Environmental conditions and antenna monitoring systems and methods

Abstract

Antenna monitoring systems and methods can include, among other things, a transmitter in proximity to each of the antennas. The transmitter can transmit an identifier corresponding to the transmitter of the antenna, so that the various transmitters each transmit different unique identifiers. A sensor configured to monitor one or more of environmental parameters or performance of the antenna. Each transmitter can be integrated with a sensor. These antenna identifiers and sensor data can be detected by a receiver and can be processed to detect and provide notification of a gunshots, adverse environmental conditions, or degradation of antenna performance.

Description

GUGLI.005WO PATENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND ANTENNA MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority7to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 747,745 filed on January 21, 2025 and U.K. Patent Application No. 2505026.1 filed on April 3, 2025, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] Firefighters often use radios within buildings to communicate with one another and with other firefighters outside. These radios typically use line-of-sight transceivers that may not adequately reach all areas of the building. In addition, tint coating on building glass in many modem buildings attenuates or blocks radio frequency (RF) signals and thereby prevents reliable communication between firefighters inside and outside the building. Similar problems may be encountered by police and other emergency personnel.

[0003] To address these problems, a distributed antenna system (DAS) can be installed in a building. A DAS can include a plurality of antennas that are distributed within a building, which can increase radio coverage for first responders like firefighters, policemen, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). A DAS used by first responders may be referred to as a public safety DAS or Emergency Responder Radio Communication System (ERRCS). Moreover, a DAS can also be employed for other uses, including extending cellular coverage inside a building. Convention centers, for instance, may employ a DAS for large conventions to enable convention goers to maintain cellular connectivity that would be impossible without the DAS, due to the heavy load on limited cellular resources.

[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, an example prior art scenario 100 is shown in which a DAS can be implemented in a building 110. The building 110 includes a donor antenna 120 on the roof. This donor antenna 120 can communicate with external antennas, such as first responder antennas (not shown) or cellular network radio macro towers 108. The donor antenna could also be located on another portion of the building other than the roof, such as the side of the building.

[0005] The donor antenna 120 can receive signals from the first responder antennas or cellular network radio macro towers 108. These signals can be transmitted along a wire such as a coaxial cable (“coax’’) to a bi-directional amplifier (BDA) 130 within the building 110. The donor antenna 120 can also receive signals to be transmitted from the BDA 130 over the coax. The BDA 130 can act as a repeater that amplifies both received and transmitted signals received from or transmitted to the donor antenna 120.

[0006] The BDA 130 can supply and receive signals from additional cabling shown in the building 110. This cabling communicates with indoor antennas 160 through coax cables 150 or fiberoptic cables (not show n). The cables connect to the indoor antennas 160 and to the BDA 130 via antenna couplers 140, such as taps or splitters. The indoor antennas 160 can be provided on some or all levels of the building 110.SUMMARY

[0007] A monitoring system can include: a plurality of transmitters configured to be positioned in proximity of a plurality’ of antennas, the plurality of transmitters being associated with a plurality of identifiers unique to the transmitters, the plurality of transmitters integrated with a plurality of sensors configured to monitor at least one of sound or light, and each transmitter of the plurality of transmitters configured to transmit sensor data associated with sound or light monitored by an associated sensor and an identifier of the transmitter to an antenna of the plurality of antennas in whose proximity the transmitter is positioned thereby causing the antenna to transmit the sensor data and the identifier to a receiver; and the receiver including an electronic processing circuitry configured to: receive sensor data and an identifier of a transmitter from an antenna in whose proximity the transmitter is positioned; determine a location of the antenna or the transmitter based on the identifier; using the sensor data, generate a notification that a gunshot has occurred; and provide a notification that a gunshot has occurred along with the location.

[0008] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. At least one of a sensor integrated with the transmitter, the transmitter, or the receiver can be configured to determine that the gunshot has occurred based on a determination that at least one property of the sensor data satisfies at least one threshold indicative of the gunshot.

[0009] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. Determining that the gunshot has occurred can be performed based on a determination that the at least one property of the sensor data satisfies the at least one threshold indicative of the gunshot.

[0010] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. Determining that the gunshot has occurred can be performed based on a determination that an intensity of sound indicated by the sensor data satisfies a sound intensity threshold.

[0011] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. Determining that the gunshot has occurred can be performed based on a determination that an intensity of light indicated by the sensor data satisfies a light intensity threshold.

[0012] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. The receiver can be configured to determine the location based on a one-to-one association between the plurality of identifiers and a plurality of locations of the plurality of transmitters.

[0013] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. The electronic processing circuitry can be configured to cause the notification and the location to be output on a display.

[0014] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. The electronic processing circuitry can be configured to cause the notification and the location to be transmitted to a remote computing device.

[0015] A monitoring system can include: a plurality of transmitters configured to be positioned in proximity of a plurality of antennas, the plurality of transmitters being associated with a plurality of identifiers unique to the transmitters, the plurality of transmitters integrated with a plurality of sensors configured to monitor one or more radio frequency (RF) signals emitted by the plurality’ of antennas, and each transmitter of theplurality of transmitters configured to transmit sensor data detected by a sensor associated with the transmitter and an identifier of the transmitter to an antenna in whose proximity the transmitter is positioned thereby causing the antenna to transmit the sensor data and the identifier to a receiver; and the receiver including an electronic processing circuitry configured to: receive sensor data and an identifier of a transmitter from an antenna in whose proximity the transmitter is positioned; determine identification of the antenna using the identifier of the transmitter; determine that at least one property of one or more RF signals indicated by the sensor data satisfies at least one threshold indicative of antenna degradation, the at least one threshold determined using a previously detected baseline value of the at least one property of RF signals; and in response to determining that the at least one property of one or more RF signals satisfies the at least one threshold, provide a notification that performance of the antenna is degrading along with the identification of the antenna.

[0016] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. At least one threshold can be different from a threshold indicative of failure of the antenna.

[0017] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. At least one threshold can be set to a proportion of the threshold indicative of failure of the antenna.

[0018] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the antenna monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. Threshold indicative of failure of the antenna can be determined at a time of installation of the transmitter.

[0019] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. At least one property of one or more RF signals can include signal strength.

[0020] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. The electronic processing circuitry can be configured to cause the notification and the identification to be output on a display.

[0021] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. The electronic processing circuitry can be configured to cause the notification and the identification to be transmitted to a remote computing device.

[0022] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. The identification of the antenna can include location of the antenna.

[0023] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. The receiver can be configured to determine the identification based on a one-to-one association between the plurality of identifiers and a plurality of locations of the plurality of antennas.

[0024] A monitoring system can include: a plurality of transmitters configured to be positioned in proximity of a plurality of antennas, the plurality of transmitters being associated with a plurality of identifiers unique to the transmitters, the plurality of transmitters integrated with a plurality of sensors configured to detect humidity, and each transmitter of the plurality of transmitters configured to transmit sensor data indicative of humidity detected by a sensor associated with the transmitter and an identifier of the transmitter to an antenna of the plurality of antennas in whose proximity the transmitter is positioned thereby causing the antenna to transmit the sensor data and the identifier to a receiver; and the receiver including an electronic processing circuitry configured to: receive sensor data and an identifier of a transmitter from an antenna in whose proximity the transmitter is positioned; determine a location of the antenna or the transmitter using the identifier; using the sensor data, generate an indication associated with a humidity level; and provide a notification including the indication of the humidity level and the location.

[0025] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. The electronic processing circuitry can be further configured to: determine that the humidity level satisfies a humidity threshold; and in response to determining that the humidity level satisfies the humidity threshold, generate the indication that the humidity level satisfies the humidity threshold.

[0026] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the followingfeatures. The receiver can be configured to determine the location based on a one-to-one association between the plurality’ of identifiers and a plurality of locations of the plurality of transmitters.

[0027] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. The electronic processing circuitry can be configured to cause the notification and the location to be output on a display.

[0028] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. The electronic processing circuitry can be configured to cause the notification and the location to be transmitted to a remote computing device.

[0029] A monitoring system can include: a plurality’ of transmitters configured to be positioned in proximity of a plurality’ of antennas located in a site, the plurality’ of transmitters configured to: transmit a first plurality of signals to the plurality of antennas, a signal of the first plurality’ of signals comprising an antenna identifier for an antenna associated with a transmitter transmitting the signal; a receiver comprising an electronic processing circuitry configured to: receive a second plurality of signals from the plurality of antennas, the second plurality of signals transmitted by the plurality’ of antennas in response to the first plurality of signals being transmitted to the plurality of antennas by the plurality of transmitters; determine that the plurality of antenna identifiers does not include a first antenna identifier for a first antenna of the plurality of antennas; and in response to determining that the plurality’ of antenna identifiers does not include the first antenna identifier for the first antenna, generate a first indication corresponding to a failure of the first antenna: and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive the first indication corresponding to the failure of the first antenna; include the first indication along with a location of the first antenna on a three-dimensional representation of the site; and cause the three-dimensional representation of the site along with the first indication and the location of the first antenna to be displayed.

[0030] The monitoring system of any’ of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the antenna monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. The site can be a building with a plurality of floors and the three-dimensional representation of the building illustrates the plurality of floors.

[0031] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the antenna monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. A floor on which the first antenna is located can be illustrated in a different color than at least one other floor of the plurality of floors.

[0032] The monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the antenna monitoring systems described herein can include one or more of the following features. The plurality of transmitters can be integrated with a plurality of sensors configured to detect at least one environmental condition, and the plurality of transmitters are further configured to include the at least one environmental condition in the first plurality of signals. The electronic processing circuitry of the receiver can be further configured to, using the first plurality of signals, generate a second indication corresponding to the at least one environmental condition detected by a sensor of a second transmitter of the plurality of transmitters. The instruction can further cause the at least one processor to: receive the second indication corresponding to the at least one environmental condition; include the second indication along with a location of the second antenna on the three-dimensional representation of the site; and cause the three-dimensional representation of the site along with the second indication and the location of the second antenna to be displayed.

[0033] Methods of operating the antenna monitoring system of any of the preceding paragraphs and / or any of the antenna monitoring systems described herein are disclosed.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The following drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate implementation of the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the claims.

[0035] FIG. 1 depicts an example prior art scenario in which a DAS can be implemented in a building.

[0036] FIG. 2 depicts an example DAS that can monitor antenna functionality.

[0037] FIG. 3 depicts an example antenna and transmitter installation.

[0038] FIG. 4 depicts example views of the transmitter of FIG. 3.

[0039] FIG. 5 depicts an example head end of a DAS.

[0040] FIG. 6 depicts an example of a front portion of a receiver.

[0041] FIG. 7 depicts an example panel of a fire alarm control unit.

[0042] FIG. 8 depicts an example annunciator panel.

[0043] FIG. 9 depicts an example antenna fault detection process.

[0044] FIG. 10 (split across FIGS. 10A and 10B) depicts a portion of an example DAS installation in an actual building.

[0045] FIG. 11 depicts another example DAS that can monitor antenna functionality.

[0046] FIG. 12 depicts an example antenna monitor.

[0047] FIG. 13 depicts an example monitoring system.

[0048] FIG. 14 depicts another example DAS.

[0049] FIG. 15 depicts antenna shut off.

[0050] FIG. 16 depicts a process for detecting a gunshot.

[0051] FIG. 17 depicts a process for monitoring humidify.

[0052] FIG. 18 depicts a process for monitoring antenna performance.

[0053] FIGS. 19A-19B, 20A-20C, and 21A-21C depict user interfaces for DAS setup and monitoring.

[0054] FIGS. 22A-22C depict a three dimensional model for monitoring a DAS.

[0055] FIGS. 23A-23B depict an antenna monitor and head end of a DAS.

[0056] While the foregoing "Brief Description of the Drawings’' references generally various implementations of the disclosure, such implementations are not mutually exclusive. Rather, a myriad of combinations of some or all of such implementations may be realized.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONOverview

[0057] One problem with a DAS such as shown in FIG. 1 (described above) is that in some buildings, numerous antennas may be distributed throughout the building, such as 50. 100, or more antennas. Some antennas may fail from time to time and stop transmitting or receiving signals. Antenna failure can be due to any of a variety of reasons, including, for example, due to the failure of any component of the antenna or the cabling connecting to the antenna (including from rodent damage). If an antenna failure is undetected, then a first responder may not be able to transmit or receive using that antenna in an emergency. Thus, undetected antenna failure can lead to life-threatening situationsfor first responders and the people they are attempting to save. Similarly, in the cellular context, it can be desirable to provide users with as much coverage as possible to avoid user complaints and frustration from not being able to access a cellular network and associated data. Not only that, but reduced cellular coverage can limit access to emergency 911 services for cellular users. Thus, antenna failure may inconvenience multiple users.

[0058] The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released a standard, NFPA 1221 (2016) and NFPA 1221 (2019), each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, and which address the installation, maintenance, and use of emergency services communications systems. NFPA 1221 specifies that “[t]ests and inspections shall be made’' of communications equipment. NPFA 1221 § 11.1.1. However, testing and monitoring antennas can be difficult because it can be very time consuming to manually check the health status of dozens or hundreds of antennas in a large building. Further, DAS installation companies typically install DAS systems in numerous different venues and thus may not have sufficient employee resources to check antennas frequently. It may be that maintenance personnel may not visit a site for several months or even a few years, and thus a broken antenna may go undetected for a long period of time, cutting the signal off in the area of that antenna.

[0059] To attempt to address these problems, this disclosure describes example antenna monitoring systems (sometimes referred to as DAS monitoring systems) and methods that can include, among other things, a transmitter for each of the antennas in a DAS. The transmitter can transmit a signal that includes antenna identification (or antenna identifier) via antenna it is in proximity to for detection by a receiver. For example, the transmitter can transmit data on a certain frequency or channel corresponding to the antenna it is close to, so that the various transmitters in the DAS each transmit on the same or on different frequencies. These frequencies can be detected by the receiver and can be processed to determine whether a signal at any frequency or channel expected to be received is missing. As another example, the transmitter can transmit a signal with an antenna identifier corresponding to the antenna located in proximity to the transmitter. For instance, the antenna identifier can be unique (such as, unique id of an RFID tag or another unique value). Each transmitter can transmit a signal with a different antenna identifier. Transmitted signals can be detected by the receiver and processed to determine whether an antenna identifier for the particular antenna is missing.

[0060] If any expected antenna identifier is missing (for example, if signal is missing for any frequency or channel), the receiver can infer that the antenna or a component associated with the antenna (such as cabling or a transmitter associated with the antenna) may have failed. The receiver can then output an indication or notification that may be accessed by maintenance personnel and / or emergency personnel to enable them to quickly identify and repair the non-functioning antenna or component. Instead of or in addition to looking for missing signals, the receiver can also detect antennas that are supplying very low signals (for example, below a threshold), which may also constitute a failure of the antenna or component.Example DAS that Monitors Antenna Functionality

[0061] Turning to FIG. 2, an example DAS 200 is shown that can implement some or all of the features just described. The DAS 200 is shown implemented in a building 210. The DAS 200 can be implemented in any building or venue, including office buildings, hospitals, stadiums, and even outdoors (such as in outdoor malls), and the like, without limitation. The DAS 200 can include antenna monitoring functionality that can detect when an antenna or related component is no longer functioning properly, thereby enabling troubleshooting of the faulty' antenna or component and thereby bringing reliable service back online quickly.

[0062] In this example, the DAS 200 includes a donor antenna 202 in communication with a bi-directional amplifier (BDA) 220. The BDA 220 is shown in communication with a coupler 222, which may be a tap, splitter, or the like. The coupler 222 is in communication with the plurality of antennas 250 and a head end 270. Each of the antennas 250 can be indoor antennas like the ones described above with respect to FIG.1. The antennas 250 can also be outdoor antennas (for example, in an outdoor mall). Three antennas 250 are shown on each of three floors; floor 1, floor 2, and floor N. An ellipsis between floor 2 and floor N indicate that any number of floors may be used in the DAS 200. Further, any number of antennas 250, from one to several, may be installed on any given floor in a building 210. The antennas 250 need not be installed on every floor. While the antennas 250 are described as being located on floors, any of the antennas 250 can be installed in any location, which may or may not be a floor of a structure.

[0063] In proximity w ith each antenna 250 is a transmitter 260. Each of the transmitters 260 can include hardware and optionally’ software that transmits antennaidentification, which can be a signal (such as a carrier wave or any other suitable signal) at a specific frequency. In some cases, the transmitters 260 may operate at a different frequency or channel for each antenna 250. As a result, each antenna 250 can detect and then transmit a signal at a different frequency, making that antenna’s output (and thus functioning) readily identifiable by frequency, which can satisfy the NFPA code and meet emergency 911 needs.

[0064] Each antenna 250 may be in proximity with its corresponding transmitter 260. An antenna 250 and a transmitter 260 '‘in proximity,” in addition to having its ordinary' meaning, can mean, among other things, that the antenna 250 and transmitter 260 can be in contact with or otherwise mechanically attached to each other, or that the antenna 250 and transmitter 260 can be a short distance away from one another (such as within a number of centimeters, within about one meter, or within about two meters), or that the transmitter 260 may be within a receive range of the antenna 250 such that the transmitter 260 can transmit a signal that will be received by the antenna 250 but that will not be received by another antenna 250 within the same building (or that the received signal will be below a threshold at other antennas 250 within the building). Thus, for example, while another antenna 250 in the building may receive a signal from another antenna’s 250 transmitter 260, that signal may be at a very' low level and possibly below a noise floor. A transmitter 260 can be attached to a wall or junction box near its corresponding antenna 260 in some installations. The transmitter 260 may be within about 1 to 2 meters of the antenna 250 in some installations. The transmitter 260 may' also be directly behind the antenna 250. Moreover, the transmitter 260 may be internal to the antenna 250, such that the antenna 250 may be sold with the transmitter 260 integrated therewith.

[0065] As described above, the coupler 222 can couple cables, such as coaxial or fiberoptic cables, between the different antennas and the BDA 220. The coupler 220 can also couple the BDA 220 and the antennas 250 to the head end 270. The head end 270 can include a plurality' of components that may be in an electrical room of the building 210 or in some other location of the building 210 (such as in a basement or electrical closet). The BDA 220 may be part of the head end 270. The head end 270 can include an attenuator and / or limiter 224, a receiver 230, a fire alarm control unit (FACU) 240, and an annunciator panel 244. Fewer than all of the components shown may be provided in other implementations.

[0066] The atenuator / limiter 224 can atenuate and / or limit incoming signal from the coupler 222 to avoid sending too strong of a signal to the receiver 230, which might damage the receiver 230. The receiver 230 can include a processor, memory, and a display. The receiver 230 can receive signals from the antennas 250 through the coupler 220 and the atenuator / limiter 224. The receiver 230 can analyze the signals using the processor to determine whether any antenna identification is missing. For example, the receiver 230 can determine whether any of the antennas 250 are not receiving on a specific frequency transmited by a transmiter 260. If the receiver 230 identifies that a signal at a specific frequency is not received, then the receiver 230 can output an indication of a component failure. The component failure can indicate that an antenna 250 corresponding to that frequency has failed or that some other component associated with that antenna 250 has failed (such as a coupler or cable).

[0067] The receiver 230 can output this component failure indication on a display of the receiver 230. Further, the receiver 230 can also output the component failure indication to one or more other devices, including the FACU 240 and the annunciator panel 244. The FACU 240 can control fire alarms in the building and can also include a display that outputs the indication received from the receiver 230. The FACU 240 can also communicate the component failure indication over a network 208 (which may include the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, or the like) to a remote monitor 246. The remote monitor 246 may be a device (such as a computer or annunciator panel) installed in a fire station or other emergency communications facility. A remote monitor 246 may instead or also be located at a provider facility corresponding to a provider of the DAS 200.

[0068] The annunciator panel 244 can also receive an indication of a component failure from the receiver 230 and can output the indication of the failure. This indication may be a lamp, LED, or the like that lights up to indicate that a component has failed (but may or may not indicate which component failed). The annunciator panel 244 may provide firefighters or other emergency personnel a quick, at-a-glance view that a component has failed. The annunciator panel 244 can act as a redundant component to the FACU 240 and may be more reliable than the FACU 240 in the event of a fire or other emergency.

[0069] The DAS 200 can be an active DAS or a passive DAS. An active DAS can include fiberoptic cable instead of coax or in conjunction with coax. A passive DAStypically includes coax cable instead of fiberoptic cable. Fiberoptic cable can enable antennas 250 to be dispersed over a wider range, such as in a larger building, due to less line loss than coaxial cable. As an alternative to fiberoptic cables for large venues, multiple BDAs and receivers may be spread throughout a building, connected by coax, so that each BDA and receiver correspond to a subset of the antennas in the building. The multiple receivers can send their indications to a single head end that includes an FACU and an annunciator panel or the like. Many other configurations are also possible.

[0070] The receiver 230 can also detect larger-scale failures and report these failures. For instance, if the receiver 230 does not receive expected signals from all antennas 250 on one floor, the receiver 230 can indicate that there may be a problem with a coupler that feeds line to that floor. If the receiver 230 does not receive any expected signals, the receiver 230 may indicate that the coupler 222 or some other major component may have failed.

[0071] Although the system show n in FIG.2 is a DAS, it should be understood that the inventive features described herein are not limited to being implemented in a DAS. Rather, some or all of the features described herein can be implemented in cellular sites, such as radio macro antennas, or in other antenna installations.

[0072] Turning to FIG.3, an example antenna and transmitter installation 300 is shown. The antenna installation 300 includes an antenna 350, which is an example of the antenna 250 described above with respect to FIG. 2. The antenna installation 300 also includes atransmitter 360, which is an example of the transmitter 260 described above with respect to FIG. 2. The transmitter 360 is shown connected or attached mechanically to the antenna 350 in this example installation 300. In other configurations, as described above, the transmitter 360 need not be connected directly to the antenna 350.

[0073] In some implementations, the transmitter 360 transmits at a power that is sufficient to be detected above the noise floor at the antenna 350 but not so high as to create stray currents in the coax connected to the antenna 350. For example, the transmitter 360 can transmit at about -15 dBm (decibels relative to one milliwatt). However, in other implementations, the transmitter 360 can transmit in the range of about -20 dBm to about 0 dBm, or in the range of about -25 dBm to about 5 dBm, or in the range of about -30 dBm to about 20 dBm, or in some other range.

[0074] The transmitter 360 may be battery powered. It can be useful to reduce battery consumption of the transmitter 360 because having a transmitter fail 360 can benearly as significant a problem as an antenna failing 350 (if a transmitter 360 fails, the receiver 230 may indicate that the antenna 350 has failed). To conserve battery’, the transmitter 360 can be configured to transmit at a rate that reduces power consumption. For instance, the transmitter 360 can transmit periodically, such as once every few minutes, once every hour, once every day, once every’ 48 hours, or at some other interval. Current transmitters may have a battery life of about two years. In present and future antenna implementations, including 5G wireless, which may use millimeter wave frequencies, the transmitter 360 can be a millimeter wave transmitter that consumes so little power as to be able to have a battery life of ten years or more. In general, any of the features described herein can be used in any cellular installation, such as a 5G wireless installation or in installations supporting subsequent wireless standards.

[0075] The transmitter 360 can include or be connected to a photovoltaic power source (such as, a solar panel). For example, the transmitter 360 can include or be connected to one or more solar panels configured to store energy’ in one or more energy¬ storage elements, such as one or more capacitors. Photovoltaic power may be utilized for cellular sites as cellular antennas are typically placed outdoors.

[0076] The transmitter 360 can transmit on any of a variety of frequencies. For instance, the transmitter 360 can transmit on the 900 MHz band (for example, between about 902 MHz and about 928 MHz, or some other range), and the antenna 350 may communicate with public safety radios or cellular radios on the 800 MHz band. However, other frequency bands may be used without limitation, such as any band in the range of 0 Hz to 20 GHz or higher. For example, the transmitter 360 may transmit on frequencies other than the 900 MHz band to avoid interfering with hospital paging systems (if the transmitter 360 is installed in a hospital or other medical facility). More generally, the transmitter 360 can transmit at frequencies in the range of about 0 Hz to 20 GHz or higher. The transmitter 360 may' operate on licensed or unlicensed frequencies.

[0077] As disclosed herein, any of the transmitters can include hardware, such as electronic circuitry (which can include one or more processors). Transmitter hardware can include a chipset configured to transmit any of the signals disclosed herein. Any of the antennas disclosed herein can include a chipset configured to receive any of the signals from the transmitter. The transmitter chipset can be configured to implement monitoring functionality as described herein. For example, monitoring functionality can be used to detect and transmit receiving or transmission power of the antenna located in proximity ofthe transmitter, environmental data, or the like. Such detection and transmission can be performed in real time or substantially in real time. In some cases, monitoring could be used for focused beam technology for 5G by carriers to improve and monitor service, which can facilitate ensuring optimal functionality, low (or zero) latency, or the like.

[0078] T uming to FIG.4, two example views of the transmitter 360 are shown, including a front view 360a and a rear view 360b. This transmitter 360 is an example transmitter model number VL965-B7 available from Systems Technologies, Inc. The transmitter 360 can be an off-the-shelf transmitter used typically in nurse call functions in hospitals. These types of transmitters may be good transmitters for this application because they can be battery-operated and can operate in a frequency band that is different from the main operating frequency band of the antenna 250 or 350, so as to reduce interference between the two frequency bands.

[0079] Turning to FIG.5, an example head end 500 is shown with a BDA 520 that is connected via coax cable to a coupler 522, attenuator 524, limiter 525, and receiver 530. The coupler 522 is connected to a receiver 530 via cabling, an attenuator 524, and a limiter 525. The BDA 520 is an example of the BDA 220 of FIG. 2. Likewise, the coupler 522, the attenuator 524, limiter 525, and receiver 530 are examples of their respective counterparts from FIG. 2.

[0080] Example component types are listed in FIG.5, which may be varied in various implementations. The coupler 522, for instance, can be a tap that provides unequal signal distribution at the different outputs of the tap to enable an antenna that is farther from the receiver to receive an appropriate amount of signal. Due to signal loss over longer distances, the output of the tap to a more distant antenna may be greater than to a closer antenna. The cable from the upper connection of the coupler 522 can be connected to the antennas 250 through other couplers (see, e.g., FIG. 10). For simplicity, a connection to a donor antenna from the BDA 520 is not shown.

[0081] The attenuator 524 can reduce the signal received from the coupler 522 to avoid sending a signal of too high a level to the receiver 530. The limiter 525 can limit the level of the signal to a certain dBm value to attempt to prevent transient spikes from damaging the receiver 530. Example cable lengths are shown as well as example dBm values for inputs and outputs of the different components. These values may be varied in other implementations.

[0082] Turning to FIG. 6, an example of a front portion of a receiver 630 is shown. The receiver 630 shown is a model VL400-B7 available from Systems Technologies, Inc. Other types of receivers may be used.

[0083] The front portion of the receiver 630 is zoomed in to show a close-up of a display 632 of the receiver. The display 632 includes the text “Ant-3 Floor2 FLT,” which can indicate that antenna number 3 on the second floor has a fault. A map of the building may be provided near the receiver 630 for first responders to find where antenna 3, as well as other antennas, are located.

[0084] Turning to FIG. 7, an example panel of an FACU 740 is shown. The FACU 740 includes a display 742 which also includes information that can be received from the receiver described above, and which includes text that indicates that an ERRCS 1 component failed 219. The ERRCS component refers to an emergency responder radio communications system component, such as an antenna, and the number 219 can refer to a region of the building. The information on the display of the FACU 740 can be transmitted to the remote monitor 246 at the fire department or other emergency communications center, as described above.

[0085] Turning to FIG. 8, an example annunciator panel 844 is shown corresponding to the annunciator panel 244 of FIG.2. The annunciator panel 844 includes lamp areas 850 that are labeled. If a lamp is lit, the condition specified by text 850 corresponding to the lamp has occurred. Thus, in the depicted example, a lamp has indicated that there is a component failure.

[0086] Turning to FIG. 9, an example antenna fault detection process 900 is shown. The antenna fault detection process 900 can be implemented by any of the receivers described herein. For example, a hardware processor of a receiver may implement the process 900 shown to detect a fault with an antenna or another component corresponding to that antenna.

[0087] At block 902, the receiver monitors a plurality of signals from antennas in a distributed antenna system. At decision block 904, if any expected antenna identification is not received (for example, is signals are not received from any expected frequencies), then the receiver at block 906 identifies an antenna corresponding to the missing antenna identification (for example, missing signal frequency) and outputs an indication of a component failure corresponding to the identified antenna at block 908. Otherwise, from decision block 904, if all expected antenna identification have beenreceived (for example, signals are received from all expected frequencies), then the process 900 loops back to block 902 where the receiver continues to monitor a plurality of signals from the antennas in the DAS.

[0088] In another implementation, instead of determining whether no signals are received, the process 900 can determine whether an expected signal is below a threshold in signal level. An abnormally low signal level can indicate a problem with an antenna or related component, even if the signal is in fact received. If the signal level corresponding to a particular frequency is too low, the receiver can output an indication of a fault with the antenna or a component corresponding with that antenna.

[0089] Turning to FIG. 10, which is shown as FIGS. 10A and 10B split over two pages, an example DAS 1000 is shown as a portion of a DAS in a building. The DAS 1000 includes several components similar to those described above, including a donor antenna 1002, couplers 1022, antennas 1050, transmitters 1060, aBDA 1020, an attenuator 1024, and a receiver 1030.

[0090] The DAS 1000 shown can represent a full DAS in a building or one subset of a DAS in an actual building. For instance, the DAS 1000 can be part of a larger DAS separated into two or more separate DAS’s that cover different areas of the building. One area serviced by one subset of the DAS (or sub-DAS) can include, for example, the stairwells, while another area serviced by another sub-DAS can include the remaining portions of the floors. Covering the stairwells with a separate sub-DAS can provide backup functionality for first responders in the stairwell, which can be an important point of access for first responders to a building. When multiple sub-DASs are used as part of a DAS, each sub-DAS can have each of the components shown or some subset or superset thereof, including a separate donor antenna.

[0091] FIG. 11 illustrates an example DAS 1100. Similarly to the DAS 200 of FIG. 2, a plurality of antennas 1150 and a head end 1170 are shown. Any of the antennas 1150 can have one or more features of any of the antennas 250 and / or any other antennas described herein. The head end 1170 can be have one or more features of the head end 270 and / or any other head end described herein. The antennas 1150 can be coupled by one or more cables or w ires to a BDA of the head end 1170, as described herein.

[0092] An antenna monitor 1180 can monitor one or more signals emitted by a corresponding antenna 1150. The antenna monitor 1180 can include electronic circuitry configured to perform such monitoring. The antenna monitor 1180 can be placed inproximity to the corresponding antenna 1150. as described herein. As shown in FIG. 12, the antenna monitor 1180 can include a signal detector 1286 configured to detect RF signals emitted by the corresponding antenna 1150. The signal detector 1286 can be connected to the corresponding antenna 1150 via a wired connection. For example, the signal detector 1286 can be connected to an output terminal 1282 and a ground terminal 1284 of the corresponding antenna 1150. In some implementations, the signal detector can wirelessly detect RF signals emitted by the corresponding antenna 1150 without the wired connection. The signal detector 1286 can perform such detection over a time period. The signal detector 1286 can output a signal 1288 of whether any RF signals emitted by the corresponding antenna 1150 have been detected.

[0093] An indicator 1185 can receive a signal from a corresponding antenna monitor 1180. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the signal 1288 can be output from the signal detector 1286 to the indicator 1185. The indicator 1185 can provide an indication of whether any RF signals emitted by the corresponding antenna 1150 have been detected. The indicator can include electronic circuitry configured to provide such indication. If the corresponding antenna 1150 has not emitted any RF signals, the indicator 1185 can provide an indication of a component failure of the corresponding antenna 1150. The indication can, for example, include turning on a visual indicator, such as an LED light. The indicator 1185 can output the component failure indication to one or more other devices, such as a FACU and an annunciator panel of the head end 1170, as described herein. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the indicators 1185 associated with the antennas 1 150 can be connected to such one or more devices by one or more cables or wires. The component failure indication can include any of the indications described herein, such as visual, audible, communication to a remote computing device, or the like.

[0094] The indicator 1185 can be positioned proximate to the corresponding monitor 1180. The indicator 1185 and the corresponding monitor 1150 can be enclosed in the same housing or in different housings.Environmental and Antenna Performance Monitoring and Notification

[0095] Any of the transmitters can additionally or alternatively monitor one or more additional parameters or conditions (sometimes referred to as monitored data). Such conditions can include one or more of RF signal strength or signal degradation (for example, associated with RF signals received or transmitted by the antenna), environmentalparameters or data, or the like. Data relating to the one or more additional conditions can be transmitted to a receiver (or multiple receivers) as disclosed herein.

[0096] FIG. 13 illustrates a DAS 1300. Antenna 250 and transmitter 260, which are described herein, are shown. Also shown is a sensor 1450 that can include electronic circuitry configured to detect, among other things, environmental data, RF data, or the like. Sensor 1450 can be associated with the transmitter 260. For instance, each transmitter 260 can be associated with a sensor 1450. Sensor 1450 can be positioned in proximity of the transmitter 260 or integrated with the transmitter 260, as described herein.

[0097] Environmental data can include one or more of temperature, atmospheric or barometric pressure, wind speed, wind direction, vibration (or motion), precipitation, humidity, UV levels, sound, or the like. One or more sensors can be connected to or incorporated into the electronic circuitry of transmitter 260 to facilitate the monitoring. For monitoring environmental data, the sensors can include one or more of temperature sensors, barometric pressure sensors, anemometers, moisture sensors, humidity sensors, sound sensors, or the like.

[0098] Sensors 1450 (and associated transmitter(s) 260) can be deployed, for instance, at weather or observation stations, which can be designed to forecast weather conditions (such as tornadoes hurricanes, earthquakes, avalanches, heavy rains, heat waves, cold temperatures, or the like). Operation of such advanced weather warning systems can be improved. As an example, existing tornado monitoring systems include observation stations that are spaced far apart from each other (such as, several miles apart) and communicate with one or more weather station over telephone landlines. Existing tornado monitoring systems can be ineffective and unreliable. Deployment of one or more sensors 1450 (and associated transmitters 260) at tornado monitoring observation stations can improve reliability and efficiency, among others.

[0099] RF data can include information related to one or more properties of electromagnetic waves, such as signal to noise ratio (SNR or SINR), received signal strength indicator (RS SI), reference signal receive power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), physical cell id (PCI) / pilot number (PN), electromagnetic energy (EME), electromagnetic radiation (EMR), or the like. Sensor 1450 can measure magnitude of a detected RF signal versus frequency within a frequency range. Sensor 1450 can include an antenna and receiver or transceiver circuitry for detecting RF signals. RF data collected by the DAS 1300 can be used to determineperformance of an antenna 250 associated with the transmitter 260 and the sensor 1450. For instance, monitored RF data can be provided to a network carrier or any other third party to facilitate monitoring of a network (such as a cellular network), analyze performance of the network, or the like. RF data can be used to determine one or more key performance indicators (KPIs) of one or more antennas 250 or the DAS in order to, for instance, optimize performance, tune the network, or the like. For example, one or more KPIs can include reception or transmission signal strength of an antenna, quality of the transmitted or received signal, or the like. DAS 1300 can include any of the functionality of the antenna monitor 1180 as described herein.

[0100] Transmitter 260 can receive data obtained by the sensor 1450 via a wired or wireless connection. Transmitter 260 can transmit the data to the receiver via the antenna 250, as described herein. Data obtained by the sensor 1450 can be transmitted by the transmitter 260 in addition to or in place of antenna identifier. For example, data obtained by the sensor 1450 can be encoded together with antenna identifier and the encoded signal can be transmitted. For instance, as described herein, antenna identifier can be a signal transmitted at specific frequency. In such case, data obtained by the sensor 1450 can be transmitted on the specific frequency associated with the transmitter 260, such as encoded on a carrier signal or wave being transmitted at the specific frequency. Encoding on the carrier wave can be performed using encoding or modulation, such as amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, phase modulation, or the like. In some cases, the transmitter 260 can be programmed or otherwise configured (for example, by adjusting or programming the chipset) so that transmitted signal is a carrier wave allowing information of all ty pes to be transmitted through the antenna back to the receiver where it can be collected and transmitted back to a remote computing device for monitoring, analytics, or the like.

[0101] The sensor 1450 can be supported by the transmitter 260, such as attached to housing of the transmitter or enclosed by the housing. Monitoring and transmission of monitored data can be performed in real time or substantially in real time. Monitoring and transmission of monitored data can be performed periodically, for example, at the time the transmitter 260 transmits the antenna identifier.

[0102] In some cases, one or more transmitters 260 can transmit monitored data directly to the receiver 230 (or a remote computing system) without using corresponding one or more antennas 250. For example, the receiver 230 (or the remotecomputing system) can poll one or more transmitters 260 or one or more transmitters 260 can transmit monitored data to the receiver without having been polled. Monitored data can be transmitted to the receiver 230 (or the remote computing system) via a wired or wireless connection (such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, WiFi, Z-Wave, or the like).

[0103] In some implementations, the DAS 1300 can detect sound waves or acoustic vibrations in its surrounding environment. The sensor 1450 may include one or more of a sound sensor or a light sensor to detect one or more of an occurrence of a gunshot or location of a shooter, which can be advantageous for safety. With a sound sensor, gunshot can be detected responsive to detecting a sound that satisfies one or more intensity thresholds (such as, 69 dB or 120-190 dB). With a light sensor, gunshot can be detected responsive detecting a flash that satisfies one or more intensity thresholds. The sound sensor may include an electret condenser microphone or a dynamic microphone. The sound sensor may include an amplifier to boost the signal generated by a microphone and signal processing circuitry to filter or convert a signal into a format that is suitable for further analysis. The sensor may be an analog sound sensor or a digital sensor.

[0104] Responsive to detecting a gunshot, the sensor 1450 can provide an indication (such as, a signal) to the transmitter 260. The transmitter 260 can then pass the indication along with identification to the antenna 250. Identification can be the antenna identifier, unique identifier of the sensor 1450, or unique identifier of the transmitter 260. The antenna 250 can send this information to the receiver 230, which can be configured to indicate that a gunshot has been detected (or that a firearm has been discharged) in the vicinity of transmitter 260 and the antenna 250. The receiver 230 can indicate the location of the gunshot based on the location of the transmitter 260 and the antenna 250. The receiver 230 can provide the location based on the received identification. For instance, if the identification corresponds to the antenna identifier, location can correspond to the location of the antenna 250. The receiver 230 can output gunshot detection and the location on one or more of a display, the FACU 240, or the annunciator panel 244. The receiver 230 can transmit gunshot detection and the location to a remote computing system. The FACU can display the gunshot detection and location. The annunciator panel 244 can output the indication of gunshot detection and location, such as, using a lamp, LED, or alarm.

[0105] In some cases, the transmitter 260 (or the sensor 1450) can transmit the indication of gunshot along with the identification directly to the receiver 230 (or a remote computing system) without using the antenna 250, as described herein. The transmissioncan be performed via a wired or wireless connection (such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, WiFi, Z-Wave, LoRa. or the like).

[0106] In some implementations, the sensor 1450 may not detect the occurrence of the gunshot. Instead, the sensor 1450 can monitor one or more of sound intensity or light intensity7and provide this information to the transmitter 260. Detection of a gunshot can be performed by one or more of the transmitter 260 or receiver 230.

[0107] The DAS 1300 can monitor the amount of humidity in the environment. This can be advantageous for detecting, for instance, a hurricane, flooding, rain, or dryness. The sensor 1450 may be a humidity7sensor (such as, a hygrometer) that may be configured to measure relative humidity (the ratio of the current moisture in the air to the maximum moisture the air can hold at a given temperature) or absolute humidity (the amount of water vapor in the air regardless of temperature). The humidity sensor may be a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, or athermal sensor.

[0108] Monitored humidity can be transmitted to the receiver 230 as described herein in connection with gunshot detection. Additionally or alternatively, monitored humidity can be compared (by the sensor 1450, or transmitter 260, or receiver 230) to one or more thresholds to detect occurrence of an adverse weather condition, as described herein in connection with gunshot detection. Detection of the adverse weather condition can be performed by the sensor 1450, transmitter 260, or the receiver. One or more of notification of humidity level or occurrence of the adverse weather condition along with the location can be provided as described herein in connection with gunshot detection.

[0109] The sensor 1450 can include a flame detector configured to detect a fire. For example, temperature can be measured and compared to a threshold (such as, 194 F / 90 C). Detection and notification of a fire can be performed as described herein in connection with gunshot detection.

[0110] The sensor 1450 can include a wind speed sensor configured to detect wind. Detection and notification of strong winds (such as, a tornado) can be performed as described herein in connection with gunshot detection.

[0111] The sensor 1450 can include a temperature sensor. Detection and notification of extreme temperatures (such as, particularly cold or hot temperatures) can be performed as described herein in connection with gunshot detection.

[0112] The sensor 1450 can include a barometric pressure sensor. Detection and notification of adverse weather conditions, such as a hurricane can be performed as described herein in connection with gunshot detection.

[0113] The sensor 1450 can include a vibration sensor. Detection and notification of adverse weather conditions, such as an earthquake or seismic activity can be performed as described herein in connection with gunshot detection.

[0114] In some implementations, the sensor 1450 can include one or more of sensors described herein, such as sound sensor, light sensor, humidity sensor, flame detector, wind speed sensor, temperature sensor, barometric pressure sensor, vibration sensor, etc. One or more of the environmental conditions described herein can be detected and notification can be provided.

[0115] As described herein, performance of the antenna 250 can be monitored. The DAS 1300 can monitor the radio frequency (RF) energy emitted by the antenna 250. The sensor 1450 may be an RF sensor that can detect one or more of the presence, strength, or modulation characteristics of an RF signal emitted by the antenna 250. The RF sensor can be an RF spectrum analyzer, which can identify and evaluate RF signals of antenna 250 across a range of frequencies to determine signal characteristics, such as, frequency, amplitude, power, and modulation. The transmitter 260 can be configured to transmit the RF sensor data along with the identification of the antenna. The antenna 250 can send this information to the receiver 230 that can determine if the RF signal (for instance, RF signal strength) deviates from one or more thresholds to determine degradation of performance. The one or more thresholds can be indicative of a baseline RF signal characteristic and failure. For example, baseline signal strength of the antenna 250 can be 70 dB and failure signal strength can be 20 dB. The baseline signal strength can be determined at the time the transmitter 260 is installed. Suppose that the signal strength of the antenna measured by the sensor 1450 is 40 dB, which is above the failure threshold. While the performance of the antenna 1450 may still be acceptable, it is degrading. The receiver 230 can detect and provide an indication of degradation of the performance of the antenna 1450 along with the identification of the antenna. Location of the antenna can be additionally or alternatively provided. Indication can be provided as described herein in connection with gunshot detection. A threshold for indicating degradation of performance can be set a X% of the baseline signal strength (such as, 50%). In some instances, multiple thresholds for indicating degradation of performance can be used (such as, 75%, 60%, 50%. 40%).Advantageously, degradation of performance of the antenna can be detected and addressed prior to failure. For example, this functionality would enable DAS operators to determine if the antenna 1450 would need to be replaced before an actual failure occurs.

[0116] In some cases, RF sensor data can be transmitted periodically or upon being polled. One or more of the sensor 1450 or the transmitter 260 can assess performance and determine degradation in place of the receiver 230. In such cases, indication of degradation of performance along with the identification of the antenna can be provided to the receiver 230 as described in connection with gunshot detection.

[0117] FIG. 14 illustrates an example DAS 1400, which can be similar to any DAS described herein, such as DAS 200 of FIG. 2. The DAS 1400 is shown implemented at site 1410, which can be any indoor or outdoor location, as described herein. The DAS 1400 can be implemented in any building or venue whether indoor or outdoor. As illustrated, the DAS 1400 can include a plurality of transmitters 260, antennas 250, sensors 1450, and a head end 1470. The head end 1470 can have one or more features of the head end 270 and / or any other head end described herein. The antennas 250 can be coupled by one or more cables or wires to a BDA 220 of the head end 1470, as described herein. As described herein, a plurality of sensors can be positioned in proximity to or integrated with the transmitters 260 as shown in FIG. 14.

[0118] Data received by a receiver 1430 of the head end 1470 can include antenna identification and monitored data, as described herein. The receiver 1430 can include a processor and memory. The receiver 1430 can determine whether any of antenna identification is missing, as described herein. For example, the receiver 1430 can determine that identification associated with a particular antenna is missing in response to determining that a signal at a particular frequency corresponding to the particular antenna has not been received. Additionally or alternatively, the receiver 1430 can determine or identify monitored data (which can include data obtained by the one or more sensors 1450 as described herein). For example, the receiver 1430 can decode monitored data, such as, decode monitored data encoded on a carrier wave transmitted at a particular frequency. Monitored data can be one or more of processed, stored in memory, transmitted to a remote computing device(s) (not shown), or the like. Transmission of monitored data can be performed using a network, such as the network 208. One or more remote computing devices (for example, a network carrier) can perform monitoring, analytics, or the like.

[0119] In some cases, one or more of the transmitters 260 (or sensors 1450)can be configured to monitor and record proximity of a person to one or more antennas 250, transmitters 260, or sensors 1450. For example. Bluetooth protocol (or similar) can be used to detect presence of a computing device of the person (such as mobile computing device) in proximity to the one or more transmitters 260 (or sensors 1450.) This can be used for determining locations visited by the person (and visiting times), which can assist with contact tracing or the like for limiting the spread of an infectious disease (such as, coronavirus).

[0120] In some cases, one or more of the transmitters 260 (or sensors 1450) can be configured to partially or completely block any of the signals received or transmitted by any of the antennas 250. For example, one or more of the transmitters 260 (or sensors) can generate an RF signal that may interfere with any of the signals received or transmitted by any of the antennas 250. This functionality may be used to block transmission of certain data from being transmitted by the DAS.

[0121] In some cases, the DAS 1400 may include a shut-off switch 1460 that is associated with the donor antenna 202. Additional one or more shut-off switches (not shown) can be associated with one or more of the antennas 250. The shut-off switch 1460 can be configured to disable the entire DAS 1400 by disconnecting the donor antenna 202. The shut-off switch 1460 can be activated and deactivated via a wired or wireless connection. For example, the shut-off switch 1460 can be controlled by the head end 1470 via a wired connection. Any of the antennas 250 can be disabled via a shut-off switch associated with the antenna 250. FIG. 15 illustrates an example of the shut-off switch 1460. In the illustrated example, during normal operation, the shut-off switch 1460 can connect an antenna (such as, the donor antenna 202 or any of the antennas 250) to the head end 1470. When it is desirable to disable the antenna (and block signals transmitted or received by the antenna), the shut-off switch 1460 can be activated (or toggled), which will connect the antenna to a dummy load 1510. This will effectively remove the antenna from the DAS 1400. Subsequently, the shut-off switch 1460 can be deactivated to reconnect the antenna to the head end 1470, which will effectively add the antenna back to the DAS 1400.

[0122] The shut-off switch 1460 can be controlled by the head end 1470, which can in turn receive an instruction or command to activate (and deactivate) the shut-off switch from a remote computing system. The shut-off switch 1460 can be, but is not limited to, a PIN diode switch, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch, a relay, a solid-state switch, or a gallium arsenide switch.

[0123] Turning to FIG. 16. an example gunshot monitoring process 1600 is shown. The gunshot monitoring process 1600 can be implemented by any DAS described herein. For example, a hardware processor of a receiver may implement the process 1600 alone or in combination with one or more of a sensor or transmitter.

[0124] At block 1601, a sound sensor can continuously (or periodically) monitor the surrounding environment. At block 1603. if the process 1600 detects that one or more properties of sound monitored by the sound sensor satisfies a threshold indicative of a gunshot, the process can transition to block 1 05. Otherwise, the process 1600 can loop back to block 1601. At block 1605, the process 1600 can determine location of the gunshot (for example, based on identification transmitted to the receiver 230) and output a notification of the gunshot along with the location.

[0125] FIG. 17 illustrates an example humidity monitoring process 1700. The humidity monitoring process 1700 can be implemented by any DAS described herein. For example, a hardware processor of a receiver may implement the process 1700 alone or in combination with one or more of a sensor or transmitter.

[0126] At block 1701, a humidity sensor can monitor the surrounding environment. At block 1703, if the process 1700 determines that humidity monitored by the humidity sensor satisfies a threshold, the process can transition to block 1705. Otherwise, the process 1700 can loop back to 1701. At block 1705, the process 1700 can determine location of the sensor (for example, based on identification transmitted to the receiver 230) and output a notification of an adverse weather condition along with the location.

[0127] Turning to FIG. 18, an example process 1800 for monitoring antenna performance is shown. The process 1800 can be implemented by any DAS described herein. For example, a hardware processor of a receiver may implement the process 1800 alone or in combination with one or more of a sensor or transmitter.

[0128] At block 1801, an RF sensor can monitor one or more signals emitted by an antenna. At block 1803, if the process 1800 determines that one or more properties of the one or more signals satisfy a threshold indicative of degradation of the antenna, the process can transition to block 1805. Otherwise, the process 1800 can loop back to 1801. At block 1805, the process 1800 can provide a notification that the antenna is degrading along with one or more of an identification or location of the antenna. Location of theantenna can be determined, for example, based on the identification transmitted to the receiver 230.

[0129] Standards such as NFPA 1221 or fire codes can require periodic compliance of DAS, which involves testing to ensure that DAS performs reliably. Any of the approaches described herein can facilitate determining compliance of a DAS. For example, as described herein, DAS antennas and connections can be periodically tested to ensure that they are performing correctly.Analytics and Inspection Reports

[0130] Any DAS described herein can be deployed in multiple sites or installations. Such collection of DAS’s can be referred to as a DAS platform. In some implementations, a DAS platform can implement data analytics functionality (or data analytics platform) configured to collect, process, and analyze data from each (or, in some cases, one or more) sensor, transmitter and each receiver (or each head end) deployed across all sites. Data analytics platform can aggregate information from a plurality of sensors, including temperature (or fire), humidity, seismic activity, system performance (such as, received signal strength (RSS) values, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), etc.), and gunshot detection events. The collected data can be transmitted via the Internet from each site to one or more servers (such as, cloud servers) where it is stored, processed, and made accessible for further analysis. Data analytics platform can provide access to such data to various entities, including an administrator of the DAS platform and an administrator of an installation site or site (such as, a building ow ner) or collection of installations (such as, channel partner). Access to the data can be provided via a dashboard, which can be accessible over the Internet, such as via secure web interfaces, mobile applications, or other suitable platforms. Data analytics platform may be integrated with other building management or emergency response systems as described herein.

[0131] The administrator of the DAS platform can be provided with access to comprehensive analytics and status information for all installations, including real-time and historical data, event logs, and DAS system health metrics. In contrast, an administrator of an installation or collection of installations can be provided with access restricted to the data analytics corresponding to their specific installation(s), ensuring privacy and datasegregation between different sites. Authorization for accessing the data can be determined based on. for instance, login credentials provided to the data analytics platform.

[0132] In some cases, the data analytics platform can be configured to automatically generate and transmit alerts to relevant authorities in response to detected events including gunshot detection, adverse environmental conditions (such as, humidity, fire, or seismic activity), or antenna performance (such as, failure). For instance, an alert can be transmitted to a local fire department in response to detecting a fire (which can be performed as described herein).

[0133] In some instances, the data analytics platform can be configured to automatically provide notifications and maintain logs for one or more of annual inspections, compliance checks, and maintenance activities. For example, the data analytics platform can record inspection dates, detected faults, and corrective actions, and can issue reminders or alerts when annual inspections are due or when regulator}' compliance requirements must be met. The data analytics platform can further support customizable reporting, trend analysis, and predictive maintenance features, enabling monitoring of the system performance, identifying potential issues, complying with reporting requirements, and optimizing operational efficiency.

[0134] In some cases, there can be multiple administrators of the DAS platform, for example, administrators responsible for various regions or areas. Each such administrator can be granted access to comprehensive analytics and status information for all installations in the particular region (or comprehensive analytics and status information for all installations across all regions). Similarly, there can be multiple administrators of a collection of installations, such as collections of installations in a particular region or area.

[0135] FIG. 19A illustrates a graphical user interface (GUI) 1900 of an analytics platform. The GUI 1900 can be accessed over the web and displayed in a web browser or dedicated application (or app). The GUI 1900 can illustrate information available to an administrator of the DAS platform because any channel partner or customer can be selected via filters 1902 and 1904, respectively (a channel partner or customer can be presented different and more limited information). A channel partner can be an installer of DAS monitoring systems sold by a manufacturer, and the channel partner can install DAS monitoring systems at installation sites of various customers, such as building owners. Filter by Type filter 1906 can allow selection of a type of DAS being monitored, such as cellular or ERRCS. Operator filter 1908 can allow selection of an entity administeringDAS, such as authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) in case of ERRCs (for instance, local fire department) or communications provider in case of cellular (for instance, AT&T or Verizon).

[0136] GUI 1900 illustrates a building list 1915 for installation sites selected with the filters 1902 through 1908. One installation site called “Queen Towers” matches the selections. Number of levels, installed antenna monitors (G nodes), installed head ends (G boxes), contact information, due date for next annual inspection, RF installation site plan (RF building plan 1916) for installation site is illustrated. Actions 1918 such as edit or delete are also provided in the GUI 1900. Location of antenna monitor(s) and head end(s) can be shown in the RF installation site plan. Annual inspection dates can be tracked. For example, an annual inspection report can be uploaded, which would cause generation of the next annual inspection due date with period reminders, such as 60 days, 30 days, 1 week, and 1 day.

[0137] An installation site can be added via a button 1920. Selecting this button can bring up a GUI 1950 illustrated in FIG. 19B.

[0138] FIG. 20A illustrates a dashboard GUI 2000 that presents status information for one or more DAS systems. In the illustrated implementation, filters 2002 are use to select information displayed in the list 2004. The list 2004 illustrates information for all installation sites (buildings), including the number of levels and the number of antenna monitors and head ends (in the RMA count column 2003). Because all installation sites across all channel partners are shown, the GUI 2000 provides information presented to the administrator of the DAS platform. Different dashboard with more limited information would be presented to a channel partner or customer. RMA count column 2003 can present active links selecting which can provide information regarding status of antenna monitor(s) and head end(s) at a particular installation site and detected errors or other problems.

[0139] Chart or graph 2006 illustrates uptime information for a particular selected combination (via the filters 2007) of channel partner and customer. From the graph 2006, it can be immediately determined that there is a problem with DAS in Brooklyn Bridge Tower 1. Time period illustrated in the graph 2006 can be over the entire lifetime.

[0140] Graph 2008 illustrates alarms and notifications for a particular installation site selected via the filters 2009. Graph 2008 illustrates Brooklyn Bridge Tower 2. Bar 2010 shows the number of installed antenna monitor(s), bar 2012 shows the numberof installed head end(s), bar 2014 illustrates the number of critical alerts or alarms (such as, detected antenna failures or detected antenna monitor failures), bar 2016 shows the number of non-critical notifications (such as, temperature, humidity, or gunshot detection), and bar 2018 shows the number of installed antenna monitor(s) (and, if applicable, installed fiberoptic remote(s) that may be used to transmit signals over fiberoptic cables) and the number of installed head end(s) that are operating properly. Bars in the graph 2008 can be color-coded to ease a user’s cognitive load and bring the user’s attention to critical alarms and non-critical notifications. For instance, bar 2014 showing critical alarms can be shown in red, and bar 2016 show ing non-critical alarms can be shown in yellows

[0141] Graph 2020 illustrates alarms and notifications for a particular level of an installation site selected via the filters 2021. For instance, the graph 2020 illustrates information for the ground level of Brooklyn Bridge Tower 2. Graph 2020 can display information similarly to the graph 2008.

[0142] Time period illustrated in one or more of the graphs 2008 or 2020 can be over the entire lifetime.

[0143] Advantageously, the dashboard GUI 2000 is flexible, customizable, and designed to quickly draw a user’s attention to any problems with any DAS.

[0144] FIG.20B illustrates a dashboard GUI 2030, which can be similar to the dashboard GUI 2000 except that it is presented to a channel partner. Graph 2032 illustrates the number of installation sites for a particular customer selected via filters 2033 along with the number of installed antenna monitor(s) and the number of installed head end(s). Graph 2034 illustrates the number of critical alarms for particular installation site(s) of particular customer(s) (or all installation sites across all customers), as selected by the filters 2035.

[0145] FIG. 20C illustrates a dashboard 2040, which can be similar to the dashboard GUI 2000 except that it is presented to a channel partner. In the illustrated implementation, the list 2044 is similar to the list 2044 and illustrates information for the selected (via the filter 2042) installation sites, including the number of levels and the number of antenna monitors and head ends (in the RMA count column 2043). The list 2044 can provide a more detailed view of the list provided in the graph 2032 of FIG. 20B.

[0146] Graph 2046 can be similar to the graph 2006 and illustrates uptime information for a particular selected combination (via the filters 2047) of channel partner and customer. From the graph 2006, it can be immediately determined that there is aproblem with DAS in Brooklyn Bridge Tower 1. Time period illustrated in the graph 2046 can be over the entire lifetime.

[0147] FIG. 21A illustrates a dashboard 2100, which can be shown to a customer (or building owner). In the illustrated example, the dashboard 2100 provides status 2106 of antennas 2104 located on level 1 of a particular installation site or building (as selected by the filter 2102). Status information includes normal ("‘online”), minor alarm, and critical alarm. Graphical representation (such as, in form of colored dots) is provided to ease a user’s cognitive load and bring the user’s attention to critical alarms and non-critical notifications, as described herein. The dashboard 2100 can be part of an analytics app running on a user’s mobile device (such as, app 2130 depicted in FIG. 21B).

[0148] Dashboard 2100 empowers a customer to always know the status of every antenna in a building and determine if any antennas require attention (and, if so, which antenna(s)). Advantageously, first responder dispatchers can be provided full access to status information to inform first responders where they can communicate clearly on their radios during an emergency.

[0149] FIG. 21B illustrates a screen 2120, which can be shown to a customer (or building owner). In the illustrated example, the screen 2120 is a view of notifications 2122 to 2126 on a user’s mobile device. Notification 2122 states that all antennas on floor 9 are operating normally as determined by a DAS monitoring system. Notification 2124 states that a minor alarm has been detected by the DAS monitoring system for antenna 15 on floor 6. Notification 2126 states that a critical alarm has been detected by the DAS monitoring system for antenna 27 on floor 8. Any of such notifications can be a push notification and can be shown on a user’s mobile device even when app 2130 that provides access to analytics has not been opened. Email notifications can be provided alternatively or additionally.

[0150] FIG. 21C illustrates a dashboard 2140, which can be shown to a customer (or building ow ner). In the illustrated example, the dashboard 2140 provides a notification of a temperature warning (minor alert) detected by the DAS monitoring system with a particular antenna monitoring device using a part (G node #8). The illustrated notification can be push notification.

[0151] In some implementations, dashboards in FIGS. 19A-19B and FIGS.20A-20C are shown via a web browser and dashboards in FIGS.21A-2C are presented via an app being executed on a mobile device.Three-Dimensional DAS Visualization

[0152] In some implementations, a three-dimensional (3D) visual representation of the status of a DAS at an installation site (such as, a building) can be provided. First responders will be able to assess the status of the DAS before entering the building or a particular section of the building and immediately determine whether there are any issues that would hinder communications. For example, the visual representation can be presented on a screen shown in a fire command center on site and through the AHJ software portal for the building. Advantageously, this can help first responders understand the DAS status at a glance and adjust operations according to real time building conditions. Visual representation can be tied to multiple KPIs including but not limited to connectivity of a DAS, temperature, humidity, vibration, RSSI, or SINR . Status of any system outputting Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) data can be visualized in 3D using any of the approaches described in this section.

[0153] FIG.22A illustrates a three-dimensional model 2200 of an installation site, such as a building. The model 2200 can be used to generate a visual representation of the status of a DAS.

[0154] FIG. 22B illustrates a visual representation 2210 of the status of the DAS, , such the DAS 1300, superimposed on a 3D model of a building, such as the model 2200. The visual representation 2210 illustrates the status of DAS on each floor of the building. The visual representation 2210 can be color coded (or otherwise illustrated) to quickly draw attention to one or more floors that have antennas that are experiencing critical alarms. For example, floors 2212, 2216, 2220, and 2222 that do not have antennas with critical alarms (or, in some cases, minor alarms) can be shown in green, while floors 2214 and 2218 that have antennas with critical alarms can be shown in red. With respect to the latter, antennas 2215 and 2219 experiencing critical alarms can be highlighted (such as, circled). The visual representation 2210 can quickly draw attention to floors 2214 and 2218 and antennas 2215 and 2219 that are experiencing communication problems. While not shown in the visual representation 2210, a floor on which an antenna that experiences a minor alarm is positioned can be illustrated in a different color, such as yellow, or otherwise depicted differently than floor(s) that do not have antenna(s) that experience minor alarms, and the antenna that experiences the minor alarm can be highlighted (such as, circled).

[0155] FIG. 22C illustrates another visual representation 2230 that illustrates status of the DAS, such the DAS 1300, superimposed on a 3D model of a building, such as the model 2200. The visual representation 2230 can be similar to the visual representation 2210 and vice versa. Like the visual representation 2210, the visual representation 2230 can be presented to a user on a display device, such as a computer monitor, tablet, or other suitable interface. As depicted, the building is rendered in three dimensions (such as, a 3D model), with multiple floors and architectural features represented. A plurality of antennas 250 are shown distributed throughout the building, with each antenna 250 positioned on a respective floor. In proximity to each antenna 250, an antenna monitor is depicted, which can correspond to a transmitter 260 with or without an associated sensor 1450 as described herein. The operational status of each antenna and antenna monitor is indicated by an indicator 2232 or 2234. For example, indicator 2232 (which can be green or another suitable color) signifies a normally working or functioning antenna, antenna monitor, and sensor. As another example, indicator 2234 (which can be red or another suitable color) signifies malfunctioning one or more of antenna, antenna monitor, or sensor. It should be understood that the graphical indication of working or failing status is not limited to green or red, and may include any suitable visual indicator, such as different colors, shapes, icons, or textual labels, to convey the operational state of one or more of an antenna, transmitter, or sensor.

[0156] The visual representation 2230 can be updated in real time or substantially in real time based on the received status and sensor data. As the status of an antenna or associated antenna monitor or sensor changes, the corresponding indicator can be updated to reflect the new status, thereby providing users with an intuitive and immediate overview of the DAS status throughout the building. In some implementations, users can interact with the 3D model, such as by selecting individual antennas or monitors to view detailed information, historical data, or maintenance records. The visual representation 2230 can enhance situational awareness for maintenance personnel, emergency responders, or building administrators, facilitating rapid identification and response to failing components within the DAS. The software implementation for 3D modeling can be integrated with other system features described herein, and may be accessible locally or remotely via a network connection.

[0157] Any visual representation described herein, such as the visual representation 2210 or 2230 can be presented based on authorization, such as anadministrator of the DAS platform, channel partner, customer, or AHJ. For instance, the administrator of the DAS platform is provided with a visual representation of any installation site (such as, a building). As another example, the customer is provided with a visual representation of any installation site owned by the customer. As yet another example, the AHJ is provided with a visual representation of any installation site within AHJ's jurisdiction.

[0158] As described herein, a donor antenna (such as, the donor antenna 202) can be shut off. This functionality can be agnostic to the type of donor antenna or type of DAS and can be enabled for a third party, such as the AHJ, for any one or more of the following reasons.

[0159] One reason can be to leave the installation site (such as, a building) in stand-by mode. In this scenario, the DAS remains fully functional, but the donor antenna is shut off to prevent increase in noise floor or SINR. Every ERRCS or DAS that is installed increases the noise floor incrementally contributing to RF interference. When an emergency event occurs, the AHJ can turn the DAS back on in route to the emergency. In some instances, first responders can also turn the DAS on when in the building by turning a key on a device (for instance, Knox box).

[0160] Another reason can be to find the source of interference. Interference can occur in DAS for multiple reasons including isolation deficiencies, spurious emissions, and the like. A donor antenna may pick up signal from one or more interior antenna(s) and the signal may be amplified by the BDA creating a feedback loop. Feedback loops or other isolation issues can take dow n outdoor macro sites in the path of the donor antenna to the macro site. In some severe cases, this can take down one or multiple donor sites rendering communication systems useless. Spurious emissions can occur through faulty installation methods or failed or defective equipment. Under traditional approaches, once an interference issue has been identified as being present, it may take the AHJ or another third party weeks or even months to manually triangulate the source of the interference using traditional methods. Advantageously, using approaches described herein, the AHJ or another third party has the ability to remotely turn off one or multiple DAS to stop the interference. The AHJ or another third party may then turn on DAS one a time until the interference re-appears, and in so doing, identify the source of interference. As described herein, the building owner (or customer) or another part}' can be notified of the problem with the building so it can be resolved quickly.Example DAS

[0161] FIG.23 A illustrates an example antenna monitor 2310 antenna monitor (or G node) installed on the ceiling adjacent to an antenna 2320. In the illustrated implementation, the antenna monitor 2310 includes an indicator light 2312 that provides status information. For example, green light indicates normal operation of the antenna 2320, yellow light indicates a minor alarm, and red light indicates a critical alarm.

[0162] FIG. 23B illustrates an example head end 2330 (or G box) installed on a wall. In the illustrated implementation, the head end 2330 includes an indicator light 2332 that provides status information. For example, green light indicates normal operation of the antennas being monitored, yellow light indicates a minor alarm with at least one of the antennas, and red light indicates a critical alarm with at least one of the antennas.Additional Implementations

[0163] The features of using a transmitter to monitor an antenna or environment can be implemented in contexts other than a DAS or ERRC. For instance, in a cellular network, a transmitter may be placed next to any antenna to monitor that antenna or the surrounding environment. Signals received from the transmitter by the antenna may¬ be provided to a processor, either at the antenna or remote from the antenna. The processor can determine whether a signal is received or whether a signal of sufficiently high level is received. If not, the processor can output an indication that the antenna or an associated component in communication with the antenna (such as a coupler or cable) may not be functioning properly. More generally, a transmitter can be placed in proximity with any antenna to monitor the functionality of that antenna or the surrounding environment, including antennas used in radar or other applications.

[0164] In some implementations, the approaches described herein can be used to monitor the surrounding environment in the absence of a DAS or ERRC. For example, external antennas can be mounted in the proximity of the monitors to relay signals from the monitors.

[0165] The transmitter may also include software or firmware installed thereon, which may have a variety- of possible different functions. The software or firmwaremay have a networking functionality (such as a network interface implementing the TCP / IP stack) that enables remote communication with the transmitter. Each transmitter may be wired or wirelessly connected to a remote system. A remote server, for instance, can provide administrator devices with network access to the transmitters. The remote server may deliver a web page or other graphical user interface to an administrative device, which user interface can enable an administrative device to remotely monitor a health of a transmitter (260) and / or its associated antenna (250). Remotely monitoring a transmitter and / or antenna may reduce the need for maintenance personnel to personally inspect transmitters and antennas.

[0166] Each transmitter may have a dynamic or static IP address, which can enable network communication with the transmitter. The user interface may indicate whether a transmitter has frozen or otherwise locked up. The user interface may provide an option for a user to select to restart a transmitter that has frozen or for any other reason. Upon user selection of this option, the remote server can transmit a command to the transmitter to power cycle or otherwise restart operation. In response, a hardware processor in the transmitter can perform a power cycle operation. The user interface may also output that atransmitter / antenna pair is no longer functioning in some way. By providing a remote power cycle option, the user interface may allow a user to determine whether the antenna or the transmitter is failing. If the transmi tter / antenna pair continues to appear to not be functioning in the user interface, even after a power cycle, then the antenna or transmitter may have failed.

[0167] In another example, the receiver is network-enabled, and a remote computing system (such as, a remote server) can communicate with the receiver to obtain the same information described above (for example, regarding component failures) instead of communicating individually with the transmitters.

[0168] Any of the transmitters disclosed herein can be powered from a central power supply. One or more wires can connect any of the transmitters to the central power supply. Existing wiring (for example, as shown in FIG. 2) can be used to supply power to any of the transmitters.

[0169] Any one or more features of the monitoring systems and methods disclosed herein can be applied in the context of monitoring at least a portion of a FirstNet public safety network (“FirstNet network”). FirstNet network is designed to be an interoperable, high-speed broadband network that provides a single interoperable platformfor law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, and other public safety personnel across the United States. FirstNet network is designed to connect radio access networks of each state to a network core.

[0170] Any one or more features of the monitoring systems and methods disclosed herein can utilize any one or more features disclosed in U.S. Patent No.10,979.155 and U.S. Patent No. 9,900.114, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.Terminology7

[0171] Conditional language, such as. among others, “can,'’ “could,’' “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain implementations include, while other implementations do not include, certain features, elements and / or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and / or steps are in any way required for one or more implementations or that one or more implementations necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and / or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular example.

[0172] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise.” “comprising,” “include,” “including,” “having,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms "connected," "coupled," or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” "below," and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word "or" in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any one of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list. Likewise the term “and / or” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: anyone of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.

[0173] Conjunctive language, such as the phrase "at least one of X, Y and Z,” unless specifically stated otherw ise, is to be understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z, or a combination thereof. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain implementations require at least one of X, at least one of Y and at least one of Z to each be present.

[0174] Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”, “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount.

[0175] Unless otherwise explicitly stated, articles such as “a” or “an” should generally be interpreted to include one or more described items. Accordingly, phrases such as “a device configured to” are intended to include one or more recited devices. Such one or more recited devices can also be collectively configured to cany7out the stated recitations.

[0176] Depending on the implementation, certain operations, acts, events, or functions of any of the algorithms described herein can be performed in a different sequence, can be added, merged, or left out altogether (e.g., not all are necessary for the practice of the algorithms). Moreover, in certain implementations, operations, acts, functions, or events can be performed concurrently, e.g., through multi-threaded processing, interrupt processing, or multiple processors or processor cores or on other parallel architectures, rather than sequentially.

[0177] While certain user interface components have been described and / or illustrated (such as input elements, output elements, or navigational elements), other alternative of additional user interface components can be used. Certain functionality can be accessible by a user through a web-based viewer (such as a web browser), or other suitable software program. A user may interact with a user interface through the webbrowser. User interfaces can be accessible through one or more dedicated softwareapplications, for instance, being executed on a mobile computing device (for example, smartphones, tablets, or the like).

[0178] These and other changes can be made to the inventions in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description describes certain examples of the inventions disclosed herein, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the inventions can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may van’ considerably in its specific implementation, while still being encompassed by the inventions disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the inventions should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the inventions with which that terminology is associated.

[0179] While certain implementations have been described, these implementations have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some cases, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated and / or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the implementation, certain of the steps described above may be removed, others may be added. For example, the actual steps and / or order of steps taken in the disclosed processes may differ from those shown in the figure. Various components illustrated in the figures or described herein may be implemented as software and / or firmware on a processor, controller, ASIC. FPGA, and / or dedicated hardware. The software or firmware can include instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable memory. The instructions can be executed by a processor, controller, ASIC, FPGA, or dedicated hardware. Hardware components, such as controllers, processors, ASICs, FPGAs, and the like, can include logic circuitry. Furthermore, the features and attributes of the specific examples disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional implementations, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0180] While specific implementations have been described and illustrated, such implementations should be considered illustrative only and not as limiting. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specificdisclosures of preferred implementations herein, and may be defined by claims as presented herein or as presented in the future.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A monitoring sy stem compri sing :a plurality of transmitters configured to be positioned in proximity of a plurality of antennas located in a site, the plurality of transmitters configured to:transmit a first plurality of signals to the plurality of antennas, a signal of the first plurality of signals comprising an antenna identifier for an antenna associated with a transmitter transmitting the signal; a receiver comprising an electronic processing circuitry configured to: receive a second plurality' of signals from the plurality of antennas, the second plurality of signals transmitted by the plurality of antennas in response to the first plurality of signals being transmitted to the plurality of antennas by the plurality of transmitters;determine that the plurality of antenna identifiers does not include a first antenna identifier for a first antenna of the plurality of antennas; and in response to determining that the plurality of antenna identifiers does not include the first antenna identifier for the first antenna, generate a first indication corresponding to a failure of the first antenna; and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:receive the first indication corresponding to the failure of the first antenna;include the first indication along with a location of the first antenna on a three-dimensional representation of the site; andcause the three-dimensional representation of the site along with the first indication and the location of the first antenna to be displayed.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the site comprises a building with a plurality of floors and the three-dimensional representation of the building illustrates the plurality of floors.

3. The monitoring system of claim 2, wherein a floor on which the first antenna is located in illustrated in a different color than at least one other floor of the plurality of floors.

4. The monitoring system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:the plurality of transmitters are integrated with a plurality of sensors configured to detect at least one environmental condition, and the plurality of transmitters are further configured to include the at least one environmental condition in the first plurality of signals;the electronic processing circuitry of the receiver is further configured to, using the first plurality of signals, generate a second indication corresponding to the at least one environmental condition detected by a sensor of a second transmitter of the plurality of transmitters; andthe instructions further cause the at least one processor to:receive the second indication corresponding to the at least one environmental condition;include the second indication along with a location of the second antenna on the three-dimensional representation of the site; andcause the three-dimensional representation of the site along with the second indication and the location of the second antenna to be displayed.

5. A monitoring system comprising:a plurality of transmitters configured to be positioned in proximity of a plurality of antennas, the plurality of transmitters being associated with a plurality of identifiers unique to the transmitters, the plurality of transmitters integrated with a plurality of sensors configured to monitor at least one of sound or light, and each transmitter of the plurality of transmitters configured to transmit sensor data associated with sound or light monitored by an associated sensor and an identifier of the transmitter to an antenna of the plurality of antennas in whose proximity the transmitter is positioned thereby causing the antenna to transmit the sensor data and the identifier to a receiver; andthe receiver comprising an electronic processing circuitry configured to:receive sensor data and an identifier of a transmitter from an antenna in whose proximity' the transmitter is positioned;determine a location of the antenna or the transmitter based on the identifier;using the sensor data, generate a notification that a gunshot has occurred; andprovide a notification that a gunshot has occurred along with the location.

6. The monitoring system of claim 5, wherein at least one of a sensor integrated with the transmitter, the transmitter, or the receiver is configured to determine that the gunshot has occurred based on a determination that at least one property of the sensor data satisfies at least one threshold indicative of the gunshot.

7. The monitoring system of claim 6, wherein determining that the gunshot has occurred is performed based on a determination that the at least one property of the sensor data satisfies the at least one threshold indicative of the gunshot.

8. The monitoring system of claim 7, wherein determining that the gunshot has occurred is performed based on a determination that an intensity of sound indicated by the sensor data satisfies a sound intensity threshold.

9. The monitoring system of any one of claims 7 to 8, wherein determining that the gunshot has occurred is performed based on a determination that an intensity of light indicated by the sensor data satisfies a light intensity threshold.

10. The monitoring system of any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the receiver is configured to determine the location based on a one-to-one association between the plurality of identifiers and a plurality of locations of the plurality of transmitters.

11. The monitoring system of any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the electronic processing circuitry’ is configured to cause the notification and the location to be output on a display.

12. The monitoring system of any one of claims 5 to 11, wherein the electronic processing circuitry' is configured to cause the notification and the location to be transmitted to a remote computing device.

13. A monitoring sy stem compri sing :a plurality of transmitters configured to be positioned in proximity of a plurality of antennas, the plurality of transmitters being associated with a plurality of identifiers unique to the transmitters, the plurality of transmitters integrated with a plurality of sensors configured to monitor one or more radio frequency (RF) signals emitted by the plurality of antennas, and each transmitter of the plurality of transmitters configured to transmit sensor data detected by a sensor associated with the transmitter and an identifier of the transmitter to an antenna in whose proximity the transmitter is positioned thereby causing the antenna to transmit the sensor data and the identifier to a receiver; andthe receiver comprising an electronic processing circuitry configured to:receive sensor data and an identifier of a transmitter from an antenna in whose proximity the transmitter is positioned;determine identification of the antenna using the identifier of the transmitter;determine that at least one property of one or more RF signals indicated by the sensor data satisfies at least one threshold indicative of antenna degradation, the at least one threshold determined using a previously detected baseline value of the at least one property of RF signals; andin response to determining that the at least one property7of one or more RF signals satisfies the at least one threshold, provide a notification that performance of the antenna is degrading along with the identification of the antenna.

14. The monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the at least one threshold is different from a threshold indicative of failure of the antenna.

15. The monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the at least one threshold set to a proportion of the threshold indicative of failure of the antenna.

16. The monitoring system of any one of claims 13 to 14, wherein threshold indicative of failure of the antenna is determined at a time of installation of the transmitter.

17. The monitoring system of any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the at least one property of one or more RF signals comprises signal strength.

18. The monitoring system of any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the electronic processing circuitry is configured to cause the notification and the identification to be output on a display.

19. The monitoring system of any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein the electronic processing circuitry is configured to cause the notification and the identification to be transmitted to a remote computing device.

20. The monitoring system of any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein the identification of the antenna compnses location of the antenna.

21. The monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the receiver is configured to determine the identification based on a one-to-one association between the plurality of identifiers and a plurality of locations of the plurality of antennas.

22. A monitoring system comprising:a plurality' of transmitters configured to be positioned in proximity of a plurality of antennas, the plurality of transmitters being associated with a plurality of identifiers unique to the transmitters, the plurality of transmitters integrated with a plurality of sensors configured to detect humidity, and each transmitter of the plurality' of transmitters configured to transmit sensor data indicative of humidity detected by a sensor associated with the transmitter and an identifier of the transmitter to an antenna of the plurality of antennas in yvhose proximity the transmitter is positioned thereby causing the antenna to transmit the sensor data and the identifier to a receiver; andthe receiver comprising an electronic processing circuitry configured to:receive sensor data and an identifier of a transmitter from an antenna in whose proximity the transmitter is positioned;determine a location of the antenna or the transmitter using the identifier;using the sensor data, generate an indication associated with a humidity level; andprovide a notification comprising the indication of the humidity level and the location.

23. The monitoring system of claim 22, wherein the electronic processing circuitry is further configured to:determine that the humidity level satisfies a humidity threshold; and in response to determining that the humidity level satisfies the humidity threshold, generate the indication that the humidity level satisfies the humidity threshold.

24. The monitoring system of any one of claims 22 to 23, wherein the receiver is configured to determine the location based on a one-to-one association between the plurality of identifiers and a plurality of locations of the plurality of transmitters.

25. The monitoring system of any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the electronic processing circuitry is configured to cause the notification and the location to be output on a display.

26. The monitoring system of any one of claims 22 to 25, wherein the electronic processing circuitry is configured to cause the notification and the location to be transmitted to a remote computing device.

27. A method of operating the monitoring system of any one of the preceding claims.

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