Wireless Node Aiming Assistance Using Local Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The deployment and maintenance of wireless links using directional antenna beams are complex and often result in undesired wireless link characteristics due to lack of precise pre-deployment analysis and insufficient guidance for less sophisticated installers, leading to trial-and-error methods.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of wireless nodes equipped with local sensors and external information systems that provide proactive aiming assistance, guiding the orientation of wireless nodes in real-time to achieve desired wireless link characteristics through sensors for geographic location, azimuth, elevation, and height, and external data for optimal deployment configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If directional antenna beams are used to improve wireless link characteristics, then gain and link distance are improved, but deployment complexity and maintenance difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless node automatically performs aiming adjustments using local sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) to determine its orientation and calculate the optimal deployment configuration without requiring sophisticated installers to perform manual pre-deployment analysis or trial-and-error adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses local sensors to continuously monitor the wireless node's orientation and deployment configuration, providing real-time feedback that enables automatic calculation and adjustment of the optimal aiming direction for the directional antenna beam
2Reliability
If pre-deployment analysis is performed to determine optimal wireless node deployment configuration, then link characteristics are improved, but time and resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs pre-deployment analysis automatically and rapidly using local sensors to determine the optimal deployment configuration before the wireless node is fully deployed, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual calculations, map overlays, and site simulations that were previously required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical deployment procedures (physical measurement, manual orientation adjustment, trial-and-error positioning) with an automated electronic system using local sensors and computer processing to rapidly determine optimal deployment configuration
3Manufacturing precision
If sophisticated pre-deployment analysis tools are used, then deployment accuracy is improved, but device complexity and installer skill requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless node autonomously performs the functions previously requiring sophisticated external analysis tools, using its integrated local sensors to automatically determine deployment configuration without requiring installers to have specialized training or access to complex analysis systems
Solution Approach 2:
The local sensors and processing system are designed to be universally applicable across different wireless node types and deployment scenarios, providing sophisticated deployment analysis capabilities in a standardized, easy-to-use format that works for both sophisticated and less sophisticated installers
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods which provide local sensor and/or external information derived proactive aiming assistance with respect to wireless nodes for facilitating desired wireless links are shown. Embodiments provide an aiming assistance user interface providing guidance with respect to properly altering the orientation of a wireless node to provide a desired wireless link. To facilitate providing aiming assistance embodiments of wireless nodes are adapted to include a plurality of sensors operable to provide information useful in environmental analysis for determining proactive orientation guidance information. Wireless nodes adapted according to embodiments additionally or alternatively utilize information obtained externally useful in determining proactive orientation guidance information. Embodiments of the invention utilize the foregoing sensor information and externally sourced information to determine proactive orientation guidance information.