Apparatus and method for controlling signal quality of antenna

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for measuring signal quality of an antenna. The apparatus according to the present invention includes a communication unit configured to receive signal quality measurement data from a plurality of terminal devices disposed at predetermined positions within a network, a signal quality calculation unit configured to calculate a signal quality measurement value of an antenna based on the signal quality measurement data received from any one of the plurality of terminal devices, a rotation determination unit configured to compare a target signal quality value of the antenna with the calculated signal quality measurement value and determine a rotation direction and an angle of the antenna on the basis of a difference value between the target signal quality value and the signal quality measurement value, and a control unit configured to transmit an adjustment signal including information on the determined rotation direction and the determined angle of the antenna to a clamping device configured to adjust a rotation of the antenna.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling signal quality of an antenna, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling signal quality of an antenna, which are capable of easily adjusting a rotation angle of an antenna and providing signal quality of the antenna at a high level of satisfaction.

BACKGROUND ART

In the related art, a signal measurement device measures signal quality while being moved within a network by a vehicle in order to optimize the network of a mobile communication base station. In this case, the network is optimized by adjusting an angle of an antenna by manually inputting vertical and/or horizontal angle adjustment values for the antenna on the basis of the signal quality measured by the signal measurement device.

However, in the related art, there is an inconvenience of having to input the calculated vertical and/or horizontal angle adjustment values one by one and manually adjusting the angles of the antenna. Further, because the vehicle needs to move each time the signal measurement device measures signals, there is a problem in that a large amount of time is required to adjust signal quality and it is difficult to measure the signal quality when the vehicle does not move.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling signal quality of an antenna, which are capable of easily adjusting a rotation angle of an antenna by determining a rotation direction and an angle of a rotation unit and/or a tilting unit of the antenna on the basis of signal quality measured by a terminal device disposed at a predetermined position and outputting the rotation direction and the angle of the rotation unit and/or the tilting unit of the antenna to a clamping device at the time of adjusting the angle of the rotation unit and/or the tilting unit of the antenna by using the clamping device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling signal quality of an antenna, which are capable of providing signal quality of the antenna at a high level of satisfaction by sequentially adjusting leftward and rightward rotations of the antenna with respect to terminal devices disposed at different positions within a network and sequentially adjusting upward and downward rotations when a target value is not satisfied.

Technical problems of the present invention are not limited to the aforementioned technical problems, and other technical problems, which are not mentioned above, may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following descriptions.

Technical Solution

To achieve the above-mentioned object, an apparatus for controlling signal quality of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a communication unit configured to sequentially receive signal quality measurement data from a plurality of terminal devices disposed at predetermined positions within a network; a signal quality calculation unit configured to calculate a signal quality measurement value of an antenna based on the signal quality measurement data received from any one of the plurality of terminal devices; and a rotation determination unit configured to compare a target signal quality value of the antenna with the calculated signal quality measurement value and determine a rotation direction and an angle of the antenna on the basis of a difference value between the target signal quality value and the signal quality measurement value, in which a rotation of a clamping device is adjusted on the basis of an adjustment signal including information on the determined rotation direction and the determined angle of the antenna.

In this case, the apparatus may further include a control unit configured to transmit the adjustment signal to the clamping device to adjust a rotation of the antenna. The control unit may request the signal quality measurement data in a predetermined order from any one of the plurality of terminal devices, and the control unit may request the signal quality measurement data from the next terminal device after the rotation of the antenna is adjusted on the basis of the adjustment signal.

The rotation determination unit may determine a rotation direction of the antenna as a direction identical to a previously determined rotation direction when a second difference value between the target signal quality value of the antenna and a signal quality measurement value calculated on the basis of the signal quality measurement data received from the next terminal device is smaller than a first difference value calculated previously, and the rotation determination unit may determine a rotation direction of the antenna as a direction opposite to the previously determined rotation direction when the second difference value is equal to or larger than the first difference value calculated previously.

The rotation determination unit may determine that the signal quality of the antenna does not satisfy a target value and determine a rotation angle in a leftward/rightward direction of the antenna when the difference value is not 0 or deviates from a predetermined error range.

The control unit may request again the signal quality measurement data in the predetermined order from any one of the plurality of terminal devices when the signal quality of the antenna does not satisfy the target value after the rotation angle in the leftward/rightward direction of the antenna is adjusted on the basis of the signal quality measurement data sequentially received from the plurality of terminal devices.

The rotation determination unit may determine a rotation angle in an upward/downward direction of the antenna when the signal quality measurement data received from the terminal device are data received again.

The control unit may determine to stop the rotation of the antenna when the signal quality of the antenna satisfies the target value after the rotation angle in the leftward/rightward direction of the antenna is adjusted on the basis of the signal quality measurement data sequentially received from the plurality of terminal devices.

The clamping device may include: a tilting unit to which the antenna is coupled to be tiltable in an upward/downward direction; and a rotation unit to which the antenna is coupled to be rotatable in a leftward/rightward direction, and the control unit may transmit the adjustment signal to the clamping device, may tilt the antenna in the upward/downward direction by using the tilting unit, and may rotate the antenna in the leftward/rightward direction by using the rotation unit.

When the clamping device receives the adjustment signal, the clamping device may operate a tilting rotation motor included in the tilting unit and configured to electrically operate to tilt the tilting unit in the upward/downward direction, and the clamping device may operate a rotating rotation motor included in the rotation unit and configured to electrically operate to rotate the rotation unit in the leftward/rightward direction.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, a method of controlling signal quality of an antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention includes: requesting signal quality measurement data in a predetermined order from any one of a plurality of terminal devices disposed at predetermined positions within a network; calculating a signal quality measurement value of the antenna on the basis of the signal quality measurement data received from any one of the terminal devices; comparing a target signal quality value of the antenna with the calculated signal quality measurement value and determining a rotation direction and angle of the antenna on the basis of a difference value between the target signal quality value and the signal quality measurement value; and transmitting an adjustment signal including information on the determined rotation direction and the determined angle of the antenna to a clamping device configured to adjust a rotation of the antenna.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily adjust a rotation angle of an antenna by determining a rotation direction and an angle of a rotation unit and/or a tilting unit of the antenna on the basis of signal quality measured by a terminal device disposed at a predetermined position and outputting the rotation direction and the angle of the rotation unit and/or the tilting unit of the antenna to a clamping device at the time of adjusting the angle of the rotation unit and/or the tilting unit of the antenna by using the clamping device.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide signal quality of the antenna at a high level of satisfaction by sequentially adjusting leftward and rightward rotations of the antenna with respect to terminal devices disposed at different positions within a network and sequentially adjusting upward and downward rotations when a target value is not satisfied.

DESCRIPTION OF MAIN REFERENCE NUMERALS OF DRAWINGS

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrative drawings. In giving reference numerals to constituent elements of the respective drawings, it should be noted that the same constituent elements will be designated by the same reference numerals, if possible, even though the constituent elements are illustrated in different drawings. Further, in the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of related publicly-known configurations or functions will be omitted when it is determined that the detailed description obscures the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention.

In addition, the terms first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used to describe constituent elements of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. These terms are used only for the purpose of discriminating one constituent element from another constituent element, and the nature, the sequences, or the orders of the constituent elements are not limited by the terms. Further, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. The terms such as those defined in a commonly used dictionary should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with meanings in the context of related technologies and should not be interpreted as ideal or excessively formal meanings unless explicitly defined in the present application.

FIG.1is a view illustrating a configuration of a system to which an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied,FIG.2is a view illustrating an embodiment in which an electronic terminal is disposed in the system to which the apparatus for controlling signal quality of an antenna according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied,FIG.3is a perspective view illustrating a clamping device configured to tilt the antenna in an upward/downward direction and rotate the antenna in a leftward/rightward direction, andFIGS.4and5are views illustrating states in which the antenna is tilted and rotated by the clamping device illustrated inFIG.3.

Referring toFIG.1, the system may include: an antenna1; a clamping device10configured to adjust a rotation angle of the antenna1in a leftward/rightward direction and/or an upward/downward direction; a plurality of terminal devices20disposed at predetermined positions within a network and configured to measure signal quality of the antenna1; and a signal quality control apparatus100configured to determine a rotation of the antenna1on the basis of the signal quality measured by the terminal device20and transmit the rotation of the antenna1to the clamping device10.

The antenna1may include a transmitting antenna module (not illustrated) configured to transmit a predetermined signal to an external communication device, and a receiving antenna module (not illustrated) configured to receive a signal transmitted from the external communication device.

For example, the transmitting antenna module may transmit a signal for requesting quality measurement data to the terminal device20disposed at the predetermined position within the network, and the receiving antenna module may receive quality measurement data transmitted from the corresponding terminal device20. In this case, the receiving antenna module may sequentially receive the quality measurement data from the plurality of terminals disposed within the network.

In this case, the antenna1may be provided as a plurality of antennas in different embodiments.

The clamping device10may include a tilting unit11coupled to the antenna1so that the antenna1may tilt in the upward/downward direction, and a rotation unit12coupled to the antenna1so that the antenna1may rotate in the leftward/rightward direction. In this case, the tilting unit11and/or the rotation unit12may be coupled directly to a support pole (no reference numeral) for installing the antenna1or coupled indirectly to the support pole by another unit (e.g., a coupling unit denoted by reference numeral13illustrated inFIG.3).

When the clamping device10receives a rotation angle adjustment value in the leftward/rightward direction from the signal quality control apparatus100, the clamping device10operates the rotation unit12to rotate the antenna1by a predetermined angle in the leftward/rightward direction.

In addition, when the clamping device10receives a rotation angle adjustment value in the upward/downward direction from the signal quality control apparatus100, the clamping device10operates the tilting unit11to tilt the antenna1by a predetermined angle in the upward/downward direction.

The plurality of terminal devices20serves to measure the signal quality of the antenna1and provide the measured quality measurement data. Positions of the plurality of terminal devices20may be fixed, or the plurality of terminal devices20may be moved.

In this case, the plurality of terminal devices20, e.g., a first terminal21, a second terminal22, a third terminal23, and a fourth terminal24may be disposed at different positions within the network. This embodiment will be described with reference toFIG.2.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the first terminal21, the second terminal22, the third terminal23, and the fourth terminal24measure quality of the signals transmitted to or received from the antenna1at the respective positions thereof. In this case, the first terminal21, the second terminal22, the third terminal23, and the fourth terminal24measure the signal quality of the antenna1and transmit quality measurement data to the signal quality control apparatus100when the quality measurement data are requested by the signal quality control apparatus100.

The plurality of terminal devices20may be electronic terminals having communication functions.

For example, the electronic terminal may be implemented in the form of a mobile phone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), or the like.

Meanwhile, the terminal device20may be implemented in the form of a drone or mounted on the drone. In this case, a single terminal device20may be provided. The terminal device20may measure the signal quality of the antenna1at a target position while moving by using characteristics of the drone.

The signal quality control apparatus100requests the quality measurement data from any one of the plurality of terminal devices20disposed at the predetermined positions within the network. The signal quality control apparatus100determines the rotation angle adjustment value of the antenna1in the leftward/rightward direction and/or the upward/downward direction on the basis of the quality measurement data received from the corresponding terminal device20and transmits an adjustment signal including the determined rotation angle adjustment value to the clamping device10.

After transmitting the adjustment signal to the clamping device10, the signal quality control apparatus100request the quality measurement data from the next terminal device20of the plurality of terminal devices20. Likewise, the signal quality control apparatus100may determine the rotation angle adjustment value of the antenna1in respect to the rotating in the leftward/rightward direction and/or the tilting in the upward/downward direction on the basis of the quality measurement data received from the corresponding terminal device20and transmit the adjustment signal including the determined rotation angle adjustment value to the clamping device10.

As described above, the signal quality control apparatus100may sequentially determine the rotation angle adjustment value of the antenna1in the leftward/rightward direction and/or the upward/downward direction by using the signal quality data sequentially received from the plurality of terminal devices20.

Therefore, the clamping device10sequentially adjusts the rotation angle of the antenna1in the leftward/rightward direction and/or the upward/downward direction.

In more detail, referring toFIG.3, the clamping device10transmits a signal for requesting quality measurement data to the terminal device20through the transmitting antenna module and then measures the current signal quality of the antenna1by receiving the quality measurement data transmitted from the corresponding terminal device20through the receiving antenna module. The clamping device10may tilt the antenna1in the upward/downward direction by using the tilting unit11and rotate the antenna1in the leftward/rightward direction by using the rotation unit12on the basis of the rotation angle adjustment value determined by the signal quality control apparatus100.

Although not illustrated in the drawings, the clamping device10may include a tilting rotation motor configured to electrically operate and provide tilting rotation driving power for the tilting unit11, and a rotating rotation motor configured to electrically operate and provide rotating rotation driving power for the rotation unit12. The tilting rotation motor and the rotating rotation motor may be supplied with power from a separate power source unit provided outside the clamping device10.

When a tilting rotation angle adjustment value for the clamping device10is received from a control unit110which will be described below among the components of the signal quality control apparatus100, the tilting unit11may adjust the directionality of the antenna1while tilting in the upward/downward direction about a tilting rotation point T1of the tilting unit11, as illustrated inFIGS.3and4.

Further, when a rotating rotation angle adjustment value for the clamping device10is received from the control unit110which will be described below among the components of the signal quality control apparatus100, the rotation unit12may adjust the directionality of the antenna1while rotating in the leftward/rightward direction about a rotating rotation point L1of the rotation unit12, as illustrated inFIGS.3and5.

The signal quality control apparatus100according to the present invention may be implemented as an apparatus provided separately from the clamping device10and may communicate with and be connected to the clamping device10by means of a separate communication connection means.

Meanwhile, the signal quality control apparatus100may be implemented in the clamping device10.

A detailed description of a specific configuration and operation of the signal quality control apparatus100will be described in detail with reference to the embodiment illustrated inFIG.6and the following drawings.

FIG.6is a view illustrating a configuration of the signal quality control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG.6, the signal quality control apparatus100may include the control unit110, a communication unit120, a storage unit130, a signal quality calculation unit140, and a rotation determination unit150. In this case, the control unit110, the signal quality calculation unit140, and/or the rotation determination unit150of the signal quality control apparatus100according to the present embodiment may be implemented as one or more processors.

First, the control unit110may process signals transmitted between the components of the signal quality control apparatus100.

The communication unit120may include a first communication module configured to support a communication interface with the plurality of terminal devices20disposed at the predetermined positions within the network.

For example, the first communication module may include a module or short-range communication for wireless Internet access.

In this case, the wireless Internet technologies include wireless LAN (WLAN), wireless broadband (Wibro), Wi-Fi, and/or world interoperability for microwave access (Wimax). In addition, the short-range communication technologies may include Bluetooth, ZigBee, ultra-wideband (UWB), radio frequency identification (RFID), and/or infrared data association (IrDA).

Meanwhile, the communication unit120may further include a second communication module configured to support a communication interface with the clamping device10. In this case, the second communication module may support wired or wireless communication technologies.

The storage unit130may store data and/or algorithms required to operate the signal quality control apparatus100.

For example, the storage unit130may store commands and/or algorithms used to calculate the signal quality measurement value on the basis of the data received from an Nth terminal device20among the plurality of terminal devices20. In addition, the storage unit130may store commands and/or algorithms used to determine the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna1on the basis of the signal quality of the antenna1calculated previously.

In this case, the storage unit130may include a storage medium such as a random-access memory (RAM), a static random-access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), and/or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

The control unit110may request the signal quality measurement data through the communication unit120from any one of the plurality of terminal devices20disposed within the network.

For example, assuming that the plurality of terminal devices20disposed within the network includes the first terminal21, the second terminal22, the third terminal23, and the fourth terminal24and the first to fourth terminals21,22,23, and24are disposed at different positions within the network, the control unit110may request the signal quality measurement data from the first terminal21.

In this case, when the control unit110completes the measurement of the signal quality of the antenna1on the basis of first data, i.e., the signal quality measurement data received from the first terminal21, the control unit110may request the signal quality measurement data from the next second terminal22.

In addition, when the control unit110completes the measurement of the signal quality of the antenna1on the basis of second data, i.e., the signal quality measurement data received from the second terminal22, the control unit110may request the signal quality measurement data from the next third terminal23.

Likewise, when the control unit110completes the measurement of the signal quality of the antenna1on the basis of third data, i.e., the signal quality measurement data received from the third terminal23, the control unit110may request the signal quality measurement data from the next fourth terminal24.

The control unit110may stop a related operation when the control unit110completes the measurement of the signal quality of the antenna1on the basis of fourth data, i.e., the signal quality measurement data received from the fourth terminal24and the measured signal quality of the antenna1satisfies a target value.

Meanwhile, when the signal quality of the antenna1measured on the basis of the fourth data does not satisfy the target value, the control unit110may request the signal quality measurement data again sequentially from the first to fourth terminals21,22,23, and24.

The signal quality calculation unit140calculates the signal quality of the antenna1on the basis of the signal quality measurement data received from the plurality of terminal devices20disposed within the network. In this case, when receiving the signal quality measurement data from any one of the plurality of terminal devices20, the signal quality calculation unit140calculates the signal quality of the antenna1on the basis of the signal quality measurement data received from the corresponding terminal device20.

The signal quality calculation unit140may store the calculated signal quality measurement value in the storage unit130or transmit the calculated signal quality measurement value to the rotation determination unit150and/or the control unit110.

Thereafter, when receiving the signal quality measurement data from the next terminal device20, the signal quality calculation unit140may calculate the signal quality of the antenna1on the basis of the received signal quality measurement data.

In this case, the signal quality calculation unit140may acquire the signal quality measurement value by using an algorithm that calculates the signal quality measurement value on the basis of the signal quality measurement data received from the terminal device20.

In this case, a least mean square (LMS) algorithm, a recursive least square (RLS) algorithm, and the like may be applied as the algorithm for calculating the signal quality measurement value, and an algorithm, which less causes an error, may be applied in different embodiments.

For example, the RLS algorithm may calculate a target signal quality value by calculating noise power before and after noise filtering is performed on transmitted signals. In addition, the RLS algorithm may calculate noise power before and after noise filtering is performed on received signals including the signal quality measurement data. The RLS algorithm may calculate the signal quality measurement value at the corresponding position.

Because the algorithm for measuring the signal quality of the received signal is a general technology, a specific description thereof will be omitted.

The rotation determination unit150may compare a target signal quality value QR based on the transmitted signal of the antenna1with a signal quality measurement value QN calculated by the signal quality calculation unit140and determine the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna1on the basis of a difference value (QR−QN) between the target signal quality value QR and the signal quality measurement value QN.

In this case, when a difference value (QR−Q1) between the target signal quality value QR and a signal quality measurement value Q1is 0, the rotation determination unit150may determine that the signal quality of the antenna1satisfies the target value and determine not to rotate the antenna1. In addition, when the difference value (QR−Q1) between the target signal quality value QR and the signal quality measurement value Q1is not 0 but within an error range, the rotation determination unit150may determine that the signal quality of the antenna1satisfies the target value and determine not to rotate the antenna1.

Meanwhile, when the difference value (QR−Q1) between the target signal quality value QR and the signal quality measurement value Q1is not 0 or deviates from the error range, the rotation determination unit150may determine that the signal quality of the antenna1does not satisfy the target value and determine to rotate the antenna1in the leftward or rightward direction. In this case, the rotation determination unit150may determine different rotation directions depending on whether the difference value (QR−Q1) is a positive (+) value or a negative (−) value.

The rotation determination unit150may determine the rotation angle as a predetermined angle. Meanwhile, the rotation determination unit150may determine different rotation angles depending on magnitudes of the difference value (QR−Q1).

When the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna1are determined by the rotation determination unit150, the control unit110transmits a first adjustment signal including information on the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna1to the clamping device10connected to the communication unit120.

Therefore, the clamping device10may rotate the antenna1by a predetermined angle in the leftward/rightward direction on the basis of the first adjustment signal received through the communication unit120.

Meanwhile, when a signal quality measurement value Q2calculated on the basis of the second measurement data is transmitted from the signal quality calculation unit140after the rotation determination unit150determines the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna1based on the signal quality measurement value Q1calculated on the basis of the first measurement data, the rotation determination unit150may compare the target signal quality value QR based on the transmitted signal of the antenna1with the signal quality measurement value Q2and determine the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna1on the basis of the difference value (QR−Q2).

In this case, when the difference value (QR−Q2) is 0 or within an error range, the rotation determination unit150may determine that the signal quality of the antenna1satisfies the target value and determine not to rotate the antenna1.

In contrast, when the difference value (QR−Q2) is not 0 or deviates from the error range, the rotation determination unit150may determine that the signal quality of the antenna1does not satisfy the target value and determine to rotate the antenna1in the leftward or rightward direction. In this case, the rotation determination unit150may determine a rotation direction as a direction identical to the previous rotation direction when the difference value (QR−Q2) is smaller than the difference value (QR−Q1) calculated previously. When the second difference is equal to or larger than the first difference value calculated previously, the rotation determination unit150may determine a rotation direction as a direction opposite to the previous rotation direction.

The rotation determination unit150may determine the rotation angle as a predetermined angle. Meanwhile, the rotation determination unit150may determine different rotation angles depending on magnitudes of the difference values.

When the rotation determination unit150determines the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna1, the control unit110transmits a second adjustment signal including information on the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna1to the clamping device10connected to the communication unit120.

Therefore, the clamping device10may rotate again the antenna1, which has the previously adjusted angle, by a predetermined angle in the leftward/rightward direction on the basis of the second adjustment signal received through the communication unit120.

In such a manner, the control unit110may sequentially transmit a third adjustment signal and a fourth adjustment signal to the clamping device10. In addition, the clamping device10may rotate the antenna1by a predetermined angle in the leftward/rightward direction on the basis of the received third and fourth adjustment signals.

Meanwhile, when the signal quality measurement value Q1calculated on the basis of the first measurement data is transmitted again after the antenna1rotates in the leftward/rightward direction, the rotation determination unit150may compare the target signal quality value QR based on the transmitted signal of the antenna1with the signal quality measurement value Q1and determine the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna1on the basis of the difference value (QR−Q1).

In this case, the rotation determination unit150may determine the rotation direction and the angle with the above-mentioned method. Because the antenna1is in the state of being rotated in the leftward/rightward direction by the previous process, the rotation determination unit150may determine the rotation direction of the antenna1as the upward/downward direction.

Therefore, the control unit110may sequentially transmit the first adjustment signal, the second adjustment signal, the third adjustment signal, and the fourth adjustment signal based on the upward/downward direction to the clamping device10.

The clamping device10may rotate the antenna1by a predetermined angle in the upward/downward direction on the basis of the received first to fourth adjustment signals. Therefore, the control unit110may stop the related operation when the signal quality of the antenna1measured by the upward and downward rotations of the antenna1satisfies the target value.

Meanwhile, when the signal quality of the antenna1measured by the upward and downward rotations of the antenna1does not satisfy the target value, the control unit110may request again the signal quality measurement data sequentially from the first to fourth terminals21,22,23, and24.

The signal quality control apparatus100according to the present embodiment, which operates as described above, may be implemented in the form of an independent hardware apparatus or implemented in the form of one or more processors included in other hardware apparatuses such as a microprocessor or general-purpose computer system.

The processor may be a central processing unit (CPU) or a semiconductor device that processes instructions stored in a memory and/or a storage.

FIG.7is a view illustrating an embodiment for explaining an operation of the apparatus for controlling signal quality of an antenna according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG.7, in operation411, the first terminal21transmits the first data on the basis of the request of the signal quality control apparatus100.

The signal quality control apparatus100determines the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna1on the basis of the signal quality of the first data. In operation412, the signal quality control apparatus100transmits the first adjustment signal including the determined rotation direction and the determined angle to the clamping device10.

Therefore, in operation413, the clamping device10may adjust the rotation angle of the antenna1on the basis of the first adjustment signal.

When the primary adjustment of the angle of the antenna is completed, in operation421, the second terminal22transmits the second data on the basis of the request of the signal quality control apparatus100.

The signal quality control apparatus100determines the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna1on the basis of the signal quality of the second data. In operation422, the signal quality control apparatus100transmits the second adjustment signal including the determined rotation direction and the determined angle to the clamping device10.

Therefore, in operation423, the clamping device10may adjust again the rotation angle of the antenna1on the basis of the second adjustment signal.

When the secondary adjustment of the angle of the antenna1is completed, in operation431, the third terminal23transmits the third data on the basis of the request of the signal quality control apparatus100.

The signal quality control apparatus100determines the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna1on the basis of the signal quality of the third data. In operation432, the signal quality control apparatus100transmits the third adjustment signal including the determined rotation direction and the determined angle to the clamping device10.

Therefore, in operation433, the clamping device10may adjust again the rotation angle of the antenna1on the basis of the third adjustment signal.

When the tertiary adjustment of the antenna1is completed, in operation441, the fourth terminal24transmits the fourth data on the basis of the request of the signal quality control apparatus100.

The signal quality control apparatus100determines the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna1on the basis of the signal quality of the fourth data. In operation442, the signal quality control apparatus100transmits the fourth adjustment signal including the determined rotation direction and the determined angle to the clamping device10.

Therefore, in operation443, the clamping device10may adjust again the rotation angle of the antenna1on the basis of the fourth adjustment signal.

As described above, in operations411,412,413,421,422,423,431,432,433,441,442, and443, the leftward and rightward rotations of the antenna1may be preferentially adjusted. When the signal quality of the antenna1does not satisfy the target value, operations411,412,413,421,422,423,431,432,433,441,442, and443are performed again to adjust the upward and downward rotations of the antenna1. In this case, the signal quality control apparatus100may sequentially receive the first to fourth data from the plurality of terminal devices20, e.g., the first to fourth terminals21,22,23, and24. Alternatively, the signal quality control apparatus100may receive the first to fourth data simultaneously.

Specifically, regarding operations411,421,431, and441illustrated inFIG.7, when the first to fourth terminals21,22,23, and24are disposed at spatially different positions, the first to fourth data may be sequentially or simultaneously transmitted to the signal quality control apparatus100. In a case in which the terminal device20is implemented in the form of a drone or mounted on a drone, a plurality of quality measurement data (e.g., first to fourth data) may be sequentially transmitted to the communication unit120of the signal quality control apparatus100as the positions of the terminal devices20are changed.

An operation flow of the apparatus for controlling signal quality of an antenna according to the present invention configured as described above will be described below in more detail.

FIGS.8and9are views illustrating an operation flow of a method of controlling signal quality of an antenna according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG.8, the signal quality control apparatus100requests the first data from the first terminal21among n terminal devices20disposed within the network (S110and S120).

When the signal quality control apparatus100receives the first data from the first terminal21(S130), the signal quality control apparatus100checks whether the difference value between the target signal quality value QR based on the transmitted signal of the antenna1and the signal quality measurement value Q1based on the first data is 0 (or within the error range). When the difference value is 0 (or within the error range) (S140), the signal quality control apparatus100requests the second data from the next second terminal22(S170, S180, and S120).

Meanwhile, when the difference value is not 0 (or within the error range) in step ‘S140’, the signal quality control apparatus100preferentially determines a rotation direction as the leftward/rightward direction and determines the rotation angle in the leftward/rightward direction (S150). In this case, the signal quality control apparatus100may determine the rotation angle on the basis of the difference value in step ‘S140’ or determine the rotation angle as a predetermined value.

The signal quality control apparatus100transmits a leftward/rightward adjustment signal including the rotation direction and the rotation angle, which are determined in step ‘S150’, to the clamping device10(S160). Therefore, the clamping device10may adjust the rotation of the antenna1on the basis of the received leftward/rightward adjustment signal.

Thereafter, the signal quality control apparatus100repeatedly performs steps ‘S120’, ‘S130’, ‘S140’, ‘S150’, ‘S160’, ‘S170’, and ‘S180’ until the signal quality control apparatus100transmits an Nth leftward/rightward adjustment signal including the rotation direction and the rotation angle, which are determined on the basis of nth data received from an nth terminal, to the clamping device10.

Therefore, the clamping device10adjusts the rotation of the antenna1in the leftward/rightward direction n times. However, the case in which the difference value is 0 (or within the error range) in step ‘S140’ may be excluded. The signal quality control apparatus100performs the process after ‘A’ inFIG.9after the signal quality control apparatus100transmits the nth leftward/rightward adjustment signal to the clamping device10.

Referring toFIG.9, the signal quality control apparatus100checks whether the difference value between the target signal quality value QR based on the transmitted signal of the antenna1and the signal quality measurement value QN based on the nth data lastly measured inFIG.8is 0 (or within the error range). When the difference value is 0 (or within the error range) (S210), the signal quality control apparatus100may determine that the signal quality of the antenna1satisfies the target value and stop the operation of controlling the signal quality.

Meanwhile, when the difference value is not 0 (or within the error range) in step ‘S210’, the signal quality control apparatus100requests the first data again from the first terminal21among the n terminal devices20disposed within the network (S220and S230).

Thereafter, when the signal quality control apparatus100receives the first data from the first terminal21(S240), the signal quality control apparatus100checks whether the difference value between the target signal quality value QR based on the transmitted signal of the antenna1and the signal quality measurement value Q1based on the first data is 0 (or within the error range). When the difference value is 0 (or within the error range) (S250), the signal quality control apparatus100requests the second data from the next second terminal22(S290, and S230).

Meanwhile, when the difference value is not 0 (or within the error range) in step ‘S250’, the signal quality control apparatus100determines the rotation direction as the upward/downward direction and determines the rotation angle in the upward/downward direction (S260). In this case, the signal quality control apparatus100may determine the rotation angle on the basis of the difference value in step ‘S250’ or determine the rotation angle as a predetermined value.

The signal quality control apparatus100transmits an upward/downward adjustment signal including the rotation direction and the rotation angle, which are determined in step ‘S260’, to the clamping device10(S270). Therefore, the clamping device10may adjust the upward and downward rotations of the antenna1on the basis of the received upward/downward adjustment signal.

Thereafter, the signal quality control apparatus100repeatedly performs steps ‘S230’, ‘S240’, ‘S250’, ‘S260’, ‘S270’, ‘S280’, and ‘S290’ until the signal quality control apparatus100transmits an nth upward/downward adjustment signal including the rotation direction and the rotation angle, which are determined on the basis of the nth data received from the nth terminal, to the clamping device10.

Therefore, the clamping device10adjusts the rotation of the antenna1in the upward/downward direction n times. However, the case in which the difference value is 0 (or within the error range) in step ‘S250’ may be excluded.

The signal quality control apparatus100may perform again the operation from step ‘S110’ inFIG.8when the signal quality of the antenna1does not satisfy the target value even after the nth leftward/rightward adjustment signal is transmitted to the clamping device10. As another example, when the signal quality does not satisfy the target value even after the rotations of the antenna in the leftward, rightward, upward, and downward directions are adjusted, the signal quality control apparatus100may inform this situation and stop the related operation.

The embodiment of the method of controlling signal quality of an antenna according to the present invention using the apparatus for controlling signal quality of an antenna, which is configured as described above, will be briefly described below.

Referring toFIGS.6to9, the embodiment of the method of controlling signal quality of an antenna according to the present invention includes: requesting the signal quality measurement data in a predetermined order from any one of the plurality of terminal devices disposed at the predetermined positions within the network; calculating the signal quality measurement value of the antenna on the basis of the signal quality measurement data received from any one of the terminal devices; comparing the target signal quality value of the antenna with the calculated signal quality measurement value and determining the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna on the basis of the difference value; and transmitting the adjustment signal including information on the determined rotation direction and the determined angle of the antenna to the clamping device configured to adjust the rotation of the antenna.

In this case, the requesting of the signal quality measurement data is a step performed by the communication unit120configured to receive the signal quality measurement data from the plurality of terminal devices20disposed at the predetermined positions within the network, i.e., a step of requesting the signal quality measurement data from the terminal device20in the predetermined order among the plurality of terminal devices20, i.e., electronic terminals each having a communication function.

Further, the calculating of the signal quality measurement value is a step of determining the rotation angle adjustment value of the antenna1in the leftward/rightward direction and/or the upward/downward direction on the basis of the quality measurement data which is requested in the requesting of the signal quality measurement data and is then received from the corresponding terminal device20. The calculating of the signal quality measurement value may be defined as a step performed by the signal quality calculation unit140and the rotation determination unit150.

Further, the transmitting of the adjustment signal to the clamping device is a step of transmitting the adjustment signal including the information on the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna to the clamping device by using the control unit110when the rotation angle adjustment value of the antenna1is determined by the determining of the rotation direction and the angle of the antenna.

The above description is simply given for illustratively describing the technical spirit of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will appreciate that various changes and modifications are possible without departing from the essential characteristic of the present invention.

Therefore, the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present invention are provided for illustrative purposes only but not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention. The scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited thereby. The protective scope of the present invention should be construed based on the following claims, and all the technical spirit in the equivalent scope thereto should be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides the apparatus and method for controlling signal quality of an antenna, which are capable of easily adjusting the rotation angle of the antenna and providing the signal quality of the antenna at a high level of satisfaction.