay nodes amongst a plurality of nodes. In an embodiment, the system 202 may be configured to curb the power wastage by harvesting power utilized between the plurality of relay nodes. In an embodiment, the one or more relay nodes may be configured to transmit data from one destination to another destination in a long distance wireless communication through beam-forming.
[007] in an example, the system 202 may include a processor 204, a memory 206, data 208, an initialization engine 210, a determining engine 212, a powering engine 214, an estimation engine 216, an updating engine 218, a steering engine 220, and an extraction engine 222. In an embodiment, the processor 204, the memory 206,the data 208,theinitialization engine 210, the determining engine 212, the powering engine 214, the estimation engine 216, the updating engine 218, the steering engine 220, and the extraction engine 222 may be communicably coupled to one another.
[008] Further, the system 202 may be understood as one or more of a hardware, a configurable hardware and the like. In an embodiment, the processor 204 may be a single processing unit. In another embodiment, the processor 204 may be a number of units. Further, the processor 204 may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, microcomputers, central processing units, multiprocessors, logic circuitries, field programmable gate arrays. The processor 204 may further be configured to fetch and execute instructions from the data stored in the memory 206.
[009] In an example, the memory 206 may include a non-transitory computer readable medium such as a volatile memory, a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) and a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), a non-volatile memory such as Read Only Memory (ROM), hard disk, optical disks. In an embodiment, the memory 206 may include the data 208.
[0010] The data 208 serves as a repository for storing data processed, received, and generated by one or more of the processor 204, the memory 206,the data 208, the initialization engine 210, the determining engine 212, the powering engine 214, the estimation engine 216, the updating engine 218, the steering engine 220, and the extraction engine 222.
[0011] Continuing with the above embodiment, the initialization engine 210 may be configured to initialize a time slot related to the number of relay nodes. Upon initialization of the time slot, the initialization engine 210 may be configured to initialize a current position of one or more source nodes and the number of relay nodes. In an embodiment, the one or more source nodes may be transmitter nodes amongst the number of relay nodes configured to initiate the beam-forming towards other relay nodes in the number of relay nodes. In an embodiment, the number of relay nodes may be equipped with smart antennas configured to steer beams based on updated beam forming vectors. In an exemplary embodiment, the initialized time slot may be referred as "m", such that m = 0.
[0012] Moving forward, the determining engine 212 may be configured to determine the one or more relay nodes amongst the number of relay nodes for the initialized time slot. In an embodiment, the one or more relay nodes may be determined for transmitting the data from the destination to the other destination. In an embodiment, the determining engine 212 may be configured to determine the one or more relay nodes based on a modified cuckoo search optimization algorithm to facilitate the beam-forming.
[0013] In response to determining the one or more nodes by the determining engine 212, the powering engine 214 may be configured to set an input power for the one or more relay nodes and the one or more source nodes. In an embodiment, the powering engine 214 may be configured to power the one or more relay nodes and the one or more source nodes based on the current positions associated with the one or more relay nodes and the one or more source nodes.
[0014] Continuing with the above embodiment, the estimation engine 216 may be configured to estimate a required energy for performing beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes selected amongst a plurality of relay nodes. In an embodiment, the estimation engine 216 may be configured to estimate the required energy for performing data transmission through the one or more relay nodes between the destination and the other destination.
[0015] In response to estimating the required energy by the estimation engine 216, the determining engine 212 may be configured to determine that the required energy for the beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes is less than an available energy associated with the one or more relay nodes.
[0016] In continuation with the above embodiment, upon determining that the required energy is less than the available energy, the updating engine 218 may be configured to update a number of relay beam-forming matrices at a number of receiver beam-forming matrices. Moving forward, the determining engine 212 may be configured to determine that the MMSE is minimized.
[0017] In response to determining that the MMSE is minimized, the steering engine 220 may be configured to finalize a beam-forming vector related to the one or more relay nodes. In response to finalizing the beam-forming vector, the steering engine 220 may be configured to perform beam steering. In an embodiment, the beam steering may include formation of a beam forming matrix and steering one or more beams by an antenna in at least one desired direction. In an embodiment, the one or more beams may be formed between the one or more relay nodes.
[0018] In an embodiment, where it is determined by the determining engine 212 that the required energy is greater than the available energy, the extraction engine 222 may be configured to extract an additional energy required for the beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes. In an embodiment, the additional energy may be calculated based on a difference between the required energy and the available energy. Furthermore, the updating engine 218 may be configured to update the available energy in response to extraction of the additional energy.
[0019] Subsequently, the initialization engine 210 may be configured to determine whether a communication based on the one or more relay nodes between a transmitter and a receiver is aborted or not. In an embodiment, the transmitter may be at the destination and the receiver may be at the other destination. In parallel to determining that the communication is aborted or not, the initialization engine 210 may be configured to determine that the initialized time slot is equal to a maximum time slot or not. In an exemplary embodiment, the maximum time slot may be referred as "T", such that m = T.
[0020] Upon determining one of the communication being aborted and the initialized time slot being equal to the maximum time slot, the initialization engine 210 may be configured to terminate beam-forming and steering.
[0021] In an embodiment, upon determining one of the communication being active and the initialized time slot being unequal to the maximum time slot, the initialization engine 210 may be configured to increment the initialized time slot.
[0022] Moving forward, the updating engine 218 may be configured to update a current new position of the one or more source nodes and the number of relay nodes.
[0023] In response to updating, the determining engine 212 may be configured to determine whether a value corresponding to a N-dimensional position vector between the one or more source nodes, the one or more nodes and a destination node is greater than a maximum permissible position vector with respect to the one or more relay nodes steering the one or more beams.
[0024] In an embodiment, where it is determined by the determining engine 212 that the value corresponding to the N-dimensional position vector between the source node, the one or more nodes and the destination node is greater than the maximum permissible position vector with respect to the one or more relay nodes steering the one or more beams, the steering engine 220 may be configured to perform a relay switching. In an embodiment, the relay switching may include selecting at least one relay node for the incremented time slot.
[0025] In an embodiment, where it is determined by the determining engine 212 that the value corresponding to the N-dimensional position vector between the source node, the one or more nodes and the destination node is less than the maximum permissible position vector with respect to the one or more relay nodes steering the one or more beams, the updating engine 218 may be configured to update another new current position of the one or more source nodes and the number of relay nodes.
[0026] Fig. 3 illustrates an operational flow diagram 300 depicting a process for performing beam-forming between relay nodes, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, the beam-forming may be performed for transmitting data from a transmitter at a destination to a receiver at another destination. In an embodiment, the beam-forming may be performed between one or more relay nodes amongst a number of relay nodes. In an embodiment, the data may be transmitted by steering one or more beams formed between the one or more beams.
[0027] Continuing with the above embodiment, the process may include initializing (step 302) a time slot related to the number of relay nodes by the initialization engine 210. Upon initialization of the time slot, the process may include initializing a current position of one or more source nodes and the number of relay nodes by the initialization engine 210. In an embodiment, the one or more source nodes may be transmitter nodes amongst the number of relay nodes configured to initiate the beam-forming towards other relay nodes in the number of relay nodes. In an embodiment, the number of relay nodes may be equipped with smart antennas configured to steer beams based on updated beam forming vectors. In an exemplary embodiment, the initialized time slot may be referred as "m", such that m = 0.
[0028] Moving forward, the process may include determining (step 304) the one or more relay nodes amongst the number of relay nodes for the initialized time slot. In an embodiment, the one or more relay nodes may be determined for transmitting the data from the destination to the other destination. In an embodiment, determining the one or more relay nodes based on a modified cuckoo search optimization algorithm to facilitate the beam-forming. In an embodiment, determining may be performed by the determining engine 212.
[0029] In response to determining the one or more nodes by the determining engine 212, the process may include setting (step 306) an input power for the one or more relay nodes and the one or more source nodes. In an embodiment, the input power may be set by the powering engine 214. In an embodiment, the powering engine 214 may be configured to power the one or more relay nodes and the one or more source nodes based on the current positions associated with the one or more relay nodes and the one or more source nodes.
[0030] Continuing with the above embodiment, the process may include estimating (step 308) a required energy for performing beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes selected amongst a plurality of relay nodes. In an embodiment, the estimation may be performed by the estimation engine 216. In an embodiment, the estimation engine 216 may be configured to estimate the required energy for performing data transmission through the one or more relay nodes between the destination and the other destination.
[0031] In response to estimating the required energy by the estimation engine 216, the process may include determining (step 310) whether the required energy for the beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes is less than an available energy associated with the one or more relay nodes or not. In an embodiment, the determining may be performed by the determining engine 212. In an embodiment, where it is determined that the required energy is less than the available energy, the process may proceed towards step 314. In an embodiment, where it is determined that the required energy is greater than the available energy, the process may proceed towards step 312.
[0032] Continuing with the above embodiment, the process may include extracting (step 312) an additional energy required for the beam-forming between the one or more relay nodes. In an embodiment, the additional energy may be extracted by the extraction engine 222. In an embodiment, the additional energy may be calculated based on a difference between the required energy and the available energy. Furthermore, the updating engine 218 may be configured to update the available energy in response to extraction of the additional energy.
[0033] In continuation with the above embodiment, upon determining that the required energy is less than the available energy, the process may include updating (step 314) a number of relay beam-forming matrices at a number of receiver beam-forming matrices by the updating engine 218.
[0034] Moving forward, the process may include determining (step 316) by the determining engine 212, that a MMSE is minimized.
[0035] In response to determining that the MMSE is minimized, the process may include finalizing (step 318) by the steering engine 220 a beam-forming vector related to the one or more relay nodes. In response to finalizing the beam-forming vector, the process may include performing by the steering engine 220, beam steering. In an embodiment, the beam steering may include formation of a beam forming matrix and steering one or more beams by an antenna in at least one desired direction. In an embodiment, the one or more beams may be formed between the one or more relay nodes.
[0036] Continuing with the above embodiment, the process may include determining (step 320) by the initialization engine 210 whether a communication based on the one or more relay nodes between a transmitter and a receiver is aborted or not. In an embodiment, the transmitter may be at the destination and the receiver may be at the other destination. In parallel to determining that the communication is aborted or not, the process may include determining by the initialization engine 210 that the initialized time slot is equal to a maximum time slot or not. In an exemplary embodiment, the maximum time slot may be referred as "T", such that m = T.
[0037] Upon determining one of the communication being aborted and the initialized time slot being equal to the maximum time slot, the process may include at step 322.
[0038] In an embodiment, upon determining one of the communication being active and the initialized time slot being unequal to the maximum time slot, the process may include incrementing (step 324) by the initialization engine 210 the initialized time slot.
[0039] Moving forward, the process may include updating (step 326) by the updating engine 218 a current new position of the one or more source nodes and the number of relay nodes.
[0040] In response to updating, the process may include determining by the determining engine 212 whether a value corresponding to a N-dimensional position vector between the one or more source nodes, the one or more nodes and a destination node is greater than a maximum permissible position vector with respect to the one or more relay nodes steering the one or more beams.
[0041] In an embodiment, where it is determined by the determining engine 212 that the value corresponding to the N-dimensional position vector between the source node, the one or more nodes and the destination node is greater than the maximum permissible position vector with respect to the one or more relay nodes steering the one or more beams, the process may backtrack to step 304.
[0042] In an embodiment, where it is determined by the determining engine 212 that the value corresponding to the N-dimensional position vector between the source node, the one or more nodes and the destination node is less than the maximum permissible position vector with respect to the one or more relay nodes steering the one or more beams, the process may backtrack to step 314.
[0043] Embodiments of the invention are described above with reference to block diagrams and schematic illustrations of methods and systems according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the diagrams and combinations of blocks in the diagrams can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto one or more general purpose computers, special purpose computers, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce machines, such that the instructions which execute on the computers or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks. Such computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the function specified in the block or blocks.
[0044] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0045] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.