Dynamic Antenna Selection for Mobile Relay Signal Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile communication systems face challenges in achieving optimal signal quality and system capacity due to the limited number of antennas in conventional wireless devices, which are not adequately optimized for complex digital communication systems, especially in vehicles where multiple antennas with different orientations and characteristics could enhance performance.

Innovation Solution

A transceiver apparatus and method that dynamically selects a subset of antennas based on performance criteria, using a control module to couple antennas with different orientations and polarizations to improve transmission characteristics, and includes a receiver module for measuring signal quality and a storage module for storing location-specific antenna performance data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a limited set of antennas is used in conventional wireless devices, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but signal quality and system capacity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidnumber of antennas
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic antenna selection where the transceiver can switch between different antennas based on real-time signal conditions. The system dynamically couples antenna ports to different physical antennas from a larger set, allowing adaptation to changing radio environments without permanently configuring all antennas. This resolves the contradiction by providing high signal quality when needed while keeping the effective antenna count manageable through dynamic reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes antenna ports universal by enabling each port to be coupled to multiple different physical antennas through dynamic selection. Instead of dedicating one antenna per port, the system allows any antenna port to access any available antenna from the larger set, maximizing the utility of both the antenna ports and the physical antennas. This multi-functionality approach improves signal quality without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple antennas with different orientations and polarizations are used, then transmission characteristics and signal quality improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission characteristicsVSAvoidantenna configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different orientations and polarizations to different physical antennas, then selectively coupling them to antenna ports based on the specific communication needs. Each antenna maintains its unique characteristics (local quality), and the dynamic selection process matches the appropriate antenna properties to the current transmission requirements. This resolves the contradiction by providing diverse transmission characteristics without requiring all antennas to be permanently active or complexly configured.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3062449B1Apparatus, method and computer program for a transceiver of a mobile communication system, mobile relay station transceiver
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 NASH INNOVATIONS GMBH
  • EP3062449B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3062449B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3062449B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments provide an apparatus, a method and a computer program for a transceiver of a mobile communication system and a mobile relay station transceiver an apparatus. The apparatus (10) for a transceiver (100) of a mobile communication system (500) comprises one or more interfaces (12) to a plurality of antennas (30), and a transceiver module (14) to communicate in the mobile communication system (500) using a subset of the plurality of antennas (30). The apparatus (10) further comprises a coupling module (16) to couple the subset of the plurality of antennas (30) to the transceiver module (14) using the one or more interfaces (12), and a control module (18) to control the transceiver module (14) and the coupling module (16). The control module (18) is further configured to select antennas for the subset of antennas from the plurality of antennas (30) based on predetermined information related to an antenna performance.