Multi-Beam Antenna Location Estimation in Multipath
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining the location of wireless stations in wireless communication networks are ineffective in multipath environments due to signal scattering, requiring specialized equipment and increasing power consumption, which is costly and reduces battery life.
Innovation Solution
A method using a multi-beam antenna pattern to estimate bearing angles based on received signal properties, allowing for location determination without additional apparatus at wireless stations, by transmitting signals on multiple beams and steering the antenna pattern towards the station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional location techniques (GPS, signal strength measurement) are used, then location determination is possible, but the techniques are ineffective in multipath environments and require specialized apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of equipping wireless stations with specialized receiving and measuring apparatus, the invention inverts the approach by implementing the location determination system at the access point side. The access point transmits multiple beams with different beaming angles and processes the received signals to estimate the bearing angle, thereby eliminating the need for specialized equipment at the wireless station.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary approach by using the access point's multi-beam transmission system as a mediator between the wireless station and the location determination function. The access point transmits signals through multiple beams and uses the received signal properties to indirectly determine the station's location, avoiding direct specialized measurement at the station.
2Measurement precision
If specialized receivers or signal measuring apparatus are implemented in each wireless station, then location measurement is enabled, but costs increase and power consumption increases reducing battery lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the location measurement approach by moving the measurement and processing functions from the wireless station to the access point. The access point transmits multiple beams and processes the received signals to determine location, thereby eliminating the need for power-consuming specialized receivers at the battery-powered wireless station.
3Reliability
If additional antenna and receiver are added to wireless station for GPS reception, then location capability is improved, but size and weight of the station increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the access point's transmission system multi-functional by using it not only for communication but also for location determination. The same multi-beam antenna system used for signal transmission also serves as the location measurement system, eliminating the need for additional GPS antennas and receivers at the wireless station.
4Measurement precision
If conventional location techniques are used, then location determination is achieved, but accuracy is reduced in multipath environments due to signal scattering
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the transmission signal into multiple beams with different beaming angles. By transmitting signals through multiple segmented beams and comparing the received signal properties from different beams, the system can determine the bearing angle more accurately even in the presence of multipath scattering, as the spatial diversity of beams provides redundant information.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for estimating location of wireless stations in a wireless communication network are provided. An estimation of a bearing angle of a wireless station from a reference point of a multi-beam antenna pattern is made based on a plurality of beaming angles of a multi-beam antenna pattern and a received signal property, at the wireless station, of each of a plurality of wireless signals transmitted on respective beams of the multi-beam antenna pattern for each of the plurality of beaming angles.