Coordinately distributed smart antenna network for WLAN applications via the cloud database management and radiation pattern reconfiguration

This paper presents the concept and implementation of collaborative smart antenna network for WLAN applications. In this scenario, the WLAN access points (APs) are randomly distributed in the coverage area and employ phased array antennas to provide dynamic coverage reconfiguration. By analyzing the online location-based information of user devices (UDs), the desired patterns in the coverage area can be defined in a schedule-based fashion to collaboratively optimize the radiation patterns of APs' phased array antennas. The optimization is implemented in a cloud server and instructions are sent to the antenna to shift beam onto the target UD. Mutual compensation of coverages from different APs can be achieved to enhance the communication quality. The concept is described with a test system built to demonstrate the feasibility.