Automated configuration of RF WLANs via selected sensors

• US 20070082677A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Olson, Timothy, Douglas, Bretton, Theobold, David, Amos, James, Donald Hart, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/3913 Predictive models, e.g. based on neural network models
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

In a wireless LAN (WLAN), methods, apparatuses and systems directed to facilitating configuration of a wireless network is provided. According to one implementation of the present invention, sensors are used to collect data associated with locations and other properties of access points of the wireless network. The collected data can then be used to assist in automatically configuring one or more aspects of the wireless network. In some implementations, the collected data can be used to dynamically re-configure the wireless network in real time. According to another implementation of the present invention, location computation mechanisms are used to collect data associated with the location of one or more wireless clients, and the data is used to dynamically adjust one or more radio frequency (RF) coverage maps in real time. The revised RF coverage maps can then be used to re-configure one or more operational parameters of the wireless network. Implementations of the present invention provide many advantages, such as automating the configuration of the wireless network in real time and facilitating network management decisions.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating configuration of a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless access points, the method comprising:

receiving absolute geographic location data from a first set of wireless access points in the wireless network;

receiving, from at least a first wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points, signal data characterizing signals transmitted by at least a second wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points; and

computing an absolute geographic location for at least one wireless access point not in the first set of wireless access points based on the absolute geographic location data from the first set of wireless access points and the received signal data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal data characterizes the received signal strength of signals transmitted by the wireless access points.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal data characterizes the time of arrival of wireless frames carried in signals transmitted by the wireless access points.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the absolute geographic location data is determined using global positioning system (GPS) technology.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising

computing the location of at least one wireless access point not in the first set relative to at least one wireless access point in the first set.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the location computing step further comprises

causing a desired set of the wireless access points in the plurality of wireless access points to switch to a first operating channel, to transmit at least one wireless frame, and to detect an attribute of the signals transmitted by other wireless access points in the desired set.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising

determining at least one configuration parameter for the wireless network based at least in part on the absolute geographic locations of the wireless access points.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising

receiving antenna orientation data from at least one of the wireless access points.

9. An apparatus for facilitating configuration of a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless access points, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface;

at least one processor;

a memory; and

a configuration application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the processor and the network interface to

receive absolute geographic location data from a first set of wireless access points in the wireless network,

receive, from at least a first wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points, signal data characterizing signals transmitted by at least a second wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points; and

compute an absolute geographic location for at least one wireless access point not in the first set of wireless access points based on the absolute geographic location data from the first set of wireless access points and the received signal data.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the signal data characterizes the received signal strength of signals transmitted by the wireless access points.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the signal data characterizes the time of arrival of wireless frames carried in signals transmitted by the wireless access points.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the absolute geographic location data is determined using global positioning system (GPS) technology.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the network interface to

compute the location of at least one wireless access point not in the first set relative to at least one wireless access point in the first set.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the location computing step further comprises

causing a desired set of the wireless access points in the plurality of wireless access points to switch to a first operating channel, to transmit at least one wireless frame, and to detect an attribute of the signals transmitted by other wireless access points in the desired set.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the network interface to

determine at least one configuration parameter for the wireless network based at least in part on the absolute geographic locations of the wireless access points.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the network interface to

receive antenna orientation data from at least one of the wireless access points.

17. An apparatus for facilitating configuration of a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless access points, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving absolute geographic location data from a first set of wireless access points in the wireless network, and for receiving, from at least a first wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points, signal data characterizing signals transmitted by at least a second wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points; and

means for computing an absolute geographic location for at least one wireless access point not in the first set of wireless access points based on the absolute geographic location data from the first set of wireless access points and the received signal data.

18. A method for facilitating configuration of a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless access points, the method comprising:

receiving physical deployment data from the plurality of wireless access points, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless access points includes a sensor to automatically detect corresponding physical deployment data; and

computing configuration data for at least one of the plurality of wireless access points based at least in part on the physical deployment data.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the physical deployment data, for a given wireless access point, comprises the geographic location of an antenna corresponding to the wireless access point.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the physical deployment data, for a given wireless access point, comprises the orientation of an antenna corresponding to the wireless access point.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the orientation of the antenna comprises at least one of tilt, azimuth, and gain.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising

reading an antenna part number from the antenna as an index into a database of at least one of azimuth and elevation patterns.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising

reading at least one of azimuth and elevation patterns directly from the antenna.

24. The method of claim 18 further comprising

receiving antenna attribute data from at least one of the plurality of wireless access points;

and

computing configuration data based on the antenna attribute data.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the antenna attribute data comprises at least one of antenna gain, antenna type, brand name, model number, part number.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the configuration data comprises one or more operational parameters of the wireless network.

27. An apparatus for facilitating configuration of a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless access points, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface;

at least one processor;

a memory; and

a configuration application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the processor and the network interface to

receive physical deployment data from the plurality of wireless access points, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless access points includes a sensor to automatically detect corresponding physical deployment data; and

compute configuration data for at least one of the plurality of wireless access points based at least in part on the physical deployment data.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the physical deployment data, for a given wireless access point, comprises the geographic location of an antenna corresponding to the wireless access point.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the physical deployment data, for a given wireless access point, comprises the orientation of an antenna corresponding to the wireless access point.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the orientation of the antenna comprises at least one of tilt, azimuth, and gain.

31. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the network interface to

read an antenna part number from the antenna as an index into a database of at least one of azimuth and elevation patterns.

32. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the network interface to

read at least one of azimuth and elevation patterns directly from the antenna.

33. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the network interface to

receive antenna attribute data from at least one of the plurality of wireless access points;

and

compute configuration data based on the antenna attribute data.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the antenna attribute data comprises at least one of antenna gain, antenna type, brand name, model number, part number.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the configuration data comprises one or more operational parameters of the wireless network.

36. An apparatus for facilitating configuration of a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless access points, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving physical deployment data from the plurality of wireless access points, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless access points includes a sensor to automatically detect corresponding physical deployment data; and

means for computing configuration data for at least one of the plurality of wireless access points based at least in part on the physical deployment data.

37. In a wireless access point comprising at least one sensor enabled to gather physical deployment data, a method for facilitating configuration of a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless access points, the method comprising:

collecting physical deployment data using at least one sensor; and

sending the physical deployment data to a network management system.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the collecting step further comprises:

polling antenna control data sensors and antenna orientation sensors; and

storing the antenna control data and antenna orientation data.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the collecting step further comprises:

polling a GPS location sensor connected to the wireless access; and

storing GPS data received from the GPS location sensor.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the at least one sensor is an antenna orientation sensor.

41. The method of claim 37 further comprising

receiving configuration data from the network management system, wherein the configuration data is based at least in part on the physical deployment data.

42. An apparatus for facilitating configuration of a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface;

a wireless network interface;

at least one processor;

a memory;

a configuration application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the processor and the network interface to

collect physical deployment data using at least one sensor; and

send the physical deployment data to a network management system.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the network interface to

poll antenna control data sensors and antenna orientation sensors;

and

store the antenna control data and antenna orientation data.

44. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the network interface to

poll a GPS location sensor attached to the apparatus;

and

store the GPS data returned by the GPS location sensor.

45. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the at least one sensor is an antenna orientation sensor.

46. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the network interface to

receive configuration data from the network management system, wherein the configuration data is based at least in part on the physical deployment data.

47. An apparatus for facilitating configuration of a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

means for wirelessly communicating with at least one wireless client;

means for collecting physical deployment data using at least one sensor; and

means for sending the physical deployment data to a network management system.

48. A method for facilitating real-time configuration of a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless access points, the method comprising:

selecting a wireless client associated with a first wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points;

directing a plurality of wireless access points in proximity to the wireless client to monitor for wireless frames transmitted by the wireless client;

causing the first wireless access point to send at least one test packet to the wireless client, wherein the test packet is operative to cause the wireless client to transmit at least one response packet to the first wireless access point;

causing each wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points to record the arrival time of the response packet and the strength of the signal carrying the response packet transmitted by the wireless client; and

collecting the arrival time and signal strength data recorded by the wireless access points.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising

estimating the location of the wireless client based on the arrival time data recorded by the access points.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising

comparing the signal strength data corresponding to the estimated location in one or more RF coverage maps to the collected signal strength data.

51. The method of claim 49 further comprising:

comparing a signal strength value of a location bin in a first RF coverage map with the collected signal strength value, wherein the first RF coverage map is associated with a selected wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points, and wherein the location bin corresponds to the estimated location.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising

updating the first RF coverage map based on the collected signal strength value and the estimated location.

53. The method of claim 52 further comprising

using the updated RF coverage map to dynamically reconfigure the wireless network.

54. An apparatus for facilitating configuration of a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory;

a configuration application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the processor and the apparatus to

select a wireless client associated with a first wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points;

direct a plurality of wireless access points in proximity to the wireless client to monitor for wireless frames transmitted by the wireless client;

cause the first wireless access point to send at least one test packet to the wireless client, wherein the test packet is operative to cause the wireless client to transmit at least one response packet to the first wireless access point;

cause each wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points to record the arrival time of the response packet and the strength of the signal carrying the response packet transmitted by the wireless client; and

collect the arrival time and signal strength data recorded by the wireless access points.

55. The apparatus of claim 54 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the apparatus to

estimate the location of the wireless client based on the arrival time data recorded by the access points.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the apparatus to

compare the signal strength data corresponding to the estimated location in one or more RF coverage maps to the collected signal strength data.

57. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the apparatus to

compare a signal strength value of a location bin in a first RF coverage map with the collected signal strength value, wherein the first RF coverage map is associated with a selected wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points, and wherein the location bin corresponds to the estimated location.

58. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the apparatus to

update the first RF coverage map based on the collected signal strength value and the estimated location.

59. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions operable to cause the processor and the apparatus to

use the updated RF coverage map to dynamically reconfigure the wireless network.

60. An apparatus for facilitating configuration of a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

means for selecting a wireless client associated with a first wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points;

means for directing a plurality of wireless access points in proximity to the wireless client to monitor for wireless frames transmitted by the wireless client;

means for causing the first wireless access point to send at least one test packet to the wireless client, wherein the test packet is operative to cause the wireless client to transmit at least one response packet to the first wireless access point;

means for causing each wireless access point in the plurality of wireless access points to record the arrival time of the response packet and the strength of the signal carrying the response packet transmitted by the wireless client; and

means for collecting the arrival time and signal strength data recorded by the wireless access points.