Narrowbeam Transceiver Handoff for High-Speed Train Broadband
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Internet access on high-speed trains is limited by bandwidth constraints, preventing the use of bandwidth-intensive applications and causing customer dissatisfaction.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system where mobile narrowbeam transceivers on vehicles switch between a sequence of fixed narrowbeam transceivers along a prescribed path, establishing and maintaining continuous broadband data links to ensure uninterrupted high-speed internet access, utilizing highly directional wireless links and dynamic positioning techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If satellite links or sky-to-ground links are used for Internet access on high-speed trains, then Internet connectivity is provided, but bandwidth is limited and bandwidth-intensive applications cannot be supported
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the broadband access into multiple narrowbeam data links between mobile transceivers on the vehicle and fixed transceivers along the path. Each narrowbeam link operates independently at high data rates (up to 2 Gb/s), and multiple links can be aggregated to provide sufficient total bandwidth for multiple passengers to use bandwidth-intensive applications simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from using satellite links (space dimension) to using ground-based narrowbeam transceivers positioned along the vehicle's path (horizontal dimension). This dimensional change enables high-bandwidth terrestrial communication by establishing multiple directional links along the ground, replacing the limited satellite connection with parallel ground-based narrowbeam connections
2Speed
If the vehicle moves at high speed, then travel efficiency is improved, but maintaining continuous broadband access becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic positioning techniques and prescribed paths to predict the vehicle's position and pre-establish handoff sequences between narrowbeam transceivers. The mobile transceiver on the vehicle switches between fixed narrowbeam transceivers in advance before the vehicle reaches each transmitter, ensuring seamless transitions and continuous broadband access even at high speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs mobile narrowbeam transceivers on the vehicle that can dynamically adjust and slew their beam directions to track and maintain alignment with the sequence of fixed narrowbeam transceivers along the prescribed path. This dynamic beam steering capability ensures continuous high-speed broadband access by adapting to the vehicle's motion in real-time
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method comprises: establishing a first broadband data link between a first mobile narrowbeam transceiver positioned on a vehicle and a first fixed narrowbeam transceiver mounted along a prescribed path of the vehicle; and switching from the first broadband data link, by the first mobile narrowbeam transceiver, to a second broadband data link with a second fixed narrowbeam transceiver mounted along the prescribed path after the first fixed narrowbeam transceiver, enabling the vehicle to maintain continuous broadband access to a wide area network via a prescribed sequence of the fixed narrowbeam transceivers along the prescribed path.