Patent ID: 8514145

Claim:
A method for storing and transmitting data from a communications antenna over AISG and 3 GPP compliant communications systems, wherein the antenna includes a bulkhead connector, the method comprising the steps: providing a printed circuit board (PCB) with a microprocessor, data storage device, and related circuitry capable of storing and transmitting programmed antenna information; providing mechanical or electrical azimuth measurement devices and suitable controller; providing a module housing adapted for housing said PCB, said data storage device, and azimuth measurement devices, said housing capable of connecting to said bulkhead connector; combining said PCB, said data storage device, and module housing to form an antenna identification module; programming said antenna identification module, said programming performed either in the field by a field technician or at the place of manufacture by the antenna manufacturer; wherein said communications antenna is a multi-band antenna with multiple remote electrical tilt (RET) remote control units (RCUs) each associated with multiple frequency bands, said antenna capable of communicating on multiple bands to multiple targets simultaneously; providing a plurality of individual communication ports to the antenna identification module, said ports electrically connected to the PCB; providing one or more primary controller units (CCUs); slaving said RCUs to said at least one CCU; providing a power supply to each slaved RCU; providing a data communications module to each slaved RCU; providing one multi-axis tilt sensor having multiple individual communication ports adapted for measuring tilt and slant of said communications antenna; connecting said tilt sensor to one said CCU; providing antenna communications cables connected to said tilt sensor; connecting said antenna identification module to said communications cables; mounting the antenna identification module in-line with said bulkhead connector and perpendicular to the antenna body; obtaining antenna identification data using said antenna identification module; remotely reporting said identification data to a device with a graphical user interface; and detecting antenna identification data from each of said antenna's multiple bands.