WO2016077529A1 - Procédé d'alignement d'antennes de stations de base sur un site de cellule - Google Patents

Procédé d'alignement d'antennes de stations de base sur un site de cellule Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016077529A1
WO2016077529A1 PCT/US2015/060291 US2015060291W WO2016077529A1 WO 2016077529 A1 WO2016077529 A1 WO 2016077529A1 US 2015060291 W US2015060291 W US 2015060291W WO 2016077529 A1 WO2016077529 A1 WO 2016077529A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
antenna
signal
signal strength
base station
measuring
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2015/060291
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kevin Eldon Linehan
Morgan C. KURK
Original Assignee
Commscope Technologies Llc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Commscope Technologies Llc filed Critical Commscope Technologies Llc
Publication of WO2016077529A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016077529A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
    • H04B17/30—Monitoring; Testing of propagation channels
    • H04B17/309—Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
    • H04B17/318—Received signal strength
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
    • H04B17/10—Monitoring; Testing of transmitters
    • H04B17/101—Monitoring; Testing of transmitters for measurement of specific parameters of the transmitter or components thereof
    • H04B17/102—Power radiated at antenna
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
    • H04B17/10—Monitoring; Testing of transmitters
    • H04B17/11—Monitoring; Testing of transmitters for calibration
    • H04B17/12—Monitoring; Testing of transmitters for calibration of transmit antennas, e.g. of the amplitude or phase
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
    • H04B7/02—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas
    • H04B7/04—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas
    • H04B7/06—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station
    • H04B7/0613—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station using simultaneous transmission
    • H04B7/0615—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station using simultaneous transmission of weighted versions of same signal
    • H04B7/0617—Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas using two or more spaced independent antennas at the transmitting station using simultaneous transmission of weighted versions of same signal for beam forming

Definitions

  • Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to base station antennae, and, more particularly, to methods for aligning base station antennae at a cell site.
  • Base station antennae may generally be mechanically aligned through the use of several methods including dead reckoning, using compass headings (e.g., a magnetic compass), and using global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.
  • compass headings e.g., a magnetic compass
  • GPS global positioning system
  • a reference point for alignment of a base station antenna is a back radome/reflector surface, which is assumed to be orthogonal to the peak of the base station antenna's beam.
  • a cell site may include base station antennae including a first antenna, a second antenna, and a third antenna, which may provide coverage of respective sectors of the cell site. While a first antenna is pointed in a direction at an initial azimuth angle, a first radio frequency (RF) signal strength of at least one signal transmitted by the first antenna may be measured at a second antenna; and a second RF signal strength of the at least one signal may be measured at a third antenna. It may then be determined whether the first and second RF signal strengths are equal. In response to determining that the first and second RF signal strengths are unequal, the azimuth angle of the first antenna may be adjusted. This process may be repeated until the first and second RF signal strengths are equal. The second and third antennae may be aligned in a similar fashion.
  • RF radio frequency
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cell site having base station antennae with respective theoretical antenna beams
  • Fig. 2 is a plan view of an actual antenna beam pattern of one base station antenna
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cell site having base station antennae having respective antenna beams with equalized inter-sector interference, according to an aspect of the present disclosure
  • Fig. 4 is a method of aligning base station antennae of a cell site according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
  • Fig. 5 is a plan view of a cell site having base station antennae having respective antenna beams with equalized inter-sector interference, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cell site considering this assumption.
  • the cell site 10 may comprise a triangular platform 12, which may be mounted atop an antenna tower (not shown), or other suitable structure, such as a building (not shown).
  • the platform may include a first side, a second side, and a third side, each of which may have one or more base station antennae 11, 13, and 15, having respective base station antenna beams 17, 19, and 21 shown serving three sectors, each having a range of 120 degrees, respectively.
  • the pattern shape of each theoretical antenna beam 17, 1 , and 21 may be symmetrical. Even though only three sectors and three base station antennae are illustrated, it is understood that a cell site may contain any number of sectors and any number of base station antennae, each having an antenna beam covering any degree range.
  • antenna beams may exhibit little symmetry.
  • An example of one such actual antenna beam 22 of a base station antenna is shown in Figure 2. Consequently, antenna pointing errors often occur, resulting in reduced RF signal strength or coverage of a sector by a corresponding base station antenna, while causing excessive interference in an adjacent sector (e.g.. by a beam of an antenna covering the adjacent sector), otherwise known as inter-sector interference.
  • inter-sector interference e.g. by a beam of an antenna covering the adjacent sector
  • one may employ techniques that seek to minimize the negative impact of the asymmetrical nature of antenna beams by equalizing the RF signal strength at sector boundaries for a cell site by RF measurement with simultaneous antenna pointing adjustment.
  • an RF signal strength of at least one signal may be measured at edges of a sector that the base station antenna is covering with respective actual (i.e., in a real-world environment) antenna beams 23, 25, and 27.
  • base station antenna 11 may be configured, such as by the operator via the base station (not shown), to transmit at least one pilot signal.
  • the other base station antennae 13 and 15 covering sectors adjacent to the sector covered by base station antenna 1 1 may be configured to receive the one or more pilot signals.
  • the RF signal strengths of the signals may then be measured at each of the adjacent base station antennae, 13 and 15.
  • RF signal strengths may be measured at each of the base station antennas 11, 13, and 15, using various devices which may include but are not limited to: a base station analyzer, a spectrum analyzer, a computing device, and the like. Based on the RF signal strength measurements, the horizontal beam pointing direction (referred to herein as azimuth angle) may be physically adjusted. Stated differently, the base station antenna 1 1 may be horizontally steered towards or away from either one of the adjacent base station antennae 13, 15, effectively altering the coverage of the antenna beam 23 of the base station antenna 11, which, may in turn, alter the level of interference seen at the respective sector edges. Accordingly, the base station antenna 1 1 may be horizontally steered until the RF signal strength measured at the other base station antennae 13 and 15 in their respective sectors is substantially equal.
  • the base station antenna 13 may now be configured to transmit at least one pilot signal, while the other base station antennae 1 1 and 15 may be configured to receive the at least one pilot signal.
  • the RF signal strength of the transmitted pilot signal(s) may be measured at base station antennae 11 and 15.
  • the base station antenna 13 may be periodically steered (and the RF signal strengths may be simultaneously measured) at the other base station antennae 1 1 and 15, until the measured RF signal strengths of the transmitted pilot signals are substantially equal. Even though only three sectors and three base station antennae are illustrated, it is understood that embodiments of the present invention may be employed at a cell site containing any number of sectors and any number of base station antennae, each having an antenna beam covering any degree range.
  • each of the antennae 1 1 , 13, and 15 may be accurately aligned in its respective azimuth angle. With the base station antennae now more accurately aligned, the area of antennae beam overlap at each of the sector boundaries 31, 33, and 35 may be substantially equal, as shown in Fig. 3.
  • FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method 400 for aligning a base station antenna (e.g., a first antenna) at a cell site having a first antenna, a second antenna, and a third antenna. While the first antenna is pointed in a direction at an initial azimuth angle, a first RF signal strength of at least one signal transmitted from a first antenna may be measured at a second antenna (Block 401); and a second RF signal strength of the at least one signal transmitted from the first antenna may be measured at a third antenna (Block 403). It may then be determined whether the first and second RF signal strengths are substantially equal (Block 405). If it is determined that the first and second RF signal strengths are unequal, the azimuth angle of the first antenna may be adjusted (Block 407).
  • a base station antenna e.g., a first antenna
  • a method may use a global positioning system (GPS) enabled device to measure signal strengths of signals at sector edges.
  • Base station antennae may be horizontally adjusted until sector edge signal strengths are substantially equalized.
  • GPS enabled device may refer to a smart phone, a tablet, an e-reader, a mobile gaming console, a personal computer, an mp3 player, an i Pod or any other device that is GPS enabled and capable of RF signal strength measurement.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a cell site 10 shown having a triangular platform 12, which may be mounted atop an antenna tower (not shown), or other suitable structure, such as a building (not shown).
  • the platform as shown includes a first side, a second side, and a third side, each of which have one or more base station antennae 1 1 , 13. and 15, shown having respective antenna beams 23, 25, and 27 serving three sectors, each having a range of 120 degrees, respectively.
  • a GPS enabled device 37 located preferably at a sector boundary (such as, for example 31), two antennas 11 and 13 having adjacent beams 23 and 25, respectively, may be configured to transmit respective known signals (such as continuous wave signals). Because these signals are predetermined known (e.g., continuous ⁇ vave signals), the GPS enabled device may be able to identify (e.g., through an identifier unique to each signal) from which antenna each signal is transmitted. The GPS enabled device may measure RF signal strengths of the respective continuous wave signals. The antennae may be steered horizontally until the RF signal strengths of the signals (measured at the GPS enabled device) are substantially equal.
  • DSP digital signal processor
  • ASIC application specific integrated circuit
  • FPGA field programmable gate array
  • a general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine.
  • a processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne des procédés d'alignement d'antennes de stations de base sur un site de cellule, l'antenne de station de base pouvant comprendre une première antenne, une deuxième antenne et une troisième antenne, chacune assurant la couverture d'un secteur respectif du site de cellule, les procédés pouvant comporter les étapes consistant à prendre des mesures de signaux reçus dans des régions de recouvrement de couverture des antennes et à régler les angles d'azimut d'une ou plusieurs des antennes pour égaliser sensiblement les intensités des signaux reçus.
PCT/US2015/060291 2014-11-12 2015-11-12 Procédé d'alignement d'antennes de stations de base sur un site de cellule WO2016077529A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201462078591P 2014-11-12 2014-11-12
US62/078,591 2014-11-12

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2016077529A1 true WO2016077529A1 (fr) 2016-05-19

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Family Applications (1)

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PCT/US2015/060291 WO2016077529A1 (fr) 2014-11-12 2015-11-12 Procédé d'alignement d'antennes de stations de base sur un site de cellule

Country Status (1)

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WO (1) WO2016077529A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20160240910A1 (en) * 2015-02-18 2016-08-18 Commscope Technologies Llc Antenna azimuth alignment monitor
CN109714784A (zh) * 2018-12-11 2019-05-03 中国联合网络通信集团有限公司 一种天线方位角的优化方法和装置

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080293451A1 (en) * 2004-12-01 2008-11-27 Quintel Technology Limited Sectorisation of Cellular Radio
JP5136563B2 (ja) * 2008-01-23 2013-02-06 富士通株式会社 移動通信システム
US20130273921A1 (en) * 2012-04-16 2013-10-17 Peter Kenington Method and apparatus for determining incorrect antenna configuration within a cellular communication network
WO2013171291A2 (fr) * 2012-05-18 2013-11-21 Fasmetrics S.A. Appareil et procédé de positionnement exact et précis d'antennes cellulaires
US20140218249A1 (en) * 2011-07-15 2014-08-07 Fasmetrics S.A. Antenna alignment apparatus and method

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080293451A1 (en) * 2004-12-01 2008-11-27 Quintel Technology Limited Sectorisation of Cellular Radio
JP5136563B2 (ja) * 2008-01-23 2013-02-06 富士通株式会社 移動通信システム
US20140218249A1 (en) * 2011-07-15 2014-08-07 Fasmetrics S.A. Antenna alignment apparatus and method
US20130273921A1 (en) * 2012-04-16 2013-10-17 Peter Kenington Method and apparatus for determining incorrect antenna configuration within a cellular communication network
WO2013171291A2 (fr) * 2012-05-18 2013-11-21 Fasmetrics S.A. Appareil et procédé de positionnement exact et précis d'antennes cellulaires

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20160240910A1 (en) * 2015-02-18 2016-08-18 Commscope Technologies Llc Antenna azimuth alignment monitor
CN109714784A (zh) * 2018-12-11 2019-05-03 中国联合网络通信集团有限公司 一种天线方位角的优化方法和装置
CN109714784B (zh) * 2018-12-11 2022-03-15 中国联合网络通信集团有限公司 一种天线方位角的优化方法和装置

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