System and method for planning a wireless computer network using network performance contour overlays

• US 20070061442A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nanyang Polytechnic
• Original Assignee: Nanyang Polytechnic
• Inventors: Kan, Siew, Ang, Khoon
• Granted Patent: US 7,991,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

The present invention makes use of a database of existing site surveys of a variety of locations and sites producing a plurality of test-bed templates and also a variety of simulation models of actual layouts and sites producing a plurality of simulation templates. The simulation templates and test-bed templates are used to find a best match to a new layout for planning a new wire-less computer network. Data comprising of performance parameters from the templates are used to generate network performance contour overlays that may be superimposed on the new layout.

Claims

1. A wireless computer network planning system for planning a wireless computer network having a predetermined layout, said system comprising:

a template database for storing a plurality of templates;

a template identifier coupled to the template database, said template identifier for receiving search terms and for searching said template database for matching templates;

a network performance contour overlay generator for creating network performance contour overlays from performance parameters extracted from said matching templates;

a network performance contour overlay superimposer for receiving said predetermined layout and for superimposing at least one of said network performance contour overlays onto said predetermined layout producing a superimposed layout.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said template database comprises a test-bed template database and a simulation template database.

3. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said plurality of templates comprises a plurality of test-bed templates and a plurality of simulation templates.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a displaying means for displaying said superimposed layout.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a reproduction means for printing said superimposed layout onto some media means.

6. A method for planning a wireless computer network for a predetermined layout, said method comprising the steps:

a. receiving said predetermined layout and search terms;

b. searching a template database for suitable matching templates based on said search terms;

c. creating at least one network performance contour overlay from said matching templates; and

d. superimposing said at least one network performance contour overlay onto said predetermined layout.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said step b. further comprises the steps:

b1. receiving search terms; and

b2. searching a simulation template database and a test-bed template database in said template database.

8. The method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said step c. further comprises the steps:

c1. receiving desired performance parameters;

c2. Extracting said desired performance parameters data from said matching templates in said template database; and

c3. generating network performance contour overlays from said desired performance parameters data.

9. The method in accordance with claim 6, after step b. comprising step e.:

assigning a matching template if step b. produces no matching template.