US 10,763,929 B2 · Method and steerable antenna apparatus

Abstract

The invention provides a method of adjusting a principal communication direction of a steerable directional antenna for communicating with a terrestrial electromagnetic signal source, the method comprising: providing location specific steering data comprising one or more steering data portions, each of the steering data portions being specific to a respective location; determining a location of the steerable directional antenna; selecting a steering data portion from the location specific steering data taking into account the determined location of the antenna; determining an adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna taking into account the said selected steering data portion; and adjusting the principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna in accordance with the said adjusted principal communication direction.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A method of adjusting a principal communication direction of a steerable directional antenna for communicating with a terrestrial electromagnetic signal source, the method comprising:

providing location specific steering data comprising one or more steering data portions, each of the steering data portions being specific to a respective location;
determining a location of the steerable directional antenna;
selecting a steering data portion from the location specific steering data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determining an adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna taking into account the said selected steering data portion;
and adjusting the principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna in accordance with the said adjusted principal communication direction, wherein the method further comprises providing location specific power level data comprising one or more power level data portions, each of the power level data portions being specific to each of one or more locations, the said power level data portions being indicative of respective power level configurations of one or more antenna amplifiers configured to adjust a power level of signals to be transmitted or received by the antenna;
selecting a power level data portion from the said power level data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determining a power level configuration of the antenna amplifier(s) taking into account the selected power level data portion;
and configuring the antenna amplifier(s) in accordance with the said determined power level configuration;
and wherein one or more or each of the steering data portions are derived from prior usage of the antenna by a user.

6 more elements

A method of adjusting a principal communication direction of a steerable directional antenna for communication with a terrestrial electromagnetic signal source, the method comprising:

providing location specific steering data comprising one or more steering data portions, each of the steering data portions being specific to a respective location;
determining a location of the steerable directional antenna;
selecting a steering data portion from the location specific steering data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determining an adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna taking into account the said selected steering data portion and adjusting the principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna in accordance with the said adjusted principal communication direction, wherein the method further comprises providing location specific power level data comprising one or more power level data portions, each of the power level data portions being specific to each of one or more locations, the said power level data portions being indicative of respective power level configurations of one or more antenna amplifiers configured to adjust a power level of signals to be transmitted or received by the antenna;
selecting a power level data portion from the said power level data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determining a power level configuration of the antenna amplifier(s) taking into account the selected power level data portion;
and configuring the antenna amplifier(s) in accordance with the said determined power level configuration;
and wherein the method further comprises:
determining an orientation of the antenna;
and selecting the said steering data portion from the location specific steering data taking into account the determined orientation of the antenna, and/or determining the said adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna taking into account the determined orientation of the antenna.

7 more elements

A method of adjusting a principal communication direction of a steerable directional antenna for communicating with a terrestrial electromagnetic signal source, the method comprising;

providing location specific steering data comprising one or more steering data portions, each of the steering data portions being specific to a respective location;
determining a location of the steerable directional antenna;
selecting a steering data portion from the location specific steering data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determining an adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna taking into account the said selected steering data portion;
and adjusting the principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna in accordance with the said adjusted principal communication direction, wherein the method further comprises providing location specific power level data comprising one or more power level data portions, each of the power level data portions being specific to each of one or more locations, the said power level data portions being indicative of respective power level configurations of one or more antenna amplifiers configured to adjust a power level of signals to be transmitted or received by the antenna;
selecting a power level data portion from the said power level data taking into account the determined location of the antenna, determining a power level configuration of the antenna amplifier(s) taking into account the selected power level data portion;
and configuring the antenna amplifier(s) in accordance with the said determined power level configuration;
and wherein the method further comprises:
selecting the said steering data portion from the location specific steering data and/or determining the said adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna taking into account sensor data from one or more pressure sensors and/or one or more temperature sensors.

6 more elements

A method of adjusting a principal communication direction of a steerable directional antenna for communicating with a terrestrial electromagnetic signal source, the method comprising:

providing location specific steering data comprising one or more steering data portions, each of the steering data portions being specific to a respective location;
determining a location of the steerable directional antenna;
selecting a steering data portion from the location specific steering data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determining an adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna taking into account the said selected steering data portion;
and adjusting the principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna in accordance with the said adjusted principal communication direction, wherein the method further comprises providing location specific power level data comprising one or more power level data portions, each of the power level data portions being specific to each of one or more locations, the said power level data portions being indicative of respective power level configurations of one or more antenna amplifiers configured to adjust a power level of signals to be transmitted or received by the antenna;
selecting a power level data portion from the said power level data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determining a power level configuration of the antenna amplifier(s) taking into account the selected power level data portion;
and configuring the antenna amplifier(s) in accordance with the said determined power level configuration;
and wherein the method further comprises:
determining a frequency channel on which the antenna is communicating with the electromagnetic signal source;
and adjusting a frequency response of one or more antenna amplifiers configured to amplify signals to be transmitted and/or received by the antenna taking into account the said frequency channel.

8 more elements

Steerable directional antenna apparatus comprising:

a steerable directional antenna for communicating with a terrestrial electromagnetic signal source;
a memory comprising location specific steering data comprising one or more steering data portions, each steering data portion being specific to a respective location;
and
a controller comprising one or more computer processors, the controller being configured to:
determine a location of the steerable directional antenna;
select a steering data portion from the location specific steering data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determine an adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna taking into account the said selected steering data portion;
and adjust the principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna in accordance with the said adjusted principal communication direction,
wherein the memory further comprises location specific power level data comprising one or more power level data portions, each of the power level data portions being specific to each of one or more locations, the said power level data portions being indicative of respective power level configurations of one or more antenna amplifiers configured to adjust a power level of signals to be transmitted and/or received by the antenna;
wherein the controller is further configured to:
select a power level data portion from the said power level data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determine a power level configuration of the antenna amplifier(s) taking into account the selected power level data portion;
and configure the antenna amplifier(s) in accordance with the said determined power level configuration;
and
wherein the controller is configured:
to determine a frequency channel on which the antenna is communicating with the electromagnetic signal source;
and to adjust a frequency response of one or more antenna amplifiers configured to amplify signals to be transmitted and/or received by the antenna taking into account the said frequency channel.

14 more elements

Steerable directional antenna apparatus comprising:

a steerable directional antenna for communicating with a terrestrial electromagnetic signal source;
a memory comprising location specific steering data comprising one or more steering data portions, each steering data portion being specific to a respective location;
and
a controller comprising one or more computer processors, the controller being configured to:
determine a location of the steerable directional antenna;
select a steering data portion from the location specific steering data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determine an adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna taking into account the said selected steering data portion;
and adjust the principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna in accordance with the said adjusted principal communication direction,
wherein the memory further comprises location specific power level data comprising one or more power level data portions, each of the power level data portions being specific to each of one or more locations, the said power level data portions being indicative of respective power level configurations of one or more antenna amplifiers configured to adjust a power level of signals to be transmitted and/or received by the antenna;
and wherein the controller is further configured to:
select a power level data portion from the said power level data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determine a power level configuration of the antenna amplifier(s) taking into account the selected power level data portion;
and configure the antenna amplifier(s) in accordance with the said determined power level configuration, and to determine an orientation of the antenna;
and select the said steering data portion from the location specific steering data, and/or determine the said adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna, taking into account the determined orientation of the antenna.

11 more elements

Steerable directional antenna apparatus comprising:

a steerable directional antenna for communicating with a terrestrial electromagnetic signal source;
one or more proximity sensors;
a memory comprising location specific steering data comprising one or more steering data portions, each steering data portion being specific to a respective location;
and
a controller comprising one or more computer processors, the controller being configured to:
determine a location of the steerable directional antenna;
select a steering data portion from the location specific steering data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determine an adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna taking into account the said selected steering data portion;
and adjust the principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna in accordance with the said adjusted principal communication direction,
wherein the memory further comprises location specific power level data comprising one or more power level data portions, each of the power level data portions being specific to each of one or more locations, the said power level data portions being indicative of respective power level configurations of one or more antenna amplifiers configured to adjust a power level of signals to be transmitted and/or received by the antenna;
and wherein the controller is further configured to:
select a power level data portion from the said power level data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determine a power level configuration of the antenna amplifier(s) taking into account the selected power level data portion;
and configure the antenna amplifier(s) in accordance with the said determined power level configuration, and to select the said steering data portion from the location specific steering data, and/or determine the said adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna, taking into account sensor data from the one or more proximity sensors.

11 more elements

Steerable directional antenna apparatus comprising:

a steerable directional antenna for communicating with a terrestrial electromagnetic signal source;
one or more pressure sensors and/or one or more temperature sensors.
a memory comprising location specific steering data comprising one or more steering data portions, each steering data portion being specific to a respective location;
and
a controller comprising one or more computer processors, the controller being configured to:
determine a location of the steerable directional antenna;
select a steering data portion from the location specific steering data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determine an adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna taking into account the said selected steering data portion;
and adjust the principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna in accordance with the said adjusted principal communication direction,
wherein the memory further comprises location specific power level data comprising one or more power level data portions, each of the power level data portions being specific to each of one or more locations, the said power level data portions being indicative of respective power level configurations of one or more antenna amplifiers configured to adjust a power level of signals to be transmitted and/or received by the antenna;
and wherein the controller is further configured to:
select a power level data portion from the said power level data taking into account the determined location of the antenna;
determine a power level configuration of the antenna amplifier(s) taking into account the selected power level data portion;
and configure the antenna amplifier(s) in accordance with the said determined power level configuration, and to select the said steering data portion from the location specific steering data and/or determine the said adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna taking into account sensor data from the one or more pressure sensors and/or one or more temperature sensors.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and steerable antenna apparatus

Life of this patent

Method and steerable antenna apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32