Phased Array Antenna Soft Handoff for Mobile Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air-to-ground communication systems face challenges in providing broadband services to aircraft due to insufficient communication capacity and the inability to perform reliable soft handoffs between terrestrial base transceiver stations using directional antennas on high-speed mobile platforms.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication terminal equipped with a phased array antenna system and an antenna controller that uses beam forming technology to create multiple independent beams from a single antenna, enabling seamless soft handoffs by controlling the beam pattern to maintain and establish connections with multiple BTS sites simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If directional antennas are used to increase network capacity and reduce interference, then communication capacity is improved, but the ability to perform soft handoffs deteriorates because conventional directional antennas have only a single beam or lobe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single antenna beam into multiple independent lobes using beam forming technology. Each lobe can independently communicate with a different BTS site, enabling the mobile terminal to maintain simultaneous connections with multiple base stations during handoff transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beam pattern control that allows the antenna system to adaptively adjust the number, direction, and strength of lobes based on the mobile terminal's position and movement. This dynamic adjustment enables seamless transitions between BTS sites while maintaining continuous communication.
2Device complexity
If omnidirectional antennas are used to maintain simple system design, then device complexity is reduced, but network interference increases and communication capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single phased array antenna system capable of performing multiple functions: it can operate as an omnidirectional antenna when needed, or form directional beams with multiple lobes for handoff operations. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements without requiring multiple physical antennas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the radiation pattern parameters of the antenna system dynamically. By adjusting beam forming parameters, the system can transform from an omnidirectional pattern to a multi-lobed directional pattern, effectively controlling interference and capacity based on operational needs.
3Volume of moving object
If a single beam directional antenna is used to reduce device size, then antenna size is reduced, but the ability to establish simultaneous connections with multiple BTS sites is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the antenna radiation pattern by creating multiple lobes in different directions from a single antenna element. This allows the system to simultaneously transmit and receive signals in multiple directions without requiring multiple physical antennas, thus maintaining compact size while achieving multi-BTS connectivity.
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
The solution increases communication capacity and ensures reliable broadband data, voice, and entertainment services for aircraft by enabling seamless soft handoffs, reducing network interference, and maintaining service quality during handoffs.
Implementation Method 1
A wireless communication terminal equipped with a phased array antenna system and an antenna controller that uses beam forming technology to create multiple independent beams from a single antenna
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for implementing soft handoffs in a communications system on a mobile platform. The system employs an antenna controller in communication with a beam forming network that generates two independently aimable lobes from a single beam. The single beam is radiated by a phased array antenna on the mobile platform. In an Air-to-Ground implementation involving an aircraft, a base transceiver station (BTS) look-up position table is utilized to provide the locations of a plurality of BTS sites within a given region that the aircraft is traversing. The antenna controller controls the beam forming network to generate dual lobes from the single beam that facilitate making a soft handoff from one BTS site to another. In a ground-based application, one lobe of the beam is used to maintain a communications link with one BTS site while a second lobe of the beam is continuously scanned about a predetermined arc to receive RF signals from other BTS sites and to determine when a new BTS site has become available that will provide a higher quality link than the link presently made with the one BTS site. A soft handoff is then implemented from the one BTS site to the new BTS site.