Facilitating wireless communications via wireless communication assembly apparatuses

• US 10,305,198 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2015
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2015
• 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: Schleef, Thomas, Lee, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Jae K
• Application Number:
  US14/630,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20160248603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 343702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0037 linear waveguide fed arrays

Abstract

Wireless communication is facilitated via communication assembly apparatuses. A system includes: a wireless gateway device located within a housing and having electrical connection elements for power and network connectivity; and an antenna coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the wireless gateway device. The housing is adapted to be masked on a surface of a support structure exposed to a defined environment, and is configured to serve a first function and the support structure is configured to serve a second function. The first function is distinct from the second function. In various embodiments, the antenna can be a resonant slot antenna, a horn antenna, a dipole antenna, a patch antenna or a custom antenna element. The wireless gateway device can include circuitry that facilitates multiple-input and multiple-output communication of the antenna, and is configured to be powered via power over Ethernet in some embodiments. In various embodiments, the support structure can include, but is not limited to, a hand rail, a stage scaffold, a lamp post and/or a trash can.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a wireless gateway device located within a tubular-shaped housing and comprising electrical connection elements for power and network connectivity; and

an antenna positioned on a surface of and integrated with the housing and electrically coupled to the wireless gateway device, wherein the antenna comprises antenna elements embedded into the housing half wavelengths apart, forming a substantially uniform surface with the housing and providing a defined frequency along the housing, wherein the housing is adapted to be embedded within, integrated and uniform with a support structure exposed to a defined environment, wherein the housing is sized to accommodate the half wavelength spacing between the antenna elements, wherein the housing is configured to serve a first function and the support structure is configured to serve a second function, and wherein the first function is distinct from the second function.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless gateway device comprises circuitry that facilitates multiple-input and multiple-output communication of the antenna.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the antenna comprises a resonant slot antenna array.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the antenna comprises a horn antenna array.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the antenna comprises a dipole antenna array.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the antenna comprises a patch antenna array.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless gateway device is powered via power over Ethernet.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless gateway device comprises:

a transceiver; and

an antenna launch point of antenna launch points, wherein the antenna launch point is electrically coupled to the transceiver and the antenna, wherein the antenna launch points are positioned such that a distance of approximately a length of a half wavelength is between at least two of the antenna launch points, and wherein the antenna launch point is a location from which a signal emanates from the antenna.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising the support structure.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first function comprises encapsulation of the wireless gateway device and wherein the second function comprises physical support for an entity located within the defined environment.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the defined spacing between the antenna elements is approximately 62.5 millimeters and the defined frequency is approximately 2.4 Gigahertz.

16. The system of claim 4, further comprising plastic antenna covers positioned over respective ones of the antenna elements, wherein the housing is formed in a tubular shape to accommodate the network connectivity.

17. The system of claim 5, further comprising plastic antenna covers positioned over respective ones of the antenna elements, wherein the housing is formed in a rectangular prism shape or cuboid shape to accommodate the network connectivity.

18. The system of claim 2, wherein the housing is embedded within a cavity of the support structure, and wherein the housing is a composite wall structure of the support structure.

11. A system, comprising:

wireless communication assembly apparatuses positioned relative to respective support structures in a defined environment, wherein the wireless communication assembly apparatuses comprise respective wireless gateway devices electrically coupled to antennas and located within tubular-shaped housings to which the antennas are coupled, wherein an antenna of the antennas comprises antenna elements embedded into a housing half wavelengths apart, forming a substantially uniform surface with the housing and providing a defined frequency along the housing, wherein the wireless communication assembly apparatuses are adapted to be positioned embedded within, integrated and uniform with a support structure in the defined environment, wherein the defined environment comprises a stadium, and wherein the wireless communication assembly apparatus is positioned within a first hand rail in a first section of the stadium.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a first wireless communication assembly apparatus of the wireless communication assembly apparatuses is associated with a first channel and a second wireless communication assembly apparatus of the wireless communication assembly apparatuses is associated with a second channel.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second wireless communication assembly apparatus is positioned within a second hand rail in a second section of the stadium.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first wireless communication assembly apparatuses comprise directional horn antenna arrays.

19. A system, comprising:

a wireless gateway device located within a first tubular-shaped housing and comprising electrical connection elements for power and network connectivity;

an antenna positioned on a surface of and integrated with the first tubular-shaped housing and electrically coupled to the wireless gateway device; and

a second housing encapsulating the first tubular-shaped housing, antenna and the wireless gateway device, wherein the second housing is adapted to be embedded within, integrated and uniform with a support structure exposed to a defined environment, wherein the antenna comprises antenna elements embedded into the housing half wavelengths apart, forming a substantially uniform surface with the housing and providing a defined frequency along the housing, and wherein the housing is sized to accommodate the half wavelength spacing between the antenna elements.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the support structure comprises a trash can or a lamp post.