Network Node Directional Broadcasting Antenna Pattern Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Broadcasting in wireless networks faces challenges in efficiently reaching multiple users while minimizing interference, as beamforming techniques often limit the coverage area and require trade-offs between bandwidth usage and interference reduction.

Innovation Solution

A method for a network node to establish location information for targeted communication devices and adjust antenna patterns and transmission power based on the quality of service and distance, allowing for directional broadcasting that optimizes signal quality and reduces interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beamforming is used to improve coverage and reduce interference, then signal quality and interference reduction are improved, but coverage area is limited and only users close to the center can receive the signal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidcoverage area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The coverage area is divided into multiple sectors, and within each sector, directional beams are formed to target specific groups of users. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high signal quality through focused beams while expanding overall coverage by serving multiple sectors simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from traditional omnidirectional or single-directional broadcasting to three-dimensional beamforming, where beams are shaped in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. This enables coverage expansion in multiple spatial directions while maintaining focused signal delivery to targeted user groups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If broadcasting is used to reach many users, then coverage area is improved, but interference within the wireless network increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniform omnidirectional broadcasting, the system applies local quality by directing targeted beams only toward specific sectors and user groups. This localized signal delivery maintains wide coverage while minimizing interference in other directions where no users are present.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The network divides the coverage area into multiple sectors and assigns different beam patterns to each sector. This segmentation allows simultaneous service to multiple user groups with reduced mutual interference, as each beam is optimized for its specific directional target.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-generated harmful factors

If point-to-point communication is used to reach particular users, then interference towards other users is reduced, but resource efficiency decreases when sending the same information to many users

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinterferenceVSAvoidresource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the advantages of point-to-point communication (targeted signal delivery, reduced interference) with broadcasting efficiency (sending same information to multiple users). By forming beams that cover multiple users within a sector, the system achieves both interference reduction and resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The beamforming system serves multiple functions: it provides targeted signal delivery like point-to-point communication while simultaneously reaching multiple users like broadcasting. This multi-functionality allows the same mechanism to achieve both low interference and high resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Power

If directional beams with high directivity are used, then link-budget is improved, but coverage is limited to users very close to the center of the beam

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelink-budgetVSAvoidcoverage area
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The coverage area is divided into multiple sectors, each served by directional beams optimized for that sector. This segmentation allows high directivity beams to maintain strong link-budget performance while collectively covering a wide area through the combination of multiple sector-specific beams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts beam directions and patterns based on user distribution and channel conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the beams to maintain optimal directivity for current users while adjusting coverage areas to accommodate changing network conditions and user locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables efficient broadcasting to multiple users with improved signal quality and reduced power consumption, allowing for higher data rates and more efficient use of resources by focusing beams on interested devices within the coverage area.

Implementation Method 1

In a wireless communication network, broadcasting saves bandwidth as well as energy utilization and is therefore used as an efficient means to send the same information to many users.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadio wave propagation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

In order to reach many users, the broadcasting, i.e. transmitted signal, is often processed so as to reach a large coverage area.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBeamforming: Focusing

Data Source

PatentEP3080924B1Method and network node for broadcasting
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3080924B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3080924B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a method 20 performed in a network node 2 for broadcasting. The network node 2 is configured to broadcast signals to communication devices 3i located within a coverage area 4 of the network node 2. The method comprises: establishing 21 location information for a subset of the communication devices 31,…,3T, the subset comprising communication devices 31,…,3T targeted by the broadcast signal; establishing 22 at least one antenna pattern based on the established location information for the subset of communication devices 31,…,3T; and broadcasting 23 according to the established at least one antenna pattern. The disclosure also relates to corresponding network node, computer program and computer program product.