WIRELESS APPLICATION INSTALLATION, CONFIGURATION AND MANAGEMENT TOOL

• US 20060287001A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Budampati, Ramakrishna S., Mathur, Anoop K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,463,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0003 Software-defined radio [SDR] systems, i.e. systems wherein components typically implemented in hardware, e.g. filters or modulators/demodulators, are implented using software, e.g. by involving an AD or DA conversion stage such that at least part of the signal processing is performed in the digital domain digital baseband systems H04L25/00; digital modulation/demodulation H04L27/00; CDMA H04B1/707; TDMA H04B7/2643; image transmission H04N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes

Abstract

Wireless configuration tools for communicating with and configuring wireless device systems. An illustrative tool makes use of a software defined radio (SDR) to communicate in multiple formats, modes, or frequencies, with multiple wireless device systems that may otherwise be incompatible. In some embodiments, the tool determines what type and how many wireless systems are to be configured prior to configuration of any of the systems. The tool may then adjust how each system is configured to reduce intra-system as well as inter-system interference. Methods for performing such functions are also included.

Claims

1. A tool for configuring wireless communication systems comprising:

a software defined radio (SDR) adapted for wireless communication using at least a first communication protocol;

a controller for the SDR having functionality to execute the first communication protocol; and

controller readable media accessible by the controller and including one or more instruction sets for configuration of a wireless system that uses the first communication protocol.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein:

the SDR is further adapted for wireless communication using a second communication protocol;

the controller has functionality to execute the second communication protocol; and

the controller readable media further includes one or more instruction sets for configuration of a wireless system that uses the second communication protocol.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein the first wireless system can be communicatively incompatible with the second wireless system.

4. The tool of claim 1 wherein the controller readable media can be written to and rewritten in response to commands from the controller.

5. The tool of claim 4 wherein, when a first wireless system is configured, the controller records data related to the configuration of the first wireless system to the controller readable media.

6. The tool of claim 1 wherein the controller is adapted to perform a configuration sequence comprising:

using the SDR to determine what wireless systems are to be configured in a facility;

adjusting an instruction set for configuration of a wireless system corresponding in light of the wireless systems that are to be configured; and

executing at least one of the one or more instruction sets to configure at least one wireless system in the facility.

7. The tool of claim 1 wherein the controller is adapted to perform reconfiguration of wireless communication systems by the use of at least portions of at least one of the one or more instruction sets for configuration of a wireless system.

8. The tool of claim 1 wherein the controller is adapted to receive information relating to a new communication protocol and write instructions for the new communication protocol to the controller readable media.

9. A tool for configuring wireless communication systems comprising:

a software defined radio (SDR) adapted for wireless communication using at least first and second communications protocols; and

a controller for the SDR capable of;

configuring a first wireless system using the first communication protocol, and

configuring a second wireless system using the second communication protocol.

10. The tool of claim 9 wherein the first wireless system can be communicatively incompatible with the second wireless system.

11. The tool of claim 9 wherein the controller is further adapted to store data related to configurations of the first and second wireless systems.

12. The tool of claim 9 wherein the controller is adapted to modify the second instruction set when the first wireless system is configured.

13. The tool of claim 9 wherein the controller is adapted to perform a configuration sequence comprising:

using the SDR to determine what wireless systems are to be configured in a facility;

adjusting an first instruction set for use in configuring a wireless system in light of the wireless systems that are to be configured; and

executing at least one of the first instruction set or the second instruction set to configure at least one wireless device system in the facility.

14. A method of configuring wireless communication systems comprising:

providing a device including a software defined radio (SDR) adapted for wireless communication using at least a first communication protocol, a controller for the SDR having functionality to execute the first communication protocol, and controller readable media accessible by the controller and including one or more instruction sets for configuration of a wireless system using the first communication protocol;

using the SDR to communicate using the first communication protocol with a first wireless device that is part of a first wireless communication system; and

configuring the first wireless device by executing an instruction set for configuration of a wireless system using the first communication protocol via the SDR.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the SDR is further adapted for wireless communication using a second communication protocol, the controller for the SDR having functionality to execute the second communication protocol, and the controller readable media includes one or more instruction sets for configuration of a wireless system using the second communication protocol, the method further comprising:

using the SDR to communicate using the second communication protocol with a second wireless device that is part of a second wireless communication system; and

configuring the second wireless device by executing an instruction set for configuration of a wireless system using the second communication protocol via the SDR.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

using the SDR to discover the first wireless communication system; and

determining what additional wireless communications systems are located in communication proximity to the first wireless communication system.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of determining what additional wireless communications systems are located in communication proximity includes determining what type and how many wireless communication systems are located in communication proximity.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising selecting a variable in an instruction set executed in configuring the first wireless device in view of what additional wireless communications systems are located in communication proximity to the first wireless communication system.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of recording data related to the configuration of the first wireless device.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

loading a new communication protocol to the controller readable media; and

configuring a wireless device for operation using the new communication protocol by communicating via the SDR to the wireless device.