Fixed RF Receiver Network for Wireless Signal Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless carriers face challenges in efficiently tuning their networks to maintain high signal strength while avoiding signal-to-noise ratio degradation, due to the high cost and time-consuming nature of conventional mobile measurement techniques, which are prone to errors from changing RF attributes caused by factors like other carriers' re-tuning and environmental changes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of fixed location receiver systems with antennas, programmable receivers, and demodulation units positioned within the network's footprint to measure signal strength and noise levels, allowing for simultaneous and frequent data collection across multiple locations, and enabling remote configuration to analyze and adjust carrier signals for optimal network tuning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile measurement systems are used to map signal-to-noise ratio around the RF footprint, then the wireless carrier can tune antenna transmission power to optimize the network, but the process becomes expensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses software-defined receivers that can be remotely configured to replicate measurement functions at multiple fixed locations throughout the RF footprint. Instead of physically moving measurement equipment, virtual copies of the measurement system are deployed across multiple geographic points, enabling simultaneous data collection without the time loss of mobile traversal while maintaining measurement accuracy through programmable reception and analysis capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamically reconfigurable software-defined receivers that can be remotely programmed to adjust measurement parameters, frequency ranges, and modulation schemes based on changing network conditions. This dynamic adaptability allows the fixed location systems to maintain optimization accuracy equivalent to mobile measurements while eliminating the time-consuming physical movement required by traditional approaches.
2Ease of operation
If signal strength is increased to expand the RF footprint of a cell tower, then connectivity is improved, but the signal-to-noise ratio degrades due to interference with other carrier frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where software-defined receivers at fixed locations continuously monitor signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio metrics across the RF footprint. This real-time feedback data is used to automatically adjust transmission power levels, enabling the system to maintain optimal connectivity while preventing signal-to-noise ratio degradation through coordinated power management across multiple carriers and geographic locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs universal software-defined receivers that can measure and analyze multiple carrier frequencies, modulation schemes, and signal types simultaneously at each fixed location. This multi-functional capability allows comprehensive monitoring of signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio across the entire network, enabling precise identification of interference patterns and coordinated optimization of multiple carriers without degrading overall network performance.
3Measurement precision
If conventional mobile measurement techniques are used to tune the network, then signal-to-noise ratio can be measured, but the ability to tune the network is slow due to the size of the wireless network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large wireless network into multiple smaller measurement zones, each monitored by a fixed location software-defined receiver. This segmentation allows parallel measurement and analysis across multiple geographic regions simultaneously, dramatically increasing network tuning speed while maintaining precise signal-to-noise ratio measurements in each segment. The distributed architecture eliminates the bottleneck of sequential mobile measurements across the entire network footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical mobile measurement system with a network of fixed electronic receivers that use software-defined radio technology. This substitution eliminates the physical movement requirements of mobile systems, allowing simultaneous data collection at multiple locations and enabling rapid network-wide analysis and tuning while maintaining the measurement precision needed for accurate signal-to-noise ratio assessment.
4Productivity
If fixed location receiver systems are deployed to measure RF attributes simultaneously at multiple locations, then network tuning efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal software-defined receivers that can be remotely configured to perform multiple measurement functions including signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, frequency spectrum analysis, and modulation scheme detection. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple specialized devices at each location, reducing overall system complexity while enabling simultaneous comprehensive measurements across the network footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service capabilities where software-defined receivers can be remotely programmed and configured through automated software updates without requiring physical access or manual intervention at each fixed location. This self-service approach simplifies deployment and maintenance of the distributed receiver network, reducing the operational complexity of managing multiple fixed measurement points while maximizing measurement efficiency across the entire RF footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for diagnosing RF attributes of signals communicated over a communication footprint including at least one base station configured to provide wireless communications to subscribers of a wireless carrier. Antennas may be fixedly positioned throughout a communications footprint of the base station(s), where the antennas are configured to receive signals from base station(s). At least one receiver may be in communication with the antennas configured to receive the signals from the base station(s) via the antennas. A computer system may be in communication with the receiver(s), where the computing system may be configured to receive RF attributes of signals received at respective antennas and measured by the receiver(s). A data repository may be in communication with the computing system and be configured to store data associated with each of the antennas and representative of RF attributes of the signals received by respective antennas.