Mobile directional antenna

• US 20070087695A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MEC Management, LLC (Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward, Cohen, Alexander, Tegreene, Clarence, Lord, Robert, Levien, Royce, Rinaldo, John
• Application Number:
  US11/396,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20070087695A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/63.400
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/00 Suppression or limitation of noise or interference by means associated with receiver H04B1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/18 based on predicted events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In one aspect, adjusting a directional antenna from a first state to a second state to improve a network operation of the directional antenna relative to a mobile node to at least partially compensate for motion of the mobile node. In another aspect, identifying a network operational characteristic; determining a desired directional antenna configuration to direct a directional antenna at least partially with respect to a first mobile node at least partially according to the network operational characteristic; and establishing a directional antenna directionality at least partially according to a desired directional antenna direction.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

adjusting a directional antenna from a first state to a second state to improve a network operation of the directional antenna relative to a mobile node to at least partially compensate for motion of the mobile node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting a directional antenna from a first state to a second state to improve a network operation of the directional antenna relative to a mobile node to at least partially compensate for motion of the mobile node comprises:

adjusting a direction of the directional antenna from the first state to the second state in an attempt to improve the network operation of the directional antenna relative to the mobile node.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting a directional antenna from a first state to a second state to improve a network operation of the directional antenna relative to a mobile node to at least partially compensate for motion of the mobile node comprises:

adjusting a power of the directional antenna from the first state to the second state to improve the network operation of the directional antenna relative to the mobile node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting a directional antenna from a first state to a second state to improve a network operation of the directional antenna relative to a mobile node to at least partially compensate for motion of the mobile node comprises:

adjusting the directional antenna from the first state to the second state to improve a communication ability of the directional antenna relative to the mobile node.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting a directional antenna from a first state to a second state to improve a network operation of the directional antenna relative to a mobile node to at least partially compensate for motion of the mobile node comprises:

adjusting the directional antenna from the first state to the second state to improve a S/N Ratio of the directional antenna relative to the mobile node.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting a directional antenna from a first state to a second state to improve a network operation of the directional antenna relative to a mobile node to at least partially compensate for motion of the mobile node comprises:

adjusting the directional antenna from the first state to the second state to improve the network operation of the directional antenna relative to the mobile node at least partially considering a position of the mobile node.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting a directional antenna from a first state to a second state to improve a network operation of the directional antenna relative to a mobile node to at least partially compensate for motion of the mobile node comprises:

adjusting the directional antenna from the first state to the second state to improve the network operation of the directional antenna relative to the mobile node at least partially considering a movement of the mobile node.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting a directional antenna from a first state to a second state to improve a network operation of the directional antenna relative to a mobile node to at least partially compensate for motion of the mobile node comprises:

adjusting the directional antenna from the first state to the second state towards a target state of the directional antenna.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the directional antenna is secured relative to an at least one other mobile node.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the directional antenna is secured relative to an at least one other mobile node, and a vehicle at least partially includes the at least one other mobile node.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a vehicle at least partially includes the mobile node.

12. A method, comprising.

identifying a network operational characteristic;

determining a desired directional antenna configuration to direct a directional antenna at least partially with respect to a first mobile node at least partially according to the network operational characteristic; and

establishing a directional antenna directionality at least partially according to a desired directional antenna direction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifying a network operational characteristic comprises:

identifying a network transmission parameter.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifying a network operational characteristic comprises:

determining a signal strength.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifying a network operational characteristic comprises:

determining a signal to noise ratio.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifying a network operational characteristic comprises:

determining the network operational characteristic; and

predicting a maximum value of the network operational characteristic.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifying a network operational characteristic comprises:

determining an orientation or position of the first mobile node relative to a fixed node.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifying a network operational characteristic comprises:

determining an orientation or position of the first mobile node relative to a second mobile node.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining a desired directional antenna configuration to direct a directional antenna at least partially with respect to a first mobile node at least partially according to the network operational characteristic comprises:

determining the desired directional antenna direction of the directional antenna at least partially corresponding to a predicted maximum of a transmission parameter.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the establishing a directional antenna directionality at least partially according to a desired directional antenna direction comprises:

physically repositioning or reorienting the directional antenna at least partially according to the desired directional antenna direction.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the establishing a directional antenna directionality at least partially according to a desired directional antenna direction comprises:

activating a micro electomechanical system (MEMS) device.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the establishing a directional antenna directionality at least partially according to a desired directional antenna direction comprises:

altering relative phases or amplitudes of signals at selected components of the directional antenna.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein the establishing a directional antenna directionality at least partially according to a desired directional antenna direction comprises:

optimizing the directional antenna directionality.

24. The method of claim 12, wherein the desired directional antenna configuration is at least partially provided for an active directional antenna.

25. The method of claim 12, wherein the desired directional antenna configuration is at least partially provided for a passive directional antenna.

26. The method of claim 12, wherein the desired directional antenna configuration is at least partially provided for a patch directional antenna.

27. A method, comprising:

directing a directionality of a directional antenna that is at least partially associated with a mobile node from a first position to a second position, in an attempt to achieve a target position by which a network operational characteristic of a communication between the mobile node to at least a node can be improved.

28. The method of claim 27, comprising:

identifying the network operational characteristic, wherein the directing the directionality of the directional antenna can be performed at least partially according to identifying the network operational characteristic.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the identifying the network operational characteristic further comprises:

identifying a network transmission parameter.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing a network transmission parameter.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of the directional antenna based at least partially on feedback.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of the directional antenna based at least partially on discovery.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of the directional antenna based on a position information.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of the directional antenna based on a position information as indicating a roadway structure or direction.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of a receiving directional antenna.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of a transmitting directional antenna.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of a transceiving directional antenna.

38. A method, comprising:

directing a directionality of a directional antenna that is at least partially associated with a first mobile node from a first position to a second position, in an attempt to achieve a target position by which a network operational characteristic of at least one communication between the first mobile node to a second mobile node can be improved.

39. The method of claim 38, comprising:

identifying the network operational characteristic, wherein the directing the directionality of the directional antenna can be performed at least partially according to identifying the network operational characteristic.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of the directional antenna based at least partially on feedback.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of the directional antenna based at least partially on discovery.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of the directional antenna based on a position information.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of the directional antenna based on a position information as indicating a roadway structure or direction.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of a receiving directional antenna.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of a transmitting directional antenna.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein the directing a directionality of a directional antenna further comprises:

directing the directionality of a transceiving directional antenna.

47. An apparatus comprising:

at least one mobile node that includes a directional antenna, wherein the directional antenna is operable to be adjusted to improve a network operation of the directional antenna relative to the mobile node by at least partially compensating for motion of the mobile node.

48. An apparatus comprising:

at least one first mobile node that includes a directional antenna, wherein the directional antenna is operable to be adjusted to improve a network operation of the directional antenna relative to an at least one second mobile node by at least partially compensating for motion of the at least one second mobile node.