Wireless network site survey tool
First Claim
1. A tool for providing a site survey of a wireless network comprising:
- a network server having a server application module to create and distribute data packets;
a plurality of access points coupled to send and receive data packets from the server;
a portable computer in wireless communication with the plurality of access points, the portable computer having a two-dimensional surface area map on a data grid; and
wherein the portable computer receives data packets sent by the network server and includes instructions that are adapted to compute at least one of throughput and packet error rate at selected locations within a network coverage area and display the at least one of throughput and packet error rate on the two-dimensional surface area map to provide a site survey of the wireless network coverage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tool for providing a site survey of a wireless network. In one embodiment the tool includes a network server, a plurality of access points and a mobile client. The network server is used to create and distribute data packets. The plurality of access points are coupled to send and receive data packets from the server. The mobile client is in wireless communication with the plurality of access points. The client has a two-dimensional surface area map on a data grid. The client includes instruction to compute throughput and packet error rate at selected locations within a network coverage area when the client receives data packets sent by the network server. The client displays the throughput and packet error rate on the two-dimensional surface area map to provide a site survey of the wireless network coverage.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A tool for providing a site survey of a wireless network comprising:
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a network server having a server application module to create and distribute data packets;
a plurality of access points coupled to send and receive data packets from the server;
a portable computer in wireless communication with the plurality of access points, the portable computer having a two-dimensional surface area map on a data grid; and
wherein the portable computer receives data packets sent by the network server and includes instructions that are adapted to compute at least one of throughput and packet error rate at selected locations within a network coverage area and display the at least one of throughput and packet error rate on the two-dimensional surface area map to provide a site survey of the wireless network coverage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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14. A tool for providing a site survey of a wireless network comprising:
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a network server to create and distribute data packets;
a plurality of access points coupled to receive the data packets from the server;
a mobile client in wireless communication with the plurality of access points, the client having a two-dimensional surface area map on a data grid; and
wherein the client includes instructions that are adapted to compute at least one of throughput and packet error rate at selected locations within a network coverage area when the client receives data packets sent by the network server and display the at least one of throughput and packet error rate on the two-dimensional surface area map to provide a site survey of the wireless network coverage.
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28. A method of providing a site survey of a wireless network comprising:
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sending data packets through the wireless network;
collecting data on the data packet transmission;
calculating throughput and error rate; and
implementing the throughput and error rate into a two-dimensional vector surface area map to convey a graphical representation of the wireless network coverage.
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34. A method of providing a site survey of a wireless network comprising:
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importing a floor plan image of a building to be surveyed into a portable computer wirelessly coupled to a network server via access points;
marking the location of the access points on the imported floor plan image;
positioning the portable computer at selected locations within the building;
marking the locations of the portable computer on the imported floor plan image;
sending a request signal from the portable computer to the network server via the access point requesting a signal containing packets be created by the network server and sent back to the portable computer while the portable computer is at the then current location marked on the imported floor plan image;
receiving the request signal at the network server via the access points;
generating the packet requests;
sending the packet requests multicast to the portable computer;
computing the packet error rate and throughput; and
displaying the quality of signal strength based on the packet rate and throughput on a two-dimensional vector map imposed over the imported floor plan image.
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38. A method of providing a site survey comprising:
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importing a floor plan image of an area to be surveyed into a client that is wirelessly coupled to a server via access points;
marking the location of the access points on the floor image map;
positioning the client at various locations within the area to be surveyed;
marking the various locations of the client on the floor plan image;
receiving packet signals with the client from the server at each of the various locations;
calculating at least one of throughput and packet error rate for each of the various locations; and
displaying the quality of the signal based on the at least one of throughput and packet error rate on a two-dimensional vector map imposed over the floor plan image.
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43. A computer-readable medium including instructions for implementing a method comprising:
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importing a floor plan image of an area to be surveyed into a client that is wirelessly coupled to a server via access points;
marking the location of the access points on the floor image map;
marking various locations of the client on the floor plan image;
receiving packet signals with the client from the server at each of the various locations;
calculating at least one of throughput and packet error rate for each of the various locations; and
displaying the quality of the signal based on the at least one of throughput and packet error rate on a two-dimensional vector map imposed over the floor plan image. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 49)
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48. A computer-readable medium including instructions for implementing a method comprising:
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receiving a command to generate a test signal of data packets with a network server;
generating a test signal in response to the command, wherein the test signal contains a desired amount of packets, further wherein each packet is of a desired length;
sending the requested data packets in the test signal at predefined time intervals to a client.
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Specification