External Antenna Angle Control for Dynamic Wi-Fi Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Wi-Fi deployments rely on manual adjustments of external antennas and algorithms that modulate access points' power based on client feedback, which are inadequate in dynamic environments like stadiums or concert venues where user locations change frequently.
Innovation Solution
A Wi-Fi access point equipped with a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller and a motor to adjust the angle of an external antenna based on real-time radio frequency (RF) data from user devices, ensuring optimal coverage as user locations change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of antenna angle is used, then initial coverage alignment can be achieved, but the system cannot adapt to dynamic user location changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transforming the static antenna angle into a dynamic parameter that automatically adjusts based on real-time user location data. The system continuously monitors user positions and modifies the antenna radiation pattern direction accordingly, enabling adaptation to changing environmental conditions without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using user location information to continuously adjust the antenna angle. The controller receives data about user positions and feeds this information back to the antenna positioning mechanism, creating a closed-loop system that automatically optimizes coverage based on actual user distribution rather than relying on initial manual setup.
2Reliability
If access point power is modulated based on client feedback, then performance optimization is achieved in static environments, but coverage alignment fails in dynamic environments where users move
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the antenna radiation pattern adjustable in real-time based on user location changes. Unlike static power modulation, this system dynamically repositions the antenna's beam direction to track moving users, maintaining reliable coverage alignment even as users move between different areas of the venue.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the antenna angle parameter in response to user location data, rather than only modulating power. This parameter change allows the radiation pattern to physically redirect toward areas with user concentration, achieving both performance optimization and coverage alignment in dynamic environments through a different controllable parameter.
3Productivity
If antenna angle is fixed after manual setup, then device complexity is minimized, but productivity decreases due to repeated manual interventions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically adjusting the antenna angle based on user location feedback without requiring technician intervention. The PID controller and motor system enable the antenna to self-correct its positioning in real-time, eliminating the need for repeated manual adjustments and significantly reducing maintenance productivity requirements despite the added automation complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein describe adjusting an angle of an antenna used by an AP based on client feedback. For example, the AP can use radio frequency (RF) data from mobile user devices (e.g., smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc.) to determine that a radiation pattern of the external antenna is no longer at an optimal position to provide service to the user devices. The AP can then use a PID controller to adjust the antenna so that it faces in an direction that provides better Wi-Fi service to the user devices.