Systems and Methods for Managing Wireless Communications Using Link Space Information

• US 20080214116A1
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science And Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science And Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wong, Bill Piu, Leung Hang, Jason C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods which provide for management of wireless communications through the development and use of link space information. Such link space information provides link-centric information with respect to wireless links of a network to thereby provide a view of the network which takes into account phenomena affecting the wireless links. Utilizing such link space information, automated management of various aspects of a wireless network may be provided, including automated provisioning, management, and/or optimization of network links. Network operations may include use of link space information in providing network management applications such as automatic fault management, automatic performance management, operation advisories, and/or the like.

Claims

1. A method for providing link space data with respect to wireless links in a network, said method comprising:

collecting wireless link attributes with respect to all wireless nodes of the network;

determining wireless links between nodes of the network; and

determining effective radiation proximity of said wireless nodes using at least a portion of said collected wireless link attributes and said determined wireless links.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless link attributes collected comprise signal strength.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless link attributes collected comprise data error rate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless link attributes collected comprise transmit power.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless link attributes collected comprise antenna pattern.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless link attributes collected comprise channel usage information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless link attributes collected comprise data rate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless link attributes collected comprise a connection status.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless link attributes collected comprise a link diversity attribute.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said determined wireless links comprise all data links between nodes of the network and at least one RF link for which no data link is established.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said effective radiation proximity is a function of propagation phenomena of said wireless links.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deploying a centralized system in communication with a plurality of said nodes for performing said collecting wireless link attributes, determining wireless links, and determining effective radiation proximity steps.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

deploying agents with respect to ones of said plurality of nodes, wherein said agents are in communication with said centralized system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said agents operate to collect at least a portion of said wireless link attributes.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said agents further operate to adjust operational attributes of said network under control of said centralized system.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deploying a distributed architecture system at a plurality of said nodes for performing said collecting wireless link attributes, determining wireless links, and determining effective radiation proximity steps.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing data communication between said plurality of nodes to thereby provide cooperation between portions of said distributed architecture system in providing said link space data.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using said link space data in providing automated management of said network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said automated management of said network comprises:

controlling at least one wireless link attribute associated with a wireless node of the network selected from the group consisting of a transmit power, an antenna pattern, channel usage, data rate, and connection status.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said automated management of said network comprises:

providing frequency planning using said link space data with respect to all nodes of said network.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said automated management of said network comprises:

controlling network attributes to provide operational attributes from the group consisting of providing load balancing with respect to at least one network element, maximizing coverage of nodes by the network, minimizing coverage of areas not having nodes of said network, detecting unintended RF parties, and reducing occurrence of hidden terminal interference.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using said link space data in providing advisory output with respect to configuration of said network.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using said link space data in configuring a wireless distribution system.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using said link space data in a location based service platform.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein said determined effective radiation proximity of said wireless nodes is utilized in providing user link space location information, wherein said user link space location information comprises direction and distance information.

26. A system for providing link space data with respect to wireless links in a network, said system comprising:

data collectors in communication with nodes of said network and collecting wireless link attributes therefrom; and

a processor-based system operable to accept said collected wireless link attributes and identify wireless links between nodes of the network therefrom, said processor-based system also operable to determine effective radiation proximity of said wireless nodes using at least a portion of said collected wireless link attributes.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said wireless link attributes collected comprise at least one attribute selected from the group consisting of signal strength, data error rate, transmit power, antenna pattern, channel usage information, data rate, a connection status, and a link diversity attribute.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein said identified wireless links comprise all data links between nodes of the network and at least one RF link for which no corresponding data link is established.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said identified wireless links comprise RE links between nodes of the network and RF devices external thereto.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein said effective radiation proximity is a function of propagation phenomena of said wireless links.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein said processor-based system comprises a centralized system in communication with a plurality of said nodes.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

a plurality of agents deployed at ones of said plurality of nodes, wherein said agents are in communication with said centralized system.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said data collectors comprise said agents.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein said agents comprise software agents operable upon said plurality of nodes.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein said processor-based system comprises:

a plurality of processor-based systems deployed in a distributed architecture.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said plurality of processor-based systems comprise a plurality of said nodes.

37-91. -91. (canceled)