Method and system for determining existence of a predetermined wireless network coverage condition in a wireless network

• US 20070025287A1
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Bekritsky, Benjamin, Goren, David, Le, Vinh-Phuong, Zeng, Guang
• Granted Patent: US 7,437,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

Described is a method for determining an existence of a predetermined wireless network coverage condition. A wireless coverage map of a wireless network is generated as a function of a location of at least one access point and a first signal data collected at a plurality of locations within the network. The first signal data includes a first signal strength of a wireless signal communicated between the at least one access point and a wireless device. A second signal data is received. The second signal data includes a second signal strength of a further wireless signal communicated between one of the at least one access point and a further wireless device. The existence of the predetermined wireless network coverage condition is determined as a function of the second signal data and the wireless coverage map.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating a wireless coverage map of a wireless network as a function of a location of at least one access point and a first signal data collected at a plurality of locations within the network, the first signal data including a first signal strength of a first wireless signal communicated between the at least one access point and a first wireless device;

receiving a second signal data, the second signal data including a second signal strength of a second wireless signal communicated between one of the at least one access point and a second wireless device; and

determining an existence of a predetermined wireless network coverage condition as a function of the second signal data, a first location of the one of the at least one access point, a second location of the second wireless device and the wireless coverage map.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first signal data further includes at least one of (i) a first signal-to-noise ratio of the first wireless signal and (ii) a first channel delay spread, and the second signal data includes at least one of (i) a second signal-to-noise ratio of the second wireless signal and (ii) a second channel delay spread.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generating step includes the following substeps:

generating a physical map of the network, the physical map including the location of the at least one access point; and

superimposing the first signal data on the physical map.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless coverage map includes at least one of (i) an identifier of each of the at least one access point and (ii) data indicative of an operational status of the at least one access point.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the identifier is a MAC address.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless device includes at least one of an image-based scanner, a laser-based scanner and a RFID reader.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third signal data, the third signal data including a third signal strength of a third wireless signal communicated between a further one of the at least one access point and the second wireless device; and

determining the existence of the predetermined wireless network coverage condition as the function of the second signal data, the third signal data and the wireless coverage map.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined wireless network coverage condition is one of (i) a malfunctioning access point and (ii) a change of a physical landscape within a predetermined range of the second wireless device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining step includes the following substeps:

comparing the second signal data to a predetermined threshold value; and

when the second signal data is less than the predetermined threshold value, executing a predetermined action.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the threshold value is one of (i) a minimum signal strength at which the at least one access point communicates with the second wireless device and (ii) a maximum allowable difference between the first signal data and the second signal data.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined action is a message to at least one of (i) a server coupled to the wireless network and (ii) the second wireless device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the message includes a first location of the second wireless device and a second location of the at least one access point.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a problematic access point of the at least one access point which is associated with the predetermined wireless network coverage condition; and

boosting a power level of at least one non-problematic access point of the at least one access point within a predetermined range of the problematic access point.

14. A system, comprising:

a network management arrangement (“

NMA”

);

at least one access point coupled to the NMA;

a first wireless device communicating with the at least one access point utilizing a first wireless signal,

wherein, the NMA generates a wireless coverage map of a wireless network as a function of a location of the at least one access point and a first signal data collected at a plurality of locations within the network, the first signal data including a first signal strength of a second wireless signal communicated between the at least one access point and a second wireless device,

wherein, the NMA receives a second signal data, the second signal data including a second signal strength of the first wireless signal communicated between one of the at least one access point and the first wireless device, and

wherein, the NMA determines an existence of a predetermined wireless network coverage condition as a function of the second signal data, a first location of the one of the at least one access point, a second location of the first wireless device and the wireless coverage map.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the NMA generates a physical map of the network, the physical map including the location of the at least one access point, and the NMA superimposes the first signal data on the physical map to generate the coverage map.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the first wireless device includes at least one of an image-based scanner, a laser-based scanner and a RFID reader.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined wireless network coverage condition is one of (i) a malfunctioning access point of the at least one access point and (ii) a change of a physical landscape within a predetermined range of the first wireless device.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein the NMA compares the second signal data to a predetermined threshold value, and, when the second signal data is less than the predetermined threshold value, the NMA executes a predetermined action.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the threshold value is one of (i) a minimum signal strength at which the at least one access point may communicate with the first wireless device and (ii) a maximum allowable difference between the first signal data and the second signal data.

20. An arrangement, comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

a communication arrangement coupling to at least one access point,

wherein, the processor generates a wireless coverage map of a wireless network as a function of a location of the at least one access point and a first signal data collected at a plurality of locations within the network, the first signal data including a first signal strength of a first wireless signal communicated between the at least one access point and a first wireless device,

wherein, the processor receives a second signal data, the second signal data including a second signal strength of a second wireless signal communicated between one of the at least one access point and a second wireless device, and

wherein, the processor determines an existence of a predetermined wireless network coverage condition as a function of the second signal data, a first location of the one of the at least one access point, a second location of the second wireless device and the wireless coverage map.

21. The arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the arrangement is one of a switch and a router.

22. An access point, comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

a communication arrangement communicating with a first wireless device utilizing a first wireless signal and a second wireless device utilizing a second wireless signal,

wherein, the processor generates a wireless coverage map of a wireless network as a function of a location of the access point and a first signal data collected at a plurality of locations within the network, the first signal data including a first signal strength of the first wireless signal,

wherein, the processor receives a second signal data, the second signal data including a second signal strength of the second wireless signal, and

wherein, the processor determines an existence of a predetermined wireless network coverage condition as a function of the second signal data, a first location of the one of the at least one access point, a second location of the second wireless device and the wireless coverage map.