Base Station Directional Antenna Auto-Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In point-to-multi point radio communication systems, maintaining proper directional antenna alignment for base stations communicating with multiple terminal stations is challenging due to lack of precise feedback on necessary adjustments, leading to time-consuming and labor-intensive manual adjustments, especially when communication targets are far away or numerous.

Innovation Solution

A base station apparatus with a directional antenna, a terminal station direction calculator, an antenna direction calculator, and an antenna direction adjuster, which calculates and adjusts the antenna orientation based on terminal station positions, required channel quality, and directional patterns to ensure optimal communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual antenna direction adjustment is used, then the antenna can be adjusted, but it takes a lot of time and labor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna adjustment operationVSAvoidadjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base station apparatus automatically adjusts its own antenna direction by calculating the required orientation based on terminal positions and channel quality requirements, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The system serves itself by using its built-in calculator and adjuster components to maintain optimal communication without external assistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors channel quality information from terminals and uses this feedback to calculate and adjust the antenna direction. The antenna direction calculator receives channel quality data and determines the optimal orientation, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing communication conditions automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the base station communicates with multiple terminal stations, then communication coverage is expanded, but the antenna direction cannot be properly adjusted for each terminal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication coverageVSAvoidantenna direction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The base station apparatus dynamically adjusts its antenna direction based on the current positions of terminal stations and changing channel quality conditions. Rather than being fixed, the antenna orientation is continuously adapted to maintain optimal communication with multiple terminals simultaneously, allowing the system to handle mobility and varying communication requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system determines and adjusts antenna direction specifically for each terminal station based on its individual position and channel quality requirements. The antenna direction calculator considers local conditions for each terminal, ensuring that the antenna is optimally oriented for each specific communication link rather than using a generic fixed direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the antenna direction is adjusted manually, then adjustment can be made, but it requires looking through an inspection hole which is difficult when targets are far away

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna adjustment operationVSAvoidtarget position detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical visual inspection method with an automated calculation system. Instead of manually looking through an inspection hole to align the antenna, the system uses electronic position data and channel quality information to calculate the optimal antenna direction, substituting mechanical visual alignment with computational determination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna direction calculator acts as an intermediary between the raw position data and the final antenna orientation decision. It processes channel quality information and terminal positions to determine the optimal direction, serving as an intelligent mediator that translates complex communication requirements into precise antenna orientation without requiring direct human observation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10299144B2Base station apparatus and control method therefor

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A base station apparatus in a point-to-multi point radio communication system includes a directional antenna, a terminal station apparatus direction calculator, an antenna direction calculator, and an antenna direction adjuster. The directional antenna has directivity. The terminal station apparatus direction calculator calculates directions of the plurality of terminal station apparatuses relative to a position of the base station apparatus based on positions of the plurality of terminal station apparatuses and the position of the base station apparatus. The antenna direction calculator calculates a direction toward which the directional antenna should be oriented based on the directions of the plurality of terminal station apparatuses, channel quality of each of the plurality of terminal station apparatuses, necessary channel quality indicating the channel quality required by each of the plurality of terminal station apparatuses, and a directional pattern of the directional antenna. The antenna direction adjuster orients the directional antenna toward the direction.