Distributed beamforming for inter-cluster communication in ad hoc networks

Communication between clusters of wireless terminals in an ad hoc network can be initialized using distributed beamforming, where low-power wireless terminals cooperatively form a multiantenna array. Various methods for implementing distributed beamforming in wireless ad hoc networks have been considered before, but little research has been conducted so far in the connection initialization and cluster identification necessary for realizing such communication in practice. We address these issues with the aim of facilitating communication between terminals in separate clusters too far apart for direct signaling. The proposed approach is based on assigning a specific identification code for each cluster, and utilizing this with distributed beamforming to establish links between clusters. This approach can be used also for sharing the spectrum within a limited geographical area between several clusters of wireless terminals.