Multi-sector pivotal antenna system and method

A system for adjusting a position of ones of a plurality of antenna modules, each antenna module of said plurality of antenna modules having a beam associated therewith compositing to form a substantially omni-directional radiation pattern, said system comprising:

• means for identifying a communication parameter comprising;
• a receive signal demodulator outputting at least a demodulated portion of a signal received by an antenna module of said plurality of antenna modules;
• a reference signal generator outputting a reference signal;
• and
• a signal combiner for combining said demodulated portion of said received signal and said reference signal;
• means for physically tilting said ones of said plurality antenna modules to provide an adjusted amount of down-tilt resulting in said composite radiation pattern having an adjusted size;
• and
• means for controlling said tilting means, said controlling means operable to control tilting of said antenna modules as a function of said identified communication parameter.

A method for adjusting a position of at least one antenna structure of a plurality of antenna structures, each antenna structure of said plurality of antenna structures having a predetermined narrow main lobe associated therewith, said plurality of antenna structures disposed circumferentially around a center point to provide substantially omni-directional coverage by said main lobes, said method comprising the steps of:

• identifying a communication attribute, wherein said step of identifying a communication attribute comprises the steps of:
• demodulating a signal received by an antenna structure of said plurality of antenna structures;
• generating a reference signal;
• and
• combining at least a portion of said demodulated received signal and said reference signal;
• tilting at least one antenna structure of said plurality antenna structures to result in a changed area covered by said main lobe associated with said at least one antenna structure;
• and
• automatically controlling said tilting step as a function of said identified communication attribute.

An antenna system comprising:

• a plurality of antenna modules spaced circumferentially around a support structure, each antenna module having a predetermined narrow communication beam, said antenna modules disposed around said support structure to provide substantially omni-directional communication within a predefined area;
• means for determining a communication aspect, wherein determination of said communication aspect is based at least in part on information available at a centralized controller operable to control a plurality of antenna systems;
• and
• means for automatically adjusting the attitude of at least one antenna module of said plurality of antenna modules as a function of said determined communication aspect to result in said predefined area being adjusted in shape, said adjusting means comprising:
• an input accepting said determined communication aspect;
• a processor-based system having a memory associated therewith;
• an algorithm stored in said memory executable on said processor-based system, said algorithm being operable to determine the appropriateness of adjusting the attitude of said at least one antenna module based at least in part on said input communication aspect.

A system for adjusting a position of ones of a plurality of antenna modules, each antenna module of said plurality of antenna modules having a beam associated therewith compositing to form a substantially omni-directional radiation pattern, said system comprising:

• means for identifying a communication parameter, wherein said identified communication parameter is provided by centralized controlling means operating to control a plurality of antenna systems to thereby result in system wide signal improvement;
• means for physically tilting said ones of said plurality antenna modules to provide an adjusted amount of down-tilt resulting in said composite radiation pattern having an adjusted size;
• and
• means for controlling said tilting means, said controlling means operable to control tilting of said antenna modules as a function of said identified communication parameter.