Antenna Profile Server Automated Gain Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installed environment of devices with transmitter/receiver functionality significantly modifies their effective transmit/receive characteristics, such as antenna gain, leading to errors in distance estimation due to deviations from theoretical values.
Innovation Solution
An automated system determines the effective antenna profile characteristics and location by using roaming testing platforms with receivers to measure transmissions from transmitters, calculating the effective directional antenna gain and updating antenna profiles based on these measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If theoretical antenna gain values are used in unimpeded environments, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to environmental modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurements during a training phase to determine effective directional antenna gain values before actual operation. These pre-determined gain values are stored and used during normal operation, eliminating the need for real-time environmental analysis while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary effective directional antenna gain value that mediates between the theoretical antenna gain and the actual environmental conditions. This intermediary parameter captures environmental modifications without requiring complex real-time analysis, enabling accurate distance estimation while maintaining system simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If automated measurement systems are deployed to determine effective antenna gain, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to additional hardware and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-characterization by automatically determining its own effective directional antenna gain values during a training phase. The transmitter and receiver units use their existing hardware to measure and store gain values without requiring external calibration equipment or additional measurement infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated measurement process is performed in advance during a training phase, separating the complex measurement activity from normal operation. This preliminary action allows the system to establish accurate gain values once, then use them repeatedly without ongoing measurement complexity.
3Reliability
If effective directional antenna gain values are determined through automated training, then reliability of distance estimation improves, but loss of time increases due to training phase requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the time-consuming antenna gain determination during an initial training phase before deployment. Once these effective directional antenna gain values are established, they are stored and reused indefinitely, making the initial time investment a one-time cost that enables reliable operation thereafter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the antenna system by determining gain values for specific orientations and environments during training. These parameter-specific gain values (for different orientations, locations, and environmental conditions) enable reliable distance estimation in those specific conditions without requiring repeated measurements.
Data Source
AI summary
A network device obtains data associated with transmissions received at one or more receive antennas from multiple transmit antennas located at different locations. The network device solves, based on the data and using an antenna transmission model, for unknown variables associated with the one or more receive antennas or the multiple transmit antennas to produce solution results that include solved parameters corresponding to the unknown variables. The network device modifies antenna profiles associated with the one or more receive antennas, in an antenna profile database, based on the solution results. The network device uses the modified antenna profiles to estimate a location of one or more of the multiple transmit antennas.