METHOD TO ENSURE THAT LIFE-CRITICAL DATA IS TRANSPORTED EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY

• US 20080285462A1
• Filed: 05/18/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Baker, Steven D., Marcaccini, Steven J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,738,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

The invention relates generally to a method to ensure that mission-critical data is transported safely and effectively across a wireless LAN, and more particularly, to a method which determines network latency under model network loads and ensures that the RF signal strength requirements are met for all RF coverage areas supported by the wireless network, allowing for data transmission which is effective and complete, with acceptable latency and loss, and no unacceptable corruption of the data.

Claims

1. A method to pre-verify the operation of a wireless network for its intended use comprising the steps of:

a. examining at least one industry which uses a network, wherein a plurality of applications wirelessly transmit data over the network through at least one wireless access point;

b. establishing a model load for the at least one industry based upon the examination;

c. establishing a test load based on the model load by augmenting the model load with a safety factor whose value is greater than or equal to one;

d. specifying at least one selected application from the plurality of applications;

e. determining desired timing specifications of the selected applications;

f. loading a test wireless access point with the test load;

g. measuring timing parameters of the selected applications over the test wireless access point while the test load is applied;

h. comparing the desired timing specifications to the measured timing parameters.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected application is running on a device, and a report is provided with the device, wherein the report references the device, thus specifying operational parameters for the device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the safety factor is one, thus the test load is equal to the model load.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the safety factor is a number from one to two.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of examining at least one industry includes the step of selecting properties of the network such that the network simulates a large network for the medical industry.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the properties are selected such that the network simulates a large hospital.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of examining at least one industry includes the step of determining the types of devices connected to the network.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of examining at least one industry includes the step of determining the types of applications wirelessly transmitting data over the network.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of examining at least one industry includes the steps of

a. determining the types of applications wirelessly transmitting data over the network in the industry;

b. determining the load of each type of application;

c. determining the number of users of each type of application;

d. determining the number of wireless access points connected to the network.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of examining at least one industry includes the step of determining the types of users and number of users connected to the network.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of examining at least one industry includes the step of determining the number of users per-wireless access point connected to the network.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of examining at least one industry includes the step of determining the wireless access point density of the network, wherein the model load is dependent upon the wireless access point density.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein, if the desired timing specifications are not met, further comprising the steps of modifying the access point density, thus altering the test load.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, if the desired timing specifications are met, then providing a customer with a report which includes the result of such comparison.

15. A method to pre-verify the operation of a wireless network for its intended use comprising the steps of:

a. examining at least one industry which uses a network, wherein a plurality of applications wirelessly transmit data over the network through at least one wireless access point;

b. establishing a model load for the at least one industry based upon the examination;

c. establishing a test load based on the model load by augmenting the model load with a safety factor whose value is greater than or equal to one;

d. specifying at least one selected application from the plurality of applications;

e. determining performance specifications of the selected applications;

f. loading a wireless access point with the test load;

g. measuring performance specifications of the selected applications over the wireless access point while the test load is applied;

h. comparing the performance specifications to the measured performance specifications.

16. A method to verify a pre-tested wireless load will work in an actual environment comprising the steps of:

a. examining an actual network that has at least two types of applications wirelessly transmitting data over the network and measuring the actual load which includes an actual radio frequency signal strength, and an actual radio frequency signal to noise ratio;

b. comparing the actual load, including the actual radio frequency signal strength, and the actual radio frequency signal to noise ratio to a pre-tested load which includes a pre-tested radio frequency signal strength, and a pre-tested radio frequency signal to noise ratio;

c. ensuring that the actual load is less than the pre-tested loads the actual radio frequency signal strength is greater than the pre-tested radio frequency signal strength, and the actual radio frequency signal to noise ratio is greater than the pre-tested radio frequency signal to noise ratio.