Mobile WLAN Repeater for Urban Coverage Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Providing ubiquitous wireless Internet access in urban areas is challenging due to signal absorption by dense structures, limited range, and line-of-sight requirements, which necessitates a high number of wireless access points (WAPs) and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
Deploying a wireless local area network (WLAN) module with a transceiver in mobile platforms like vehicles, which can act as repeaters or access points to extend wireless services to uncovered areas, using a combination of WLAN and wireless telephone transceivers to provide connectivity through a network of mobile platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless access points are deployed to provide ubiquitous Internet access, then wireless coverage availability is improved, but system cost and maintenance expenses increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Vehicles equipped with WLAN transceivers provide wireless access services voluntarily when parked in uncovered areas, acting as self-deployed access points without requiring centralized management or payment processing infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing vehicles as temporary, disposable access point locations rather than installing permanent infrastructure, leveraging the vehicles' natural mobility and temporary parking positions to provide coverage in areas where traditional WAPs would be expensive to deploy
2Adaptability or versatility
If more wireless access points are installed to overcome signal absorption by dense structures, then wireless coverage in shielded areas is improved, but the number of required access points and maintenance costs increase exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static access point locations to dynamic vehicle-based access points that can move to different positions, allowing the same physical objects (vehicles) to serve multiple locations over time rather than requiring permanent infrastructure at every potential coverage point
Solution Approach 2:
Vehicles serve multiple functions: they are both transportation platforms and wireless access point locations, eliminating the need for dedicated access point structures and reducing the overall quantity of infrastructure required
3Length of stationary object
If wireless access points are deployed to extend coverage beyond line-of-sight, then coverage range is improved, but transmitter power limitations and signal absorption prevent effective coverage
Solution Approach 1:
Vehicles act as intermediary nodes that receive signals from distant access points and retransmit them locally, extending coverage to areas that would otherwise be unreachable due to power limitations or physical barriers
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless network is segmented into multiple hops through vehicles, breaking the direct line-of-sight requirement into indirect paths where each vehicle serves as a local relay point, effectively extending coverage beyond the direct transmitter power range
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless local area network module including an input configured to receive a control signal, wherein the control signal indicates whether a vehicle is in a parked position. The wireless local area network module further includes a wireless local area network transceiver associated with the vehicle. The wireless local area network transceiver is configured to i) receive data packets via a first wireless communication channel, and ii) in response to the control signal indicating that the vehicle is in a parked position, repeat the data packets over the first wireless communication channel.