Wireless local area network test device

• US 20050101257A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 6LAN
• Original Assignee: 6LAN
• Inventors: Prat, Florent, Fargue, Vincent
• Application Number:
  US10/995,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20050101257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.110
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic

Abstract

The invention relates to a test device (15) which permits the analysis of the connection quality at an access point to a wireless local access network, from a location which houses computer equipment, including a wireless communication card, characterised in being in the form of the body with a housing (9), for the interchangeable housing of a wireless communication card (16), means for processing emitted and/or received signals going to or coming from an access point to the network and means for displaying (17) information relating to said signals.

Claims

1. A test device (15) used to analyze the quality of the connection to an access point (1) of a wireless local area network, from a place likely to house an item of computer equipment (10) including a wireless communication card (11), characterized in that it has the form of a unit comprising:

a housing (9) suitable for interchangeably receiving a wireless communication card (16);

means of processing signals sent to and/or received from the network (1) access point (2);

means of displaying (17) information relating to said signals.

2. The test device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the housing (19) is suitable for receiving wireless communication cards (16) of the PCMCIA type.

3. The test device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the processing means are suitable for controlling the operation of the wireless communication card, according to a program or driver, selected from a predetermined list.

4. The test device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that it comprises means of updating the predetermined list of drivers.

5. The test device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises information and recording means relating to the signals sent to and/or received from the network access point (2).

6. The test device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means of transferring (21) to the computer information relating to the signals sent to and/or received from the network access point.

7. The test device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the processing means are suitable for sending data packets or frames according to a protocol compatible with the wireless local area network.

8. The test device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the processing means are suitable for sending frames of different lengths.

9. The test device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the length of the frames can be configured by the user.

10. The test device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the frame transmission time can be configured by the user.

11. An assembly comprising a test device as claimed in claim 1 and at least one item of equipment suitable for receiving and sending signals sent to and received from said device, and playing the role of network access point.

12. The assembly comprising a test device as claimed in claim 1 and at least one item of equipment suitable for receiving and sending signals sent to and received from the network (1) access point (2), said item of equipment playing the role of an item of computer hardware connected to the network.