Antenna Directionality Control via Embedded Packet Properties
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional techniques for automatically adjusting antenna directionality in wireless packet forwarding devices require modification of the wireless interface, leading to fluctuations in packet transmission timing due to CSMA/CA functions, making it difficult to implement without hardware modifications.
Innovation Solution
A packet communication system that generates switching control packets by altering packet properties such as length and transmission power without changing their contents, allowing the antenna directionality to be adjusted without modifying the wireless interface, using a signal analysis unit to identify bit values and control the directional antenna based on these properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the antenna directionality is automatically adjusted based on packet content analysis, then the antenna directionality adjustment function is achieved, but the processing load for external antenna operation increases extremely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary antenna control information from packet contents, rather than analyzing the entire packet. The external antenna processes only extracted control information, significantly reducing processing load while maintaining automated directionality adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the packet processing into two stages: the wireless packet forwarding device analyzes packet contents and extracts control information, then transmits this extracted information to the external antenna. This segmentation allows the external antenna to operate with reduced complexity while the main device handles the complex analysis.
2Extent of automation
If additional information is appended to transmission signal using dummy packet, then antenna directionality control information can be provided, but the CSMA/CA interference evasion function causes fluctuation in packet transmission timing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated control information field within the existing packet structure as an intermediary to carry antenna directionality control information. This approach avoids using dummy packets that would trigger CSMA/CA interference evasion, thereby maintaining stable transmission timing while still providing the necessary control information.
3Extent of automation
If the wireless interface is modified to add automatic antenna directionality adjustment function, then the antenna directionality can be adjusted automatically, but the hardware configuration must be modified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the external antenna multi-functional by enabling it to process both regular packet signals and embedded control information using the existing wireless interface. This allows the antenna to perform directionality adjustment without requiring dedicated hardware modifications, as the same interface handles both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the antenna directionality control function with the existing packet transmission function. Control information is combined with data packets in the transmission stream, allowing the wireless interface and external antenna to handle both data communication and directionality control simultaneously without separate hardware paths.
4Reliability
If multiple antennas are employed to improve communication quality, then the communication quality is improved, but the installation layout is limited by furniture and fixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic antenna directionality adjustment where the external antenna can change its beam direction automatically based on received control information. This dynamic capability allows the antenna to adapt to different communication scenarios without requiring fixed installation positions, thereby improving installation flexibility while maintaining communication quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the external antenna (beam direction, gain) based on control information extracted from packets. This parameter adjustment allows the same physical antenna installation to serve multiple directional requirements, overcoming the limitations of fixed furniture layouts.
Data Source
AI summary
A packet communication system etc., is proposed, which can automatically adjusting the antenna directionality without modifying a wireless interface of a wireless packet forwarding device even if it involves fluctuation in the packet transmission timing due to CSMA/CA etc. An interference evasion unit involves fluctuation in packet transmission timing due to CSMA/CA. A radio emission device can control the emissive direction and/or emission intensity. A packet generation unit adjusts packet features other than its contents (e.g., packet length, transmission intensity) based on a switching sequence for specifying the emissive direction and/or emissive intensity, and generate a switching control packet. An emission control unit measures the switching control packet feature other than its contents, and identifies at least one bit as antenna control information. The emission control unit controls the overall directionality of a directional antenna unit based on a bit sequence including at least one bit thus identified.