Technical field

The disclosure herein relates to a wireless communication device, a computing system for communication with the wireless communication device, a method for configuring a wireless communication device and a method for sending communication configuration information.

Background

Wireless communication is the carriage of information by electromagnetic waves, for example electromagnetic waves having radio frequencies (which may be defined as frequencies in the range of 3 kHz to 1 GHz or more broadly 20 kHz to 300 GHz) microwave frequencies (1 GHz to 100 GHz), and optical frequencies (300 GHz to 770 THz). An example of a system that uses wireless communication include wireless data networks - for example wireless mobile telecommunication networks, and Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) networks - which can enable telecommunications services, including data and telephony services.

Fixed wireless can be used to connect sites and buildings to a network, especially when a wired connection to the network is not practically or economically feasible, for example in rural, regional and remote areas. Mobile wireless can be used to connect vehicles to a network.

Wireless signal coverage may be, however, patchy, especially in rural, regional or remote areas. Wireless signal strength may be marginal. This may be because, for example, base stations or transmitters are sparse, the topography interferes with wireless signals, or a tree has grown to obstruct a direct line to a base station.

Consequently, a wireless communication device may:

• have intermittent access to a wireless signal

• be unable to establish a network connection or network session

• lose a network connection or network session

• not have its transmission received.

Improved wireless communication - especially but not exclusively in rural, regional and remote areas - may enable and improve businesses, reduce isolation, increase safety, and increase security. There may be a demand for better wireless communications, especially in a rural, regional or remote area. In the context of the present document, the meaning of wireless mobile telecommunication network encompass cellular network. Examples of cellular networks include but are not limited to networks using third generation (3G), Long Term Evolution (LTE), fourth generation (4G), and fifth generation (5G) wireless mobile telecommunication technologies.

Summary

Disclosed herein is a wireless communication device. The device comprises a wireless communication system having a plurality of communication configurations. The device comprises a navigation system operable to generate navigation information comprising at least one of orientation information indicative of an orientation and position information indicative of a position. The device comprises a processor operable to receive the navigation information. The processor is operable to initiate sending of the navigation information to a remote computing system. The processor is operable to receive, from the remote computing system, communication configuration information indicative of a communication configuration for at least one of the orientation and the position. The processor is operable to configure the wireless communication system as indicated by the received communication configuration information.

In an embodiment, the processor is operable to initiate sending of a request for the remote computing system to send the communication configuration information. The processor may be operable to schedule the sending of the request. The processor may be operable to trigger sending of the request consequent to determining that a wireless communication performance metric satisfies a wireless communication performance condition. The processor may be operable to trigger the sending of the request consequent to determining that a wireless communication environment metric satisfies a wireless communication environment condition. The processor may be operable to trigger sending of the request in response to receiving an instruction from the remote computing system.

In an embodiment, the plurality of communication configurations comprises a plurality of communication hardware configurations. The plurality of communication hardware configurations may comprise a plurality of electrical circuit configurations. The plurality of communication hardware configuration may comprise different selections of the plurality of dissimilarly orientated directional antennas.

An embodiment comprises a switch operationally coupled to the plurality of dissimilarly orientated directional antennas and operable to activate at least one of the plurality of dissimilarly orientated directional antennas. A controller may be operationally coupled to the switch and the processor for operating the switch in accordance with switching instructions received from the processor.

An embodiment comprises a beam-steering antenna.

In an embodiment, the wireless communication system comprises a plurality of modems. Each communication configuration may have a different one of the plurality of modems activated.

Embodiments comprise a router comprising the processor and the plurality of modems are in information communication with the router.

In an embodiment, the plurality of communication configurations have different software configurations.

In an embodiment, the plurality of communication configurations have different network traffic controls.

In an embodiment, the plurality of configurations are for communication with a plurality of services.

In an embodiment, the wireless communication system is for wireless communication at a carrier frequency in the range of 27 MHz to 60 GHz. The wireless communication system may be for wireless communication at a carrier frequency in the range of 700 MHz to 3.5 GHz. The wireless communication system may be for wireless communication in at least one of a 3G frequency band, a 4G frequency band and a 5G frequency band.

In an embodiment, the processor is operable to receive the navigation information and cause a change of an electrical configuration of the wireless communication system so that it takes a communication configuration previously determined for at least one of the orientation and the position.

Disclosed herein is a computing system for communication with a wireless communication device in accordance with the above disclosure. The computing system is operable to send the communication configuration information.

In an embodiment, the computing system is operable to send the communication configuration information consequent to determining that sending the communication configuration information will more likely than not improve the communication performance of the device. Disclosed herein is a method for configuring a wireless communication device. The method comprises generating navigation information comprising at least one of orientation information indicative of an orientation and position information indicative of a position. The method comprises causing a wireless communication system to change to a communication configuration.

Disclosed herein is a method for sending communication configuration information. The method comprises determining that sending communication configuration information to a device will more likely than not improve a communication performance of the device. The method comprises sending the communication configuration information.

In the context of the present document, the meaning of wireless network base station encompasses a cellular network base station, a Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) base station, a hub of a local wireless network, and a gateway between a wired network and a local wireless network.

Disclosed herein is non-transitory processor readable tangible media including program instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform a method disclosed above.

Disclosed herein is a computer program for instructing a processor, which when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform a method disclosed above.

Any of the various features of each of the above disclosures, and of the various features of the embodiments described below, can be combined as suitable and desired.

Brief description of the figures

Embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figures 1 to 3 shows schematic diagrams of embodiments of a wireless communication device.

Figure 4 shows the wiring diagram for part of the device of figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram for another embodiment of a wireless communication device.

Figures 6 and 7 are simplified architectural diagrams of a wireless communication device. Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram of a remote computer system.

Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of another embodiment wireless communication device.

Figures 10 to 12 show schematic diagrams of the device of figure 9 in various modes.

Description of embodiments

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication device, which is generally indicated by the numeral 10. The device 10 comprises a wireless communication system 12 having a plurality of communication configurations. The device 10 comprises a navigation system 14 that can operate to generate navigation information 18 comprising at least one of orientation information indicative of an orientation of the wireless communication device and position information indicative of a position of the wireless communication device. The device 10 comprises a processor 16 that when operating can receive the navigation information 18. The processor 16 can cause the navigation information 18 to be sent to a remote computing system 620 in the form of computer server system. The processor 16 can receive, from the remote computing system 620, communication configuration information 622 indicative of a communication configuration for at least one of the orientation and the position. The processor can configure the wireless communication system as indicated by the received communication configuration information 622.

That is, the device 10 is operable to be aware of one of its location (“location awareness”) and orientation (“orientation awareness”). Location awareness and orientation awareness are each types of navigational awareness. Being navigationally aware, the device 10 may be able to cooperate with the remote computing system 620 to provide wireless communication that is better than prior art devices that are not navigationally aware.

Communication between the device 10 and the remote computing system 620 is generally but not necessarily in band, which in the present embodiment is via the wireless network 624.

In some adaptions of the device 10, the wireless communication system 12 is in the form of a transceiver. The transceiver 12 is operable for communication with at least one of, for example, a wireless data network 624 in the form of wireless mobile telecommunications network (e.g. 3G, 4G or 5G), an IEEE 802.11 network, a long range IEEE 802.11 network, a IEEE 802.16 network, a radio data network, a UHF network, a private LTE network, a public LTE network, and a private base station. The wireless communication system can generally be for any form of wireless communication. The wireless communication system 10 is adaptable for wireless communication at a carrier frequency in the range of 27 MHz to 60 GHz, for example in the range of 700 MHz to 3.5 GHz or generally any suitable and desired range.

The processor 16 is in information communication with the navigation system 14 via communications channel 20. Communication channel 20 is the form of a cable carrying signals in accordance with a serial protocol (“serial connection”), and at a higher layer encompasses the AT (“Hayes”) command set protocol, however it may be any suitable form of communications channel. The navigation system 14 transmits the navigation information 18 to processor 16. The processor 16 receives the navigation information 18 transmitted by the navigation system 14.

The processor 16 is in information communication with the wireless communication system 12 via communications channel 22. The wireless communication channel 22 is in accordance with the IEEE 802.1 In (“Wi-Fi”) specification, however generally any suitable communications channel 22 may be used. The processor 16 is operale to send the communication configuration instructions 24 to the wireless transceiver system 12, which receives the communication configuration instructions 22. The wireless transceiver system 12 is operable to respond to a communications configuration instruction 24 by taking the communication configuration indicated by a received instruction.

More specifically, to change the communication configuration of the wireless communication system 12, the processor 16 can cause a change of an electrical configuration of the wireless communication system 10. Examples of changes of electrical configuration include:

• switching a frequency filter configured to filter out a frequency, for example a frequency band when the frequency band is congested

• switching an amplifier in the form of a power amplifier and/or a preamplifier, for example when signal strength is low

• switching a multiplexer, for example a diplexer, when it is desired to combine signals at different frequencies.

Switching a component can include routing a signal through a component, arranging for a signal to bypass a component, powering a component, depowering a component, or otherwise activating or deactivating a component, for example. When it is no longer required for a signal to be affected by a component, it may be beneficial to cause the signal to bypass the component to reduce signal degradation. The wireless communication system 12 can comprises the above mentioned components, or generally any suitable components, and associated electrical switches which are generally but not necessarily in the form of electronic switches.

The processor 16 is operable to send a request for the remote computing system to send the communication configuration information 622 (“pull” the communication configuration information). Embodiments may generally have at least one trigger for sending the request, examples of which include but are not limited to:

• the processor 16 determines that it is the scheduled time for sending the request.

• the processor 16 determines that a metric in the form of a wireless communication performance metric satisfies a wireless communication performance condition. Examples of wireless communication performance metrics include but are not limited to a baud rate being less than a baud rate value, a latency being greater than a latency value, a jitter being greater than a jitter value, and a downtime being greater than a downtime value.

• the processor 16 determines that another metric in the form of a wireless communication environment metric satisfies a wireless communication environment condition.

Examples of wireless communication environment metrics may be dependent on at least one of a received signal strength being less than a received signal strength value, base station identification information having changed, communication band identification information having changed, channel bandwidth having changed, or rainfall exceeding 3 mm per hour.

The processor 16 can also send the request in response to receiving an instruction from the remote computing system 620 to do so.

In one example, the remote computing system 620 has received information that a base station of wireless network 624 is currently or will be inoperable or have reduced performance (for example because of scheduled maintenance, unexpected storm damage, or generally any other reason). The remote computing system 620, in this example, sends communication configuration information to the device 10 that instructs it to connect to another base station. The other base station may not currently or will not be operable or have reduced performance. Alternatively, in another example the remote computer system 620 may send the communication information without receiving a request (“push” the communication configuration information), which the device can then use. The remote computer system 620 can in this other example determine in advance that sending the communication configuration information to a device will more likely than not (or definitely) improve a communication performance of the device 10 and consequently send the communication configuration information.

In one example use case, the device 10 is mounted to a building (“fixed system scenario”). When activated, the device 10 determines navigation information 18 indicative of its location and orientation information indicative of its orientation and sends the navigation information 18 to the remote computer system 620. The remote computer system 620 sends to the device 10 communication configuration information 622 that is indicative of a communication configuration for the device 10 that is likely to (or will) provide communication performance superior than another communication configuration for the device’s location and orientation.

In another example use case, the device 10 is in communication with a base station and subsequently losses communication with the base station, which results in the device 10 determining that a metric is satisfied. The device 10 requests new communication configuration information 622, and receives the new communication configuration information which indicates a communications configuration for communication with another base station, restoring network access.

In another example use case, the device 10 is in communication with the base station and subsequently experiences slow network performance because of congestion associated with the base station, which results in the device determining that a metric is satisfied. The device 10 requests new communication configuration information 622, and receives the new communication configuration information which indicates a configuration for communication with another base station that has no associated congestion, improving communication.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of a wireless communication device 100, where parts similar or identical in function and/or form to device 10 are similarly numbered. The device 100 comprises at least one antenna 110 in the form of at least one omnidirectional antenna. The device 100 has a wireless communication system 12 in the form of a wireless transceiver system that comprises a plurality of transceivers 106,108 in the form of a plurality of wireless modems that can each be in signal communication with the at least one antenna 110. The plurality of transceivers 106,108 are for a plurality of wireless services. For example, a first transceiver 106 can be for a first cellular network service provided by a first service provider (for example, a 3G or 4G cellular network provided by one of TELSTRA, OPTUS, VODAFONE or generally any suitable provider) and a second transceiver 108 can be for a second cellular network service provided by a second service provider. The transceivers can be configured for exclusive use with a single one of the plurality of service providers (alternatively, a transceiver that can selectively use one of the plurality of wireless services may be used). The wireless communication system 12 of device 100 can use a suitable one of the plurality of transceivers 106,108 to connect to any of the plurality of wireless services. The processor 16 can configure the wireless communication system as indicated by the received communication system configuration information 622. Activation of a transceiver 106,108 is achieved by an electrical switch in the form of a radio frequency switch and/or a microwave frequency switch in communication with the plurality of transceivers 106,108 and at least one antenna 110.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of a wireless communication device 200. The wireless communication device 200 has the parts shown in figure 1 which it shares with the wireless communication device 10 of figure 1, and parts that are similar or identical in form and/or function to those in figures 1 and 2 are similarly numbered. The wireless communication device 200 comprises a plurality of dissimilarly orientated directional antennas 204 - 210. Each of the directional antennas 204 - 210 are for a different sector in the form of a different ninety degree sector, where antenna n is for sector n, where n is an positive integer. More or less sectors may be used as suitable and desired. For example, embodiments may have any of 2-10 or more sectors. Performance may improve with the number of sectors, but this may be at the expense of cost and simplicity. In the present but not all embodiments, the sectors fan out horizontally. The processor 16 is operable to activate one or more of the plurality of dissimilarly orientated directional antennas 204 - 210 as indicated by the received communication system configuration information 622. Consequently, a stronger signal for a particular location and orientation or heading can be achieved, which may improve wireless communications. Figure 4 shows the wiring diagram for communication between the antennas 204 - 210 and the modem. Each of the four antennas 204-210 comprise two sets of two antenna elements, each being a Multiple Input and Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna. In an alternative embodiment, the antenna may be substituted for a beam-steering antenna, and the processor 16 is operable to point the beamsteering antenna as indicated by the received communication system configuration information 622.

While wireless communications device 100 can select between service providers for best reception but not wireless direction, and wireless communication device 200 can select between the plurality of dissimilarly orientated direction antennas 204 - 210 for the best reception but not service provider, another embodiment can select both service provider and wireless direction, which may improve wireless communications further. Figure 5 shows another embodiment of a wireless communication device 300. The wireless communication device 300 has the parts shown in figure 1 which it shares with the wireless communication device 10 of figure 1, and parts that are similar or identical in form and/or function to those in figures 1, 2 and 5 are similarly numbered. The processor 16 is operable to activate one or more of the plurality of dissimilarly orientated directional antennas 204 - 210 previously determined for at least one of the orientation and the position of the wireless communications device 200, and which transceiver 106, 108 to use as previously determined for at least one of the position and orientation. Consequently, the antenna can be pointed to a cellular base station - for either one of the two services - providing an improved signal for a particular location and orientation, which may improve wireless communications.

Figure 6 is a simplified architectural diagram of the wireless communication devices 10, 100, 200 and 300, showing that the device comprises hardware and software, however other embodiments may be purely hardware based. Figure 7 is a more detailed architectural diagram of the wireless communication device 300. The router 510 comprises the processor 16. An example of a suitable router 510 is a MIKROTIK router, which incorporates a processor 16 in the form of a MediaTek MT7621 A Wi-Fi SoC, however generally any suitable router may be used. The router 510 is in communication via a serial cable to modems 520,530, which include removable Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) for a plurality of mobile wireless data networks (OPTUS and TELSTRA, for example). The modems 520,530 include a satellite navigation receiver (GPS) 540 for determining navigation information comprising position and/or orientation information. The modems are in the form of a Quectel Wireless EP06-E 4G modem, however generally any suitable modem may be used. Orientation information can be determined by monitoring the change in position over time, by a separate magnetic compass module, a gyroscope, or generally any suitable way. The directional antennas 204 - 210 are in communication with the modems 520,530 via electrical conduit in the form of coaxial cable and an electrical switch 550 in the form of a radio frequency (RF) switch and/or a microwave frequency switch. The electrical switch 550 can connect any combination of the antennas 204 - 210 with any one of the plurality of modems 520, 530. The electrical switch 550 is controlled by a switch controller 560 in communication with the switch 550 via a serial channel using the I ² C serial protocol. The switch controller 560 is in communication with the router 510 via a Wi-Fi channel, allowing the processor 16 in the router 510 to instruct the switch controller to configure the switch 550 to connect which antenna(s) 204 - 208 to connect to which modem. 520,530.

The controller 560 comprises a microcontroller unit (MCU) with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity in the form of an ESP32 MCU manufactured by ESPRESSIF.

The router 510 includes the following software in onboard memory: Navigation Software 570 when executed by the processor 16 can cause the device 300 to retrieve the navigation information from the satellite navigation module 540 (and optionally a compass module) and pass it to communication configuration Software 580.

Communication configuration Software 580 when executed by the processor 16 causes the device 300 to retrieves communication configuration information from a remote computer server system when required. The communication configuration information retrieved is for an area that encompasses the current location, and generally extends beyond it. The communication configuration software 580 when executed by the processor 16 also can cause the device 300 to pass communication configuration information indicative of communication configuration for the current navigation information to the RF Control software.

Quality of Service Software 590 defines a Quality of Service (QOS) policy for the configuration information for the current location. This may generally be any suitable QOS policy. When executed by the processor 16, the QOS software can cause the device 300 to [Dan: Please explain what happens when the QOS software is executed].

Testing Software 600 when executed by the processor 16 can cause the device 300 to control routing, QOS and radio frequency and/or microwave switching during testing to ensure end user access is maintained during testing, controls testing process, and passes the test results to the cloud.

The switch controller 560 includes the following software in onboard memory:

RF Control Software 610, which when executed by the switch controller 500 can cause the device 300 to store at least one list of communication configurations, retrieves communication configuration information from the communication configuration software 580 and sends a control signal to the electrical switch 550 to set the communication configuration.

As disclosed above, the communication configuration software 580 when executed can cause the device to 300 to receive communication configuration information from remote computer system 620, an example configuration of which is shown in figure 8. The communication configuration software 580 when executed can cause the device 300 to determine position information indicative of its current position. The communication configuration software 580 can cause the device 300 to send the position information to the remote computer server system 620. The communication configuration software 580 receives information indicative of which of the plurality of communication configurations to use at each of a plurality of locations and/or orientations including the current position and/or orientation.

The plurality of communication configurations can have different software configurations. In one example, the plurality of communication configurations have different network traffic controls defined in software. Traffic controls may include different traffic shaping and/or traffic policing for different types of datagrams. For examples, video-call datagrams may have less delay than, say, text message datagrams.

The communication configuration information need not only be for the present location of the device, but other locations as well. Table 1 specifies three regions by specifying the latitude and longitude of a plurality of vertices for a plurality of polygons encompassing a plurality of geographic regions, radio frequency (RF) setting codes, routing settings codes and quality of service (QoS) codes to be used for each region. Tables 2 to 4 explain the codes used in table 1.

Table 1. Definitions for three regions and the communication configurations to use in each of the three regions.

Table 2. Example of RF configuration definition for RF profile 143256 Table 3. Example definition of routing configuration for routing configuration 332

Table 4. Example definition of QoS configuration for QoS configuration 221

The communication systems 10, 100, 200 and 300 can determine the preferred communications configuration for the current navigation information. Determination of a preferred communications configuration can be done if the remote computing system does not have a communication configuration for the current position and/or orientation, for example.

Determining the preferred communications configuration for the current navigation information can include performing at least one test, which can include for example scanning for base stations, trying different communication frequency bands, measuring wireless signal strength, connecting to a wireless data service and running speed, latency and drop packet tests. The results are likely to be different for different times (e.g. different days of the week / years and different times during the day). The navigation information can optionally include time information indicative of the current time. The communication configuration information can optionally change depending on time in accordance to network forecasts. An embodiment of a method for determining the preferred communication configuration for the current navigation information is now described. One step comprises scanning for transmitters in the form of base stations or towers. A connection is made to each found tower on each band and a test in the form of a speed test is performed. The preferred configuration can be sent to the remote communication system 620. Other nearby wireless communication systems can use the results of the test, which may reduce the amount of testing they need to perform or eliminate the need for them to do their own testing.

Changing the communication configuration can include at least one of:

• Electronically changing an electrical circuit to cause the preferred connection of various transceivers to one or more antenna elements.

• Changing a routing table to select a particular path for particular classes of traffic.

• Changing Quality of Service (QoS) policies applied to slow, drop or block some types of traffic with the goal of prioritising other types of traffic.

The remote computer server system 620 can generally comprise one or any suitable combination of more than one physical computer servers, and may comprise virtual servers, or be provided by a cloud service, for example Amazon Web Services. The device 10, 100, 200, 300 is operable to communicate with the remote computer server system 620 via a wireless data networks, for example the cellular network it is connected to or a Wi-Fi network if available. In these but not necessarily in all embodiments, a virtual point-to-point connection that tunnels through the wireless data network is established using Virtual Private Network technology, which connects the device 100,200,300.

The remote server system 620 can include the following software:

Raw information software 632

The information lake of remote computer server system 620 is capable of receiving and/or retrieving information from systems in a raw, or unstructured or largely unstructured format (for example, a comma separated volume), that is not yet suitable for use as a source of information by other processes. Devices that undertake a range of passive logging and active testing send stored results in the information lake.

Transformed information software 634

The information transformation process received the raw information from the information lake and transforms it into a structured format, for example a relational database or NOSQL database that is suitable for use within other processes, such as the Config Generator.

Config Generator software 636 The config generator creates and stores details of possible preferred communication configurations using the information collected by devices.

ConfigMaps software 638

ConfigMaps stores and makes available communication configurations that are associated with navigation information to enable devices to rapidly select optimal communication configurations.

Routing Software

Routing functionality enables information to be sent to the internet in order to maintain stable TCP/UDP sessions. For example, by tunnelling both Telstra and Optus to the cloud before launching a Wi-Fi call it is possible to maintain the Wi-Fi call while roaming across Telstra and Optus.

Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a wireless communication device 400. Device 400 incorporates device 300, however devices 10, 100 or 200 for example may be alternatively incorporated. Device 400 is in communication with a computer network router 406 in the form of an IEEE 802.11 wireless network router. Device 400 is also in communication with a network gateway 404 in the form of a satellite communications network gateway that provides network services. Device 400 is operable to pass communications between the network gateway 404 and the computer network router 406. Device 400 provides failover when the network gateway 404 ceases to provide network services. Device 400 comprises a failover switch 402. In a first device state, the failover switch 402 is configured for communication between the network gateway 404 and the computer network router 406. In a second device state, the failover switch is configured for communication between the router 406 and the wireless network 624. The device 400 is configured to detect when the network gateway 404 ceases to provide network services and consequently switch from the first device state to the second device state to minimise disruption of network services provided by router 406.

Figures 10 to 13 show a schematic diagram of device 400 in various modes, including an operational mode (figure 10) and three failure modes (figures 11 to 13). Device 400 comprises communication port 402 in the form of an IEEE 802.3 port with power over ethernet (PoE) for communication with the network gateway 404 and communication port 405 in the form of an IEEE 802.3 port for communication with the computer network router. Device 400 comprises a data circuit 406 for switching and/or routing network data such as Ethernet frames, TCP/IP packets or other Protocol Data Units. Device 400 comprises a power circuit 408 for monitoring optionally conditioning Direct Current (DC) that is used to power the Device 400 and upstream network units connected to communication port 402. In figure 10, the power circuit 408 and the data circuit 406 are operational. Power is communicated from the port 404 to port 402 via the power circuit 408. Data is communicated from the port 404 to the port 402 via the data circuit 406. As seen in figures 11, 12 and 13, when the data circuit 406 and/or the power circuit 408 fail, they are bypassed (“passive passthrough”). Relays and/or electronic switches are used to bypass the data circuit 406 and the power circuit 408. Failure of the data circuit 406 or the power circuit 408 can be detected by a change in a voltage and/or current. An onboard microcontroller detects the failure.

Disclosed herein is non-transitory processor readable tangible media including program instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor the perform a method disclosed herein.

Disclosed herein is a computer program for instructing a processor, which when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform the method disclosed herein.

Now that embodiments have been described, it will be appreciated that some embodiments may have some of the following advantages:

• Fixed wireless communication devices can be installed or moved without manual alignment of a directional antenna.

• Directional antennas generally provide higher gain, less noise, and Radio frequency interference may be reduced.

• More resilient connectivity when a base station or network conditions change

• Information for the preferred communication configurations may be collected over time by many wireless communication devices (“crowd sourced” information), which may be a better way to collect the communication configuration data and keep it updated.

• Determination of the preferred communications configurations may take less time by using information shared by a plurality of wireless communication devices.

• Embodiments may provide users of a telecommunication service with at least one of improved service availability and service quality.

• Multiple service providers may be used to increase performance.

• There may be no moving parts that would require frequent maintenance and be susceptible to breaking down. Wireless communication devices may reduce the need for multiple big antennas to access more than one wireless network, reduce cost, reduce install complexity and reduce interference.

Variations and/or modifications may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention. For example:

• Communication between a wireless communication device and the remote computing system may be out of band. Communication between the device and the remote computing system may be a combination of in band and out of band. The out of band channel may be over, for example, a wired connection (e.g. IEEE 802.3, AppleTalk), or wireless (e.g. LoRa, SigFox).

• While specific types of communication channels have been specified, communication channel may be analogue, digital, serial, parallel, wired or wireless, or generally any combination of these, as suitable and as desired. Any suitable and designed communication channels may be used.

• The wireless communication system may be mounted to generally any suitable machinery, examples of which include but are not limited to buildings, silos, towers, structures or poles, vehicles, automobiles, farm machinery (including tractors), trucks, four-wheel drives, utility vehicles, light commercial vehicles with open cargo beds (“utes”), motorbikes, locomotives and carriages, military armoured vehicles and tanks, boats, aircraft, and go-carts.

• The wireless services may generally be any suitable wireless services, for example wireless data networks, cellular networks, Wi-Fi networks, and Differential Global Positioning networks.

• The sectors may fan out in a direction other than horizontally, for example be inclined relative to the horizontal.

• The navigation information may include additional information for setting the communication configuration. The additional information may be pitch information indicative of the pitch of a wireless communications device and roll information indicative of the roll of the wireless communications device, the information being generated by an onboard triple-axis accelerometer.

• Embodiments may have three or more transceivers for three or more network service providers, and be able to switch between the network service providers. Instead of multiple directional antennas, there may be a single directional antenna that is pointed by an electric motor.

The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Reference to a feature disclosed herein does not mean that all embodiments must include the feature.

Prior art, if any, described herein is not to be taken as an admission that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises" or “comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, that is to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.