CA3141129A1 - Wireless communications system with scalable architecture - Google Patents
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- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
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- H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
- H01Q1/241—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM
- H01Q1/246—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for base stations
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- H01Q19/10—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using reflecting surfaces
- H01Q19/106—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using reflecting surfaces using two or more intersecting plane surfaces, e.g. corner reflector antennas
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- H01Q21/20—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path
- H01Q21/205—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path providing an omnidirectional coverage
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Abstract
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001]
This application claims priority to United States Patent Application Serial No.
16/415,905 filed May 17, 2019, titled "Wireless Communications System With Scalable Architecture," the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
BACKGROUND
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing an improved wireless communications system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a configurable wireless communications system with a modular processor that provides a scalable processing support for a variety of antenna and sensor elements within the configurable wireless communication system.
The present disclosure further relates to a modular and scalable processor circuit board for use in a telecommunications network, and particularly for use with a configurable communications module.
Wireless networking is becoming increasingly common, offering users the ability to move around from one site to another within a coverage area without having to operate from a wired port in a fixed location. A wireless access point (WAP), also known simply as "access point" (AP), is a networking hardware device on a wireless local area network (WLAN) that allows wireless-capable devices to connect to a wired network through a wireless standard, such as Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi is a wireless communication scheme conforming to the 802.11 standards of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
(IEEE). In the Wi-Fi scheme, two frequency bands are presently authorized by the Federal Communications Commission for wireless communication, namely the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz wireless radio bands. Each of these wireless radio bands offers different capability.
For example, the longer waves used by the 2.4 GHz band are better suited to longer ranges and improved transmission through walls, buildings, and other objects;
however, the 2.4 GHz band is more congested and slower in speed. The shorter waves used by the 5 GHz band results in reduced range and diminished ability to penetrate walls and objects, but the 5 GHz band is less congested and transmits at higher speeds.
Traditionally, a WAP is configured with one or more omnidirectional antennas, and the antennas transceivers on a channel within a frequency band. Devices on a channel must share the available bandwidth with all other devices on a channel. Allocation of finite bandwidth on a channel among numerous devices operating in the same geographic area is typically achieved with a multiplexing scheme such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing ("OFDM").
In a conventional wireless access point, for example, the omnidirectional antennas of the wireless access point may be configured to electrically communicate with a single electronic circuit board. As a result, an update to any one of the antennas may necessitate replacement of the entire electronic circuit board. Similarly, the subsequent addition of one or more antennas to the conventional wireless access point may require the addition of one or more entirely-new electronic circuit boards.
SUMMARY
and a central controller for processing information and distributing workload across the plurality of modules. Each module of the plurality of modules may be interchangeable, removable, and/or customizable.
shielding between the sections (such as the electronics section and the environmental component interface section). In various embodiments, the partition includes electrical headers to allow electrical interconnect between modules disposed within the electronics section and components disposed within the environmental interface section.
In alternate embodiments, a housing of the present disclosure is removable to access and maintain at least one of the plurality of antenna elements and the modular processor. Antenna elements may be placed in electrical communication with the central controller through a plurality of cables passing within the central support structure, or alternatively, may be connected through direct or indirect wiring.
Antenna elements of the present disclosure may be configured to operate in any desired frequency band or plurality of frequency bands; in one embodiment, the antenna elements in at least one of the layers operate within a 2.4GHz wireless radio band, or within a 5 GHz wireless radio band, or within a cellular telephony band such as an AMPS-related band, a 3G band a 4G-band, an LTE-band, a GSM-band or a 5G
cellular telephony band.
In various embodiments, antenna elements may be arranged in layers, and further, respective layers may be configured to be installed on or removed from the central support structure as a layer unit. Further, in some embodiments, each respective layer may be independently removed from or installed within the communications module without removing other layers within the communications module.
In some embodiments, within a layer, antenna elements may comprise a plurality of directional antenna elements oriented in respectively different directions, and in alternate implementations, may include a mix of directional and omnidirectional antenna elements.
To assist in removability, in one aspect, respective antenna layers may comprise a C-Shaped layout with a hinged closure.
In one aspect, a modular processor comprises a plurality of radio modules respectively electrically connected to the plurality of antenna elements, and may further be interchanged without replacing the entire modular processor. The communications module also may include an interface from the antenna elements to an external communications network, and a connection to the external communication network may be implemented via any desired protocols and connections such as one or more of a fiber-based connection, a wired connection, and optical connection a cellular backhaul connection or a microwave link. The communications module of the present invention may comprise a variety of communication devices, including one or more of a Bluetooth transceiver and an RFID transceiver. Further, the communications module may further comprise one or more of: a fixed camera, a remotely controllable camera, one or more laser transmitters; one or more laser receivers; one or more laser transceivers; an infrared module; a smoke detector; a carbon dioxide detector; a carbon monoxide detector; an ozone detector; a particulate detector; a microphone; a speaker; an optical communications module; a seismic sensor; a pollution sensing module; a gunshot detector; a lighting apparatus; a weather sensor; an avalanche detector; a tornado warning detector, a wind speed and direction sensor; a traffic sensor; a wireless charging transmitter/receiver/transceiver; a cellular repeater; a point-of-sale (POS) terminal; and a battery; further, any of these components may be installed anywhere on or within the communications module, such as within an accessory module mounted to a housing or a support structure of the communications module.
Further, in various embodiments, a plurality of antenna elements within a layer operate within a plurality of assigned frequency bands.
In a further embodiment, a communications module of the present invention is configured to operate within one of: an urban environment; a rural environment; a building; an airport; a farm; a factory; and a recreation area; and in some embodiments, may further include a solar panel interface that may further be in electrical communication with a battery.
In yet another embodiment, a communications module of the present invention may be configured to monitor any number of factors such as one or more of a soil composition; crop health; animal location; animal health; watering and/or irrigation moisture; oil well pressure; oil well flow; stadium human movement and traffic; human facial recognition; pollution emissions; vehicular traffic flow; a weather condition in proximity to the communications module; a safety-related condition; a crime event; a fire event; and combinations thereof. The communications module provide additional processing capabilities that are useful in a number of venues such as stadiums, performance arenas, and the like; for example, in various embodiments, the communications module is further configured to process one of: point-of-sale (POS) transactions; orders for a product or service to be delivered to a person's assigned seat;
instructions to guide a person to a designated location; a person's ticket indicia to grant access to a venue; data obtained from a scan of a QR code displayed by a person in proximity to the communications module; interactive advertising to a person in proximity to an interactive signage; reservation requests for use of a facility; data for use in augmented reality presented on a mobile device; and combinations thereof.
In one additional aspect, at least a portion of an exterior of the communications module may comprise a radome, and the radome may be configured to include an electrically thin dielectric layer, a half-wave thick layer, a foam-core laminate layer, a C-sandwich laminate layer, or a combination thereof. Established specific design considerations for selection of radome composition, structure, and geometries may be utilized by those of skill in the relevant arts, and examples are provided, for instance, in the article, "A Fundamental and Technical Review of Radomes" by Lance Griffiths, Ph.D., MPDigests.com, May 2008, available at http://www.onram pcomm .com/new/Ad Fi les/M FG%20Gal i leo_May08`)/020MP D.
pdf, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein for all purposes.
In one implementation, an embodiment of the present invention provides a system having a first communications module, the communications module comprising:
a modular processor comprising a central controller in electrical communication with a plurality of interchangeable modules; a first interchangeable module of the plurality of interchangeable modules configured as a first radio module in electrical communication with at least one of a plurality of antenna elements disposed within a plurality of layers, whereby the antenna elements within a layer of the plurality of layers are configured to operate within one assigned frequency band; and a second interchangeable module of the plurality of interchangeable modules configured as a network module to communicatively couple the central controller with an external network; and wherein the modular processor is configured to provide wireless data connectivity between the external network and a mobile device in wireless communication with at least one of a plurality of antenna elements. Modules such as the first radio module may be in electrical communication with a plurality of antenna elements disposed within one layer of the plurality of layers, or in communications with multiple antenna elements in the same or respectively different layers.
Further, in various embodiments, the plurality of interchangeable modules further comprises a second interchangeable module configured as a second radio module in electrical communication with a second antenna of the plurality of antenna elements disposed within the plurality of layers.
In various implementations, the modular processor further comprises an intermediary board / central controller comprising a bus, a bus connector for electrical and mechanical coupling to the plurality of interchangeable modules; and at least one of an intermediary board and a first module of the plurality of interchangeable modules further comprises: a central processing unit electrically coupled to the bus;
a memory electrically coupled to the processing unit; and a storage electrically coupled to the processing unit.
The plurality of interchangeable modules may perform distributed processing of tasks allocated by the modular processor, and in one aspect, the modular processor is configured to monitor security access in real time, and the modular processor may be configured to: receive a message from a remote server coupled to the network module; and transmit the message for push processing to an application running on a mobile devices wirelessly coupled to the modular processor. The RF controller may also perform functions such as may be performed by an RF environmental survey, wherein the modular processor is further configured to measure an RF parameter of an environment in proximity to the communications module and optimize allocations of frequencies to achieve a predetermined optimal communications threshold;
further, the RF parameter may be selected from a group consisting of: RF noise;
electromagnetic interference; frequencies detected from external transmitters; RF reflections;
available RF
bandwidth; wireless coverage; available data rates; network capacity; RF
roaming capability; Quality of Service (QoS); and combinations thereof. There are many possible implementations that may be supported by the system of the present invention, and in several embodiments, the modular processor is configured to provide a function selected from the group consisting of: detecting occurrence of a gunshot within a defined area;
receiving an order from a patron of an entertainment venue; providing an automated interface to an agricultural operation; automating an oil well operation; and combinations thereof. Additional functions performed by the modular processor include:
detecting high levels of traffic and optimizing transportation routes by coordinating traffic light sequences and diverting traffic according to conditions; detecting and monitoring chemical seepage, CO2 emissions, and gas levels; monitoring material conditions and vibrations in regard to structural health; controlling access to and monitoring restricted areas via artificial intelligence, CCTVs, and alarm systems; measuring a pressure, level, flow, and chemical content of water; monitoring soil moisture, vibrations, and earth density to detect dangerous patterns in land conditions; and automating building services such as heating, energy usage, lighting, and ventilation to optimize and reduce power consumption and combinations thereof. In additional embodiments to the foregoing, a modular processor of the present invention may perform functions including: optimizing flow of vehicles within a defined traffic monitoring area by: detecting a level of traffic within the defined area indicating an area of traffic congestion; determining an optimal route by analyzing nearby light traffic sequences in proximity to the area of traffic congestion;
providing instructions to coordinate traffic light sequences and divert vehicular traffic according to the determination; monitoring an environmental condition regarding a chemical substance, further including: detecting and monitoring chemical seepage level; detecting and monitoring CO2 a emissions level; and detecting and monitoring a gas level;
monitoring a condition regarding a material in regard to structural health of a mechanical structure, whereby the condition may include an indicia of metal fatigue, vibration, deformation, cracking, displacement, or combinations thereof; use of artificial intelligence algorithms in controlling access to and monitoring one of: restricted areas, closed-circuit television areas (CCTVs), and alarm systems; measuring, in regards to water, a pressure, a level, a flow rate, a chemical content, and combinations thereof; detecting a condition indicative of a detect dangerous pattern in a land condition, including the monitoring one or more of: a soil moisture content, a soil vibration rate, a soil displacement, a seismograph output, a soil stress indicia, and an earth density measurement; optimizing power consumption of a building by automating one or more of a building heating system, a building energy usage system, a building lighting system, and a building ventilation system;
operating a smart parking system within a metropolitan area; monitoring movement of animals with a tracking device within a defined area; and combinations thereof.
and a predicted change in mobile device users entering RF range of the communications module.
module.
Further, in various embodiments, "hot swapping" capability of modules is provided, whereby the interchangeable modules may be interchanged while the modular processor is electrically energized and in operational mode.
After detecting a change in interchangeable module configuration, the modular processor may take any desired action based upon the configuration change. For example, in various embodiments, the modular processor reconfigures a resource allocation based upon a change in configuration of interchangeable modules that were altered while the controller is in operation. However, additional embodiments also provide for situations where the modular processor reconfigures a resource allocation based upon a change in configuration of interchangeable modules that were altered while the controller was in one of a quiescent state or a powered-down state. Further, the modular controller may allocate a resource based upon at least one of: a request received from an application of a mobile device wirelessly coupled to the communications module; and a remote server coupled to the network module.
Interchangeable modules may be interconnected through any desired bus, protocol, or system; for example, in various embodiments, the interchangeable modules are electrically coupled to the controller through one or more of a PCI
Express (PC1e, PCI
PCI-e or PCI-X) connection, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) connection, an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) connection, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) connection, a Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) connection, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) connection, a Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association (PCMCIA or "PC" bus) connection, an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) connection, a Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) connection, a Versa Module European (VME) connection, a Firewire (IEEE
1394) connection, and a Lightning bus protocol.
For example, the system may further comprise: establishing a plurality of communications links to a mobile device through a first communications link associated with a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements and a second communications link associated with a second antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements;
and controlling, by the modular processor, an allocation of bandwidth between the first communications link and the second communications link. Additionally, embodiments of the present system may further include a second communication module with a second processor, cooperatively operating with the first communication module to manage handover to a mobile device within range of the first and second communication modules.
Handover may be managed in any desired manner, such as a break-before-make or make-before-break handover. In yet another aspect, a mobile device may be wirelessly coupled to a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements and further wirelessly coupled to a second antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements; and in one additional aspect, a handover of communications between the first antenna element and the second antenna element occurs in reaction to detecting, by the modular processor, that the mobile device is entering a serviced frequency band of the second antenna element.
for example, assigned frequency bands may be selected from a group consisting of a Wi-Fi band, a 2.4 GHz band; a 3.5 GHz band, a 5 GHz band; a controlled-power custom radio band, and an AMPS, GSM, 3G, 4G, 5G or LTE cellular telephony band.
power-on-self-test information; diagnostic information; instructions regarding antenna pointing to achieve a desired RF performance; and identification and configuration information. The installation terminal may be a dedicated hardware device communicatively coupled to the communications module, a mobile device in proximity to the communications module, or a remote server in communication with the communications module.
and the modular processor may be further configured to receive resource allocation information from the remote server. Through allocation information, communications modules communicatively coupled through the present invention may interoperate to share and manage communications resources such as bandwidth allocation, resource allocation, co-processing, range extension, and other services.
Alternatively, a fourth module of the plurality of modules coupled to the modular processor may be configured to monitor data accessed by the communications module; collect information determined relevant to a data mining schema; and transmit the collected information to the remote server.
animal location; animal health; watering and/or irrigation moisture; oil well pressure; oil well flow; stadium human movement and traffic; security conditions using human facial recognition; pollution emissions; vehicular traffic flow; a weather condition in proximity to the communications module; a safety-related condition; financial transaction processing;
a street lighting condition; smart parking meter operations; a crime event; a fire event;
and combinations thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
More particularly, embodiments of the present invention empower government entities and enterprise organizations to customize a communications module to address particular challenges in the wireless communications space, to modify the modules as requirements change, and to maintain and improve the modules as needed. Through provision of plug-and-play functionality in the software and hardware sides of the platform, customization can be performed months, weeks, or days after purchase. Prior art systems, on the other hand, are usually a one-size-fits-all solution that are difficult, if not impossible, to retrofit after purchase. For one particular example, if a stadium decides that intrusion prevention needs to be enhanced, using embodiments of the present inventions they can add a module to provide the desired functionality, or even swap out modules of lesser importance.
animal tracking can be utilized to determine health, location, and identification of animals grazing in open pastures or their location in an extensive stable facility; monitoring and control of systems for offspring care to help control or monitor growing conditions of the offspring, among others. Embodiments of the present invention may be equipped with modules specific to the application, such as a plurality of water quality modules and pollution detection modules, and may forego unneeded elements such as a Wi-Fi or LTE
module.
Should wireless connectivity be required, such elements may be added to the communications module at any desired time.
Accordingly, channel congestion will increase, thereby decreasing communications performance for all devices in an area. However, wireless communications performance may be improved when transceivers within a geographic area operate on non-overlapping channels. Performance may be further improved when transceivers operate on different channels from other transceivers within the same geographic area. As consumers increase mobility and demand greater flexibility, the configurable wireless access point described in the present disclosure offers varied options for Wi-Fi connectivity and allows for continued improvement in wireless technology.
Likewise, the later addition of one or more antennas to the wireless access point may require the addition of new, corresponding electronic circuit boards. These configurations not only impose physical burdens on the system (i.e., physical space, additional bus structures, wiring, etc.), but also reduce the ease and flexibility desired in a field that is constantly advancing. The modular circuit board described in the present disclosure allows for the configuration of a plurality of independent circuit modules, each of which is independently configurable and interchangeable, thereby minimizing impact to the system as a whole.
In an implementation, support structure 130 may comprise a metal support, such as a square pole, round pole, or other similar structure to which the one or more antenna 112, 114, 116 may be affixed. Preferred embodiments shown in Figures 1, 2, 7, 12, 15, 16, and 18 include two layers having 4 antenna elements each respectively disposed in four 90¨
degree quadrants, and in one embodiment, a lower layer operates within a 5 GHz band and an upper layer of antenna elements operates in a 2.4 GHz band. In various embodiments, a radio module (Figures 5 and 6, 230) may be connected to and operate one or two antenna elements. Although four antenna elements have been illustrated per layer, those of skill in the relevant arts understand that fewer or more directional antenna elements may be utilized per layer, such as 1 element, 2 elements, 6 elements, elements, or any other desired number.
The one or more antenna 122, 124, 126 of the second antenna layer 120 may also be supported by support structure 130.
Likewise, the second antenna layer 120 may also be sectored, with each of the one or more antenna 122, 124, 126 assigned to a different sector 123, 125, and 127.
Sectorization of antennas at an antenna layer widens the coverage area of the network and therefore increases the number of clients that may be served by the wireless access point 100.
For example, channels 1, 6, and 11 may be non-overlapping channels deemed as having minimal interference. Thus, adjacent sectors in a given antenna layer may operate at a different one of channels 1, 6, or 11. By employing sectored, directional antennas, the wireless access point 100 not only increases its capacity, but also increases its directional distance/range.
This configuration ensures overlap in coverage between adjacent sectors, thereby avoiding gaps in the network. As a result, the Wi-Fi signal of a device of a user traveling between ranges of adjacent sectors may be handed off to the next antenna and thereby minimize signal drop-off.
Likewise while the sector shown in Figures 3A and 3B is designated sector 113 (corresponding to associated antenna 112), it may be any one of the sectors 113, 115, 117, 123, 125, 127 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Importantly, only one antenna may be assigned to each sector. Sector 113 may physically be coupled to support structure 130 via sector mount 150. Sector mount 150 may be removably attached to support structure 130 via screws, bolts, or any other connection means known in the art.
Modular circuit board 200 may be mounted on ground plate 140 and may comprise a plurality of modules 220 (collectively numbered 220 in Figure 4), each module operable as an independent and separate circuit board. In an implementation, each of the one or more modules of the plurality of modules 220 may be assigned to electrically communicate with a separate one of the one or more antennas 112, 114, 116, 122, 124, 126 of the first and second antenna layers 110, 120. In yet another implementation, certain modules of the plurality of modules 220 may be directed to other functionalities that advance the operation of the wireless access point 100. The modular circuit board 200 may further comprise an intermediary board (or central controller) 210 operable to facilitate communication between the plurality of modules 220 and with a network 205, and in various embodiments, a network module provides connectivity between the network 205 and intermediary board / central controller 210. Modular circuit board / modular processor 200 may also comprise one or more connection points for connection to Ethernet, fiber, power, and other such cable connections. Modules 220 may be interconnected to the intermediary board 210 through any desired bus protocol such as, but not limited to, ISA
- Industry Standard Architecture, EISA - Extended Industry Standard Architecture, MCA
- Micro Channel Architecture, VESA - Video Electronics Standards Association, PCI -Peripheral Component Interconnect - PCI, PCI Express (PC le, PCI-e or PCI-X), PCMCIA
- Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association (also called "PC"
bus), AGP -Accelerated Graphics Port, SCSI - Small Computer Systems Interface, Versa Module European ¨ VME, IEEE 1394 Firewire, Lightning bus protocol, and in a preferred embodiment, comprises a PCI-e bus connection protocol.
In an implementation, each radio module of the one or more radio modules 230 may be electrically coupled to a separate one of the one or more antenna 112, 114, 116 of the first antenna layer 110 and/or a separate one of the one or more antenna 122, 124, 126 of the second antenna layer 120 of the wireless access point 100. In another implementation, and as shown in Figure 6, a single radio module 230 may be electrically coupled to two or more antennas in one or more antenna layers. Based on a given number of users and the capacity of the wireless access point, any configuration of radio module 230 to antenna(s) may be accommodated according to the present disclosure.
Radio module 230 may offer Wi-Fi 1-6 (formerly, A/B/G/N/AC/AX) coverage and may support a combination of wireless radio bands, including 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, WPA/WPA2/WPA3 encryption, and mesh capabilities. Radio module 230 may comprise, for example, a central processing unit 232, memory 234, storage 236, radio 238, and input/output node 239.
and IPS
may parse and interpret network data and host activities. Such data may range from network packet analysis to the contents of log files from routers, firewalls, servers, local system logs, access calls, and network flow data. Security module 250 may comprise, for example, a central processing unit 252, memory 254, storage 256, and input/output nodes 258. Two input/output nodes 258 may be used, operating as a passthrough so that one input/output node allows data traffic in and one input/output node allows data traffic out.
This may allow for a more comprehensive analysis of data traffic and identification of vulnerabilities in the system. In other implementations, a single input/output node may also be employed.
A cable mount system 400 may comprise a cable 410, a mount 420, a cable covering 430, and a coupler 440. Cable 410 may comprise Ethernet, fiber, power, or other such cable that may be connected to the electronic circuit board 160 of the wireless access point I 00. A
cable 410 may mount to a cable hole 342, 344, 346, or 348 on housing 300 via cable mount 420, which may be threaded into a cable hole 342, 344, 346, 348. Coupler 440 of the cable mount system may be inserted through a cable hole 342, 344, 346, 348 and into housing 300, where it may be connected to components of the electronic circuit board 160 (of Figure 1). Cable covering 430 may be disposed over mount 420 and may serve as an impermeable seal to ensure protection of the interior of the housing (including the wireless access point 100) from liquid, particles, or other matter. As shown in Figure 8, four cables may be mounted to the four cable holes 342, 344, 346, 348 via mounts.
Although four cable holes are shown in Figure 8, the present disclosure is not limited to any particular number of cable holes or corresponding cable mount systems. The mounted cables may be gathered into a single bundle and fed through conduit 360 for connection to a power/control system within support column 510 (Figure 10).
Incorporating by reference the foregoing paragraphs of the disclosure, the method may further comprise any or all of the steps described above with the respect to the wireless access point 100.
The bottom member 610, as also shown in Figures 12, 16, 17, 18, and 19, is configured to at least partially cover antenna elements disposed within the communications module 700, and as such, may act as a radome to provide mechanical and environmental protection for such antenna elements. Further, the bottom member 610 may comprise any suitable dielectric-controlled material such as KYDEX to reduce attenuation of RF
signals transmitted from or received by such antenna elements. Radome material may be integrated into the bottom member 610 through molding, stretching a flexible sheet above a frame, or any other desired approach, and may be designed as an electrically thin dielectric layer, a half-wave thick radome, a foam-core laminate, a C-Sandwich laminate, or any other configuration designed to minimize attenuation and optimize performance of the installed antennae elements. Housing fastener 641 secures the housing 600 through collar 640 to an external fixture, which may include but is not limited to a light pole, a conduit, a factory equipment interface, a network controller, a fixture on a farm equipment, a building fixture interface, a buoy interface, a ship or aircraft interface, a vehicle interface, and the like. Fastener 641 may comprise any desired type of fastener such as a set screw, a bolt, a machine screw, a rivet, or a pin for engaging in a bayonet-type interface, wherein the collar is on the inside of a larger fixture collar with keyed slots therein). Likewise, fastener 626 may comprise any desired type of fastener such as a set screw, a bolt, a machine screw, a rivet, or a pin for engaging in a bayonet-type interface.
In one embodiment, not illustrated, the fasteners 626 engage within keyhole-type openings within the flange support member 626 so that the bottom member 610 may be rotated with respect to the top member 620, aligning clearing openings in the flange support member 627 with fasteners 626, and as such, the bottom member 610 may be removed by moving the bottom member 610 away from the top member 620 after rotation.
When the housing 600 is installed in its intended application, the collar 640 may be disposed substantially inside of an external fixture, or may surround and enclose part of the external fixture. As used herein, the terms "wireless access point" or "wireless access point assembly" may alternatively refer to particular variants of the communications module 700 as described and illustrated herein.
In various embodiments, a horizontal partition 740 divides the housing 600 into an electronics section 710 and an environmental component interface section 712, and may provide mechanical support for electronics components situated within the electronics section 710 of the housing 600. A flange support member 627 is shown as mechanically coupled to the bottom member 610. In various embodiments, the partition 740 may comprise a ground plane providing electrical and RF shielding between the electronics section 710 and the environmental component interface section 712. Although illustrated with the electronics section 700 disposed in a top portion of the module 700 and the environmental component interface 712 disposed in a bottom portion of the module 700, those of skill in the art appreciate alternative arrangements of the electronics section 710 and the environmental component interface 712 are possible, including, if desired, co-locating electronics components with various components of the environmental component interface section 712.
5. A number of components and configurations are illustrated in regards to element 210 in Figure 5, and is further shown with one or more removable module(s) 820 installed in a bus interface placing the one or more module(s) 820 in electrical communication with the central controller 810, one or more bus interface connectors such as PCI-E
connectors 821, shielding/supports 831, power connector 862, and power supply/regulator 835. One or more modules 820, 820A may vary in size, and the shielding/supports 831 may accommodate various sizes of modules such as the longer module 820A in comparison to shorter modules 820; further, the shielding/supports 831 may provide mechanical support for the modules 820, 820A and offer registration slots or pins to ensure proper insertion of modules 820, 820A into connectors 821. In Figure 13, the top member 620 is shown as transparent, and may be implemented with a transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque material depending on the intended use of the communications module 700. A transparent rendering of the collar 640 and flange 625 are included in one exemplary arrangement as shown in Figure 13.
Similar to the embodiments described in regards to Figures 1, 2, 3A, and 3B, antenna elements 812, 814, 822, and 824 are respectively installed in shielded sectors 813, 815, 823, and 824, and respectively attached to central support structure 830 through mounting structures 850. Further, antenna elements antenna elements 812, 814, 822, and 824 are shown electrically coupled to coax bulkhead headers 855 that allow signals to pass through the partition 740 to allow electrical coupling to the central controller 810 and/or modules 820. In one embodiment, wiring from the antenna elements 812, 814, 822, and 824 may comprise coaxial cabling electrically coupling the antenna elements to the coax bulkhead headers 855. Correspondingly, (and as shown in Figure 14) on an opposite side of the partition 740, the coax bulkhead headers 855 are electrically coupled to coaxial cables providing respective electrical connections between the coax bulkhead headers 855 and respective modules 820 and/or the central controller 810.
a microphone; a speaker; a laser transmitter / receiver / transceiver; an optical communications module; a seismic sensor; a pollution sensing module; a gunshot detector; a lighting apparatus; a weather sensor; an avalanche detector; a tornado warning detector, a wind speed and direction sensor; a traffic sensor; a wireless charging transmitter/receiver/transceiver. Although the aforementioned devices are described as being included within the accessory module 900, those of skill in the relevant arts understand that such components may be disposed anywhere within the communications module 900. Cameras disposed within the accessory module 910 may be of the still frame capture variety or may be video cameras or may provide either function as desired. Such cameras may be equipped, for example, to scan QR codes presented in proximity to the communications module, track and remotely transmit images or video data regarding a condition in proximity to the communication module, or to obtain image data to support human facial recognition or crowd flow information. In instances where cameras are situated within the accessory module 910, the outer housing of the accessory module 910 may be transparent, or at least partially transparent, and may be tinted as illustrated to at least partially conceal cameras located within accessory module. Components within the accessory module may be in electrical communication with the central controller 810, such as through a wired connection that extends between the components and the controller 810 through an interior space of the support structure 830, or around an outside surface of the support structure 830.
In one embodiment, when accessory module 910 is attached to bottom member 610, the bottom member 610 and accessory module 910 may be removed from the communications module system 900 as a unit. In an alternative embodiment, communications module 910 is a fixed to the central support 830 through the support extension 830B, 830B and is configured to allow the bottom member 610 to be removed over the accessory module 910 while the accessory module 910 still remains attached to the support structure 830. In such a circumstance, a gasket may be disposed within the bottom member 610 to provide for environmental sealing between the bottom member 610 and accessory module 910 and is configured to allow the bottom member 610 to be slidably removed over the accessory module 910.
performance of the respective antenna layers. Although antenna layers 875, 876, 875A, and 876A are shown with fixed directional antenna elements, in alternative embodiments, each layer may be locally or remotely tunable by adjusting orientation of the antenna elements and/or through electronic beam¨forming approaches, or a combination of both approaches. In addition, although antenna layers 875, 876, 875A, and 876A are shown installed and in proximity to one another, in one embodiment, as depicted further in regard to Figure 20, the layers may be individually removable, improving maintainability and upgradability by reducing the need to completely disassemble the communications module 1000. In one aspect, individual antenna elements may also be individually interchangeable through a socketed connection within the layer; in this embodiment and others, an antenna layer may comprise a diversity of antenna elements operating in different frequency bands as desired to support the intended operational environment of the communications module. In certain embodiments a cylindrical housing extension (not shown) with an interior diameter approximating that of the top member 620 and bottom member 610 may be inserted between the top member 620 and the bottom member to provide environmental protection for the extended antenna array layers shown in the environmental component interface section 712. Further, in various embodiments, the extension may be an integral part of the top member 620 or the bottom member depending on details of the particular implementation.
In various embodiments, communications module 1000 may operate cellular small cell antennas, radio units, and baseband interfaces to support local small cell implementations through the communications module 1000. One or more antennae may be integrated within the top member 620 or bottom member 610 of the communications module 1000, such as millimeter-wave patch antenna, an array of dual-polarized antenna elements, a phased array antenna, and the like. In one alternative embodiment, the members 610 and/or 620 may be rotated on the unit about the central support structure 830 to tune or point integrated antennae in a desired direction to achieve optimal RF
performance; in one case, in an implementation of a massive MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) array, an included cellular base station comprising of a plurality of antennas may be optimized for bandwidth performance by rotating elements of the top member 620 or bottom member 610 with respect to the installed environment.
The bottom member 610 or top member 620 may comprise an additional antenna elements (such as 610B 620A) mounted within, inside, outside of the housing.
In certain embodiments, mounting one or more antenna elements within or outside the radome may result in improved RF performance, particularly in millimeter-wave applications such as 5G telephony. Antenna elements 610B, 620A may be electrically coupled to the central controller 810 to allow transmission of signals and/or power to the antenna elements 610B, 620A.
Figures 20 through 24C depict various embodiments for interchangeable antenna layers.
Figure 20 shows a side view of an antenna layer 875, and its corresponding top profile view depicted as an approximate circle in Figure 21 with a cross-sectional view of the support structure 830 situated within the antenna layer 875. In one embodiment, antenna layer 875 may be slid onto the support structure 830 as a single unit, and affixed thereto using any desired fastening technique.
In alternative embodiments, it may be desirable to install an entire antenna layer without needing to remove adjacent antenna layers from the support structure 830. In such an instance, antenna layers may be configured to have openable portion to allow installation and removal from the central support structure 830. Although in figures 20 through 24, and in other figures described above, the central support structure is approximately square in cross-section, any desired shape may be utilized to achieve any desired purpose, and circular, elliptical, triangular, polygonal, or any desired cross-section may be utilized for the support structure 830, and different cross-sections may be utilized in concert with different antenna layers to support dimensional changes antenna elements.
In certain embodiments, the network 2530 may further include the Internet or any other data interchange network. Additionally, in certain embodiments communications modules 2510, 2520 may be communicatively coupled 2515, such as through a wireless link, so that (a) data may be shared between the devices, (b) local networks (peer to peer or client server-based may be created; (c) resource allocation can be managed directly between communications modules 2510, 2520; and for any other desired purpose.
Further, the remote server 2550 may be configured to provide many functions, such as software provisioning and updates, operational system monitoring, interfaces to external networks such as the Internet, system modeling and control, data processing, prediction and local event monitoring, system development, revenue generation and tracking, and any other purpose. Although one server 2550 is illustrated, a plurality of servers may be utilized in concert with the illustrated embodiment.
manually driven or autonomous vehicles 2550; and smart parking meter management systems, stadium provision systems, municipal management systems, weather tracking, and various other applications (not shown).
1. A system comprising:
a first communications module, the communications module comprising:
a modular processor comprising a central controller in electrical communication with a plurality of interchangeable modules;
a first interchangeable module of the plurality of interchangeable modules configured as a first radio module in electrical communication with at least one of a plurality of antenna elements disposed within a plurality of layers, whereby the antenna elements within a layer of the plurality of layers are configured to operate within one assigned frequency band; and a second interchangeable module of the plurality of interchangeable modules configured as a network module to communicatively couple the central controller with an external network; and wherein the modular processor is configured to provide wireless data connectivity between the external network and a mobile device in wireless communication with at least one of a plurality of antenna elements.
2. The system of Claim 1, wherein the first radio module is in electrical communication with a plurality of antenna elements disposed within one layer of the plurality of layers.
3. The system of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of interchangeable modules further comprises a second interchangeable module configured as a second radio module in electrical communication with a second antenna of the plurality of antenna elements disposed within the plurality of layers.
4. The system of Claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein the first radio module is in electrical communication with a first antenna element disposed within a first layer of the plurality of layers, and a second antenna element disposed within a second layer of the plurality of layers.
5. The system of Claim 1 or 2, further comprising a second radio module, wherein the first radio module is in electrical communication with a first antenna element disposed within a first layer of the plurality of layers, and the second radio module is in electrical communication with a second antenna element disposed within a second layer of the plurality of layers.
6. The system of Claim 1, wherein: the modular processor further comprises an intermediary board comprising a bus, a bus connector for electrical and mechanical coupling to the plurality of interchangeable modules; and at least one of an intermediary board and a first module of the plurality of interchangeable modules further comprises:
a central processing unit electrically coupled to the bus;
a memory electrically coupled to the processing unit; and a storage electrically coupled to the processing unit.
7. The system of Claim 1 or 6, wherein the plurality of interchangeable modules perform distributed processing of tasks allocated by the modular processor.
8. The system of Claim 1 or 6 or 7, wherein the modular processor is configured to monitor security access in real time.
9. The system of Claim 1 or 6 or 7 or 8, wherein the modular processor is configured to:
receive a message from a remote server coupled to the network module; and transmit the message for push processing to an application running on a mobile devices wirelessly coupled to the modular processor.
10. The system of Claim 1 or 6, wherein the modular processor is further configured to measure an RF parameter of an environment in proximity to the communications module and optimize allocations of frequencies to achieve a predetermined optimal communications threshold.
11. The system of Claim 1 or 6 or 10, wherein the RF parameter is selected from a group consisting of: RF noise; electromagnetic interference; frequencies detected from external transmitters; RF reflections; available RF bandwidth; wireless coverage;
available data rates; network capacity; RF roaming capability; Quality of Service (QoS);
and combinations thereof.
12. The system of Claim 1 or 6, wherein the modular processor is configured to provide a function selected from the group consisting of:
detecting occurrence of a gunshot within a defined area;
receiving an order from a patron of an entertainment venue;
providing an automated interface to an agricultural operation;
automating an oil well operation;
optimizing flow of vehicles within a defined traffic monitoring area by:
detecting a level of traffic within the defined area indicating an area of traffic congestion;
determining an optimal route by analyzing nearby light traffic sequences in proximity to the area of traffic congestion;
providing instructions to coordinate traffic light sequences and divert vehicular traffic according to the determination;
monitoring an environmental condition regarding a chemical substance, further including:
detecting and monitoring chemical seepage level;
detecting and monitoring CO2 a emissions level; and detecting and monitoring a gas level;
monitoring a condition regarding a material in regard to structural health of a mechanical structure, whereby the condition may include an indicia of metal fatigue, vibration, deformation, cracking, displacement, or combinations thereof;
use of artificial intelligence algorithms in controlling access to and monitoring one of: restricted areas, closed-circuit television areas (CCTVs), and alarm systems;
measuring, in regards to water, a pressure, a level, a flow rate, a chemical content, and combinations thereof;
detecting a condition indicative of a detect dangerous pattern in a land condition, including the monitoring one or more of: a soil moisture content, a soil vibration rate, a soil displacement, a seismograph output, a soil stress indicia, and an earth density measurement;
optimizing power consumption of a building by automating one or more of a building heating system, a building energy usage system, a building lighting system, and a building ventilation system;
operating a smart parking system within a metropolitan area;
monitoring movement of animals with a tracking device within a defined area;
and combinations thereof.
13. The system of Claim 1 or 6, wherein the modular processor is configured to monitor bandwidth allocations based on a use parameter criterion;
predict an improved allocation scheme based on the monitored allocations; and re-allocate bandwidth between one or more antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements.
14. The system of Claim 1 or 6 or 13, wherein the use parameter criterion is selected from the group consisting of data use by time of day, data use by frequency, mobile device handover conflict; data use as a function of available bandwidth; power consumption by the communications module; event scheduling; and a predicted change in mobile device users entering RF range of the communications module.
15. The system of Claim 1, wherein the modular processor comprises an interface for electrical communication with an interchangeable module selected from the group consisting of a radio module, a small cell module, a security module, a data analytics module, a point-to-point/multipoint module, a storage module, a power management module, a solar power module, a heat management module, a camera interface module, an environmental sensor interface module, an RFID tracking module, an environmental lighting module, and a VPN module.
16. The system of Claim 1 or 2 or 6, wherein the interchangeable modules may be interchanged while the modular processor is electrically energized and in operational mode.
17. The system of Claim 1 or 2 or 6, wherein the modular processor reconfigures a resource allocation based upon a change in configuration of interchangeable modules that were altered while the controller is in operation.
18. The system of Claim 1 or 2 or 6, wherein the modular processor reconfigures a resource allocation based upon a change in configuration of interchangeable modules that were altered while the controller was in one of a quiescent state or a powered-down state.
19. The system of Claim 1 or 6 or 17 or 18, wherein the modular controller allocates a resource based upon at least one of:
a request received from an application of a mobile device wirelessly coupled to the communications module; and a remote server coupled to the network module.
20. The system of Claim 1, wherein the interchangeable modules are electrically coupled to the controller through one or more of a PCI Express (PC1e, PCI PCI-e or PCI-X) connection, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) connection, an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) connection, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) connection, a Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) connection, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) connection, a Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association (PCMCIA or "PC" bus) connection, an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) connection, a Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) connection, a Versa Module European (VME) connection, a Firewire (IEEE 1394) connection, and a Lightning bus protocol.
21. The system of Claim 1 or 6, further comprising:
establishing a plurality of communications links to a mobile device through a first communications link associated with a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements and a second communications link associated with a second antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements; and controlling, by the modular processor, an allocation of bandwidth between the first communications link and the second communications link.
22. The system of Claim 1 or 6, further including a second communication module with a second processor, cooperatively operating with the first communication module to manage handover to a mobile device within range of the first and second communication modules.
23. The system of Claim 1 or 6 or 22, wherein the handover is one of a break-before-make or make-before-break handover.
24. The system of Claim 1 or 6, wherein a mobile device wirelessly coupled to a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is further wirelessly coupled to a second antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements.
25. The system of Claim 1 or 6 or 22 or 24 wherein a handover of communications between the first antenna element and the second antenna element occurs in reaction to detecting, by the modular processor, that the mobile device is entering a serviced frequency band of the second antenna element.
26. The system of Claim 1, further comprising a small cellular network antenna in electrical communications with a cellular radio module electrically coupled to the modular processor.
27. The system of Claim 1, wherein the modular processor is configured to provide data connectivity with a plurality of mobile devices wirelessly coupled to the communications module, and wherein the plurality of mobile devices operate within respectively different frequency bands.
28. The system of Claim 1 or 27, wherein the modular processor is further configured to allocate a bandwidth criterion between at least two of the frequency bands.
29. The system of Claim 1 or 27, wherein the modular processor is further configured to alter a transmitted power from one or more radio modules of the plurality of radio modules.
30. The system of Claim 1, wherein the assigned frequency band is selected from a group consisting of a Wi-Fi band, a 2.4 GHz band; a 3.5 GHz band, a 5 GHz band; a controlled-power custom radio band, and an AMPS, GSM, 3G, 4G, 5G or LTE
cellular telephony band.
31. The system of Claim 1, wherein:
the first communications module is further coupled to an installation terminal; and the first communications module provides, through an interface within the installation terminal, one of: status information; antenna tuning information;
power-on-self-test information; diagnostic information; instructions regarding antenna pointing to achieve a desired RF performance; and identification and configuration information.
32. The system of Claim 1, wherein the modular processor is configured to monitor data transmissions between a mobile device wirelessly connected to the communications module and augment a marketing processing database with information related to the mobile device.
33. The system of Claim 1, wherein the first radio module further comprises a software defined radio, and is further configured to service a predetermined frequency band and modulation.
34. The system of Claim 1 or 22, wherein the communications module is wirelessly coupled to a second communications module, and the modular processor is configured to:
determine a resource allocation between the communications modules;
transmit configuration data to the second communication module; and reconfigure a bandwidth allocation according to the determination.
35. The system of Claim 1 or 22, wherein:
the communications module is communicatively coupled to a remote server through the network; and the modular processor is further configured to receive resource allocation information from the remote server.
36. The system of Claim 1, wherein a fourth module of the plurality of modules coupled to the modular processor is configured to provide an intrusion detection function.
37. The system of Claim 36, wherein the fourth module is configured with an input node and an output node, and wherein the fourth module may be further configured to provide a pass-through function so that one of the input node and output node allows data traffic to be input and the other node of the input and output nodes allows data traffic to be output.
38. The system of Claim 1, wherein a fourth module of the plurality of modules coupled to the modular processor is configured to provide an intrusion protection function.
39. The system of Claim 1, wherein a fourth module of the plurality of modules coupled to the modular processor is configured to provide an encrypted Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection to a mobile device in wireless communication with the modular processor.
40. The system of Claim 1, wherein a fourth module of the plurality of modules coupled to the modular processor is configured to:
monitor data accessed by the communications module;
collect information determined relevant to a data mining schema; and transmit the collected information to the remote server.
41. The system of Claim 1 or 6 or 22, wherein the modular processor is configured with a plurality of interchangeable modules to monitor one or more of a soil composition;
crop health; animal location; animal health; watering and/or irrigation moisture; oil well pressure; oil well flow; stadium human movement and traffic; security conditions using human facial recognition; pollution emissions; vehicular traffic flow; a weather condition in proximity to the communications module; a safety-related condition;
financial transaction processing; a street lighting condition; smart parking meter operations; a crime event; a fire event; and combinations thereof.
42. The system of Claim 1 or 22, wherein a module of the plurality of interchangeable modules is configured to operate in one or more mobile walkie-talkie radio bands, police radio bands, citizen radio bands, emergency radio bands, aircraft communication bands, and combinations thereof.
43. The system of Claim 1 or 22 or 42, wherein the communications module is further configured to provide a walkie-talkie repeater function.
44. The system of Claim 1 or 22 or 42, wherein the communications module is further configured to provide a walkie-talkie emulator function, whereby a press to talk function is provided to applications executed by mobile devices that are communicatively coupled to the communications module.
and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly indicates otherwise.
Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. Many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system.
Claims (45)
a first communications module, the communications module comprising:
a modular processor comprising a central controller in electrical communication with a plurality of interchangeable modules;
a first interchangeable module of the plurality of interchangeable modules configured as a first radio module in electrical communication with at least one of a plurality of antenna elements disposed within a plurality of layers, whereby the antenna elements within a layer of the plurality of layers are configured to operate within one assigned frequency band; and a second interchangeable module of the plurality of interchangeable modules configured as a network module to communicatively couple the central controller with an external network; and wherein the modular processor is configured to provide wireless data connectivity between the external network and a mobile device in wireless communication with at least one of a plurality of antenna elements.
a central processing unit electrically coupled to the bus;
a memory electrically coupled to the processing unit; and a storage electrically coupled to the processing unit.
receive a message from a remote server coupled to the network module; and transmit the message for push processing to an application running on a mobile devices wirelessly coupled to the modular processor.
available data rates; network capacity; RF roaming capability; Quality of Service (QoS); and combinations thereof.
detecting occurrence of a gunshot within a defined area;
receiving an order from a patron of an entertainment venue;
providing an automated interface to an agricultural operation;
automating an oil well operation;
optimizing flow of vehicles within a defined traffic monitoring area by:
detecting a level of traffic within the defined area indicating an area of traffic congestion;
determining an optimal route by analyzing nearby light traffic sequences in proximity to the area of traffic congestion;
providing instructions to coordinate traffic light sequences and divert vehicular traffic according to the determination;
monitoring an environmental condition regarding a chemical substance, further including:
detecting and monitoring chemical seepage level;
detecting and monitoring CO2 a emissions level; and detecting and monitoring a gas level;
monitoring a condition regarding a material in regard to structural health of a mechanical structure, whereby the condition may include an indicia of metal fatigue, vibration, deformation, cracking, displacement, or combinations thereof;
use of artificial intelligence algorithms in controlling access to and monitoring one of: restricted areas, closed-circuit television areas (CCTVs), and alarm systems;
measuring, in regards to water, a pressure, a level, a flow rate, a chemical content, and combinations thereof;
detecting a condition indicative of a detect dangerous pattern in a land condition, including the monitoring one or more of: a soil moisture content, a soil vibration rate, a soil displacement, a seismograph output, a soil stress indicia, and an earth density measurement;
optimizing power consumption of a building by automating one or more of a a building heating system, a building energy usage system, a building lighting system, and a building ventilation system;
operating a smart parking system within a metropolitan area;
monitoring movement of animals with a tracking device within a defined area;
and combinations thereof.
predict an improved allocation scheme based on the monitored allocations; and re-allocate bandwidth between one or more antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements.
a request received from an application of a mobile device wirelessly coupled to the communications module; and a remote server coupled to the network module.
establishing a plurality of communications links to a mobile device through a first communications link associated with a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements and a second communications link associated with a second antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements; and controlling, by the modular processor, an allocation of bandwidth between the first communications link and the second communications link.
cellular telephony band.
the first communications module is further coupled to an installation terminal; and the first communications module provides, through an interface within the installation terminal, one of: status information; antenna tuning information;
power-on-self-test information; diagnostic information; instructions regarding antenna pointing to achieve a desired RF performance; and identification and configuration information.
determine a resource allocation between the communications modules;
transmit configuration data to the second communication module; and reconfigure a bandwidth allocation according to the determination.
the communications module is communicatively coupled to a remote server through the network; and the modular processor is further configured to receive resource allocation information from the remote server.
monitor data accessed by the communications module;
collect information determined relevant to a data mining schema; and transmit the collected information to the remote server.
animal location; animal health; watering and/or irrigation moisture; oil well pressure; oil well flow; stadium human movement and traffic; security conditions using human facial recognition; pollution emissions; vehicular traffic flow; a weather condition in proximity to the communications module; a safety-related condition; financial transaction processing;
a street lighting condition; smart parking meter operations; a crime event; a fire event;
and combinations thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US16/415,905 US11239570B2 (en) | 2018-10-16 | 2019-05-17 | Wireless communications system with scalable architecture |
US16/415,905 | 2019-05-17 | ||
PCT/US2020/033237 WO2020236637A1 (en) | 2019-05-17 | 2020-05-15 | Wireless communications system with scalable architecture |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA3141129A1 true CA3141129A1 (en) | 2020-11-26 |
Family
ID=73458877
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA3141129A Pending CA3141129A1 (en) | 2019-05-17 | 2020-05-15 | Wireless communications system with scalable architecture |
Country Status (2)
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CA (1) | CA3141129A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2020236637A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11639649B2 (en) * | 2020-02-10 | 2023-05-02 | Charles E. Wilson, III | Systems and methods for data analysis and asset management |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7778230B2 (en) * | 2005-08-02 | 2010-08-17 | WAAU Inc. | Mobile router device |
US10009937B2 (en) * | 2011-08-08 | 2018-06-26 | Xirrus, Inc. | Radio modules in a modular wireless network access device |
KR20150016526A (en) * | 2012-05-01 | 2015-02-12 | 코르테크 인더스트리스 피티와이 리미티드 | Modular wireless power, light and automation control |
US9612585B2 (en) * | 2013-05-28 | 2017-04-04 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Distributed building control system |
EP2958358B1 (en) * | 2014-06-17 | 2018-10-31 | Sarokal Test Systems Oy | System for base-station testing |
-
2020
- 2020-05-15 CA CA3141129A patent/CA3141129A1/en active Pending
- 2020-05-15 WO PCT/US2020/033237 patent/WO2020236637A1/en active Application Filing
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