Systems and methods for network design, monitoring and visualization

• US 10,735,976 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2018
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Rumler, Daniel R., Schaf, Nicholas J., Weller, Kim K., Hannon, Jeremy P., Mitra, Milan, Swarnkar, Anchal K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Connor, Brian T O
• Application Number:
  US15/968,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20180317095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/00 Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/20 for indoor coverage or short range network deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A wireless mesh network survey tool is provided. The tool includes a user interface and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to access a scaled floorplan of a building site, and identify a receiver device location on the scaled floorplan. The processing circuit is further configured to instruct a user to position a transmitter device at a number of test locations to determine a signal strength at each of the test locations. The processing circuit is also configured to determine a device count for a proposed mesh network based on the signal strength at each of the test locations. The device count includes a number of repeater devices. The processing circuit is further configured to display the proposed mesh network to the user via the user interface. The proposed mesh network includes recommended locations for the repeater devices on the scaled floorplan.

Claims

1. A wireless mesh network survey tool, comprising:

a user interface; and

a processing circuit comprising a survey module configured to;

access a scaled floorplan of a building site;

identify a receiver device location on the scaled floorplan;

instruct a user to position a transmitter device that is communicably coupled to the receiver device at a plurality of test locations to determine a signal strength at each of the plurality of test locations;

determine a device count for a proposed wireless mesh network based at least in part on the signal strength at each of the plurality of test locations;

wherein the device count includes a plurality of repeater devices; and

display the proposed wireless mesh network to the user via the user interface, wherein the proposed wireless mesh network includes recommended locations for the plurality of repeater devices on the scaled floorplan.

2. The wireless mesh network survey tool of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit further comprises a data analysis module configured to generate the recommended locations for the plurality of repeater devices.

3. The wireless mesh network survey tool of claim 2, wherein the recommended locations for the plurality of repeater devices are based on at least one of building materials, ceiling materials, or wall materials.

4. The wireless mesh network survey tool of claim 2, wherein the data analysis module is further configured to generate a technical survey report for the building site, the technical survey report comprising at least one of a heat map or a weak zone.

5. The wireless mesh network survey tool of claim 1, wherein the proposed wireless mesh network is a Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4) mesh network.

6. The wireless mesh network survey tool of claim 1, wherein the proposed wireless mesh network is a Wi-Fi mesh network.

7. The wireless mesh network survey tool of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a switch, an actuator, a touch screen display, or a keypad.

8. The wireless mesh network survey tool of claim 1, wherein the wireless mesh network survey tool comprises at least one of a laptop computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, or a mobile device.

9. A method for generating a proposed wireless mesh network for a building, the method comprising:

accessing a scaled floorplan of a building site;

identifying a receiver device location on the scaled floorplan;

instructing a user to position a transmitter device that is communicably coupled to the receiver device at a plurality of test locations to determine a signal strength at each of the plurality of test locations;

determining a device count for a proposed wireless mesh network;

wherein the device count includes a plurality of repeater devices; and

displaying the proposed wireless mesh network to the user via a user interface, wherein the proposed wireless mesh network includes recommended locations for the plurality of repeater devices on the scaled floorplan.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further includes generating a technical survey report for the building site, the technical survey report comprising at least one of a heat map or a weak zone.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the proposed wireless mesh network is a Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4) mesh network.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the proposed wireless mesh network is a Wi-Fi mesh network.

13. A wireless mesh network diagnostic tool, comprising:

a user interface; and

a processing circuit comprising a visualization tool configured to;

access static data regarding a building site, wherein the static data is determined at least in part by a network survey process comprising user positioning of a transmitter device at a plurality of test locations;

gather diagnostic data from a plurality of wireless network mesh devices; and

display a diagnostic map to a user via the user interface, wherein the diagnostic map comprises at least one diagnostic indicator configured to display a signal strength between the plurality of wireless network mesh devices.

14. The wireless mesh diagnostic tool of claim 13, wherein the static data comprises a scaled floorplan and locations of the plurality of wireless network mesh devices.

15. The wireless mesh diagnostic tool of claim 13, wherein the diagnostic indicator is a device health indicator comprising a color-coded ring surrounding one of the plurality of wireless network mesh devices.

16. The wireless mesh diagnostic tool of claim 13, wherein the diagnostic indicator is a wireless link quality indicator comprising a color-coded arc connecting a first wireless network mesh device to a second wireless network mesh device.

17. The wireless mesh diagnostic tool of claim 13, wherein the visualization tool is configured to gather diagnostic data from the plurality of wireless network mesh devices using a quick scan function.

18. The wireless mesh diagnostic tool of claim 17, wherein the quick scan function is configured to gather at least one of a device status or a device health from each of the plurality of wireless network mesh devices.

19. The wireless mesh diagnostic tool of claim 13, wherein the visualization tool is configured to gather diagnostic data from the plurality of wireless network mesh devices using an extensive scan function.

20. The wireless mesh diagnostic tool of claim 19, wherein the extensive scan function is configured to gather diagnostic data from the plurality of wireless network mesh devices over a configurable time period.