Smartphone-Based Network Data Acquisition for Real-Time Beamforming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network capacity tests in the wireless industry are time-consuming and inefficient, requiring extensive drive tests with specialized equipment, while existing channel characterization methods only provide feedback for serving base station sectors, limiting the ability to form accurate beams and optimize network performance.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing smartphones as user equipment (UEs) to capture network data in real-time, which is then processed by an Instant Smartscan Server (ISS), allowing for simultaneous data collection from multiple base station sectors and protocols, and enabling the analysis of channel characteristics across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional drive test equipment with specialized scanners is used to capture network data, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses smartphones as copies of specialized drive test equipment. Smartphones run applications that replicate the measurement functions of expensive scanner receivers, allowing the same network data to be collected using common consumer devices instead of specialized equipment, thereby reducing time and cost while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes smartphones universal measurement tools by enabling them to perform network capacity testing through installed applications. The same smartphone can collect data from multiple base stations and network nodes simultaneously, replacing the need for dedicated test equipment and reducing the overall testing timeline
2Measurement precision
If drive tests are conducted sequentially along predefined routes, then measurement precision is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network measurement task across multiple smartphones distributed at different locations. Instead of one sequential drive test, multiple devices simultaneously collect data from different base stations and network nodes, dividing the overall measurement workload into parallel operations that complete concurrently
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from temporal sequencing to spatial parallelism. Rather than measuring network characteristics sequentially along a route over time, the system deploys measurement devices across multiple geographic locations simultaneously, capturing network data from diverse positions at the same moment to improve productivity without sacrificing measurement quality
3Device complexity
If CQI feedback is collected only from serving base station sectors, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables smartphones to serve multiple functions: they not only report CQI feedback for their serving base station but also simultaneously measure and report channel characteristics from multiple other base stations and network nodes. This multi-functional capability ensures comprehensive network data collection without requiring complex dedicated measurement equipment at each location
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces smartphones as intermediary measurement devices that bridge the gap between simple feedback mechanisms and comprehensive network monitoring. These intermediaries collect detailed channel characteristics from multiple network nodes and transmit the data back to the network operator, enabling complete information gathering while maintaining operational simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for acquiring wireless network performance data comprising a user equipment accessible via a wireless network, the user equipment comprising; a receiver, a transmitter, a first processor configured with software executable instructions to cause the user equipment to perform operations comprising; receiving a data acquisition signal via the receiver, sampling a wireless network signal received at the user equipment in response to receiving the data acquisition signal, generating acquired network data, and transmitting the acquired network data via the transmitter, a server accessible via the wireless network, the server comprising, a second processor configured with software executable instructions to cause the server to perform operations comprising; transmitting the data acquisition signal, receiving the acquired network data; and generating network performance data using the acquired network data.