SYSTEMS AND METHODS PROVIDING ASSISTED AIMING FOR WIRELESS LINKS

• US 20130149970A1
• Filed: 06/29/2011
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pismo Labs Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Pismo Labs Technology Limited
• Inventors: Durick, Travis, Yeung, Yu, Chong, Ming Pui, Chan, Alex Wing Hong
• Granted Patent: US 9,055,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems and methods which provide local sensor and/or external information derived proactive aiming assistance with respect to wireless nodes for facilitating desired wireless links are shown. Embodiments provide an aiming assistance user interface providing guidance with respect to properly altering the orientation of a wireless node to provide a desired wireless link. To facilitate providing aiming assistance embodiments of wireless nodes are adapted to include a plurality of sensors operable to provide information useful in environmental analysis for determining proactive orientation guidance information. Wireless nodes adapted according to embodiments additionally or alternatively utilize information obtained externally useful in determining proactive orientation guidance information. Embodiments of the invention utilize the foregoing sensor information and externally sourced information to determine proactive orientation guidance information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

positioning a wireless node in an initial orientation;

determining proactive aiming assistance guidance information to provide proactive guidance for reorienting the wireless node from the initial orientation to a desired deployment configuration; and

reorienting the wireless node in accordance with the proactive aiming assistance guidance information as provided by a user interface of the wireless node to achieve the desired deployment configuration calculated to provide a wireless link having one or more desired attributes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining sensor information; and

determining the initial orientation using at least a portion of the sensor information, wherein at least a portion of the proactive aiming assistance guidance information is determined using the sensor information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sensor information comprises information obtained from a plurality of sensors.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least two sensors selected from the group consisting of a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a barometric pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an inclinometer, a tilt switch, an accelerometer, gyroscopic sensor, and a digital compass.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

obtaining additional sensor information after the wireless node is reoriented in the desired deployment configuration; and

providing at least a portion of the additional sensor information to an external source for use in determining proactive aiming assistance guidance information.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

obtaining information from one or more external source, wherein the proactive aiming assistance guidance information is determined using at least a portion of the external source information and the at least a portion of the sensor information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the external source information comprises information for use with a portion of the sensor information for determining the initial orientation.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the external source information comprises wireless node information, the method further comprising:

determining a candidate wireless node for establishing the wireless link between the wireless node and the candidate wireless node; and

determining the desired deployment configuration based upon the candidate wireless node.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing information to the one or more external source regarding deployment configuration the wireless node has been reoriented into.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the information provided to the one or more external source comprises information provided by a sensor of the wireless node.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

obtaining sensor information during the reorienting the wireless node; and

updating the proactive aiming assistance guidance information based upon at least a portion of the sensor information obtained during the reorienting the wireless node.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the proactive aiming assistance guidance information comprises azimuth guidance information and tilt guidance information.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing the proactive guidance consistent with the proactive aiming assistance guidance information, wherein the proactive guidance comprises activating one or more azimuth guidance output and one or more elevation guidance output.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the proactive guidance comprises activating a hold guidance output.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a plurality of candidate wireless nodes for providing the wireless link; and

repeating the determining proactive aiming assistance guidance information and the reorienting the wireless node for at least two candidate wireless nodes of the plurality of wireless nodes.

16. A method comprising:

obtaining sensor information, wherein the sensor information comprises information obtained from a plurality of sensors of a wireless node;

determining an orientation of the wireless node using at least a portion of the sensor information, wherein at least a portion of the proactive aiming assistance guidance information is determined using the sensor information;

determining aiming assistance guidance information to provide proactive guidance for orienting the wireless node into a desired deployment configuration; and

presenting the proactive aiming assistance guidance information to provide guidance for achieving the desired deployment configuration.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least two sensors selected from the group consisting of a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a barometric pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an inclinometer, a tilt switch, an accelerometer, gyroscopic sensor, and a digital compass.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the desired deployment configuration is calculated to provide a wireless link having one or more desired attributes.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

obtaining information from one or more external source, wherein the external source information comprises information for use with a portion of the sensor information for determining the orientation to provide the wireless link having one or more desired attributes.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the external source information comprises wireless node information, the method further comprising:

determining a candidate wireless node for establishing the wireless link between the wireless node and the candidate wireless node; and

determining the desired deployment configuration based upon the candidate wireless node.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the external source information comprises information for use with a portion of the sensor information for determining an initial orientation of the wireless node.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing information to the one or more external source regarding a deployment configuration the wireless node has been oriented into.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the information provided to the one or more external source comprises information provided by a sensor of the wireless node.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

obtaining sensor information during the orienting the wireless node; and

updating the proactive aiming assistance guidance information based upon at least a portion of the sensor information obtained during the orienting the wireless node.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

obtaining additional sensor information after the wireless node is oriented in the desired deployment configuration; and

providing at least a portion of the additional sensor information to an external source for use in determining proactive aiming assistance guidance information.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the proactive aiming assistance guidance information is presented by a user interface of the wireless node

27. A system comprising:

a plurality of sensors providing output of deployment configuration information;

a processor accepting the deployment configuration information and determining proactive orientation guidance information using the deployment configuration information; and

an aiming assistance user interface receiving signals corresponding to the proactive orientation guidance information and providing output of proactive guidance information as a function of the signals to guide orientation of a node into a deployment configuration.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least two sensors selected from the group consisting of a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a barometric pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an inclinometer, a tilt switch, an accelerometer, gyroscopic sensor, and a digital compass.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the proactive orientation guidance information comprises information to instruct a user to alter an azimuth orientation of the node.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the proactive orientation guidance information further comprises information with respect to a magnitude of azimuth orientation alteration.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the proactive orientation guidance information comprises information to instruct a user to alter an elevation orientation of the node.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the proactive orientation guidance information further comprises information with respect to a magnitude of elevation orientation alteration.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the aiming assistance user interface comprises:

one or more azimuth guidance output; and

one or more elevation guidance output, wherein the one or more azimuth guidance output and the one or more elevation guidance output are operable in response to the signals corresponding to the proactive orientation guidance information.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the one or more azimuth guidance output comprises a left movement guidance output and a right movement guidance output, and wherein the one or more elevation guidance output comprises an up-tilt movement guidance output and a down-tilt movement guidance output.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the aiming assistance user interface further comprises:

a hold guidance output.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein the node comprises:

a wireless node.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the deployment configuration comprises an orientation of the wireless node calculated to provide a wireless link having one or more desired attributes with another wireless node.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the wireless node comprises the plurality of sensors and the processor.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the wireless node further comprises the aiming assistance user interface.

40. The system of claim 38, further comprising:

a processor-based system in communication with the wireless node, wherein the processor-based system comprises the aiming assistance user interface.