Vehicle WLAN Antenna Connection Control Through Automatic Unit Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle communication systems require manual configuration of gateways and antennas, which is time-consuming and inefficient, especially when vehicle formations change, and they suffer from signal interference due to RF cables and splitters.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling antenna unit connections to a wireless local area network using characteristics such as signal strength, SNR, age of beacons, GNSS location, and vehicle information to automatically determine and manage connections based on predetermined criteria, ensuring only valid antenna units on the vehicle connect to the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration of gateways and antennas is used, then connection reliability can be established, but installation time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-configuration by automatically detecting antenna units, validating their characteristics against predetermined criteria, and establishing connections without manual intervention. The gateway autonomously manages the entire configuration process, eliminating the need for manual setup while maintaining connection reliability through automated validation protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes validation criteria and connection parameters before actual connection occurs. By having predetermined characteristics ready for comparison and pre-configured connection rules in place, the system can rapidly authenticate and connect antenna units without time-consuming manual configuration during installation.
2Reliability
If manual reconfiguration is performed when vehicle formation changes, then network connectivity is maintained, but productivity and response time decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to changing vehicle formations by continuously monitoring the operational state and automatically reconfiguring connections as carriages are coupled or decoupled. The gateway adjusts the network topology in real-time based on current vehicle configuration, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration and maintaining network connectivity throughout transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensors and network status monitoring to detect changes in vehicle formation. This feedback triggers automatic reconfiguration processes that adjust connections based on the new configuration, ensuring network connectivity is maintained without requiring manual intervention or causing service interruptions.
3Ease of operation
If RF cables and splitters are used for antenna connections, then physical connectivity is established, but signal quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system removes RF cables and splitters from the connection path between antennas and gateways. By eliminating these intermediate components, the system achieves direct wireless or alternative connections that avoid the signal degradation and interference caused by cables and splitters, while maintaining physical connectivity through other means.
4Area of stationary object
If all antenna units are permitted to connect, then network coverage is maximized, but network security and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different connection policies to different antenna units based on their validated characteristics. Instead of treating all antenna units uniformly, the system validates each unit against predetermined criteria and grants or denies connection permissions individually, ensuring that only authenticated units can join the network while maintaining coverage from authorized antennas.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method for controlling the connection of antenna units to a wireless local area network. The wireless local area network comprises one or more antenna units being implemented on a vehicle. The method comprises: obtaining one or more characteristics about a further antenna unit that is external to the network; comparing the one or more characteristics about the further antenna unit with one or more predetermined characteristics; and in dependence on the comparison between the characteristics indicating that the further antenna unit is located on the vehicle, permitting the further antenna unit to connect to the network.