Millimeter Wave Idle Channel Optimization

Abstract

Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to millimeter wave (“mmWave”) idle channel optimization. According to one aspect disclosed herein, an antenna system can include an antenna array that is configured in a first antenna configuration. The antenna system can generate and send downlink beams directed towards a network edge. A beam index scanner operating at the network edge can scan the downlink beams to determine beam index scanner data for the first antenna configuration. The beam index scanner can send the bream index scanner data to an antenna technician device. The beam index scanner data can indicate that a downlink channel provided by the downlink beams is not optimized. The antenna system can configure the antenna array in a new antenna configuration in an attempt to optimize the downlink channel provided by the downlink beams.

1 . A beam index scanner comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising
 scanning downlink beams to determine beam index scanner data for an antenna configuration of an antenna array, and 
 sending the beam index scanner data to an antenna technician device, wherein the beam index scanner data indicates that a downlink channel provided by the downlink beams is not optimized, wherein, in response, the antenna array is reconfigured in accordance with a new antenna configuration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The beam index scanner of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 scanning new downlink beams to determine new beam index scanner data for the new antenna configuration; and   sending the new beam index scanner data to the antenna technician device.   
     
     
         3 . The beam index scanner of  claim 2 , wherein the new beam index scanner data indicates that the downlink channel provided by the downlink beams is optimized. 
     
     
         4 . The beam index scanner of  claim 3 , wherein the antenna configuration comprises an azimuth value and a tilt value associated with a position of the antenna array. 
     
     
         5 . The beam index scanner of  claim 4 , wherein the new antenna configuration comprises a new azimuth value, a new tilt value, or both a new azimuth value and a new tilt value associated with a new position of the antenna array. 
     
     
         6 . The beam index scanner of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the beam index scanner data corresponds to an antenna mapping associated with the antenna array with the azimuth value and the tilt value for the antenna configuration; and   the new beam index scanner data correspond to a new antenna mapping associated with the antenna array with the new azimuth value and the new tilt value for the new antenna configuration.   
     
     
         7 . The beam index scanner of  claim 1 , wherein scanning the downlink beams to determine the beam index scanner data for the antenna configuration of the antenna array comprises scanning the downlink beams from a network edge of a network. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 scanning, by a beam index scanner, downlink beams to determine beam index scanner data for an antenna configuration of an antenna array; and   sending, by the beam index scanner, the beam index scanner data to an antenna technician device, wherein the beam index scanner data indicates that a downlink channel provided by the downlink beams is not optimized, wherein, in response, the antenna array is reconfigured in accordance with a new antenna configuration.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 scanning, by the beam index scanner, new downlink beams to determine new beam index scanner data for the new antenna configuration; and   sending, by the beam index scanner, the new beam index scanner data to the antenna technician device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the new beam index scanner data indicates that the downlink channel provided by the downlink beams is optimized. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the antenna configuration comprises an azimuth value and a tilt value associated with a position of the antenna array. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the new antenna configuration comprises a new azimuth value, a new tilt value, or both a new azimuth value and a new tilt value associated with a new position of the antenna array. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the beam index scanner data corresponds to an antenna mapping associated with the antenna array with the azimuth value and the tilt value for the antenna configuration; and   the new beam index scanner data correspond to a new antenna mapping associated with the antenna array with the new azimuth value and the new tilt value for the new antenna configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein scanning, by the beam index scanner, the downlink beams to determine the beam index scanner data for the antenna configuration of the antenna array comprises scanning, by the beam index scanner, the downlink beams from a network edge of a network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the network comprises a 5 th  generation mobile telecommunications network; and   the antenna array is for a next generation node base.   
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a beam index scanner, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 scanning downlink beams to determine beam index scanner data for an antenna configuration of an antenna array; and   sending the beam index scanner data to an antenna technician device, wherein the beam index scanner data indicates that a downlink channel provided by the downlink beams is not optimized, wherein, in response, the antenna array is reconfigured in accordance with a new antenna configuration.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 scanning new downlink beams to determine new beam index scanner data for the new antenna configuration; and   sending the new beam index scanner data to the antenna technician device.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the new beam index scanner data indicates that the downlink channel provided by the downlink beams is optimized. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the antenna configuration comprises an azimuth value and a tilt value associated with a position of the antenna array. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the new antenna configuration comprises a new azimuth value, a new tilt value, or both a new azimuth value and a new tilt value associated with a new position of the antenna array.