Wireless Base Station Handover Control for Mine Communication Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a mine environment, the stability of wireless communication systems is compromised due to terrain conditions that hinder GPS signal reception, leading to unstable handover operations between wireless base stations, which can interrupt the operation of working machines like dump trucks and excavators.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication system that includes a control server and on-board terminal equipment, where the server sets travel-permitted regions and no-handover zones to prevent base station switching within specific areas, ensuring stable communication by generating and transmitting switching operation control information to the on-board terminal equipment to perform handovers outside prohibited zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If handover locations are set based on GPS receiver data, then base station switching can be automated, but GPS radio wave reception fails in mine areas below cliffs and behind mountains, causing handover location specification to fail and communication stability to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a base station as an intermediary to provide position information to mobile stations. Instead of relying on GPS satellites that are blocked by terrain, the base station transmits position information that mobile stations use to determine handover locations, thereby mediating the positioning function in GPS-denied environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the GPS satellite-based electromagnetic positioning system with a terrestrial base station-based positioning system. In mine environments where GPS radio waves cannot penetrate, the mechanical/physical constraint of line-of-sight satellite reception is substituted by local base station transmissions that can reach mobile stations through the terrain
2Ease of manufacture
If DSRC method arranges wireless base station equipment on the side of the road in advance, then communication infrastructure is established, but it cannot fully follow changes of the travel route generated as needed at loading sites and dumping sites
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic travel route generation that adapts to changing conditions at loading sites and dumping sites. Instead of static pre-defined routes, the system generates routes as needed based on current operational requirements, allowing the communication system to follow dynamic changes in travel patterns
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary establishment of communication coverage areas for multiple base stations before travel routes are determined. By pre-defining the communication zones and capabilities of base stations, the system can subsequently generate appropriate travel routes that utilize these established communication infrastructure elements
3Productivity
If base station switching is performed frequently to follow travel route changes, then communication coverage is maintained, but handover processing becomes unstable in areas with poor GPS reception, interrupting working machine operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary determination of handover positions based on mobile station position and base station communication coverage areas before actual handover execution. By calculating and preparing handover locations in advance using reliable position information from base stations rather than GPS, the system avoids unstable handover processing in poor reception areas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback from base station position information and mobile station position to dynamically determine appropriate handover positions. The system continuously monitors position data and adjusts handover timing and location based on this feedback, ensuring handovers occur at stable points rather than in areas of poor signal reception
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication system includes an on-board terminal equipment mounted on a working machine, and a control server communicably connected together via a network including a first wireless base station and a second wireless base station. The control server sets a zone of a travel route as a travel-permitted zone, for which a travel permission has been given only to the working machine. A permission requesting zone in the travel-permitted zone, in which the working machine makes a setting request to the control server for a new travel-permitted zone, is set as a no-handover zone in which switching of the connected base station from the first wireless base station to the second wireless base station is prohibited. The on-board terminal equipment switches the first wireless base station to the second wireless base in a zone other than the no-handover zone in the travel-permitted zone.