Apparatuses and methods for measuring signal strengths of wireless networks

• US 20060014533A1
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Assets 19 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: U-Smart Networking LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Warren, Phillip D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,596,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

A signal tester including a controller operable to communicate with and receive signal strength data for a wireless networks corresponding to first and second modems, respectively. The tester includes a display operable to display the signal strength data for the first wireless network and the second wireless network.

Claims

1. A signal tester, comprising:

a controller, wherein the controller is operable to;

communicate with a first wireless modem to receive signal strength data for a first wireless network in communication with the first modem; and

communicate with a second wireless modem to receive signal strength data for a second wireless network in communication with the second modem; and

at least one display operable to display the signal strength data for the first wireless network or the second wireless network.

2. The signal tester of claim 1, wherein the first wireless modem is located internal to the signal tester.

3. The signal tester of claim 2, wherein the second wireless modem is located internal to the signal tester.

4. The signal tester of claim 1, wherein the first wireless modem is located external to the signal tester.

5. The signal tester of claim 4, wherein the second wireless modem is located external to the signal tester.

6. The signal tester of claim 1, wherein the at least one display is operable to display the signal strength data for the first wireless network and the second wireless network.

7. The signal tester of claim 1, wherein the first wireless modem is operable to generate signal strength data for the first wireless network, and wherein the first wireless network is a wide area network.

8. The signal tester of claim 7, wherein the second wireless modem is operable to generate signal strength data for the second wireless network, and wherein the second wireless network is a local area network.

9. A tester, comprising:

a universal communications interface and operable to;

communicate with a first modem operable to generate signal strength data for a first wireless network; and

communicate with a second modem operable to generate signal strength data for a second wireless network; and

a controller coupled to the universal communications interface and operable to receive, from the universal communications interface, signal strength data generated by the first and second modems for the first wireless network and the second wireless network;

at least one display operable to display the signal strength data for the first wireless network and the second wireless network.

10. The tester of claim 9, further comprising an interface for coupling the universal communications interface to the first modem and the second modem.

11. The tester of claim 10, wherein the interface is capable of receiving signal strength data from only the first modem or the second modem at one time.

12. The tester of claim 10, wherein the first wireless modem is located external to the tester.

13. The tester of claim 12, wherein the second wireless modem is located external to the signal tester.

14. The tester of claim 10, wherein the at least one display is operable to display the signal strength data for the first wireless network and the second wireless network.

15. The tester of claim 10, wherein the first wireless network is a wide area network.

16. The tester of claim 15, wherein the second wireless network is a local area network.

17. The tester of claim 10, wherein the first modem is located internal to the tester.

18. The tester of claim 17, wherein the second modem is located internal to the tester.

19. The tester of claim 9, wherein the first modem and the second modem are different modem types.