Wireless network system with multiple access point layers

• US 10,425,833 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2018
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trusted Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Center For Medical Interoperability Inc. (Community Health Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ross, Mitchell A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sinkantarakorn, Pao
• Application Number:
  US16/121,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20190028901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/20 for indoor coverage or short range network deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A multiple overlapping layer wireless network system for providing coverage in a multiple-office or business environment with multiple APs, and an improved method of designing and installing these multiple layers of wireless networks. Multiple overlapping wireless networks (i.e., multiple layers) are superimposed in the same area, and offset from each other according to their geometry. This results in a multiple wireless network installation with sufficient signal coverage in all areas for all networks with minimal inter-AP interference, segregated traffic, and multiple connections for each wireless network to one or more wired networks, thereby reducing the possibility of a single point of failure.

Claims

1. A multiple overlapping layer wireless network system for providing coverage in an area, comprising:

a first wireless network comprising a plurality of first wireless access point hardware devices (first WAPs);

a second wireless network comprising a plurality of second wireless access point hardware devices (second WAPs); and

a third wireless network comprising a plurality of first wireless access point hardware devices (third WAPs);

wherein the first wireless network, second wireless network, and third wireless network overlap in an area;

wherein the plurality of first WAPs are arranged in a first hexagonal grid, the plurality of second WAPs are arranged in a second hexagonal grid, and the plurality of third WAPs are arranged in a third hexagonal grid;

wherein each hexagonal grid comprises a plurality of equal-sized hexagons with six sides of length L, each hexagon with six vertices and a center point, each hexagon further comprising six equilateral triangles, each equilateral triangle having a base corresponding to a side, and a height or altitude extending from the middle of the base to the center point of the corresponding hexagon;

wherein corresponding WAPs are located at or proximate to each hexagon vertex or center point in the corresponding hexagonal grid;

wherein the second hexagonal grid is offset from the first hexagonal grid, and the third hexagonal grid is offset from the first hexagonal grid and the second hexagonal grid.

2. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the hexagons in the first hexagonal grid, second hexagonal grid, and third hexagonal grid are equal in size.

3. The wireless network system of claim 2, wherein the second hexagonal grid is offset from the first hexagonal grid a distance equal to ⅔

of the height of an equilateral triangle at a 30 degree angle to a first maximal diameter line of a first hexagon.

4. The wireless network system of claim 3, wherein the third hexagonal grid is offset from the first hexagonal grid a distance equal to ⅔

of the height of an equilateral triangle at a 90 degree angle to the first maximal diameter line.

5. The wireless network system of claim 4, wherein the hexagonal grids are not rotated with respect to each other.

6. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the area comprises a building floor.

7. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the traffic on each wireless network is segregated from the other wireless networks.

8. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the wireless networks has a higher security level than the other wireless networks.

9. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the WAPs in each of the wireless networks are located to not interfere with WAPS in the other wireless networks.

10. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the WAPs in each of the wireless networks are located to provide complete coverage for the corresponding wireless network in the area.

11. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless network is a highly secure network limited to employees of a business, the second wireless network is a secure network, and the third wireless network is a less secure network open to guests or visitors of the business.

12. A method of designing and installing multiple overlapping wireless networks in an area, comprising:

designing a multiple overlapping wireless network plan on an electronic drawing device, comprising the steps of;

providing, in electronic form, a floor plan for a floor in a building, said floor plan comprising an outer boundary;

creating a first hexagonal grid comprising a plurality of equal-sized hexagons with six sides of length L, each hexagon with six vertices and a center point, each hexagon further comprising six equilateral triangles with bases corresponding to the six side;

superimposing the first hexagonal grid on the floor plan, wherein the first hexagonal grid extends beyond the outer boundary;

aligning the first hexagonal grid so that a set of vertices are located proximate to, but inside, a section of the outer boundary;

creating a second hexagonal grid by duplicating the first hexagonal grid and superimposing the second hexagonal grid on the floor plan;

offsetting the second hexagonal grid from the first hexagonal grid a distance equal to ⅔

of the height of an equilateral triangle at a 30 degree angle to a first maximal diameter line of a hexagon in the first hexagonal grid, without rotation of the second hexagonal grid;

creating a third hexagonal grid by duplicating the first hexagonal grid and superimposing the third hexagonal grid on the floor plan;

offsetting the third hexagonal grid from the first hexagonal grid a distance equal to ⅔

of the height of an equilateral triangle at a 90 degree angle to the first maximal diameter line, without rotation of the third hexagonal grid;

placing icons for first wireless access point hardware devices (first WAPs) at each first hexagonal grid vertex and center point;

placing icons for second wireless access point hardware devices (second WAPs) at each second hexagonal grid vertex and center point;

placing icons for third wireless access point hardware devices (first WAPs) at each third hexagonal grid vertex and center point; and

adjusting or removing any special case or extraneous icons; and

installing, on the floor in the building corresponding to the floor plan, a plurality of first, second and third wireless access point hardware devices at or proximate to each corresponding wireless access point icon in the corresponding hexagonal grid; and

creating a first wireless access network with said plurality of first wireless access point hardware devices, a second wireless access network with said plurality of second wireless access point hardware devices, and a third wireless access network with said plurality of third wireless access point hardware devices.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, prior to the step of installing, the steps of:

removing any icons that are located a minimum distance beyond the outer boundary; and

moving any icons that are located within the minimum distance beyond the outer boundary to a location inside the outer boundary.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the traffic on each wireless network is segregated from the other wireless networks.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the wireless networks has a higher security level than the other wireless networks.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the WAPs in each of the wireless networks are located to not interfere with WAPS in the other wireless networks.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the WAPs in each of the wireless networks are located to provide complete coverage for the corresponding wireless network on the floor.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising, prior to the step of installing, the steps of:

creating one or more additional hexagonal grids beyond the third hexagonal grid by duplicating the first hexagonal grid and offsetting each of said one or more additional hexagonal grids so that no vertices or center points of any hexagonal grid are directly superimposed over each other.