MOBILE WiFi NETWORK

• US 20130184000A1
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: COOK, MICHAEL J, ONG, IVAN
• Granted Patent: US 9,686,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/55 involving three or more devices, e.g. group pairing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/46 for vehicle-to-vehicle communication [V2V]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method, computer-readable medium, and system are provided for managing a dynamic wireless network. An aspect of this invention is to identify the occurrence of an overlap of coverage areas provided by separate wireless access points, at least one of which is mobile.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a data signal, comprising location information, from a first transceiver among a plurality of transceivers;

comparing the location information of the first transceiver with location information of one or more other transceivers among the plurality of transceivers; and

determining whether the first transceiver overlaps with any of the one or more other transceivers based on a result of the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the first transceiver is underutilized or overutilized if the first transceiver overlaps with any of the one or more other transceivers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining whether the first transceiver is underutilized or overutilized includes comparing a number of devices connected to the first transceiver with a predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining whether the first transceiver is underutilized or overutilized includes comparing a number of devices connected to the first transceiver with an underutilized threshold or an overutilized threshold, respectively, wherein the underutilized threshold and the overutilized threshold are different.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining whether to use a second transceiver of the plurality of transceivers if the first transceiver is underutilized,

wherein the first transceiver forwards upstream data to the second transceiver when determining to use the second transceiver.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining whether a second transceiver of the plurality of transceivers is within range of the first transceiver and available to transfer an additional load,

wherein the determining whether a second transceiver of the plurality of transceivers is within range of the first transceiver and available to transfer an additional load includes searching a storage medium storing information indicating the availability of transceivers among the plurality of transceivers within range of the first transceiver,

wherein a load of the first transceiver is distributed between the first transceiver and the second transceiver when determining that the second transceiver is within range of the first transceiver and available to transfer an additional load.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the first transceiver is available to move.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining whether the first transceiver is available to move includes searching a database, which stores information indicating whether the first transceiver is available to move or not.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the first transceiver is available to move is based on information provided by an occupant or operator of a mobile unit attached to the first transceiver.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first transceiver is determined to be available to move if a schedule indicates that a mobile unit attached to the first transceiver is currently being loaned or will be loaned within a predetermined period of time.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting whether there is an area in need of coverage, wherein the detecting of whether there is an area in need of coverage comprises searching a database, which indicates locations of the plurality of transceivers.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, if an area in need of coverage is detected, directing the first transceiver to the detected area in need of coverage.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising designating the directed first transceiver as temporarily unavailable.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein directing the first transceiver to the detected area in need of coverage includes transmitting an offer to the first transceiver, the offer including location information of the detected area in need of coverage and compensation information providing an incentive to deliver the first transceiver to the detected area in need of coverage.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein, if a number of areas in need of coverage are detected, directing the first transceiver includes transmitting a number of offers to the first transceiver, the number of offers respectively corresponding to the number of areas in need of coverage detected.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

if an area in need of coverage is detected, sending an offer to the first transceiver in a rental car, the offer including location information of or directions to the detected area in need and compensation information providing an incentive to drive the rental car to the location of the detected area in need;

determining whether the rental car is driven to the area in need of coverage; and

transmitting confirmation information to allow an operator or renter of the rental car to receive compensation corresponding to the compensation information of the offer, when the rental car is determined to have been driven to the area in need of coverage.

17. The method of claim 1,

wherein the comparing of the location information of the first transceiver with the location information of one or more other transceivers includes searching a storage medium, which stores the location information of the one or more other transceivers, and

wherein the determining whether the first transceiver overlaps with any of the one or more other transceivers based on a result of the comparison includes identifying if any one of the one or more other transceivers are within a predetermined distance from the first transceiver.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method, comprising:

searching a database storing locations of a plurality of transceivers;

determining whether there is an area in need of coverage based on results of the search; and

directing a mobile unit to move a transceiver to an area determined to be in need of coverage.

19. A system, comprising:

one or more computing devices configured to receive location information from at least one mobile transceiver among a plurality of transceivers serving respective wireless coverage areas, to determine whether the coverage area of the at least one mobile transceiver overlaps with any of the coverage areas of the other transceivers among the plurality of transceivers based on the received location information, and to send instructions to the at least one mobile transceiver based on a result of the determination.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more servers are connected to a network, which is connected to:

a first transceiver among the plurality of transceivers configured to transmit location information indicating a location of the first transceiver; and

a second transceiver among the plurality of transceivers configured to transmit location information indicating a location of the second transceiver.