Antenna Array Control via Multiple AISG Interfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing antenna control systems are limited in their ability to flexibly control multiple antenna arrays, as they often require a single Radio Unit (RU) device for tilt angle adjustments, which can lead to control failures if the RU is faulty or during maintenance, and cannot support multiple control ports in network deployments.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves an antenna array control apparatus with multiple Antenna Interface Standards Group (AISG) interfaces and a link establishing unit that establishes communications links between electric motors and modems based on antenna array configuration signals, allowing for flexible control of multiple antenna arrays using multiple AISG interfaces as control ports.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single RU device is used to control all antenna arrays, then the number of connection lines is reduced, but the system reliability deteriorates when the RU device is faulty or under maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of connection linesVSAvoidcontrol availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the control system into multiple independent control units (RU devices), each capable of controlling specific antenna arrays. This segmentation allows control functions to be distributed across multiple devices, so that if one RU device fails or is under maintenance, other RU devices can still control their respective antenna arrays, thereby improving system reliability while maintaining manageable connection complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of control port quantity from one to multiple. By enabling multiple RU devices to serve as control ports simultaneously, the system allows flexible configuration where different RU devices can control different antenna arrays based on network deployment requirements, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing connection complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If a single RU device controls all antenna arrays, then device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to network deployment requirements deteriorates when multiple control ports are needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol structureVSAvoidcontrol port flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes RU devices universal by enabling multiple RU devices to perform the same control function for different antenna arrays. Each RU device can independently control one or more antenna arrays, providing multi-functionality that adapts to various network deployment scenarios requiring different numbers of control ports, thereby improving versatility without complicating the control structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of control port quantity from fixed (one) to variable (multiple). This allows the system to adapt to different network deployment requirements by configuring an appropriate number of RU devices as control ports, enhancing versatility while maintaining a relatively simple control structure through standardized interfaces and protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple AISG interfaces are used to control multiple antenna arrays, then control flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol port quantityVSAvoidcontrol system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control system into multiple independent control units (AISG interfaces on different RU devices), each managing specific antenna arrays. This segmentation provides control flexibility and versatility while keeping each individual control unit relatively simple, thereby managing overall device complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3016205B1Antenna array control device, method, and system
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3016205B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3016205B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3016205B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present application discloses an antenna array control apparatus, method, and system. The apparatus includes a link establishing unit, multiple modems, and multiple AISG interfaces, where each AISG interface is connected to one modem and is in a one-to-one correspondence with the modem, and the AISG interfaces are configured to receive an antenna array configuration signal; the multiple modems are connected to the link establishing unit, and the modems are configured to decode the antenna array configuration signal to obtain an antenna array configuration instruction; and the link establishing unit is connected to multiple electric motors and configured to establish a communications link between each electric motor and one modem according to the antenna array configuration instruction. The multiple AISG interfaces are used in the apparatus as control ports, and a communications link between an antenna array and the multiple AISG interfaces can be connected in multiple manners, so that multiple antenna arrays are more flexibly controlled.