METHODOLOGY AND APPARATUS FOR VALIDATING NETWORK COVERAGE

• US 20110077037A1
• Filed: 09/23/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Matthew, Osterloh, Christopher L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/507
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for validating network coverage (i.e., desired functionality) of newly installed network devices. Per use of presently disclosed technology, equipment installers may confirm both one and two way communications abilities of newly installed network devices as well as receive network diagnostic related data to assist them in the equipment installation process. Validation of communications operation may be initiated by any of the newly installed equipment, a handheld device, or via mobile device communications.

Claims

1. A network coverage validation apparatus for validating wireless communication operability for a network of RF transceivers, comprising a testing device for initiating transmission of a validation message intended for in-range transceivers of said network of RF transceivers, and for listening for any reply messages from said RF transceivers.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said RF transceivers comprise a plurality of cell control units and repeaters, each of which has RF transceiver functionality, with said repeaters providing communications between selected of said cell control units, and with said cell control units providing communications with a plurality of data generating endpoints associated therewith.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said reply messages comprise a randomly timed transmission which includes data identifying the transmitting RF transceiver and indicating the relative strength of the signal of the validation message received by such RF transceiver.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said testing device includes GPS functionality for logging the location of said testing device upon receipt of any reply messages from said network of RF transceivers.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said testing device initiates said validation message transmission at periodic intervals while said testing device is continuously relocated relative to said network, for mapping the wireless communication operability for such network.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said reply messages comprise a randomly timed transmission which includes data identifying the transmitting RF transceiver and indicating the relative strength of the signal of the validation message received by such RF transceiver; and

said testing device includes GPS functionality for logging the location of said testing device upon receipt of any reply messages from said network of RF transceivers, and means for correlating reply messages and logged locations, for mapping the wireless communication operability for such network.

7. A network coverage verification tool for confirming RF communication operability for a data endpoint intended for RF association with a network of RF transceivers, comprising an installation testing device for initiating transmission of a validation message from an endpoint to be validated, and for listening for any reply message data originating from said network of RF transceivers.

8. A network coverage verification tool as in claim 7, further including means for displaying the results of any reply message data received by said installation testing device.

9. A network coverage verification tool as in claim 7, wherein said installation testing device comprises a mobile, handheld device field-usable by an installer for real time checking of communication operability of an installed endpoint.

10. A network coverage verification tool as in claim 7, wherein said installation testing device includes means for placing such endpoint to be validated, after transmission of said validation message, into a receive and retransmit mode for receiving reply messages originating from said network of RF transceivers and for forwarding reply message data to said testing device.

11. A network coverage verification tool as in claim 7, wherein said reply message data includes data identifying the transmitting RF transceiver and indicating the relative strength of the signal of the validation message received by such RF transceiver.

12. A network coverage verification tool as in claim 7, wherein said validation message transmission is initiated a plurality of times at intervals, and said RF transceivers transmit reply messages on randomly selected communications channels.

13. A network coverage verification tool as in claim 7, wherein said validation message includes data for requesting response from any receiving RF transceiver of said network, and said RF transceivers transmit reply messages at randomly selected times after a predetermined minimum amount of delay after receipt of a validation message.

14. A network coverage verification tool as in claim 7, wherein said installation testing device includes means for directly receiving reply messages originating from said network of RF transceivers.

15. Methodology for validating wireless communication operability for a data collection network of the type comprising a plurality of data endpoints intended for RF association with a network of RF transceivers, such methodology comprising:

initiating transmission of a validation message intended for in-range transceivers of such network of RF transceivers; and

listening for any reply messages originating from such RF transceivers.

16. Methodology as in claim 15, wherein:

said initiating includes initiating transmission of a validation message from one of an endpoint to be validated and a mobile device provided for transmission of validation messages; and

said listening includes listening for any reply message data originating from said network of RF transceivers.

17. Methodology as in claim 15, wherein said listening includes receiving any reply messages one of directly from such RF transceivers, and indirectly from a data endpoint having received such reply messages directly from such RF transceivers and retransmitting same.

18. Methodology as in claim 15, wherein:

said RF transceivers comprise a plurality of cell control units and repeaters, each of which has RF transceiver functionality;

said initiating includes initiating transmission of a validation message from a mobile device provided for transmission of validation messages;

said reply messages comprise a randomly timed transmission which includes data identifying the transmitting RF transceiver and indicating the relative strength of the signal of the validation message received by such RF transceiver; and

said methodology further includes using GPS functionality and logging the location of said mobile device upon receipt of any reply messages thereat from said network of RF transceivers while moving such mobile device around in such network, and correlating such reply messages and logged locations, for mapping the wireless communication operability for such network.

19. Methodology as in claim 15, further including displaying the results of listening for any reply messages.

20. Methodology as in claim 15, further including using a mobile, handheld device field-usable by an installer for said initiating step, for real time checking of communication operability of an installed endpoint.

21. Methodology as in claim 15, further including:

initiating said validation message transmission a plurality of times at intervals; and

wherein said RF transceivers transmit reply messages on randomly selected communications channels.

22. Methodology as in claim 15, wherein:

said validation message includes data for requesting response from any receiving RF transceiver of said network; and

said RF transceivers transmit reply messages at randomly selected times after a predetermined minimum amount of delay after receipt of a validation message.

23. Methodology as in claim 15, further including:

newly installing a data endpoint for RF association with an existing network of RF transceivers; and

validating wireless communication operability for such newly installed data endpoint by transmitting a validation message from such newly installed data endpoint, listening with such newly installed data endpoint for any reply messages from said RF transceivers, retransmitting reply message related data from such newly installed data endpoint to a receiver, and assessing said retransmitted reply message related data in order to validate wireless communication operability for such newly installed data endpoint.

24. Methodology as in claim 15, wherein:

said reply messages include data identifying the transmitting RF transceiver and indicating the relative strength of the signal of the validation message received by such RF transceiver; and

said methodology further includes assessing reply message data to respectively determine the quality of wire communication operability coverage at the locations of selected of said plurality of data endpoints.