Vehicle Wireless Modems with Steerable Beamforming for mmWave Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly Wi-Fi and cellular networks, face challenges in providing high-capacity, reliable, and efficient communication services to fast-moving vehicles due to limitations in air interface resource utilization and mobility support, especially in mm-wave frequency bands like 60 GHz, which are directional and heavily dependent on environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A communication system employing directional antennas with electronically steerable beamforming and a controller that adapts data transmission diversity properties based on multipath environment data, allowing for efficient resource utilization and improved handover performance by optimizing data packet transmission and link allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mm-wave radio communication is used for fast-moving vehicles, then communication capacity and data rate are improved, but the system becomes more sensitive to environmental conditions and requires more frequent handovers
Solution Approach 1:
The access point transmits multipath environment data to the wireless modem before the vehicle actually enters the coverage area. This preliminary provision of environmental information allows the controller to pre-adapt diversity properties for data transmissions, preparing the system in advance for the upcoming mm-wave communication conditions and reducing the impact of environmental sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multipath environment data as feedback about the communication conditions to adapt the diversity properties of data transmissions. The controller receives environmental information from the access point and adjusts transmission parameters accordingly, creating a closed-loop adaptation mechanism that improves reliability despite the high capacity requirements of mm-wave communication.
2Productivity
If directional antennas with beamforming are used for mm-wave communication, then air interface resource utilization is improved, but the system complexity increases due to electronic steering and multipath adaptation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The access point provides multipath environment data in advance to the wireless modem, allowing the controller to pre-configure diversity properties for data transmissions. This preliminary action reduces the computational burden during actual communication by having adaptation decisions made beforehand based on environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adapts diversity properties as a controllable parameter based on multipath environment data. By changing this parameter (diversity properties) in response to environmental conditions, the system manages complexity through parameter adaptation rather than requiring complex real-time signal processing for every transmission condition.
3Adaptability or versatility
If handovers are performed frequently to support fast-moving vehicles, then mobility support is improved, but data interruption and connection complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The access point transmits multipath environment data to the wireless modem before handover is actually needed. This preliminary provision of environmental information allows the controller to maintain optimal diversity properties during handovers, reducing data interruption by preparing adaptation decisions in advance rather than reacting to handover events after they occur.
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 enhances communication reliability and capacity for fast-moving vehicles by adapting to environmental conditions, reducing data interruption and performance degradation, and optimizing air interface resource usage.
Implementation Method 1
each wireless access point having a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams
Implementation Method 2
mm wave radio communication links supporting a data session
Implementation Method 3
the plurality of wireless modems being located on the vehicle and employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas
Implementation Method 4
a first access point of the plurality of wireless access points is arranged to transmit multipath environment data for an area supported by the first access point
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system supports communication between an end node (101) of a vehicle (103) and a remote correspondent node (105) via a fixed network (107) which comprises a plurality of wireless access points (109) with a directional antenna arrangement for mm wave radio communication using directional beams. A vehicle (103) comprises wireless modems (111, 113, 701, 703) employing electronically steerable beamforming directional antennas for establishing mm wave radio communication links to the access points (109). At least one first access point (109) is arranged to transmit multipath environment data for an area supported by the access point to the wireless modems (111, 113, 701, 703). A controller (1101) of the vehicle is arranged to set a diversity property for transmissions of data from the wireless modems to the wireless access points in response to the multipath environment data.