US-20260128804-A1 - ANTENNA AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS MONITORING FOR WIRELESS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOR PRIVATE, PUBLIC, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND EMERGENCY RESPONDER RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (ERRCS)

US20260128804A1US 20260128804 A1US20260128804 A1US 20260128804A1US-20260128804-A1

Abstract

Antenna monitoring systems and methods can include, among other things, a transmitter near each of the antennas in a distributed antenna system (DAS). The transmitter can transmit an antenna identifier corresponding to that antenna, so that the various transmitters in the DAS each transmit different antenna identifiers. These antenna identifiers can be detected by a receiver and can be processed to determine whether any antenna identifiers are missing. If any expected antenna identifier is missing, the receiver can infer that the antenna or a component associated with the antenna (such as cabling) may have failed. The receiver can then output an indication or notification that may be accessed by maintenance personnel and/or emergency personnel to enable them to identify and repair the non-functioning antenna or component. The transmitter can transmit other data, such as environmental data, RF data, or the like, to facilitate additional or alternative monitoring functionality.

Inventors

Frederick Daniel Leaf
Joshua Travis Helling

Assignees

GUGLI CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20250929

Claims (20)

1 - 25 . (canceled)
26 . An antenna monitoring system comprising: a plurality of transmitters associated with a plurality of antennas, the plurality of transmitters being configured to: monitor radio frequency (RF) data; transmit a first plurality of signals and the RF data to the plurality of antennas, a signal of the first plurality of signals comprising an antenna identifier for an antenna associated with a transmitter transmitting the signal; and cause the plurality of antennas to transmit a second plurality of signals; and a receiver comprising an electronic processing circuitry configured to: receive the second plurality of signals from the plurality of antennas; determine that a plurality of antenna identifiers included in the second plurality of signals does not include a first antenna identifier for a first antenna of the plurality of antennas; in response to determining that the plurality of antenna identifiers does not include the first antenna identifier for the first antenna, provide an indication corresponding to a failure of the first antenna; and determine and provide an indication of performance of a second antenna of the plurality of antennas using the RF data included in the second plurality of signals.
27 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 26 , wherein the RF data comprises one or more properties of RF signals received or transmitted by an antenna of the plurality of antennas.
28 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 26 , wherein a transmitter of the plurality of transmitters is configured to encode as encoded data a signal comprising an antenna identifier for an antenna associated with the transmitter and the RF data, and wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the encoded data to the antenna.
29 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 28 , wherein the electronic processing circuitry of the receiver is further configured to decode a second signal from the second plurality of signals to determine the signal comprising the antenna identifier and the RF data.
30 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 26 , wherein the electronic processing circuitry of the receiver is further configured to: determine that the plurality of antenna identifiers does not include a second antenna identifier for the second antenna of the plurality of antennas; and in response to determining that the plurality of antenna identifiers does not include the second antenna identifier for the second antenna, provide an indication corresponding to a failure of the second antenna.
31 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 26 , wherein the electronic processing circuitry of the receiver is configured to provide the indication corresponding to the failure of the first antenna for output on at least one of a display, a fire alarm control unit, or an annunciator panel.
32 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 26 , wherein the receiver utilizes the RF data for one or more of monitoring or analytics.
33 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of transmitters is configured to selectively block one or more signals transmitted by at least some of antennas of the plurality of antennas.
34 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 33 , wherein the plurality of transmitters is configured to generate one or more RF signals that interfere with the one or more signals transmitted by at least some of the antennas of the plurality of antennas to selectively block the one or more signals transmitted by at least some of antennas of the plurality of antennas.
35 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 26 , wherein a transmitter of the plurality of transmitters is configured to detect presence of a computing device being in proximity with the transmitter to track movements of the computing device.
36 . An antenna monitoring system comprising: a plurality of transmitters associated with a plurality of antennas, the plurality of transmitters being configured to: monitor environmental data; transmit a first plurality of signals and the environmental data to the plurality of antennas, a signal of the first plurality of signals comprising an antenna identifier for an antenna associated with a transmitter transmitting the signal; and cause the plurality of antennas to transmit a second plurality of signals that include a plurality of antenna identifiers and the environmental data; and a receiver comprising an electronic processing circuitry configured to: receive the second plurality of signals from the plurality of antennas; determine that the plurality of antenna identifiers included in the second plurality of signals does not include a first antenna identifier for a first antenna of the plurality of antennas; in response to determining that the plurality of antenna identifiers does not include the first antenna identifier for the first antenna, provide an indication corresponding to a failure of the first antenna; and determine and provide an indication of presence of at least one environmental condition using the environmental data included in the second plurality of signals.
37 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 36 , wherein the environmental data comprises one or more of temperature or humidity.
38 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 36 , wherein a transmitter of the plurality of transmitters is configured to encode as encoded data a signal comprising an antenna identifier for an antenna associated with the transmitter and the environmental data, and wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the encoded data to the antenna.
39 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 38 , wherein the electronic processing circuitry of the receiver is further configured to decode a second signal from the second plurality of signals to determine the signal comprising the antenna identifier and the environmental data.
40 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 36 , wherein the electronic processing circuitry of the receiver is further configured to: determine that the plurality of antenna identifiers does not include a second antenna identifier for a second antenna of the plurality of antennas; and in response to determining that the plurality of antenna identifiers does not include the second antenna identifier for the second antenna, provide an indication corresponding to a failure of the second antenna.
41 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 36 , wherein the electronic processing circuitry of the receiver is configured to provide the indication corresponding to the failure of the first antenna for output on at least one of a display, a fire alarm control unit, or an annunciator panel.
42 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 36 , wherein the receiver utilizes the environmental data for one or more of monitoring or analytics.
43 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 36 , wherein the plurality of transmitters is configured to selectively block one or more signals transmitted by at least some of antennas of the plurality of antennas.
44 . The antenna monitoring system of claim 43 , wherein the plurality of transmitters is configured to generate one or more radio frequency (RF) signals that interfere with the one or more signals transmitted by at least some of the antennas of the plurality of antennas to selectively block the one or more signals transmitted by at least some of antennas of the plurality of antennas.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION Any and all applications, if any, for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet of the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. BACKGROUND Firefighters often use radios within buildings to communicate with one another and with other firefighters outside. These radios typically use line-of-sight transceivers that may not adequately reach all areas of the building. In addition, tint coating on building glass in many modern buildings attenuates or blocks radio frequency (RF) signals and thereby prevents reliable communication between firefighters inside and outside the building. Similar problems may be encountered by police and other emergency personnel. To address these problems, a distributed antenna system (DAS) can be installed in a building. A DAS can include a plurality of antennas that are distributed within a building, which can increase radio coverage for first responders like firefighters, policemen, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). A DAS used by first responders may be referred to as a public safety DAS or Emergency Responder Radio Communication System (ERRCS). Moreover, a DAS can also be employed for other uses, including extending cellular coverage inside a building. Convention centers, for instance, may employ a DAS for large conventions to enable convention goers to maintain cellular connectivity that would be impossible without the DAS, due to the heavy load on limited cellular resources. Referring to FIG. 1, an example prior art scenario 100 is shown in which a DAS can be implemented in a building 110. The building 110 includes a donor antenna 120 on the roof. This donor antenna 120 can communicate with external antennas, such as first responder antennas (not shown) or cellular network radio macro towers 108. The donor antenna could also be located on another portion of the building other than the roof, such as the side of the building. The donor antenna 120 can receive signals from the first responder antennas or cellular network radio macro towers 108. These signals can be transmitted along a wire such as a coaxial cable (“coax”) to a bi-directional amplifier (BDA) 130 within the building 110. The donor antenna 120 can also receive signals to be transmitted from the BDA 130 over the coax. The BDA 130 can act as a repeater that amplifies both received and transmitted signals received from or transmitted to the donor antenna 120. The BDA 130 can supply and receive signals from additional cabling shown in the building 110. This cabling communicates with indoor antennas 160 through coax cables 150 or fiberoptic cables (not shown). The cables connect to the indoor antennas 160 and to the BDA 130 via antenna couplers 140, such as taps or splitters. The indoor antennas 160 can be provided on some or all levels of the building 110. SUMMARY OF SOME EMBODIMENTS An antenna monitoring system can include a plurality of monitors with electronic circuitry that can be configured to collect monitored data including at least one of a radio frequency (RF) signal data or environmental data. The system can include a plurality of transmitters associated with a plurality of antennas, a transmitter of the plurality of transmitters in communication with a monitor of the plurality of monitors, the plurality of transmitters can be configured to transmit a first plurality of signals to the plurality of antennas, a signal of the first plurality of signals including an antenna identifier for an antenna associated with a transmitter transmitting the signal and monitored data collected by a monitor in communication with the transmitter. The system can include a receiver with electronic circuitry that can be configured to: receive a second plurality of signals from the plurality of antennas, the second plurality of signals transmitted by the plurality of antennas in response to the first plurality of signals being transmitted to the plurality of antennas by the plurality of transmitters, determine from the second plurality of signals a plurality of antenna identifiers and a plurality of monitored data collected by the plurality of monitors, determine that the plurality of antenna identifiers does not include an antenna identifier for a particular antenna of the plurality of antennas, and, in response to the determination that the plurality of antenna identifiers does not include the antenna identifier for the particular antenna, output an indication corresponding to a failure of the particular antenna. The system of the preceding paragraph and/or any of the systems disclosed herein can include any combination of the following features: the transmitters can be configured to be located in proximity to the plurality of antennas, and wherein the antenna identifier is for the antenna located in proximity to the transmitter; each monitor of the plurality of monitors can be associated with one