Master antenna controller
View Patent ↗A Master Antenna Controller is provided comprising a RET Master which may replace several devices, provide full RET control based on the AISG 1.1 and 2.0 standards, provide extensive, screen-guided, intuitive RET diagnostics functionality, and provide an alignment tool free from the problems of magnetic deviation and cumbersome differential GPS antennae. The RET diagnostics functionality may include measurements of voltage, current, and AISG protocol commands. The RET Master may also include multiple different pre-defined tests (e.g. test one actuator, test one RET cable, test AISG signal from TMA) and also some standard electrical tests, e.g. measuring voltage, current etc. Users will be guided on the screen about how to test and what steps to do and the software will guide the user through several steps for an easy and quick trouble-shooting process.
1. A hand-held antenna controller comprising:
a processor;
an AISG-compliant interface, coupled to the processor, the AISG-compliant interface enabling communication with a plurality of actuators associated with RET antennas;
a user interface, coupled to the processor; and
a GPS receiver, coupled to the processor;
wherein the processor is configured to conduct control and diagnostic functions of the RET antennas via the AISG-compliant interface and to consolidate information from the actuators associated with RET antennas via the AISG-compliant interface, the user interface, and the GPS receiver into a predefined report.
2. The antenna controller of claim 1 , further comprising a camera.
3. The antenna controller of claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a touch-sensitive display.
4. The antenna controller of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
acquire location information from the GPS receiver; acquire antenna configuration information; and
provide antenna alignment information.
5. The antenna controller of claim 4 , wherein the alignment information comprises a location for an alignment point.
6. The antenna controller of claim 4 , wherein the antenna configuration information comprises a desired azimuth angle.
7. The antenna controller of claim 1 , further comprising an AISG voltage and current diagnostic circuit coupled to the AISG compliant interface and to the processor.
8. The antenna controller of claim 1 , further comprising a storage memory coupled to the processor.
9. The antenna controller of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to control antenna attributes comprising pan and tilt functions of individual antennas via the AISG-compliant interface.
10. The antenna controller of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to present graphical representations of antenna control commands via the user interface and to receive selected commands via the user interface.
11. A hand-held antenna controller comprising:
a processor;
an AISG-compliant interface, coupled to the processor, the AISG-compliant interface enabling communication with a plurality of devices on an AISG bus;
a user interface, coupled to the processor; and
a GPS receiver, coupled to the processor;
wherein the processor is configured to: scan for the presence of devices on the AISG bus, acquire location information from the GPS receiver; receive an indication of an antenna to be aligned; control the indicated antenna via a detected device on the AISG bus; determine a desired azimuth angle for the indicated antenna; and determine a location for an alignment point for the indicated antenna.
12. The antenna controller of claim 11 , wherein the alignment point comprises a location toward which the indicated antenna should be aimed.
13. The antenna controller of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the desired azimuth angle from information provided by a wireless operator.
14. The antenna controller of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the desired azimuth angle from information provided through the user interface.
15. The antenna controller of claim 11 , further comprising an AISG voltage and current diagnostic circuit coupled to the processor.
16. The antenna controller of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to control antenna attributes comprising pan and tilt functions of individual antennas via the AISG-compliant interface.
17. The antenna controller of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to present graphical representations of antenna control commands via the user interface and to receive selected commands via the user interface.
18. The hand-held controller of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to scan for the presence of at least one of: RET actuators and tower mounted amplifiers.
19. A method of aligning an antenna using an antenna controller, comprising:
determining and recording a location of a cell tower;
indicating an antenna for alignment;
determining azimuth angle for the indicated antenna;
determining a location for an alignment point to achieve the desired azimuth angle;
providing a heading and distance to move the antenna controller to the location of the alignment point; and
aiming the indicated antenna at the antenna controller located at the alignment point.
20. A method aligning an antenna using an antenna controller, comprising:
connecting the antenna controller to an AISG bus at a cell tower;
conducting physical layer electrical diagnostics on the AISG bus;
scanning for devices associated with RET antennas on the AISG bus;
selecting a device to control;
editing a configuration of the RET antenna associated with the selected device;
determining and recording a location of the cell tower; and
creating a close-out package that includes the location of the cell tower, the diagnostics of the AISG bus, and the configuration of the RET antenna.