Antenna Beam Scanning for Wireless Coverage and Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in providing an ideal mix of service area coverage, system capacity, and low cost due to susceptibility to interference, limited service area, and high complexity and cost associated with directional antenna beam configurations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of antenna pattern or beam scanning techniques using a succession of predefined directional antenna patterns, which reduces processing requirements and delays, allowing for efficient communication without the need for detailed channel state information, and facilitates adaptive scheduling to optimize service area coverage and system capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If directional antenna beam configurations are used to decrease interference and extend range, then service area coverage and interference reduction are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous directional beam space into a discrete set of predefined antenna patterns. Instead of forming arbitrary directional beams requiring complex real-time calculations, the system divides the service area into multiple sectors, each served by a predefined antenna pattern with fixed beamforming weights. This segmentation reduces the infinite complexity of continuous beamforming to a manageable discrete set of patterns that can be selected and switched based on station location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing optimal antenna patterns for different service area sectors before operation. These predefined patterns are computed in advance based on expected station distributions and channel characteristics, then stored in the base station memory. During operation, the system simply selects from these pre-prepared patterns rather than performing complex real-time optimization, significantly reducing processing requirements and latency.
2Reliability
If detailed channel state information is collected and processed to form optimized directional antenna patterns, then communication quality is improved, but processing requirements and time overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using a simplified subset of channel state information rather than complete detailed CSI. Instead of utilizing full MxN channel matrices for M transmit and N receive antennas, the system uses reduced-rank CSI or only essential parameters needed for pattern selection. This partial information approach achieves sufficient communication quality while dramatically reducing the data processing burden and time required for pattern optimization.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple radios are provided for each directional antenna beam to provide communications within a large service area, then service area coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single radio frequency chain that can serve multiple directional antenna beams through dynamic beam switching. Instead of dedicating separate radio hardware to each directional beam, the system uses one multi-functional radio that can be configured to transmit and receive on different antenna patterns at different time intervals. This universal radio approach covers a large service area through temporal multiplexing of beam directions, eliminating the need for multiple parallel radio hardware chains.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods which utilize antenna pattern or antenna beam scanning techniques to provide communication of payload traffic are shown. A base station radio is provided wireless communication links with a plurality of stations for communication of payload traffic between the base station and stations using a succession of antenna patterns. The antenna patterns are scanned in succession, such as randomly, quasi-randomly, sequentially, or according to a schedule. An antenna pattern scheduler may be used to implement antenna pattern scanning and traffic timing. Cooperative scheduling with respect to a plurality of base stations may be provided. Selection of the plurality of antenna patterns used by a base station is preferably adjusted from time to time, such as based upon environment, usage patterns, etcetera.