Antenna placement determination device

• US 10,206,121 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2018
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chaganti, Phanishankar, Gohel, Kaushik D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rachedine, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US15/917,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20180206130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/227 the marking material being supplied in aerosol containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0814 Field measurements related to measuring influence on or from apparatus, components or humans EMC, EMI and similar testing in general G01R31/001, e.g. in ESD, EMI, EMC, EMP testing, measuring radiation leakage; detecting presence of micro- or radiowave emitters; dosimetry; testing shielding; measurements related to lightning
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/10 Radiation diagrams of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/16 using amplitude comparison of signals derived sequentially from receiving antennas or antenna systems having differently-oriented directivity characteristics or from an antenna system having periodically-varied orientation of directivity characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/38 using adjustment of real or effective orientation of directivity characteristic of an antenna or an antenna system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that antenna or antenna system, e.g. to give a maximum or minimum signal G01S3/16, G01S3/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1257 using the received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1264 Adjusting different parts or elements of an aerial unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for an antenna placement determination device. An antenna placement determination device can include a signal sensor located at a first end of an extendible arm, a platform located proximate to a second end of the extendible arm, a drive system connected to the platform, and an actuator connected to the extendible arm. The actuator can be configured to extend and collapse the extendible arm. The signal sensor can be connected to the extendible arm by a joint, and a sensor actuator or sensor motor can rotate the signal sensor about the joint. The drive system can include a drive motor and a drive mechanism that is configured to transport the antenna placement determination device.

Claims

1. An antenna placement determination device comprising:

a signal sensor located proximate to a first end of an arm, wherein the signal sensor is connected to the arm by a joint, and wherein the signal sensor is configured to be rotated about the joint;

a control system;

a platform located proximate to a second end of the arm;

a drive system connected to the platform, wherein the drive system comprises a drive motor and a drive mechanism, wherein the drive motor is controlled by the control system; and

a marking mechanism located proximate to the first end of the arm, wherein the marking mechanism is configured to mark a location of an installation location for an antenna, wherein the marking mechanism is controlled by the control system.

2. The antenna placement determination device of claim 1, wherein the marking mechanism comprises a paint nozzle.

3. The antenna placement determination device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a wheel that is powered by the drive motor.

4. The antenna placement determination device of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to generate placement data.

5. The antenna placement determination device of claim 4, wherein the placement data comprises:

location data that indicates a geographic location of the antenna placement determination device;

height data that indicates a height of the arm; and

orientation data that indicates an orientation of the signal sensor.

6. The antenna placement determination device of claim 4, further comprising:

a transceiver, wherein the placement data is transmitted to a remote device using the transceiver.

7. The antenna placement determination device of claim 1, wherein the drive system is configured to transport the antenna placement determination device, and wherein the drive mechanism comprises a rotor that is powered by the drive motor.

8. The antenna placement determination device of claim 1, wherein the drive system is configured to transport the antenna placement determination device, and wherein the drive mechanism comprises a track that is powered by the drive motor.

9. The antenna placement determination device of claim 1, wherein the joint enables rotation of the signal sensor about three axes.

10. The antenna placement determination device of claim 1, further comprising:

an installation assembly that is configured to attach mounting hardware at the installation location.

11. An antenna placement determination device comprising:

a signal sensor located proximate to a first end of an arm, wherein the signal sensor is connected to the arm by a joint, and wherein the signal sensor is configured to be rotated about the joint;

a platform located proximate to a second end of the arm;

a drive system connected to the platform, wherein the drive system comprises a drive motor and a drive mechanism, and wherein the drive system is configured to transport the antenna placement determination device;

a control system that controls the drive motor; and

a marking mechanism that is located proximate to the first end of the arm, wherein the marking mechanism is configured to mark an installation location for an antenna, and wherein the marking mechanism is controlled by the control system.

12. The antenna placement determination device of claim 11, further comprising:

a transceiver, wherein the control system is configured to generate placement data, and wherein the placement data is transmitted to a remote device using the transceiver.

13. The antenna placement determination device of claim 12, wherein the placement data comprises:

location data that indicates a geographic location of the antenna placement determination device;

height data that indicates a height of the arm; and

orientation data that indicates an orientation of the signal sensor.

14. The antenna placement determination device of claim 11, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a track that is powered by the drive motor.

15. The antenna placement determination device of claim 11, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a wheel that is powered by the drive motor.

16. The antenna placement determination device of claim 11, further comprising:

an installation assembly that is configured to attach mounting hardware at the installation location.

17. An antenna placement determination device comprising:

a platform;

an arm, wherein a first end of the arm is connected to the platform;

a signal sensor connected to a second end of the arm by a joint, wherein the signal sensor is configured to be rotated about the joint;

a drive system connected to the platform, wherein signals detected by the signal sensor are measured by a control system to determine signal strength, and wherein the signal strength is used to determine an installation location for an antenna; and

a marking mechanism located proximate to the second end of the arm, wherein the marking mechanism is configured to mark the installation location for the antenna, and wherein the marking mechanism is controlled by the control system.

18. The antenna placement determination device of claim 17, further comprising:

a transceiver, wherein the control system is configured to generate placement data, and wherein the placement data is transmitted to a remote device using the transceiver.

19. The antenna placement determination device of claim 18, wherein the placement data comprises:

location data that indicates a geographic location of the antenna placement determination device;

height data that indicates a height of the arm; and

orientation data that indicates an orientation of the signal sensor.

20. The antenna placement determination device of claim 19, wherein the control system determines the height data by tracking movement of the arm.