GB2517667A

GB2517667A - Independent adaptive interference reduction

Info

Publication number: GB2517667A
Application number: GB1220546.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Noel Bailey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-11-15
Filing date: 2012-11-15
Publication date: 2015-03-04
Also published as: GB201220546D0

Abstract

The system comprises an apparatus and method for reducing unwanted interference in a broadband wireless communication system that operates independently of information provided by the wireless communication system itself. It includes apparatus to inhibit or cause inhibition of ground station transmissions, apparatus and method to maintain a repository of associated information, and a method to manage and predict the network operating environment.

Description

Independent Aeronautical Adaptive Interference Reduction

Description

This invention, Independent Adaptive Interference Reduction, improves the performance of radio network systems using information about each node of the network but is itself independent of the network. This independence characteristic is a key distinguishing feature.

It comprises both apparatus and method.

It is primarily, but not exclusively, intended for aeronautical application.

The term "aircraft station" has been used to denote the mobile station.

The term "environment" has been used to denote the operational situation of both ground station and aircraft station network nodes.

Unwanted interference reduces the performance of radio network systems. Network systems normally comprise a number of nodes that call be described as ground stations or, in the aeronautical context, aircraft stations. Usually only one ground station and one aircraft station are parties to any given instantaneous communication link. A major source of such interference is from the network itself in the form of transmissions at the same or similar radio frequencies from nodes that are not relevant to the instantaneous communications link.

Network generated interference is of particular significance for aircraft stations because the typical radio horizon of an aircraft station is large given its normal operating altitude.

Ground stations frequently have associated antenna systems that support sector coverage. An example is shown in figures 1 and 2.

Aircraft stations may also have a sector antenna system but an omni-directional antenna is frequently used. Figures 3 and 4 show examples of such antennas.

Independent Adaptive Interference Reduction uses information about the radio network system nodes to determine which ground station nodes should be transmitting at any given instant. This substantially eliminates unnecessary unwanted transmissions thereby reducing interference and consequently increasing performance.

Transmission may be inhibited by, among other possibilities, independently switching off the transmitter amplifier and/or power supply using an interface apparatus.

Method Ground station position information is made available to the Independent Adaptive Interference Reduction system either by electronic or other means. If the ground station is fixed then a continuous update of position information is not essential.

However, if the ground station is mobile then the Independent Adaptive Interference Reduction system must be continually kept aware of the current position by electronic or other means. Among other possibilities the transfer of information could be through the radio network system itself.

Current ground station operational status is also made available to the Independent Adaptive Interference Reduction system, either by electronic or other means, such that account can be taken of, for example, non-operational radio sectors.

The aircraft station position is usually changing and the Independent Adaptive Interference Reduction system must be continually kept aware of the current position by electronic or other means.

The Independent Adaptive Interference Reduction system can use information, by electronic or other means, on which ground station a given aircraft station is using.

The Independent Adaptive Interference Reduction system maintains global information on the current position of all ground and aircraft stations.

Figure 5 shows the Independent Adaptive Interference Reduction system architecture.

It is possible that at a given time there are no aircraft stations using the network. In this situation the Independent Adaptive Interference Reduction system causes the network to occasionally transmit in order to determine whether or not any aircraft station requires network service.

The Independent Adaptive Interference Reduction system predicts when a ground station radio sector will be required to service one or more aircraft stations and controls the activity of that ground station accordingly. Prediction can either be before the aircraft station is within radio range of the ground station or when the said aircraft station is within radio range of the ground station.

This control may be exercised by electronic or other means.

The prediction function is continually exercised to minimise the probability that an unknown aircraft station appears within the radio range of a given ground station.

The prediction function also has knowledge as to whether or not a particular radio sector of a ground station is in operational service.

Example

Figure 6 presents an illustrative example. The depicted aircraft are being services by the following ground station radio sectors:

AIRCRAFT GROUND STATION RADIO SECTOR A 1 6 B 2 4 C 1 8 D 2 2 E 2 2

Without Independent Adaptive Interference Reduction aircraft D could receive unwanted interference from ground station 1 (sector 2). However this will not be the case because sector 2 has been inhibited.

Aircraft E is at the boundary of ground station 2 radio sectors 2 and 3. Because either sector is acceptable, the Independent Adaptive Interference Reduction system causes the aircraft to share sector 2 with aircraft D by inhibiting sector 3 thereby reducing the risk of unwanted interference.

Claims

Claims 1. An independent adaptive interference reduction system that enhances the performance of a radio network through management and prediction using knowledge of all the network nodes while able to operate independently of the radio network generated information.
2. The independent adaptive interference reduction system according to claim 1 includes apparatus and method.
3. The apparatus and method according to claim 2 include a device to inhibit or cause inhibition of ground station transmissions, a device to maintain a repository of associated information, and a method to manage and predict the network operating environment.
4. The apparatus and method according to claim 2 may be either centralised or distributed throughout the network.
5. Knowledge of the network nodes according to claim 1 includes position, speed, altitude, operational status and other information provided by electronic or other means.
6. Prediction according to claim 1 is achieved through knowledge of the network nodes that may be on land, seaborne or airborne.
7. The method according to claim 2 assesses the current situation environment of the radio network including ground stations and aircraft stations using the information made available.
8. The method according to claim 2 determines for all radio sectors of all ground stations whether or not transmission is required.
9. The method according to claim 2 predicts whether or not a transmission will be required in the immediate future.
10. The method according to claim 2 periodically permits transmission from selected radio sectors of selected ground stations to ensure that there are no aircraft stations, unknown to the independent adaptive interference reduction system, that may require service.
11. The apparatus according to claim 2 responds to the method according to claim 2 and enables or inhibits transmission accordingly.
12. Apparatus and method may be located centrally or distributed throughout the network.