Directional Antennas for Wireless Location Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless communications systems using omni-directional antennas for maximum coverage are inefficient for accurately locating mobile units based on signal strength, as they do not provide sufficient variation in signal strength with location.
Innovation Solution
Implementing access points with directional antennas having selected pattern shapes, such as horizontally offset or angularly offset beams, arranged on the periphery of facilities to enhance signal strength variation with position, thereby improving location accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If omni-directional antennas are used to provide maximum area of radio signal transmission, then communications coverage is improved, but location accuracy deteriorates due to insufficient signal strength variation with location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using directional antennas with specific beam patterns (such as horizontally offset or angularly offset patterns) instead of uniform omni-directional coverage. Each antenna provides focused signal transmission in specific directions, creating localized high-signal zones that vary significantly with position. This allows the system to maintain comprehensive coverage while introducing sufficient spatial variation in signal strength for accurate location determination.
2Measurement precision
If directional antennas with large signal strength variation are used to improve location results, then location accuracy is improved, but communications coverage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coverage area into multiple zones by deploying directional antennas with different beam orientations throughout the facility. Instead of using a single omni-directional antenna pattern, the system divides the spatial coverage into overlapping directional beams (e.g., horizontally offset beams pointing in different directions). This segmentation creates multiple localized coverage zones, each with distinct signal strength characteristics, enabling both comprehensive coverage and accurate location determination through the combined signal patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless local area network has mobile units which are provided with radios for transmitting and receiving data communications messages between the mobile units and fixed access points. The mobile units are located using signal strength for radio communications between the mobile units and the access points. At least some of the access points are provided with antennas having antenna patterns with selected pattern shape for enhancing location of the mobile units.