Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface Bypass for Wireless Line-of-Sight Blockades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems operating in frequencies beyond 6 GHz face challenges with blockages and deteriorations in line-of-sight communication paths due to physical and atmospheric obstacles, leading to signal attenuation and service disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A method and bypass-system that deploy controllable electromagnetic mirrors with reconfigurable intelligent surfaces to preemptively create backup line-of-sight communication paths before blockages occur, using context information from sensors or management systems to adjust the mirrors and beamforming to maintain communication continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If line-of-sight communication paths are used for mm-Wave frequencies, then data rate and communication performance are improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to blockages and signal attenuation from physical obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively detecting upcoming blockages using sensor data (cameras, LIDAR, radar) and preemptively establishing alternative communication paths through reflected signals before the blockage occurs. This prevents service interruptions rather than reacting after connectivity is lost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces reflective surfaces (electromagnetic mirrors, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces) as intermediary elements that redirect mm-Wave signals around obstacles. These surfaces act as mediators that bounce signals between transmitters and receivers when direct line-of-sight is blocked, maintaining communication continuity.
2Reliability
If reactive handovers and beam searching are used to overcome blockages, then communication can be restored, but service interruptions and latency occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the environment using sensors and predicts potential blockages before they occur. By proactively establishing alternative paths in advance, the system eliminates service interruptions and latency associated with reactive handovers and beam searching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs continuous feedback loops where sensor data (cameras, LIDAR, radar) monitors the communication environment, predicts blockages, and triggers path switching decisions. This real-time feedback enables proactive adjustments rather than reactive responses.
3Reliability
If non-line-of-sight communication paths are used, then blockages can be bypassed, but signal attenuation increases and communication performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses reflective surfaces as intermediaries to create indirect line-of-sight paths. By bouncing signals off controlled reflective surfaces, the system maintains line-of-sight characteristics even when direct paths are blocked, avoiding the severe attenuation associated with traditional non-line-of-sight communication through walls and obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from two-dimensional ground-based communication to three-dimensional spatial communication by utilizing reflected paths through electromagnetic mirrors and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces positioned in the air space. This adds a vertical and angular dimension to signal propagation, creating alternative paths that bypass obstacles while maintaining signal strength.
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 prevents service interruptions by proactively establishing alternative communication paths, reducing the need for reactive handovers and beam searching, thus enhancing communication reliability and efficiency, especially in dynamic environments.
Implementation Method 1
at least one controllable appliance functioning as an electromagnetic mirror including each a reconfigurable intelligent surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A
AI summary
In order to bypass an upcoming blockade (BLC) or deterioration (DTR) of a wireless "Line-of-site <LOS>"-communication path (CPWLOS) within a wireless communication environment (WCE) of two transceiver (TRC1, TRC2) communicating via the wireless "Line-of-site <LOS>"-communication path (CPWLOS), by which preemptively the upcoming blockade or deterioration of the wireless "Line-of-site <LOS>"-communication path (CPWLOS), when the upcoming blockade (BLC) or deterioration (DTR) is announced itself, is bypassed before the wireless "Line-of-site <LOS>"-communication is getting lost, it is proposed (i) to deploy (dpl) at least one controllable appliance (APLc, APLc,s) functioning as an electromagnetic mirror including each a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) known from the prior art and being adjustable in direction to two transceiver (TRC1, TRC2) and (ii) to control (crt), based on generation data (GRD) being generated (grt), the two transceiver (TRC1, TRC2) affected in their communication via the wireless "Line-of-site <LOS>"-communication paths (CPWLOS) by the upcoming blockade (BLC) or deterioration (DTR) and a selected controllable appliance (APLc,s) of the at least one controllable appliance (APLc, APLc,s) to be most suitable for the bypassing such that between the two transceiver (TRC1, TRC2) via the selected controllable appliance (APLc,s) two backup wireless "Line-of-site <LOS>"-communication paths (CPWLOS,b) are set up instead of the upcoming blocked (BLC) or deteriorated (DTR) wireless "Line-of-site <LOS>"-communication path (CPWLOS) for a limited time, in particular for the duration of the blockade (BLC) or deterioration (DTR).