Methods and systems for improving wireless signal

• US 10,149,178 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Iuzzolino, Nicholas, Peterson, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US15/453,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20180027425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 455501, 4554561, 455 411- 413, 455507, 455512, 455513
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

An example method can comprise receiving a plurality of signal characteristic measurements from each of a plurality of sensors disposed at geographically distinct premises or geographically distinct locations throughout a premises. A prioritized sensor (e.g., prioritized relative to other sensors) can be determined from among the plurality of sensors, and the signal characteristic measurement from the prioritized sensor can be compared to a set of predefined signal characteristics. A network device can adjust one or more transmission characteristics based on the received signal characteristic measurements.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, from a plurality of sensors, based on a time schedule, a prioritized sensor;

comparing a signal characteristic measurement from the prioritized sensor to a set of predefined signal characteristics; and

adjusting, based on a difference between the signal characteristic measurement from the prioritized sensor and the set of predefined signal characteristics, one or more transmission characteristics of a network device such that a signal provided by the network device to a location associated with the prioritized sensor is altered relative to a signal provided to another of the plurality of sensors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the time schedule comprises a predefined time schedule.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, based on a usage pattern associated with one or more user devices, the time schedule.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the one or more transmission characteristics comprises adjusting one or more of a signal strength or a directionality.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the directionality comprises adjusting one or more of a phase or an amplitude of each of a plurality of transmitting antennas.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed at, and associated with, geographically distinct locations throughout a premises.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the set of predefined signal characteristics.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the set of predefined signal characteristics are received from a service provider.

9. A method comprising:

determining, from a plurality of sensors, based on a time schedule, a first prioritized sensor;

adjusting, at a first time, one or more transmission characteristics of a network device until one or more first signal characteristic measurements made by the first prioritized sensor satisfy one or more first predefined signal characteristics;

determining, from the plurality of sensors, based on the time schedule, a second prioritized sensor; and

adjusting, at a second time, the one or more transmission characteristics of the network device until one or more second signal characteristic measurements made by the second prioritized sensor satisfy one or more second predefined signal characteristics.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more first signal characteristic measurements comprise one or more of a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a signal to noise ratio (SNR), a bit error rate, or a frame error rate.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the time schedule comprises a predefined time schedule.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining, based on a usage pattern associated with one or more user devices, the time schedule.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the one or more transmission characteristics comprises adjusting one or more of a signal strength or a directionality.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the directionality comprises adjusting one or more of a phase or an amplitude of each of a plurality of transmitting antennas.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed at, and associated with, geographically distinct locations throughout a premises.

16. A method comprising:

determining, based on a proximity of a user device to each of a plurality of sensors, a prioritized sensor from the plurality of sensors;

comparing a signal characteristic measurement from the prioritized sensor to a set of predefined signal characteristics; and

adjusting, based on a difference between the signal characteristic measurement from the prioritized sensor and the set of predefined signal characteristics, one or more transmission characteristics of a network device such that a signal provided by the network device to a location associated with the prioritized sensor is altered relative to a signal provided to another of the plurality of sensors.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the prioritized sensor comprises determining, based on one or more network connections between the user device and one or more sensors of the plurality of sensors, the proximity of the user device to each of the one or more sensors of the plurality of sensors.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the proximity of the user device to each of the one or more sensors of the plurality of sensors comprises determining, for each of the one or more network connections, a respective signal strength.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more network connections comprise one or more personal area network connections.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein adjusting the one or more transmission characteristics comprises adjusting one or more of a signal strength or a directionality.