CN108736159B

CN108736159B - System and method for providing assisted aiming for wireless links through multiple external antennas

Info

Publication number: CN108736159B
Application number: CN201710466673.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 崔维斯·杜里克; 杨榆; 庄明沛; 陈永康
Original assignee: Pismo Labs Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Pismo Labs Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-18
Filing date: 2017-06-20
Publication date: 2021-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-20
Also published as: CN108736159A; GB2561618A; GB201708438D0

Abstract

Systems and methods are shown for proactive aiming assistance with wireless nodes that facilitate a desired wireless link, derived from local sensors and/or external information. Embodiments provide a targeting assistance user interface that provides guidance on properly changing the orientation of multiple external antennas to provide a desired wireless link. To help provide aiming assistance, embodiments of multiple sensors respectively placed at the multiple external antennas may be used to provide information that may be used for environmental analysis, thereby determining proactive orientation guidance information.

Description

System and method for providing assisted aiming for wireless links through multiple external antennas

Related application

This application claims priority from U.S. patent application US15/489,761. U.S. application No. 15/489,761 is a non-transient continuation-in-part application, 14/681,078, filed on day 4/7 2015 entitled "system and method FOR PROVIDING assisted aiming FOR wireless LINKS" (SYSTEMS AND METHODS PROVIDING assisted aiming FOR wires LINKS), filed on day 29/2011, a non-transient continuation application, 13/172,228 (now US patent 9055455) filed on day 29, entitled "system and method FOR PROVIDING assisted aiming FOR wireless LINKS" (SYSTEMS AND METHODS PROVIDING ASSISTED AIMING FOR WIRELESS LINKS).

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to wireless links, and more particularly to providing assisted aiming for wireless links.

Background

The use of wireless links to facilitate different forms of communication, such as voice, multimedia, data, etc., has become almost ubiquitous in today's world. For example, wireless nodes in the form of base stations and corresponding cellular telephones are quite popular and are often used to provide all forms of mobile communication between individuals and groups. Similarly, access points and wireless nodes in the form of wireless terminals (e.g., computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), gaming systems, internet appliances, etc.) are widely employed to facilitate broad, robust data access and communication.

It is common for directional antenna beams to be used to provide a wireless link at one or both ends of the wireless link. For example, as the wireless spectrum becomes more and more crowded, the directionality of the directional antenna beams may be utilized to avoid or mitigate interference to or caused by signals of other wireless links. Further, the gain increase associated with directional antenna beams may be used to help increase wireless link distance, thereby increasing signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), increasing link budget, and so forth.

The use of such directional antenna beams significantly complicates the deployment and maintenance of the wireless link. For example, when using non-directional (omni-directional) antenna beams, wireless nodes may be placed substantially anywhere within the coverage radius of the associated wireless node and may establish a communication link. However, when using directional antenna beams, at least the relative direction of the corresponding wireless node has to be determined, preferably also information such as the effective size and shape of the directional antenna beam, the topology of the link space, the channel environment, etc. for establishing the wireless link.

Experienced installers of wireless nodes implementing directional antenna beams often perform extensive pre-deployment analysis to determine the location and orientation of the wireless node (or its antenna system) to provide the desired wireless link. For example, an installer may perform calculations, use map overlays, perform field simulations, etc. to analyze expected channel conditions and wireless link characteristics for a particular location and/or wireless node orientation. Through this analysis, an installer can determine a particular wireless node deployment configuration (wireless node location and orientation) and thus deploy the wireless node in the field to provide a wireless link. However, despite this complex pre-deployment analysis, the results that occur in the field are often different than predicted, and therefore the resulting wireless link may not have the desired characteristics. For example, the information obtained by the installer for pre-deployment analysis is often imperfect, the deployment of the wireless node may not be fully planned, and so on. Thus, these experienced installers may still have to take trial and error in deploying the wireless nodes to improve the wireless link.

As the number of different wireless node infrastructures proliferate, such as WiFi and WiMAX access points and terminals targeting consumer markets, there are fewer and fewer experienced installers participating in wireless node deployment. For example, recently experienced persons deploying cameras and other equipment associated with monitoring systems have begun to install camera equipment that utilizes wireless links to more easily span longer distances. However, these people are typically not specifically trained with respect to wireless node deployment. Thus, such installers do not have the resources and skills to perform complex pre-deployment analysis of wireless node deployments.

Some efforts have been made to provide information useful for establishing a wireless link to an installer of a wireless node. For example, different forms of signal meters have been utilized to indicate signal levels associated with the current deployment configuration of a wireless node. For example, simple Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) meters have been included in or coupled to wireless nodes in order to display the experienced signal strength in relation to the current deployment configuration of the wireless node. As another example, tones that vary with pulse period or pitch have been utilized, the pulse period or pitch corresponding to the experienced signal strength associated with the current deployment configuration of the wireless node. Similarly, indicator lights that vary with pulse period have also been utilized, the pulse period corresponding to the experienced signal strength associated with the current deployment configuration of the wireless node. In practice, installers randomly locate and/or orient wireless nodes to some extent and continually modify their orientation (e.g., change azimuth, pitch, position, and/or elevation) until the particular signal strength indicator used indicates that the highest achievable level is reached. The wireless nodes are then fixed in position in this deployment configuration for providing wireless links.

While relatively inexpensive and even easily understood by inexperienced installers, such existing systems provide little information. That is, these existing systems do not provide any guidance as to the proper orientation of the wireless nodes, but rather provide information about the current deployment configuration. For example, these existing systems do not provide information about the relative location of the corresponding wireless node, so the installer must initially select a wireless node deployment configuration without the aid of information from the signal level system. Further, determining what actions are taken in connection with wireless node deployment activities (e.g., ending the directional phase of deployment or changing the orientation, and after determining to do so, how to change the orientation) depends on the installer.

Disclosure of Invention

To overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention proposes a method for providing active aiming assistance guidance information at a wireless node, wherein the wireless node is connected to a plurality of external antennas, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning the plurality of external antennas in corresponding initial orientations;

(b) determining active aiming assistance guidance information to provide active guidance for redirecting each of the plurality of external antennas from the initial orientation to a desired deployment configuration;

(c) redirecting the plurality of external antennas in accordance with the active aiming assistance guidance information provided by a user interface of the wireless node for implementing the desired deployment configuration calculated to provide a wireless link having one or more desired attributes;

wherein the active aiming assistance guidance information comprises a rotation direction and a tilt direction;

wherein the rotational directions correspond to directions to rotate the plurality of external antennas to the desired deployment configuration, respectively; and is

Wherein the tilt directions correspond to directions to tilt the plurality of external antennas to the desired deployment configuration, respectively.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it further comprises:

(d) acquiring sensor information;

(e) determining the initial orientation using at least a portion of the sensor information, wherein at least a portion of the active aiming assistance guidance information is determined using the sensor information;

wherein the sensor information comprises information obtained from a plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors are placed at corresponding external antennas.

According to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least two sensors selected from the group consisting of: a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, barometric pressure sensor, temperature sensor, inclinometer, tilt switch, accelerometer, gyroscopic sensor, and digital compass.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it further comprises the steps of:

(f) obtaining additional sensor information after one or more of the plurality of external antennas are reoriented in the corresponding desired deployment configuration; and

(g) providing at least a portion of the additional sensor information to an external source for determining active aiming assistance guidance information. According to an embodiment of the invention, it further comprises:

(h) obtaining sensor information during said redirecting one or more of said plurality of external antennas; and

(i) updating the active aiming assistance guidance information based on at least a portion of the sensor information acquired during the redirecting of the one or more of the plurality of external antennas.

According to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the active aiming assistance guidance information comprises azimuth guidance information and tilt guidance information.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it further comprises the steps of:

(j) providing the active guidance in conformity with the active aiming assistance guidance information, wherein the active guidance comprises activating one or more azimuth guidance outputs and one or more pitch guidance outputs.

According to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the proactive guidance comprises activating a hold guidance output.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the tilt direction and the rotation direction of the plurality of external antennas are remotely adjustable.

According to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the sensor information is wirelessly transmitted to the wireless node.

The invention also proposes a system comprising:

a wireless node; wherein the wireless node comprises a processing unit and comprises or is connected to a plurality of wireless communication modules;

a plurality of external antennas; wherein the plurality of external antennas are connected to corresponding wireless communication modules;

a plurality of sensors; wherein the plurality of sensors are placed at corresponding external antennas;

a targeting assistance user interface providing active targeting assistance guidance for redirecting each of the plurality of external antennas from an initial orientation to a desired deployment configuration;

According to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the rotation direction and the tilt direction direct the orientation of the plurality of external antennas from the corresponding initial orientations to the desired deployment configuration.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the active aiming assistance guidance information provides active guidance for redirecting each of the plurality of external antennas from the initial orientation to the desired deployment configuration.

According to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the plurality of external antennas are re-oriented according to the active aiming assistance guidance information to achieve the desired deployment configuration, the desired deployment configuration is calculated to provide a wireless link having one or more desired properties.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein said plurality of sensors provide sensor information during said redirecting one or more of said plurality of external antennas; and wherein the active aiming assistance guidance information is updated based on at least a portion of the sensor information acquired during the redirecting the one or more of the plurality of external antennas.

The present invention is directed to systems and methods that provide active aiming assistance with wireless nodes that facilitate a desired wireless link, derived from local sensors and/or external information. Embodiments of the present invention provide a targeting assistance user interface that provides guidance regarding properly changing the orientation of a wireless node to provide a desired wireless link. Such proactive guidance may include, for example, instructions to provide reorientation in a particular azimuth direction, instructions to provide reorientation in a particular pitch direction, and instructions to no longer provide reorientation.

To provide the aiming assistance described herein, embodiments of the wireless node are adapted to include a plurality of sensors that can be used to provide information that can be used for environmental analysis, thereby determining proactive orientation guidance information. For example, embodiments of wireless nodes adapted according to the concepts herein may include a plurality of sensors for determining geographic location, bearing orientation, pitch orientation, altitude, and/or orientation with respect to one or more corresponding wireless nodes.

Wireless nodes adapted according to embodiments of the present invention additionally or alternatively utilize externally obtained information that may be used to determine proactive orientation guidance information. For example, embodiments of wireless nodes adapted according to the concepts herein may obtain information regarding the location of other wireless nodes from one or more external sources, from which the current location of the wireless node may be determined, the current orientation of the wireless node may be determined, and so forth.

Embodiments of the present invention utilize the aforementioned sensor information as well as external source information (collectively referred to as deployment information) to determine proactive orientation guidance information. For example, all or a portion of the deployment information may be referenced for processing to determine one or more putative deployment configurations for the wireless node that should result in the wireless link having at least one desired characteristic. The wireless node orientation guidance user interface of an embodiment provides the determined proactive orientation guidance information to the installer in real-time, thereby providing proactive aiming assistance with the wireless node for assisting the desired wireless link. Processing may be performed with reference to available deployment information (e.g., utilized updated sensor information) that is used to provide real-time active aiming assistance.

In operation according to embodiments of the present invention, proactive orientation guidance information may be provided and used for multiple deployment configurations for a particular wireless node. For example, a presumed "best" deployment configuration may be determined and proactive orientation guidance information provided to the installer to orient the wireless nodes in this presumed best deployment configuration. The analysis of the resulting wireless link may indicate that the presumed "suboptimal" deployment configuration should be analyzed in order to determine whether the resulting wireless link more closely satisfies one or more desired properties. Thus, proactive orientation guidance information may again be provided to the installer to orient the wireless node in this presumed suboptimal deployment configuration, followed by analysis of the resulting wireless link. This iteration of proactive direction guidance may be repeated until the resulting wireless link suitably meets one or more desired properties or is otherwise determined to be the optimal deployment configuration for the wireless node.

Embodiments of the present invention may operate to provide proactive orientation guidance information at times other than the initial deployment of wireless nodes. For example, after deployment, sensor information and/or external source information may be monitored to determine if there may be a change that suggests a better deployment configuration than the currently used deployment configuration. The user may be informed that a new putative optimal deployment configuration is available and thus, again, proactive steering information may be provided and used to re-steer the wireless node.

Information about the wireless node, such as sensor information collected during the deployment phase and/or wireless node operation, information about the wireless node's final deployment configuration, and the like, may be provided to and used by external systems. For example, information about the wireless node's final deployment configuration, as well as information about different sources of interference detected by the wireless node, may be provided to an external server that provides a radio map used by the wireless node for deployment configuration determinations, as well as other information.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

Drawings

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system adapted to provide active aiming assistance in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an aiming assistance user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary deployment of wireless nodes using active aiming assistance in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a high level flow chart of the operation of active aiming assistance provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a flow chart providing details regarding the interaction with the active aiming assistance for orienting the wireless node illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary deployment of a wireless node connected to multiple external antennas adapted to provide active aiming assistance in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and

fig. 7 illustrates an exemplary deployment of a wireless node connected to multiple external antennas adapted to provide active aiming assistance in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 illustrates a system 100 adapted to provide active aiming assistance with respect to wireless nodes that facilitates a desired wireless link in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 of the illustrated embodiment includes a plurality of wireless nodes (illustrated herein as wireless nodes 100A-100N) that may be used to provide the desired wireless links. For example, wireless nodes 100B and 100N may be deployed as master nodes (e.g., wireless access points, base stations, service provider devices, etc.), while wireless node 100A may be deployed as slave nodes (e.g., wireless terminals, subscriber devices, etc.). A wireless link, which provides a desired level of reliability, throughput, signal-to-noise characteristics, etc., may need to be established between wireless node 100A and one or more of wireless nodes 100B and 100N in order to provide connectivity to a network 150 (e.g., the internet, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a wireline subscriber network, and/or the like). Thus, in normal operation one or more devices or systems may be coupled to wireless node 110A, thereby connecting to network 150.

Embodiments are described herein with reference to a wireless node 100A providing a slave node configuration and wireless nodes 100B and 100N providing master nodes coupled to a network, to provide more specific examples to aid in understanding the concepts of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the concepts of the present invention are not limited in application to such wireless node configurations. For example, wireless node 100A may provide connectivity to a network, while wireless nodes 100B and 100N provide connectivity to different devices or systems. In some embodiments, it may be possible that none of the wireless nodes 100A-100N are connected to a network, such as where peer-to-peer communication between particular devices is desired. Accordingly, in other embodiments, it is possible that each of the wireless nodes 100A to 100N is connected to a network, for example, where network bridging is required. Thus, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the particular functionality provided by the wireless nodes in their operation is immaterial to the active aiming assistance of the embodiments herein.

As can be seen in the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the wireless node 100A comprises a radio unit 114 coupled to an antenna system 116, and a data interface 115 providing a radio communication interface. For example, the data interface 115 provides one or more ports, such as a network port (e.g., an ethernet port, a personal area network (e.g., bluetooth) port), a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, a proprietary bus, and/or the like, for communicatively connecting the wireless node 110A to different devices and systems. The antenna system 116, for example, may include one or more antennas, patches, horns, or other antenna elements and associated feed networks (e.g., feeders, meanders, beam forming networks, baluns, etc.) for providing one or more radiation patterns (e.g., directional antenna narrow beams) for transmitting and/or receiving Radio Frequency (RF) signals. Accordingly, the radio unit 114 provides modulation and/or demodulation between baseband and RF signals that are communicated between the antenna system 116 and the data interface 115. Thus, the radio unit 114, the antenna system 116, and the data interface 115 cooperate to provide communication between one or more devices or systems coupled to the data interface 115 and other remote devices or systems using wireless links facilitated by the radio unit 114 and the antenna system 116.

In addition to the radio unit 114, the antenna system 116, and the data interface 115, the wireless node 110A of the embodiment also includes a processor 111, a sensor package 112, and an aiming assistance user interface 113. These functional blocks of the described embodiments cooperate to provide active aiming assistance for embodiments of the present invention.

The sensor package 112 includes one or more sensors that provide information to a processor 111 for providing active aiming assistance to a user through an aiming assistance user interface 113. For example, sensor package 112 in an embodiment includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver (e.g., an integrated circuit GPS receiver module), an atmospheric pressure sensor (e.g., a static pressure sensor), a temperature sensor (e.g., a silicon strip temperature sensor, a resistance thermometer, a coulomb blockade thermometer, etc.), an inclinometer (e.g., a tilt sensor such as a liquid capacitance, an electrolytic capacitance, etc.), a tilt switch (e.g., a mercury tilt switch), an accelerometer (e.g., a 3-axis solid state accelerometer), a gyroscopic sensor (e.g., a coriolis vibration gyroscope), a digital compass (e.g., a magnetometer), a signal reception intensity sensor, a signal to noise sensor, and/or the like that provides corresponding sensor information to processor 111.

It should be understood that the sensors in the sensor package 112 need not be specifically provided for active aiming assistance operations. For example, a GPS receiver module used as part of the sensor package 112 in one embodiment may also be used for other purposes, such as providing GPS-derived timing of communication protocols supported by the wireless node 110A.

The processor 111 may comprise a general-purpose processor (e.g., a processor from the pentium family of processors available from intel corporation), a special-purpose processor (e.g., an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)), or a combination thereof, operable under control of an instruction set (e.g., software and/or firmware) defining operations described herein. The processor 111 may have support circuitry (not shown) associated therewith such as memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), magnetic disk memory, optical memory, etc.), a coprocessor (e.g., a math coprocessor), and the like. In operation according to an embodiment of the present invention, processor 111 utilizes information obtained from one or more sensors in sensor package 112 and/or information obtained from an external source (e.g., through data interface 115) to determine a configuration orientation for wireless node 110A. For example, external source information for use with the aforementioned sensor information for determining configuration orientation may be obtained from a database 121 stored by server 120, e.g., by coupling wireless node 110A to an appropriate network host (e.g., computer 130 or broadband modem 140) via data interface 115 or using a wireless link (e.g., using data interface 115, radio unit 114, and antenna system 116).

The aiming assistance user interface 113 of an embodiment is operable to provide guidance to a user for locating the wireless node 110A in the configured orientation determined by the processor 111. For example, signals provided by processor 111 may be utilized at aiming assistance user interface 113 to provide guidance regarding appropriately changing the orientation of wireless node 110A. Such proactive guidance may include, for example, instructions to provide reorientation in a particular azimuth direction, instructions to provide reorientation in a particular pitch direction, and instructions to no longer provide reorientation. Thus, the aiming assistance user interface 113 of an embodiment includes different outputs to convey instructional information to the user. Further, the aiming assistance user interface 113 may include different inputs to accept control inputs and/or user responses.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the inputs/outputs provided by the aiming assistance user interface 113. The embodiment of the aiming assistance user interface 113 shown in fig. 2 includes azimuth guidance outputs 211 and 212, pitch guidance outputs 221 and 222, and a hold guidance output 231. The illustrated embodiment of the aiming assistance user interface further includes

instructional control inputs

241 and 242 and instructional response inputs 251 and 252. According to an embodiment, the

instructional outputs

211, 212, 221, and 222 may comprise Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), while

instructional control inputs

241 and 242 and instructional response inputs 251 and 252 may comprise push button switch surfaces. However, embodiments of the present invention may include any number of user interface configurations, which may include, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), touch screen, digital pointing device, keyboard, and the like.

The various inputs and outputs provided by the aiming assistance user interface 113 cooperate to provide active aiming assistance guidance to the user. For example, a user may indicate a need to receive active aiming assistance by manipulating input 241 (e.g., a "start" button). Thereafter, as will be better understood from the following operational description, appropriate ones of

outputs

211, 212, 221, 222, and 231 may be activated, thereby guiding the user in redirecting wireless node 110A. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, outputs 211 and 212 comprise azimuth guidance outputs, whereby appropriate ones of the outputs are activated to guide the user to reorient wireless node 110A in azimuth (e.g., output 211 is activated to guide a left turn, output 212 is activated to guide a right turn), outputs 221 and 222 comprise pitch guidance outputs (e.g., output 221 is activated to guide a down turn, output 222 is activated to guide an up turn), and output 231 comprises a hold guidance output (e.g., output 231 is activated to guide a hold on further reorientation). The user may be directed to orient the wireless node in a desired deployment configuration by activating the appropriate one or more of

outputs

211, 212, 221, 222, and 231 throughout the process of the user reorienting wireless node 110A. It should be understood that embodiments of the present invention may activate multiple outputs (e.g., rotation and tilt) simultaneously to provide complex instructional information. When the desired deployment configuration is reached, output 231 may be activated to indicate "hold". The user may then indicate satisfaction by manipulating input 242 (e.g., an "end" button) and no further active aiming assistance is required.

The output of the aiming assistance user interface 113 of the embodiment shown in fig. 2 is not limited to binary guidance information (e.g., activation of the output or deactivation of the output). For example, techniques such as flashing or pulsing at the output at different rates to indicate the amount of redirection to be provided (e.g., a fast flashing output 211 may indicate a large left turn is required, while a slow flashing output 211 may indicate that the wireless node is approaching the desired orientation) may be used to provide more robust guidance. Robust guidance can be provided by simultaneous activation of multiple outputs, use of activated coding sequences, and the like. For example, when the wireless node is initially deployed in a location that is not suitable for establishing a desired wireless link (e.g., an angle of occlusion for all other wireless nodes), each of

outputs

211, 212, 221, and 222 may be activated simultaneously (e.g., all outputs flash simultaneously) to indicate that wireless node 110A needs to be relocated.

It should be understood that the aiming assistance user interface 113 of the described embodiments is not limited to indicating a single deployment configuration of the wireless node 110A for a user. For example, multiple different deployment configurations may provide a desired wireless link, and the aiming assistance user interface 113 may be utilized to guide a user in redirecting the wireless node 110A to several such deployment configurations (e.g., to determine which deployment configuration provides the "best" deployment configuration). Thus, outputs 211, 212, 221, 222, and 231 may operate to guide a user in directing wireless node 110A in each such deployment configuration, if desired. For example, after wireless node 110A is directed in a particular deployment configuration, perhaps for a sufficient period of time to analyze the established wireless link, the user may then indicate a need to redirect the wireless link into another deployment configuration by manipulating the appropriate one of inputs 251 and 252 (e.g., selecting the "next" deployment configuration or the "previous" deployment configuration).

Embodiments of the aiming assistance user interface 113 may include other inputs/outputs in addition to or instead of those shown in the embodiment of fig. 2. For example, embodiments of the aiming assistance user interface 113 may include a display screen, a touch screen, various indicators, a digital pointer, an audio input, an audio output, and so forth.

It should be appreciated that although the above describes an exemplary embodiment in which the processor 111, sensor package 112, and aiming assistance user interface 113 are included as part of the wireless node, embodiments may be configured in ways other than those described. For example, some or all of the functionality provided by the aforementioned embodiments of the processor 111, the sensor package 112, and/or the aiming assistance user interface 113 may be provided externally or independently of the wireless node. According to one embodiment, some of the functionality provided by the processor 111, the sensor package 112 and/or the aiming assistance user interface 113 is arranged in an external module, which is removably coupled to the wireless node 110A. Such an external module configuration may help provide the active aiming assistance described herein using wireless nodes that are not specifically configured for such operation, using less expensive or less robust wireless nodes, using the same external module for multiple wireless nodes, and so on.

Embodiments of the aforementioned external module configurations may be communicatively coupled to wireless node 110A to provide the operations described herein using an interface of data interface 115 (e.g., a network interface, a USB interface, a proprietary interface, etc.), using a wireless link provided by radio 114 and antenna 116, and/or the like. The functional blocks of the external module may cooperate with the functional blocks of the wireless node to provide active aiming assistance. For example, sensors of both the external module and the wireless node may be used to provide aiming assistance. Similarly, the processor of the external module and the wireless node may cooperate to determine proactive orientation guidance information for aiming assistance. As another example, the input and/or output provided by the aiming assistance user interface 113 may be provided in an external module for use with the wireless node.

It should be understood that embodiments of the external module that may be used to provide active aiming assistance may implement different configurations. For example, embodiments may implement a configuration in which the external module is specifically designed to provide active aiming assistance for the wireless node. Alternatively, embodiments may implement a general-purpose device that may function as an external module (e.g., under control of a set of instructions defining the operations described herein) that provides active aiming assistance for wireless nodes. For example, a smart phone (e.g., IPHONE from apple computer, inc. or ANDROID-based cell phone from a manufacturer such as motorola, inc.) may execute an application for interfacing with the wireless node (e.g., via WiFi or bluetooth) and providing a display of output and/or accepting input targeting the auxiliary user interface 113.

Although details regarding embodiments of wireless node 110A are discussed above, it should be understood that other wireless nodes of system 100 may be similarly configured. For example, one or more of the wireless nodes 110B-110N may be adapted as shown for wireless node 110A in fig. 1 and 2. Thus, such a configuration of wireless nodes 110B-110N may be provided with active aiming assistance during and/or after deployment, if desired, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Additionally or alternatively, deployment information regarding the deployment configuration of one or more of the wireless nodes 110B-110N may be provided to the server 120 and stored in the database 121 using the configuration of the functional blocks described above with respect to the wireless node 110A. Thus, while wireless nodes may be configured to provide different operational functionalities (e.g., slave node functionalities, master node functionalities, etc.), any or all of such wireless nodes may advantageously implement functional aspects of the active aiming assistance architecture herein.

Continuing with the example in which wireless node 110A is configured to provide operation as a slave node and

wireless nodes

110B and 110N are configured to provide operation as a master node, assume that wireless node 110A for facilitating broadband wireless links needs to be deployed to a particular location, such as location 310A shown in fig. 3. For example, wireless node 110A may need to be deployed to provide a broadband internet connection to location 310A, e.g., for coupling one or more computers disposed at location 310A (e.g., a computer such as computer 130) to the internet, for coupling a LAN (not shown) at location 310A to the internet (e.g., through a modem such as broadband modem 140), and so forth. Assume further that

wireless nodes

110B and 110N are deployed at

locations

310B and 310N, respectively, shown in fig. 3, to provide radio coverage for a broadband wireless connection to network 150. Thus, wireless node 310B, deployed in the configuration shown, provides radio coverage in a service area associated with 90 ° antenna beam 311B and 90 ° antenna beam 312B. Similarly, wireless node 310N, deployed in the configuration shown, provides radio coverage in a service area associated with 90 ° antenna beam 311N and 90 ° antenna beam 312N.

Location 310A of wireless node 110A is arranged within the service area of antenna beam 311B provided by wireless node 110B and antenna beam 311N provided by wireless node 110N. Assuming that antenna system 116 (fig. 1) of wireless node 110A provides directional radio coverage (e.g., a directional antenna narrow beam such as a 30 ° antenna beam), different orientations of wireless node 110A may be able to establish a wireless link with wireless node 110B or wireless node 110N. The particular orientation of wireless node 110A may provide suitable wireless links (e.g., suitably toward the corresponding wireless node), perhaps providing wireless links with one or more excellent or "best" characteristics in a subset of those orientations (e.g., one or both orientations). The operation of the proactive aiming assistance provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention guides a user to establish a desired wireless link with a corresponding wireless node (e.g., wireless node 110B or wireless node 110N) by orienting wireless node 110A.

Turning to fig. 4, a flow diagram 400 is shown illustrating the operation of the active aiming assistance provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At block 401 of the illustrated embodiment, wireless node information to assist in proactive aiming assistance is provided to one or more databases, such as database 121 of fig. 1. For example, the database may be provided with information about the operational configuration of the wireless node (e.g., master node, slave node, public node, private node, provided resources, etc.), information about the communication attributes of the wireless node (e.g., supported protocols, antenna beam widths (e.g., horizontal and/or vertical widths), antenna beam shapes, antenna gains, radio output power, radio reception sensitivities, etc.), information about the geographic location of the wireless node (e.g., physical address, latitude and longitude, GPS coordinates, etc.), information about the orientation of the wireless node (e.g., altitude (e.g., ground clearance (AGL) and/or mean sea plane (MSL)), vertical alignment, tilt/tilt, azimuth heading angle, etc.), information about environmental conditions (e.g., on a rooftop, indoors, locations of possible obstructions, shadow coverage of deciduous plants, high interference environments, etc.), and/or other information that may be used to determine an appropriate wireless node pairing to provide a desired wireless link.

It should be understood that although embodiments have been described above with respect to the use of a database 121 for storing wireless node information, operation in accordance with the inventive concept is not limited to the use of such a configuration. For example, different nodes, e.g., wireless nodes 110B through 110N, may themselves store such wireless node information (or a portion thereof). In operation according to embodiments of the present invention, such nodes may share wireless node information and/or other information, for example, via ad-hoc (ad-hoc) or peer-to-peer (peer) technologies.

The aforementioned wireless node information may be provided by operator input, collected by automation, provided by the wireless node itself, and/or a combination thereof. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wireless nodes, such as

wireless nodes

110B and 110N of fig. 3, utilize sensors associated therewith (e.g., using sensor package 112 and processor 111 of fig. 1) to collect and/or push wireless node information provided at block 401. Such information may be supplemented, modified, etc. by operator input, if desired.

At block 402 of the described embodiment, a location and operating configuration for a wireless node to be deployed is selected. For example, a general location may be selected, such as a home or business location that requires a wireless link. The deployment location may be indicated using information such as physical address, latitude and longitude, GPS coordinates, and the like. An operational configuration for the wireless node is also selected, e.g., to indicate that the wireless node is to operate as a master or slave node, to select a communication protocol to utilize, to select resources available to or for the wireless node, and so forth. For example, wireless device 110A (the wireless device to be deployed) may be coupled to a host system (e.g., computer 130) in order to select or enter the aforementioned location and operating configuration. Additionally or alternatively, the location and/or operational configuration may be provided directly to wireless device 110A, such as through manipulation of input features of aiming assistance user interface 113 or other user interface of wireless device 110A.

At block 403 of the embodiment, information for providing proactive aiming assistance is obtained from a source external to the wireless node to be deployed. For example, some or all of the foregoing wireless node information may be obtained (block 401). In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the location of deployment of the wireless node (block 402) may be used to identify a subset of other wireless nodes (e.g.,

wireless nodes

110B and 110N of fig. 3) as potential candidates for establishing a desired wireless link. For example, processor 111 may operate to utilize information about the selected location and information from database 121 to identify a subset of wireless nodes (e.g., wireless nodes disposed within a threshold distance from the location, wireless nodes having a particular configuration, wireless nodes having a particular resource, etc.) as candidates for establishing a wireless link. Wireless node information for a subset of wireless nodes may be obtained and used for active aiming assistance. For example, wireless node 110A may be temporarily provided with network connectivity (e.g., using computer 130, modem 140, etc.) or provided access to database 121 to obtain wireless node information for a suitable subset of wireless nodes.

From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that wireless node 110A may be temporarily coupled to a host device, thereby facilitating selection of an operational configuration and location (block 402), and obtaining information from an external source. For example, wireless node 110A may be temporarily coupled to a computer 130, which itself is coupled to network 150 as part of the deployment process of the illustrated embodiment of flow 400.

At block 404 of the illustrated embodiment, the wireless node initially locates for deployment. For example, wireless node 110A may be disposed on a roof, on an antenna mast, in a suitable window of a building at location 301A, and so forth. The location of the wireless node 110A is an initial location from which the proactive aiming assistance herein will guide the user to orient the wireless node 110A in a deployed configuration to establish a desired wireless link. Thus, this initial position need not be very accurate, or even directed to another wireless node (e.g., wireless node 110B or wireless node 110N).

It should be appreciated that a particular location of wireless node 110A may not be suitable for establishing a suitable wireless link with a particular other wireless node (e.g., one or the other of

wireless nodes

110B and 110N). For example, while at location 310A, the particular location may result in a structure being disposed between wireless node 110A and one or more of the other wireless nodes that are available. Similarly, a particular location at location 310A may result in wireless node 110A being disposed outside of the service area (horizontally and/or vertically) of one or more of the other wireless nodes that are available. Thus, embodiments of the present invention may operate to provide proactive assistance with respect to initial positioning of the wireless node 110A.

In operation according to an embodiment of the present invention, processor 111 or another processor (e.g., a processor of computer 130) may determine proactive position guidance information for initially locating wireless node 110A (block 404). For example, because there is information about the location selected for deployment of wireless node 110A (block 402) and information about other wireless nodes (block 403), embodiments of the invention may perform an analysis to determine the general location of wireless node 110A (e.g., rooftop, above a threshold height, having a particular exposure direction (e.g., south-facing exposure), generally tilting up/down, etc.) from which active aiming assistance is provided. Such location guidance information may be provided to the user through an interface of the wireless node 110A (e.g., through the aiming assistance user interface 113, such as by flashing a code or displaying information on an output thereof) or an interface of another device (e.g., through a display screen of the computer 130, such as may be used to obtain the aforementioned information from an external source).

At block 405 of the embodiment, proactive orientation guidance information is determined and communicated to a user through a targeting assistance user interface for orienting wireless nodes in the determined deployment configuration to provide wireless links with one or more wireless nodes. For example, as discussed in detail with reference to the flow chart of fig. 5, processor 111 may determine a presumed deployment configuration for wireless node 110A that should enable the wireless link to have at least one desired characteristic. The processor 111 may then utilize the determined putative deployment configuration information and information provided by the sensor package 112, the radio unit 114, and/or the data interface 115 to provide appropriate signals to the aiming assistance user interface 113 to guide the user in manipulating the wireless node 110A to achieve the deployment configuration.

At block 406 of the described embodiment, once a suitable deployment configuration is achieved, the orientation of wireless node 110A may be permanently or semi-permanently fixed (e.g., by tightening fasteners, securing a clamp, applying an adhesive, etc.) and a wireless link having desired characteristics is established with one or more other wireless nodes (e.g., wireless nodes 110B and/or 110N).

Fig. 5 provides details regarding a flow that may be provided by the operations of block 405 of fig. 4 for active aiming assistance to orient a wireless node. In operation according to embodiments of the present invention, a user may have initially located wireless node 110A (block 404) and indicated that active aiming assistance is required, such as by manipulating input 241 (e.g., "start") of aiming assistance user interface 113.

At block 501 of the described embodiment, sensor information is obtained that provides information about the environment in which the wireless node is located. For example, one or more sensors in sensor package 112 may provide information regarding the precise location of wireless node 110A (e.g., location information derived by a GPS sensor), the altitude of wireless node 110A (e.g., altitude information derived by barometric pressure), the heading of wireless node 110A (e.g., direction information derived by a compass), the inclination of wireless node 110A (e.g., inclination information derived by an inclinometer), and/or the like.

The sensor information may be utilized by the processor 111 to determine the current deployment configuration of the wireless node 110A (e.g., precise information of the location of the wireless node, the azimuth orientation of the wireless node, the elevation orientation of the wireless node, etc.). However, it should be understood that such sensor information may not directly provide information for determining the current deployment configuration of wireless node 110A. For example, although barometric pressure information from a barometric pressure sensor that may be included as part of the sensor package 112 provides information from which altitude information may be derived, the barometric pressure information itself may not directly provide such altitude information. That is, although atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude at a known rate, local ambient atmospheric pressure is affected by weather systems (e.g., high atmospheric pressure zones, low atmospheric pressure zones, cold temperature zones, warm temperature zones, etc.), so that a particular atmospheric pressure reading needs to be modified according to local conditions (e.g., temperature and pressure) in order to determine altitude.

Thus, operation of an embodiment of block 501 according to the described embodiment obtains external source information (e.g., in addition to, or an update to, the external source information obtained at block 403 of FIG. 4). In operation according to an embodiment, processor 111 accesses one or more external data sources available via network 150 to obtain such additional or updated external source information. For example, continuing the aforementioned example of barometric pressure, processor 111 may access an available aviation weather database via the internet to obtain current temperature and barometric pressure readings for one or more locations (e.g., airports) proximate to the deployment location of wireless node 110A.

It should be understood that the above-described external source information obtained at block 501 of the described embodiment may also be obtained elsewhere in the flow. For example, when wireless node 110A is not equipped with internet connectivity in a deployment, such information may be obtained prior to locating the wireless node (e.g., at block 403 where other external source information is obtained).

At block 502 of the embodiment, one or more candidate wireless nodes for establishing a wireless link having desired characteristics are identified. In operation at block 502 according to an embodiment, current deployment configuration information (e.g., orientation and/or location information) for a wireless node is determined by processor 111. The determined current deployment information and/or other information (e.g., sensor information) is analyzed by processor 111 of an embodiment to determine candidate wireless nodes of the aforementioned subset of wireless nodes (e.g.,

wireless nodes

110B and 110N of fig. 3) that are suitable for establishing a wireless link. For example, the current deployment configuration information may indicate that the wireless node 110A is disposed north of a building and thus has a south-facing occlusion angle. Thus, a particular wireless node in the subset of wireless nodes (e.g., wireless node 110N of fig. 3) that was otherwise determined to be within range of wireless node 110A but that is disposed south of wireless node 110A may not be considered a candidate wireless node. Thus, a particular wireless node (e.g., wireless node 110B of fig. 3) of the previously determined subset of wireless nodes that is located north may be identified as a candidate wireless node.

The analysis of the candidate wireless nodes provided at block 502 according to embodiments may include other analysis in addition to identifying candidate wireless nodes for providing wireless links with the wireless node 110A disposed at its current location. For example, the processor 111 may provide analysis such that the identified candidate wireless nodes are organized into a hierarchy of priorities, such as a "best" candidate (e.g., wireless node 110B), a "next best" candidate (e.g., wireless node 110N), and so on. Such a priority hierarchy may be based on different factors, such as relative distance, topology between the candidate wireless node and the current location of wireless node 110A, height difference between the candidate wireless node and wireless node 110A, configuration of the candidate wireless node, calculation of a predicted link budget between the candidate wireless node and wireless node 110A, attributes of a deployment configuration of wireless node 110A when establishing a wireless link with the candidate wireless node, and/or the like. In operation according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more predicted wireless link quality attributes are calculated (e.g., using the calculation of the predicted link budget and the calculations to determine whether the locations of wireless node 110A and the candidate wireless node are in the fresnel zone of the corresponding antenna beam), and these attributes are used to determine a priority hierarchy for the candidate wireless node for establishing a wireless link with wireless node 110A.

At block 503 of the embodiment, a candidate wireless node is selected to direct the wireless node 110A to establish a wireless link. For example, the "best" candidate wireless node (e.g., wireless node 110B) may be selected from a priority hierarchy of candidate wireless nodes.

At block 504 of the embodiment, proactive orientation information for a deployment configuration of a wireless node is determined to establish a wireless link with the selected candidate wireless node. For example, using the determined current deployment configuration information (block 502) and the obtained wireless node information for the selected candidate wireless node (block 403), the information may be analyzed by the processor 111 to determine a desired deployment configuration for the wireless node 110A for establishing a wireless link between the wireless node 110A and the selected candidate wireless node (e.g., wireless node 110B). Knowing the determined desired deployment configuration of the selected candidate wireless node and the determined current deployment configuration of the wireless node 110A (block 502), proactive orientation information (e.g., directions to tilt up, tilt down, turn left, turn right, etc.) for directing a user to reorient the wireless node 110A may be determined.

At block 505 of the embodiment, proactive targeting information is provided to the user to guide the user in targeting the wireless node in the determined desired deployment configuration. For example, outputs 211, 212, 221, 222, and/or 231 of aiming assistance user interface 113 may be controlled to direct a user to direct wireless node 110A into a deployed configuration for establishing a wireless link with a selected candidate wireless node (e.g., wireless node 110B). In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, outputs 211 and 212 comprise azimuth guidance outputs, whereby appropriate ones of the outputs are activated to guide the user to reorient wireless node 110A in azimuth (e.g., output 211 is activated to guide a left turn, output 212 is activated to guide a right turn), outputs 221 and 222 comprise pitch guidance outputs (e.g., output 221 is activated to guide a down turn, output 222 is activated to guide an up turn), and output 231 comprises a hold guidance output (e.g., output 231 is activated to guide a hold on further reorientation).

It should be understood that the provision of active orientation information is not limited to the use of the aiming assistance user interface 113 according to embodiments of the present invention. For example, a port of the data interface 115 may additionally or alternatively be used to provide active directional information to a user. In operation according to embodiments of the present invention, a processor-based system (e.g., computer 130, smartphone, PDA, etc.) may be placed in communication with wireless node 110A (e.g., using a USB port, ethernet port, WiFi port, bluetooth port, etc. of data interface 115) to receive unsolicited directional information from wireless node 110A and present the information to a user. Such a processor-based system may be robust to the presentation of active directional information, such as providing a graphical representation of wireless node 110A and selected candidate wireless nodes, providing an image overlay on a map or satellite image, providing audio instructions to a user, and so forth.

In providing proactive orientation information at block 505, embodiments of the present invention operate to obtain updated sensor information and/or other information for providing proactive aiming assistance guidance to a user. Using such updated sensor information, processor 111 of an embodiment may activate an appropriate one or more of

outputs

211, 212, 221, 222, and 231 (fig. 1) throughout the process of a user redirecting wireless node 110A, and thus may guide the user in directing the wireless node in a desired deployment configuration. For example, as the azimuth angle indicated by the digital compass (e.g., magnetometer) in sensor package 112 changes, processor 111 may determine whether wireless node 110A requires more rotation, less rotation, or no further rotation, and activate/deactivate the appropriate one of

outputs

211 and 212 of aiming auxiliary user interface 113. Similarly, using such updated sensor information, processor 111 of an embodiment may determine that wireless node 110A has been directed into the determined desired deployment configuration and, thus, activate output 231 to indicate that further redirection should cease. For example, information from one or more sensors in the sensor package 112 may be analyzed to determine that the wireless node 110A is in the determined desired deployment configuration. Additionally or alternatively, other available information, such as data provided by the data interface 115, may be used to determine that the wireless node 110A is in the determined desired deployment configuration (e.g., data received by the radio 114 may be analyzed to determine that the wireless node 110A is properly oriented for communication with another wireless node, such as wireless node 110B).

At block 506 of the described embodiment, the wireless communication is analyzed to determine if a wireless link having the desired attributes has been established. For example, data provided by the data interface 115 (e.g., received through the antenna system 116, the radio unit 114, and the data interface 115) may be analyzed by the processor 111 to determine whether data is being received from another wireless node. Similarly, data may be communicated by the processor 111 using the data interface 115, the radio 114, and the antenna system 116 for reception by another wireless node. Such communication may be used to analyze the quality of a wireless link established between wireless node 110A and another wireless node (e.g., wireless node 110B).

Additionally or alternatively, sensor information may be used at block 506 to determine whether a wireless link with desired properties has been established. For example, received signal strength information, signal-to-noise information, link budget information, etc., which may be determined by processor 111 from sensor information provided by sensor package 112, may be analyzed to determine a quality of a wireless link established between wireless node 110A and another wireless node.

The information regarding the quality of the resulting wireless link may be analyzed to determine whether the wireless link provides the desired wireless link. For example, one or more attributes of the wireless link may be analyzed to determine whether the one or more attributes are within a threshold of a desired value selected for the attribute. Embodiments of the present invention may compare one or more attributes of an established wireless link to a set of wireless link target attributes (e.g., obtained at block 403 and/or block 501) and/or one or more predicted wireless link quality attributes (e.g., calculated at block 502) to determine whether the established wireless link has the desired attributes.

It should be appreciated that wireless node information, as well as other information from which predicted wireless link attributes are calculated, may not be perfect, and thus the attributes of the established wireless link may not match those predicted wireless link attributes. Thus, multiple wireless links, and thus multiple deployment configurations of wireless node 110A, may need to be analyzed. Accordingly, the embodiment of flow 405 illustrated in fig. 5 includes

blocks

507 and 508 for repeatedly providing proactive aiming assistance guidance for a plurality of candidate wireless nodes.

At block 507 of the described embodiment, a determination is made as to whether the established wireless link is appropriate. For example, the processor 111 may determine whether the established wireless link has properties sufficient to meet those desired requirements. If it is determined that the established wireless link is not appropriate, processing according to the embodiment proceeds to block 508. For example, the output 231 of the aiming assistance user interface 113 may blink to indicate that additional redirection is needed in order to analyze other wireless links. When ready to proceed with further active aiming assistance guidance, the user may manipulate an input, such as input 251 (e.g., a "next" button), of the aiming assistance user interface 113.

At block 508 of the embodiment, it is determined whether additional candidate wireless nodes remain to be analyzed. That is, it is determined whether additional candidate wireless nodes are available to establish a suitable wireless link according to an embodiment. If it is determined that additional candidate wireless nodes remain to be analyzed, processing according to the described embodiment proceeds to block 503. At block 503 of the embodiment, another candidate wireless node is selected to direct the wireless node 110A to establish a wireless link. For example, a "next best" candidate wireless node (e.g., wireless node 110N) from the priority hierarchy of candidate wireless nodes may be selected and provide proactive aiming assistance guidance for establishing a wireless link therewith. However, if it is determined at block 508 that no additional candidate wireless nodes need to be analyzed, then processing according to the embodiment proceeds to block 509.

At block 509 of the described embodiment, exceptional deployment orientation processing is performed. For example, one or more outputs of the aiming assistance user interface 113 may indicate to the user that the wireless node 110A should be repositioned (e.g., moved from inside a building to outside the building, raised or lowered in elevation, disposed in a location that is not covered by shading in a particular direction, etc.). In operation according to an embodiment of the present invention, the

output terminals

211, 212, 221, 222, and 231 may blink simultaneously to indicate an exception. The user can be informed that the current position is inappropriate. The user may then search for further information, such as by coupling wireless node 110A to a host (e.g., computer 130) to provide more detailed information for resolving the exception.

If at block 507 it is determined that the established wireless link has properties sufficient to meet those desired requirements, processing according to the described embodiment proceeds to block 510. At block 510 of the embodiment, the redirection of wireless node 110A is stopped and wireless node 110A is placed in an operational configuration. For example, the processor 111 may indicate that a suitable wireless link has been established using the current deployment configuration by continuously activating the output 231 of the aiming assistance user interface 113. The user may indicate a need to place wireless node 110A in an operational mode by manipulating an input, such as input 242 (e.g., an "end" button), aimed at secondary user interface 113. Thereafter, devices or systems coupled to wireless node 110A (e.g., through one or more ports of data interface 115) may communicate using the established wireless link.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide other functionality at block 510 in addition to, or in lieu of, placing wireless node 110A in an operational state. For example, embodiments may operate to report deployment configuration information, communication environment information (e.g., as measured by sensors in sensor package 112), etc. of wireless nodes to one or more external systems (e.g., server 120 for storing data in database 121). Such information may be used to help improve proactive aiming assistance in further operations with respect to wireless node 110A and/or other wireless nodes deployed in system 100.

Although the foregoing examples are described with reference to deploying the wireless node 110A, the active aiming assistance provided according to embodiments of the present invention may also be provided at times other than initial deployment. For example, active aiming assistance as described above may be performed post-deployment, such as after a significant change in topology or morphology, when a new interferer is present, when a new candidate wireless node is deployed, and so on. In operation according to embodiments of the present invention, the processor 111 may periodically access wireless node information (e.g., perhaps stored in the database 121) to determine whether one or more new candidate wireless nodes are deployed. If it is determined that such a candidate wireless node exists, active aiming assistance is suggested (e.g., by aiming an output of the assistance user interface 113, by providing a signal to another system via the data interface 115, etc.).

It should be appreciated that while flow 400 of fig. 4 and flow 405 of fig. 5 illustrate functions performed in an exemplary order, the order in which the various functions described above are performed may be changed as desired or appropriate. For example, certain calculations or determinations may be performed prior to locating the wireless node (block 404 of fig. 4), such as offloading some or all of this processing to another system (e.g., computer 130), accessing network data or resources when the wireless node is not equipped with network connectivity during redirection, and so forth. As another example, the process of determining candidate wireless nodes may be performed for embodiments of the present invention prior to acquiring sensor information (block 501 of fig. 5) to perform the process of identifying candidate wireless nodes at block 402 of fig. 4.

Functional blocks that can be used to assist active aiming assistance according to embodiments of the present invention can function to provide additional or alternative functionality, if desired. For example, the processor 111 and sensor package 112 may operate at times other than deployment or redirection of the wireless node 110A, thereby providing communication environment analysis, determining whether the orientation of the wireless node 110A has changed, and so forth. In operation according to embodiments of the present invention, processor 111 and sensor package 112 may periodically act to collect signal information and/or other information that is provided to an external system (e.g., server 120) and used for a variety of purposes, such as communication environment analysis, wireless link quality modeling, determining the location of other (e.g., uncooperative) wireless nodes, and/or the like. For example, such information provided by a plurality of similarly configured wireless nodes may be used with trilateration or triangulation techniques to determine the location of different interference sources in a wireless environment.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that external antennas are commonly used. The external antennas include omni-directional antennas and directional antennas. When an external antenna is used, adjusting the position, rotational direction, and tilt direction of wireless node 110A does not significantly affect the quality of the wireless link as compared to adjusting the position, rotational direction, and tilt direction of the external antenna. Further, when the wireless node has a plurality of wireless communication modules and each wireless communication module can be connected to one or more antennas, adjusting the position, the rotational direction, and the tilt direction of each antenna affects the quality of the wireless link of the corresponding wireless communication module.

FIG. 6 illustrates one of the embodiments of the invention. Wireless node 610 has a plurality of wireless communication modules in the housing of wireless node 610 and/or coupled to a data bus of wireless node 610. Each of the wireless communication modules can be connected to one or more external antennas, such as external antennas 602a through 602c, through antenna cables 605a through 605c, respectively. A wireless communication module with Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) capability is preferably connected to multiple external antennas in order to improve the quality of the wireless link. Many options for wireless communication modules exist, including 3G cellular modems, 4G cellular modems, LTE cellular modems, WiFi modules, bluetooth modules. The wireless communication module may be an embedded electronic device connected to the data bus of the wireless node 610. The wireless communication module may also be an electronic device connected to a USB port of the wireless node 610. The number of external antennas that can be connected to the wireless communication module is limited by the computational resources and physical connectors provided by the wireless communication module. There is no limit to the number of wireless communication modules. In one example, the number of wireless communication modules is sixteen. In another example, the number of wireless communication modules is three.

The external antenna 602 is mounted with a corresponding pole 601 by a corresponding upper arm 604 and a corresponding lower arm 606. The upper arm 604 and the lower arm 606 are used to orient the tilt direction of the antenna 602. The uprights 601 are placed on top of a corresponding base 603. By rotating the pole 601, the direction of rotation of the external antenna 602 can be oriented. In one variation, upper arm 604 and lower arm 606 are adjustable along the mast Axis by mast brackets, such as the Axis T91a47 mast bracket provided by Axis Communications. There is no limitation that the upper arm 604, the lower arm 606, the pole 601, and the base 603 must be used to mount the external antenna 602. Any means that allows the orientation of the rotation direction and the tilt direction of the external antenna may be deployed. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that common connector types for the antenna cable 605 connecting the antennas 602 a-602 c to their corresponding wireless communication modules include CRC9 and SMA.

Sensor packages 611a through 611c are attached to external antennas 602a through 602c, respectively. Preferably, the sensor packages 611a to 611c are placed or attached to the back of the corresponding external antennas 602a to 602c, thereby reducing signal interference and minimizing the impact on the performance of the corresponding external antennas 602a to 602 c. Within each of the sensor packages 611, there are sensors for determining geographic position, azimuth orientation, pitch orientation, altitude, and/or orientation relative to the corresponding external antenna. The sensor package 611 includes one or more sensors that provide information to the processing unit of the wireless node 610 for providing active aiming assistance to the user through an aiming assistance user interface. For example, sensor package 611a of an embodiment includes a GPS receiver, barometric pressure sensor, temperature sensor, inclinometer, tilt switch, accelerometer, gyro sensor, digital compass, and/or the like that provides corresponding sensor information to the processor unit of wireless node 610. Information is sent to the processor unit of the wireless node 610 via a cable (not shown in fig. 6), such as a USB cable and an ethernet cable, or via wireless communication techniques, such as bluetooth and IEEE 802.11. Unlike the sensor packet 112 shown in fig. 1, the sensor packets 611a to 611c do not need to have a signal reception strength sensor or a signal-to-noise sensor because the wireless communication module can provide signal reception strength information and signal-to-noise information.

Active aiming assistance guidance information is provided to the user via antennas 602a to 602c for orienting the rotation direction and the tilt direction. The wireless communication module detects signal strength information, signal-to-noise ratio information, and link budget information. The information is then retrieved by a processing unit of wireless node 610 or sent to a processing unit of wireless node 610 for processing. The processing unit of the wireless node 610 then provides the aiming assistance guidance information based on the signal reception strength information and the signal-to-noise information from the wireless communication module and the sensor package 611 using a user interface (e.g., the user interface 113). In one variation, since each wireless communication module can be connected to one or more antennas and there are multiple wireless communication modules, it is preferable to add one or more selection buttons to the user interface 113 for selecting one or more antennas and/or corresponding wireless communication modules.

Each of the wireless communication modules may be connected to the same or different wireless nodes operated by the same or different operators. For example, the wireless communication modules A, B and C of the wireless node 610 are connected to the wireless nodes D, E and F, respectively. For purposes of illustration only, wireless nodes D, E and F are LTE base stations that are respectively positioned at the roofs of different buildings. Using the plurality of wireless communication modules and the external antenna 602, the wireless node is able to connect to a plurality of wireless networks.

For example, the user first selects antenna 602a using a selection button. The user then orients the rotation direction and the tilt direction based on the azimuth guidance outputs 211 and 212, the pitch guidance outputs 221 and 222, and the hold guidance output 231. For example, when a user attempts to orient antenna 602c, the user selects antenna 602c using one or more selection buttons. The azimuth guidance outputs 211 and 212, the pitch guidance outputs 221 and 222, and the hold guidance output 231 are then updated by the processing unit of the wireless node 610 based on information from the wireless communication module connected to the antenna 602 c. The user may then adjust the position and directional orientation of the antenna 602c based on the azimuth guidance outputs 211 and 212, the pitch guidance outputs 221 and 222, and the hold guidance output 231.

It is not limited to provide the user with active aiming assistance guidance information of only one external antenna. For example, the user interface is allowed to simultaneously provide active aiming assistance guidance information regarding multiple or all external antennas. For example, more outputs for the azimuth guidance output, the pitch guidance output, and the hold guidance output are added to the user interface 113 for each of the antennas 602a to 602c, respectively.

FIG. 7 illustrates one of the embodiments of the present invention. In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 6, upper arm 704 replaces upper arm 604; lower arm 706 replaces lower arm 606; add electromechanical modules 702a to 702 c; and add cables 703a to 703 c. The electromechanical modules 702a to 702c are connected to the wireless node 610 by cables 703a to 703 c. The processing unit of the wireless node 610 controls the electromechanical modules 702a to 702c to adjust the upper arm 704, the lower arm 706 and the upright 601. In one example, the tilt angle of the antenna 602a is adjusted by the processing unit of the wireless node 610 by extending or retracting the upper arm 704a and the lower arm 706. The rotational direction of the antenna 602a can be adjusted by rotating the shaft 601a via the electromechanical module 702 a. The motor module 702a holds the mechanical components, including the motor and gears, providing the force to drive the upper arm 704a, lower arm 706a, and upright 601 a.

The user can control the rotation and tilting of the external antennas 602a to 602c through a user interface (e.g., user interface 113). In one variation, the user interface is a web page provided over the internet from the wireless node 610. This allows the user to remotely control the rotation and tilting of the external antennas 602a to 602 c. This is particularly beneficial when the external antennas 602a to 602c are arranged in locations that are difficult to access or expensive to visit.

In one variation, the processing unit of wireless node 610 controls the rotation and tilting of external antennas 602a through 602c without user intervention. Based on the signal strength information, signal-to-noise ratio information, and link budget information detected by the wireless communication module, the processing unit of the wireless node 610 may then send control signals to the electromechanical modules 702 a-702 c to adjust the external antennas 602 a-602 c. The control signals are sent over cable 703. In one variation, the cable 703 is not only a medium for data transmission, but also a medium for providing power from the wireless node 610 to the electromechanical module 702. The cable 703 may be any wire capable of transmitting data and supplying power simultaneously. Preferably, cable 703 is a power over ethernet (PoE) capable cable.

In one variation, the cable 703 is not present and control signals are sent from the wireless node 610 to the electromechanical modules 702a to 702c via wireless communication techniques (e.g., bluetooth and IEEE 802.11). The electric machine modules 702a to 702c receive power through other power cables.

The operation shown in fig. 4 is applicable to the embodiments shown in fig. 6 and 7. However, rather than adjusting the position and orientation of wireless node 610, the position and orientation of external antenna 602 is adjusted.

Claims

1. A method for providing active aiming assistance guidance information at a wireless node, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning the wireless node based on the selected location and positioning a plurality of external antennas in corresponding initial orientations based on the operational configuration;

(b) determining proactive aiming assistance guidance information to provide proactive guidance for redirecting each of the plurality of external antennas from the initial orientation to a desired wireless link deployment configuration;

(c) redirecting the plurality of external antennas in accordance with the active aiming assistance guidance information provided by a user interface of the wireless node for implementing the desired wireless link deployment configuration calculated to provide a wireless link having one or more desired attributes; wherein the user interface further comprises an orientation guidance output, a pitch guidance output, a hold guidance output, a guidance control input, and a guidance response input;

wherein the wireless node is connected to the plurality of external antennas through at least one wireless communication module;

wherein the active cat quasi-auxiliary guidance information comprises a rotation direction and a tilt direction;

wherein the direction of rotation corresponds to a direction of rotation of the plurality of external antennas to the desired wireless link deployment configuration, respectively;

wherein the tilt directions correspond to directions to tilt the plurality of external antennas to the desired wireless link deployment configuration, respectively;

wherein the active cat quasi-aiding guidance information is used to orient the rotational direction and the tilt direction of the plurality of external antennas; and

wherein the rotational direction and the tilt direction of the plurality of external antennas are adjusted by a motor module.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) acquiring sensor information;

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least two sensors selected from the group consisting of: atmospheric pressure sensor, temperature sensor, accelerometer and gyroscopic sensor.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

(f) obtaining additional sensor information after one or more of the plurality of external antennas are redirected in the corresponding desired deployed wireless link configuration; wherein the additional sensor information is about the quality of the resulting wireless link; and

(g) providing at least a portion of the additional sensor information in real-time to an external source for determining active aiming assistance guidance information when performing step (f).

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

(h) obtaining updated sensor information during the redirecting one or more of the plurality of external antennas; wherein the updated sensor information is used to activate one or more guidance outputs; and

(i) updating the proactive aiming assistance guidance information based on at least a portion of the updated sensor information acquired during the redirecting the one or more of the plurality of external antennas.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the active aiming assistance guidance information comprises azimuth guidance information and tilt guidance information.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

(j) providing the active guidance in accordance with the active aiming assistance guidance information, wherein the active guidance comprises activating one or more azimuth guidance outputs and one or more pitch guidance outputs; wherein the proactive guidance includes activating a hold guidance output.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electric machine module receives power through a power over ethernet cable.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the tilt direction and the rotation direction of the plurality of external antennas are remotely adjustable.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical module is controlled by a processing unit of the wireless node.

11. A system, comprising:

an aiming assistance user interface providing proactive aiming assistance guidance information for redirecting each of the plurality of external antennas from an initial orientation to a desired wireless link deployment configuration; wherein

The user interface further comprises an orientation guidance output, a pitch guidance output, a hold guidance output, a guidance control input, and a guidance response input;

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the rotational direction and the tilt direction direct the orientation of the plurality of external antennas from corresponding initial orientations to the desired wireless link deployment configuration.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the active aiming assistance guidance information provides active guidance for redirecting each of the plurality of external antennas from the initial orientation to the desired wireless link deployment configuration; wherein the proactive guidance includes activating a hold guidance output.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of external antennas are redirected in accordance with the active aiming assistance guidance information to achieve the desired wireless link deployment configuration calculated to provide a wireless link having one or more desired attributes.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least two sensors selected from the group consisting of: atmospheric pressure sensors, temperature sensors, accelerometers, and gyroscopic sensors.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensors provide updated sensor information during the reorienting one or more of the plurality of external antennas; wherein the updated sensor information is used to activate one or more guidance outputs; and wherein the active aiming assistance guidance information is updated based on at least a portion of the updated sensor information acquired during the redirecting the one or more of the plurality of external antennas.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the motor module is controlled by a processing unit of the wireless node.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the active witness-aid guidance information comprises azimuth guidance information and tilt guidance information.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the electric machine module receives power through a power over ethernet cable.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the tilt direction and the rotation direction of the plurality of external antennas are remotely adjustable.