IP Library Granted Patent US 10,827,363
Granted Patent B2
US 10,827,363 · App. 16/750,301 · Granted Nov 3, 2020

Systems and methods for performing a passive intermodulation mitigation audit at a wireless site

Inventors: Charlie Terry (Charlotte, NC); James Perry (Charlotte, NC); Lee Priest (Charlotte, NC)
Assignee: ETAK Systems, LLC
H04W16/18G06F30/13G06F2111/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,827,363
App. No.
16/750,301
Granted
Nov 3, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods include obtaining data capture at a cell site utilizing any of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a satellite, a multiple camera apparatus, a telescoping apparatus, and a camera; creating a model of the cell site based on the data capture; processing the model to perform a plurality of measurements; utilizing the plurality of measurements to identify potential Passive Intermodulation (PIM) issues at the cell site; and displaying the identified PIM issues for mitigation thereof.

Claims (70)

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a processor to perform steps of:

obtaining data capture at a cell site utilizing any of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a satellite, a multiple camera apparatus, a telescoping apparatus, and a camera;

creating a model of the cell site based on the data capture;

processing the model to perform a plurality of measurements;

utilizing the plurality of measurements to identify potential Passive Intermodulation (PIM) issues at the cell site; and

displaying the identified PIM issues for mitigation thereof,

wherein the cell site is a first cell site, and the steps further include

obtaining data capture for a plurality of cell sites; and

performing the creating, the processing, the utilizing, and the displaying for the plurality of cell sites.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the model is a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest associated with the cell site components.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the data capture is based on photos and/or video from the UAV.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the steps further include

ranking the first cell site and the plurality of cell sites based on the PIM issues.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 4 , wherein the mitigation includes physical on-site testing based on the ranking.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the measurements include a plurality of

measurements between existing antennas,

measurements between existing antennas and other equipment installed,

measurements between antennas and adjacent sectors,

centerline confirmation,

measurements of existing pipe mounts,

measurement of existing antenna platform,

vertical measurements above and below installed equipment, and

sector face azimuths or skew angle.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the steps further include

identifying obstacles in front of a cell tower, based on a line of sight view.

8. A method comprising:

obtaining data capture at a cell site utilizing any of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a satellite, a multiple camera apparatus, a telescoping apparatus, and a camera;

creating a model of the cell site based on the data capture;

processing the model to perform a plurality of measurements;

utilizing the plurality of measurements to identify potential Passive Intermodulation (PIM) issues at the cell site; and

displaying the identified PIM issues for mitigation thereof,

wherein the cell site is a first cell site, and the method further includes

obtaining data capture for a plurality of cell sites; and

performing the creating, the processing, the utilizing, and the displaying for the plurality of cell sites.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the model is a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest associated with the cell site components.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the data capture is based on photos and/or video from the UAV.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method further includes ranking the first cell site and the plurality of cell sites based on the PIM issues.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the mitigation includes physical on-site testing based on the ranking.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the measurements include a plurality of

measurements between existing antennas,

measurements between existing antennas and other equipment installed,

measurements between antennas and adjacent sectors,

centerline confirmation,

measurements of existing pipe mounts,

measurement of existing antenna platform,

vertical measurements above and below installed equipment, and

sector face azimuths or skew angle.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method further includes identifying obstacles in front of a cell tower, based on a line of sight view.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a processor to perform steps of:

obtaining data capture at a cell site utilizing any of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a satellite, a multiple camera apparatus, a telescoping apparatus, and a camera;

creating a model of the cell site based on the data capture;

processing the model to perform a plurality of measurements;

utilizing the plurality of measurements to identify potential Passive Intermodulation (PIM) issues at the cell site; and

displaying the identified PIM issues for mitigation thereof,

wherein the measurements include a plurality of

measurements between existing antennas,

measurements between existing antennas and other equipment installed,

measurements between antennas and adjacent sectors,

centerline confirmation,

measurements of existing pipe mounts,

measurement of existing antenna platform,

vertical measurements above and below installed equipment, and

sector face azimuths or skew angle.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the model is a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest associated with the cell site components.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the data capture is based on photos and/or video from the UAV.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the cell site is a first cell site, and the steps further include

obtaining data capture for a plurality of cell sites; and

performing the creating, the processing, the utilizing, and the displaying for the plurality of cell sites.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the steps further include

identifying obstacles in front of a cell tower, based on a line of sight view.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2026
From: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: ETAK SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 074818/0664 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 20, 2026
From: ETAK SYSTEMS, LLC
To: AQUARIAN CREDIT FUNDING LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075246/0859 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2021
From: ETAK SYSTEMS, LLC
To: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 056003/0641 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2020
From: TERRY, CHARLIE; PERRY, JAMES; PRIEST, LEE
To: ETAK SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 051597/0257 →
Continuity (13)
Continuation In Part 15968131 · May 1, 2018
Continuation In Part 15926533 · Mar 20, 2018
Continuation In Part 15898695 · Feb 19, 2018
Continuation In Part 15235686 · Aug 12, 2016
Continuation In Part 15877555 · Jan 23, 2018
Continuation In Part 15815786 · Nov 17, 2017
Continuation In Part 15675930 · Aug 14, 2017
Continuation In Part 15283699 · Oct 3, 2016
Continuation In Part 15241239 · Aug 19, 2016
Continuation In Part 15168503 · May 31, 2016
Continuation In Part 15160890 · May 20, 2016
Continuation In Part 14685720 · Apr 14, 2015
Related Publication 20200162936A1 · May 21, 2020
Cited By (11)
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