3D Pathloss Mitigation for Wireless Networks With Moving Obstacles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dynamic environments with moving objects disrupt wireless network signal characteristics, leading to reduced functionality, data transfer errors, and latency issues, as existing technologies struggle to adapt to transient pathloss effects.

Innovation Solution

A cross-layer tool chain for wireless network design, analysis, and optimization that simulates the effects of moving objects on signal characteristics, using a physical model and signaling emulators to visualize and adjust network settings in real-time, optimizing Access Point positions and application operations to maintain service quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If Access Points are placed conservatively to avoid transient pathloss issues, then network reliability is improved, but network coverage and functionality are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts Access Point transmission power and identifies transient pathloss conditions in real-time, allowing APs to operate at higher power levels during normal conditions for better coverage while automatically mitigating interference when transient blockages occur, thus resolving the contradiction between conservative placement and optimal coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where APs monitor signal conditions and exchange information about transient pathloss events, allowing the network to adaptively adjust power levels and handoff decisions based on real-time conditions, improving both reliability and coverage simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If existing network designs are used without dynamic adaptation, then device complexity is reduced, but network performance deteriorates in dynamic environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork design complexityVSAvoidnetwork performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Access Points automatically detect transient pathloss conditions, adjust their transmission power, and perform handoffs without centralized control or complex configuration, allowing the network to adapt dynamically while maintaining simple device designs and reducing the need for complex network management infrastructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3664496B1Dynamic pathloss mitigation
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 THE BOEING CO
  • EP3664496B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3664496B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D
  • EP3664496B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Aspects provide for dynamic pathloss mitigation via a cross layer tool chain by simulating a three-dimensional model of a physical environment including an Access Point, an End Point running an application, and a passive object; emulating network traffic for the application transmitted between the Access Point and the End Point; simulating, in the model, pathways for signals to carry the traffic in a plurality of regions for the physical environment; emulating signal degradation along the pathways in the plurality of regions based on respective locations for the Access Point, the End Point, and the passive object in the physical environment; and in response to the signal degradation satisfying a pathloss threshold, outputting a command to the application to affect operations of the End Point. Additionally, the cross layer tool chain outputs a Graphical User Interface showing a signal degradation map based on the simulated network traffic overlaid on the model.