Method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a wireless network

• US 20040132446A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chrysalis California LLC
• Original Assignee: Chrysalis California LLC
• Inventors: Seedman, Michael, Marchevsky, Bruno, Padgitt, David Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,010,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/20 of receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A system and method for detecting the presence of a wireless LAN. The system includes a radio frequency receiver for receiving radio frequency signals and a controller having associated programming for controlling the receiver. The programming also functions to measure and analyze the energy of the received radio frequency signals for the purpose of determining if the radio frequency signals indicate the presence of a wireless LAN or are being produced by a noise generating electronic device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of a wireless LAN comprising:

a radio frequency receiver for receiving radio frequency signals; and

a controller having associated programming for controlling the receiver and measuring and analyzing the energy of the received radio frequency signals for the purpose of determining if the radio frequency signals indicate the presence of a wireless LAN or are being produced by a noise generating electronic device.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming detects noise generated by a cordless phone.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming detects noise generated by a microwave oven.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming detects noise generated by a Bluetooth capable device.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a display associated with the controller for displaying a representation of the energy of the received radio frequency signals.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the display comprises a tri-color LED wherein the LED is illuminated a first color to indicate a presence of a wireless LAN, a second color to indicate a possible presence of a wireless LAN, and a third color to indicate an absence of a wireless LAN.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the display comprises a plurality of LEDs wherein select elements of the plurality of LEDs are illuminated as a function of the energy of the received radio frequency signals determined to be originating from the wireless LAN.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the display comprises an analog meter.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the display comprises a plurality of LCD segments wherein select elements of the plurality of LCD segments are energized as a function of the energy of the received radio frequency signals determined to be originating from the wireless LAN.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the radio frequency receiver and the controller are contained within a handheld unit.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming functions to cause the apparatus to generally scan outside of a wireless LAN band to identify radio frequency signals being generating by a noise producing electronic device.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming functions to cause the apparatus to scan a substantial entirety of a wireless LAN band to determine an overall energy level over time.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the programming functions to examine the overall energy level over time and, when the overall energy level exceeds a predefined threshold, the programming deems the radio frequency signals as originating from the wireless LAN.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the radio frequency receiver comprises a transceiver for bi-directionally communicating with the wireless LAN.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the programming functions to cause a transmission of a ping command via the transceiver.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the ping command is user programmable.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the programming functions to cause a transmission of an inquiry command to an email server.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the programming functions to cause a transmission of an inquiry command to an instant message server.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the programming functions to cause a transmission of an inquiry command to receive from the wireless LAN protocol information needed to access the wireless LAN.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, further comprising a network connector in communication with the controller whereby the protocol information needed to access the wireless LAN is downloadable into a computing device.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the network connector comprises a USB connector.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the programming comprises a pre-populated encryption key that limits use of the apparatus to a specific wireless LAN.

23. A method for detecting the presence of a wireless LAN, comprising:

receiving radio frequency signals;

measuring the energy level of the received radio signals;

analyzing the measured energy levels for the purpose of determining if the radio frequency signals indicate the presence of a wireless LAN or are being produced by a noise generating electronic device.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising the step of determining if the radio frequency signals indicate the presence of a cordless phone.

25. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising the step of determining if the radio frequency signals indicate the presence of a microwave oven.

26. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising the step of determining if the radio frequency signals indicate the presence of a Bluetooth capable device.

27. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising the step of displaying a representation of the energy of the received radio frequency signals.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of illuminating a tri-colored LED to a first color to indicate a presence of a wireless LAN, a second color to indicate a possible presence of a wireless LAN, and a third color to indicate an absence of a wireless LAN.

29. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of illuminating selected ones of a plurality of LEDs as a function of the energy of the received radio frequency signals determined to be originating from the wireless LAN.

30. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of controlling an analog meter as a function of the energy of the received radio frequency signals determined to be originating from the wireless LAN.

31. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising energizing selected ones of a plurality of LCD segments as a function of the energy of the received radio frequency signals determined to be originating from the wireless LAN.

32. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising the step of generally scanning outside of a wireless LAN band to identify radio frequency signals being generating by a noise producing electronic device.

33. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising the step of scanning a substantial entirety of a wireless LAN band to determine an overall energy level over time.

34. The method as recited in claim 33, further comprising the step of examining the overall energy level over time and, when the overall energy level exceeds a predefined threshold, deeming the radio frequency signals as originating from a wireless LAN.

35. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising the step of transmitting a ping command to the wireless LAN.

36. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising the step of transmitting an inquiry command to an email server via the wireless LAN.

37. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising the step of transmitting an inquiry command to an instant message server.

38. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising the step of a transmitting an inquiry command to receive from the wireless LAN protocol information needed to access the wireless LAN.

39. The method as recited in claim 38, further comprising the step of downloading the protocol information to a computing device.

40. In a handheld device, a readable medium having instructions for detecting the presence of a wireless LAN, the instructions performing steps comprising:

receiving radio frequency signals;

measuring the energy level of the received radio signals;

analyzing the measured energy levels for the purpose of determining if the radio frequency signals indicate the presence of a wireless LAN or are being produced by a noise generating electronic device.

41. The readable medium as recited in claim 40, wherein the instruction perform the further step of determining if the radio frequency signals indicate the presence of a cordless phone.

42. The readable media as recited in claim 40, wherein the instruction perform the further step of determining if the radio frequency signals indicate the presence of a microwave oven.

43. The readable media as recited in claim 40, wherein the instruction perform the further step of determining if the radio frequency signals indicate the presence of a Bluetooth capable device.

44. The readable media as recited in claim 40, wherein the instruction perform the further step of displaying a representation of the energy of the received radio frequency signals.

45. The readable media as recited in claim 44, wherein the instruction perform the further step of illuminating a tri-colored LED to a first color to indicate a presence of a wireless LAN, a second color to indicate a possible presence of a wireless LAN, and a third color to indicate an absence of a wireless LAN.

46. The readable media as recited in claim 44, wherein the instruction perform the further step of illuminating selected ones of a plurality of LEDs as a function of the energy of the received radio frequency signals determined to be originating from the wireless LAN.

47. The readable media as recited in claim 40, wherein the instruction perform the further step of generally scanning outside of a wireless LAN band to identify radio frequency signals being generating by a noise producing electronic device.

48. The readable media as recited in claim 40, wherein the instruction perform the further step of scanning a substantial entirety of a wireless LAN band to determine an overall energy level over time.

49. The readable media as recited in claim 48, wherein the instruction perform the further step of examining the overall energy level over time and, when the overall energy level exceeds a predefined threshold, deeming the radio frequency signals as originating from a wireless LAN.

50. The readable media as recited in claim 40, wherein the instruction perform the further step of transmitting a ping command to the wireless LAN.

51. The readable media as recited in claim 40, wherein the instruction perform the further step of transmitting an inquiry command to an email server via the wireless LAN.

52. The readable media as recited in claim 40, wherein the instruction perform the further step of transmitting of an inquiry command to an instant message server.

53. The readable media as recited in claim 40, wherein the instruction perform the further step of transmitting an inquiry command to receive from the wireless LAN protocol information needed to access the wireless LAN.

54. The readable media as recited in claim 53, wherein the instruction perform the further step of downloading the protocol information to a computing device.

55. The method as recited in claim 44, further comprising the step of controlling an analog meter as a function of the energy of the received radio frequency signals determined to be originating from the wireless LAN.

56. The method as recited in claim 44, further comprising energizing selected ones of a plurality of LCD segments as a function of the energy of the received radio frequency signals determined to be originating from the wireless LAN.