OPTIMIZING PLACEMENT OF A WIRELESS RANGE EXTENDER

• US 20170181006A1
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Son, Eu Chong, Nguyen, Dan, Vardarajan, Kannan, Schneider, Aaron, Frysinger, Daniel, Bolton, Genevieve S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,313,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/20 for indoor coverage or short range network deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Described are systems, devices, and techniques for extending wireless networks and associated systems, devices, and techniques for determination of optimal locations of a wireless range extender, such as by evaluating a quality of a wireless signal originating from a wireless gateway or access device and determining whether an alternative placement of a wireless range extender would result in improved quality. Also described are systems, devices, and techniques for automatically grouping multiple bands of a single wireless access device as well as systems, devices, and techniques that simplify connection of wireless devices to a wireless access device, such as by evaluating wireless messages transmitted on different bands to determine that the wireless messages originate from the same wireless access device.

Claims

1. A wireless network device comprising:

one or more processors;

a wireless transceiver communicatively coupled to the one or more processors;

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium includes instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including;

receiving input corresponding to determination of a wireless access device;

detecting a wireless signal using the wireless transceiver, wherein the wireless signal corresponds to the wireless access device;

determining a quality of the wireless signal;

comparing the quality of the wireless signal to a threshold value;

generating a notification based on the comparison, wherein the notification includes instructions for positioning the wireless network device; and

facilitating displaying the notification.

2. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein receiving input corresponding to determination of a wireless access device includes receiving input corresponding to determination of a network identifier.

3. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein detecting the wireless signal includes establishing a wireless association between the wireless network device and the wireless access device using the wireless transceiver.

4. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein detecting the wireless signal includes:

transmitting a probe request message using the wireless transceiver; and

receiving a probe response message using the wireless transceiver, wherein the probe response message corresponds to the wireless access device.

5. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein detecting the wireless signal includes:

receiving a wireless beacon message using the wireless transceiver, wherein the wireless beacon message corresponds to the wireless access device.

6. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein the quality of the wireless signal corresponds to a measure of the received power of the wireless signal by the wireless transceiver.

7. The wireless network device of claim 6, wherein the measure of the received power of the wireless signal is greater than or equal to −

50 dBm, and wherein the notification includes instructions to move the wireless network device away from the wireless access device.

8. The wireless network device of claim 6, wherein the measure of the received power of the wireless signal is less than or equal to −

75 dBm, and wherein the notification includes instructions to move the wireless network device closer to the wireless access device.

9. The wireless network device of claim 6, wherein the measure of the received power of the wireless signal is between −

75 dBm and −

50 dBm, and wherein the notification includes instructions to keep the wireless network device at a current distance from the wireless access device.

10. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

detecting a new wireless signal using the wireless transceiver, wherein the new wireless signal corresponds to the wireless access device;

determining a new quality of the new wireless signal;

making a new comparison of the new quality of the wireless signal to the threshold value;

generating a new notification based on the new comparison, wherein the new notification includes instructions for positioning the wireless network device; and

facilitating displaying the new notification.

11. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

establishing a wireless association with the wireless access device using the wireless transceiver;

monitoring a characteristic of the wireless association;

determining a statistical measure of the characteristic of the wireless association;

generating a new notification using the statistical measure, wherein the new notification includes instructions for positioning the wireless network device; and

facilitating displaying the new notification.

12. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein the notification includes instructions to place the wireless network device at a different distance from the wireless access device or to keep the wireless network device at a current distance from the wireless access device.

13. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein generating the notification includes:

determining that the quality of the wireless signal is greater than a low threshold value; and

determining that the quality of the wireless signal is greater than a high threshold value; and

wherein the notification includes instructions to move the wireless network device away from the wireless access device.

14. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein generating the notification includes:

determining that the quality of the wireless signal is smaller than a low threshold value; and

determining that the quality of the wireless signal is smaller than a high threshold value; and

wherein the notification includes instructions to move the wireless network device closer to the wireless access device.

15. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein generating the notification includes:

determining that the quality of the wireless signal is greater than a low threshold value; and

determining that the quality of the wireless signal is smaller than a high threshold value; and

wherein the notification includes instructions to keep the wireless network device at a current distance from the wireless access device.

16. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein the notification includes instructions to move the wireless network device toward the wireless access device or wherein the notification includes instructions to move the wireless network device away from the wireless access device.

17. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein facilitating displaying the notification includes changing a display of one more lights of the wireless network device.

18. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein facilitating displaying the notification includes displaying the notification on a display of the wireless network device.

19-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

receiving, at a wireless network device, input corresponding to determination of a wireless access device;

detecting a wireless signal, wherein the wireless signal corresponds to the wireless access device;

determining a quality of the wireless signal;

comparing the quality of the wireless signal to a threshold value;

generating a notification based on the comparison, wherein the notification includes instructions for positioning the wireless network device; and

facilitating displaying the notification.

27-50. -50. (canceled)

51. A computer implemented method, comprising:

receiving, at a wireless network device, input corresponding to determination of a wireless access device;

detecting a wireless signal, wherein the wireless signal corresponds to the wireless access device;

determining a quality of the wireless signal;

comparing the quality of the wireless signal to a threshold value;

generating a notification based on the comparison, wherein the notification includes instructions for positioning the wireless network device; and

facilitating displaying the notification.

52-138. -138. (canceled)