Exterior Interior RF Units for Millimeter Wave Building Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Millimeter wave transmissions face significant challenges in penetrating building structures, such as windows and walls, due to high signal losses, which limits their implementation in modern wireless communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an exterior RF transmission unit and an interior RF transmission unit, connected via a wireless communications link, that converts signals to overcome penetration losses, using techniques like down-conversion and optical bridging to enable effective signal transmission through building materials without physical drilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If millimeter wave transmissions are used to provide high bandwidth, then bandwidth availability is improved, but building penetration capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the building penetration function into two separate units: an exterior RF transmission unit that receives millimeter wave signals from the base station, and an interior RF transmission unit that transmits converted signals inside the building. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized for its specific function, with the exterior unit handling high-frequency reception and the interior unit handling signal conversion and retransmission, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining high bandwidth and achieving building penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The exterior RF transmission unit acts as an intermediary between the millimeter wave base station and the interior building environment. It receives the high-frequency signals that cannot penetrate buildings directly, converts them to lower frequencies that can penetrate walls and windows, and retransmits them inside the building. This intermediary approach enables both high bandwidth availability from the original millimeter wave signal and building penetration capability through frequency conversion.
2Reliability
If exterior RF transmission units are installed on building exteriors, then building penetration capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management control system combines the configuration and management of both exterior and interior RF transmission units into a single unified interface. This allows operators to manage the complex dual-unit system through one centralized control point, reducing the perceived complexity despite the physical segmentation of the system into multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The management control system provides universal control capabilities for both exterior and interior units through a single interface, enabling one system to perform multiple management functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate management systems for each unit, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining building penetration capability.
3Reliability
If signal frequency is converted to overcome penetration losses, then building penetration capability is improved, but signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the signal conversion function from the overall transmission system and places it specifically in the exterior RF transmission unit. This unit takes the millimeter wave signal, converts it to a lower frequency suitable for building penetration, and passes the converted signal to the interior unit. By isolating the complex signal processing function in a dedicated unit, the overall system complexity is managed more effectively while achieving building penetration.
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 system significantly enhances building penetration capabilities for millimeter wave signals, allowing for reliable wireless communication within buildings by counteracting signal degradation and increasing the number of structures where 5G millimeter wave signals can be used for gigabit Ethernet services.
Implementation Method 1
converting between the received signals at the first frequency and second signals in a first format that overcome losses caused by penetrating the structure of the building
Data Source
AI summary
A system for managing control of signal penetration into a building includes an exterior RF transmission unit located on an outside of the building, for transceiving signals at a first frequency that experiences losses when penetrating a structure of the building on a first RF communications link from an exterior base station and converting between the received signals at the first frequency and second signals in a first format that overcome losses caused by penetrating the structure of the building over a wireless communications link. An interior RF transmission unit located on the interior of the building and communicatively linked with the exterior RF transmission unit via the wireless communications link, receives and transmits the converted second signals in the first format that counteracts the losses caused by penetrating the structure of the building. A management control system configures operating parameters of the exterior RF transmission unit and the interior RF transmission unit within a system configuration controller. At least one interface enables user access to the management control system.