Performance Mapping

• US 20150373567A1
• Filed: 06/23/2015
• Published: 12/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ruckus Wireless, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: KISH, William S., Lin, Dave
• Granted Patent: US 9,998,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/20 for indoor coverage or short range network deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Methods and computer-executable instructions for mapping performance data of wireless systems include receiving from an access point actual performance information, such as throughput, of a user device at a particular time, along with an identifier of the access point, and location information of the user device. Then, using the received actual performance information, the received location information, and the particular time to map the received actual performance information on a map of an area around the mobile device. In certain embodiments, converting the mapped actual performance information into a visual reference gradient for display on the user device.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for a method of mapping performance data of wireless systems, the method comprising:

at a controller, receiving from an access point via a network actual performance information of a user device at a particular time;

receiving an identifier of the access point;

receiving location information of the user device via the network;

causing storage of the received actual performance information, the identifier of the access point, and the received location information in a data storage;

using the received actual performance information, the received location information, and the particular time to map the received actual performance information on a map of an area around the mobile device;

converting the mapped actual performance information into a visual reference gradient for display on the user device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the actual performance information is throughput data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the visual reference gradient is a color indicator correlated to the received actual performance information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the visual reference gradient is a shaded indicator correlated to the received actual performance information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

receiving updated actual performance information of the user device from the access point at a new time;

receiving updated location information of the user device for the new time;

storing the received updated actual performance information, the received updated location information, and the new time in the data storage;

using the received updated actual performance information, the received updated location information, and the new time to update the map of actual performance information for the area around the mobile device;

converting the updated mapped actual performance information into a visual reference gradient for display on the user device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising,

sending the mapped actual performance information to the user device for display.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising,

sending the mapped actual performance information to another user device for display.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising,

sending the updated mapped actual performance information to the user device for display.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising,

sending the updated mapped actual performance information to another user device for display.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the updated mapped actual performance information is either replaced by newer updated mapped actual performance information or is deleted after a set time.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising,

calculating a location of the area around the mobile device where the user device can receive better performance service than the received actual performance data;

and

sending directions to the user device regarding the location where the user device can receive the better performance service.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for a mobile device, having computer-executable instructions thereon for a method of mapping performance data of wireless systems, the method comprising:

calculating wireless throughput experienced by the mobile device by recording successfully transmitted data packets per second at a particular time;

determining location information of the user device at the particular time, via a global positioning system in the mobile device;

using the calculated wireless throughput, the determined location information, and the particular time to map the determined throughput on a map of an area around the mobile device;

converting the mapped calculated throughput into a visual reference gradient for display on the user device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the visual reference gradient is a color indicator correlated to the received wireless throughput information.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the visual reference gradient is a shaded indicator correlated to the received wireless throughput information.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising,

calculating updated wireless throughput information of the user device from the access point at a new time;

determining updated location information of the user device for the new time;

storing the received updated wireless throughput information, the received updated location information, and the new time in the data storage;

using the received updated wireless throughput information, the received updated location information, and the new time to update the map of wireless throughput information for the area around the mobile device;

converting the updated mapped wireless throughput information into a visual reference gradient for display on the user device.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising,

sending the mapped wireless throughput information to another user device for display.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising,

sending the updated mapped wireless throughput information to another user device for display.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising,

calculating a location of the area around the mobile device where the user device can receive better performance service than the calculated wireless throughput data;

and

causing display of directions to the user device regarding the location where the user device can receive the better performance service.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising,

receiving information regarding a second mobile device throughput data, a second mobile device time, and a location of the second mobile device in the area around the mobile device;

using the received information regarding the second mobile device throughput data, the second mobile device location information, and the second mobile device time to update the map of wireless throughput information for the area around the mobile device.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for a method of projecting performance data of wireless systems, the method comprising:

receiving area parameters including boundaries of the area and environmental characteristics within the area;

plotting the area parameters, the boundaries, the environmental characteristics, and a grid with grid cells on a map;

receiving input regarding an arrangement of at least one AP within the area parameters;

calculating performance of a theoretical user device within each grid cell according to the arrangement of the at least one AP in the area parameters;

plotting the calculated performances of each of the at least one AP in each grid cell on the map;

scoring the map using the plotted calculated performances for the arrangement of the at least one AP; and

storing the score for the map for the arrangement of the at least one AP in a data storage.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the environmental characteristics include at least one of:

a wall, interfering transmitter, and congestion.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the calculated performance of the theoretical user device is estimated throughput in each grid area.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the score is calculated as an average-based calculation.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the score is calculated as a percentile-based calculation.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising,

receiving input regarding a second arrangement of at least one other AP within the area parameters;

calculating performance of the theoretical user device within each grid cell according to the second arrangement of the at least one other AP in the area parameters;

plotting the calculated performances of each of the at least one other AP in each grid cell on a second map;

scoring the second map using the plotted calculated performances for the second arrangement of the at least one other AP; and

storing the score for the second map for the second arrangement of the at least one other AP in the data storage.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising,

comparing the score for the map for the arrangement with the score for the second map for the second arrangement to determine a better AP arrangement.