Method for creating a computer model and measurement database of a wireless communication network

• US 6,876,951 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wireless Valley Communications Incorporated (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rappaport, Theodore S., Skidmore, Roger R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRETLOW, DEMETRIUS R
• Application Number:
  US10/127,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 702/186, 702/150, 702/152, 702/153, 702/182, 455/446, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 702/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/336 Signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/391 Modelling the propagation channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0847 Transmission error
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/20 for indoor coverage or short range network deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A system for creating a computer database model of either measured data network throughput properties or wireless communication signal properties within a facility by measuring the desired properties at a plurality of locations within the facility and embedding the measured properties at the location of measurement represented in a three-dimensional facility drawing database.

Claims

1. A system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility, comprising:

at least one base transceiver for transmitting or receiving signals;

at least one mobile transceiver or receiver for measuring signal properties at one or more locations within said facility;

means for representing said facility in a computer database model;

means for determining a location of said mobile transceiver or receiver within said facility; and

means for embedding measured signal properties as they are made at said location within said computer database model of said facility, said means for determining and said means for embedding being operable at said one or more locations.

2. A system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said facility is a multi-level building.

3. A system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said facility is a plurality of multi-level buildings.

4. A system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said computer database model of said facility is a three-dimensional model.

5. A system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for determining operates on an automated basis.

6. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for displaying said computer database model of said facility with embedded measured signal properties.

7. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for determining a location is a location tracking or positioning device.

8. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said measured signal properties are selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retires, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

9. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said computer database model includes site specific information.

10. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 9 further comprising means for forming site-specific models of measured signal properties selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time location, degradation of throughput based on location, and improvement of throughput based on location.

11. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 10 wherein site specific models formed by said means for forming model a network selected from the group consisting of microcell communications systems, local area networks, wireless local area networks, wide area networks, campus and in-building wireless and wired communication networks, data networks, and wireless communication networks.

12. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a means for manipulating or modifying one or more drawings in said computer database model.

13. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 12 wherein said means for manipulating or modifying allows altering site specific content of said one or more drawings.

14. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said computer database model represents a three dimensional position location by specifying a point in space using an x, y coordinate pair and a height value above a floor or ground within a facility.

15. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said computer database model represents a two-dimensional location as a point on a top-plan view of a floor plan of said facility.

16. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said computer database model identifies a transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility.

17. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 16 wherein an identified transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility is altered by movement of said transmitter, receiver or transceiver.

18. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said computer database model includes at least one floor plan of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

19. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said computer database model includes a plurality of floor plans of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

20. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for verifying performance of communication or data networks.

21. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for averaging measured signal properties over space or time.

22. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein measured signal properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic distance intervals.

23. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein measured signal properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic time intervals.

24. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 23 wherein said site specific content of said one or more drawings is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

25. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for embedding embeds measured signal properties taken while said mobile receiver or transceiver is moving throughout said facility.

26. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for embedding embeds measured signal properties taken while said mobile receiver or transceiver is stationary at a selected location in said facility.

27. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a means for defining a direction of travel of said mobile receiver or transceiver.

28. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a means for defining a starting point and an ending point for said mobile receiver or transceiver.

29. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for joining separate floor measurements collected within said facility.

30. The system for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said computer database model provides a three dimensional representation of said facility with embedded measurements obtained from said means for embedding.

31. A system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility, comprising:

a mobile client computer for roving within a facility;

a server computer for hosting said mobile client computer;

means for recording network properties between said mobile client computer and said server computer or other mobile client computer at a plurality of locations within said facility;

means for representing said facility in a database model; and

means for embedding said recorded network properties at each of said plurality of locations within said database model of said facility.

32. A system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31, wherein said recorded network properties include recorded data as a function of time or location within said facility.

33. A system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31, wherein said facility is a multi-level building.

34. A system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31, wherein said facility comprises a plurality of multi-level buildings.

35. A system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said system includes a means for periodically determining a location of said mobile client computer within said facility.

36. A system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 35 wherein said means for periodically determining operates on an automated basis.

37. A system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said means for embedding operates on an automated basis.

38. A system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31, wherein said database model of said facility is a three-dimensional model.

39. A system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31, wherein said server computer is mobile within said facility.

40. A system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31, wherein said network properties include data throughput rate, frame errors, packet retries, network data throughput, and network delay due to a fixed non-wireless portion of a network.

41. The system for creating a computer database model of recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said network properties are selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

42. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 further comprising means for displaying said computer database model of said facility with embedded recorded network properties.

43. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 further comprising a location tracking or positioning device for determining a position of said mobile client computer in said facility.

44. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said means for embedding operates to embed said recorded network properties as they are made.

45. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said computer database model includes site specific information.

46. The system for creating a computer database model of recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 45 further comprising means for forming site-specific models of network properties selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

47. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 46 wherein site specific models formed by said means for forming model a network selected from the group consisting of microcell communications systems, local area networks, wireless local area networks, wide area networks, campus and inbuilding wireless and wired communication networks, data networks, and wireless communication networks.

48. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 45 wherein said site specific content of said one or more drawings is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

49. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 further comprising a means for manipulating or modifying one or more drawings in said computer database model.

50. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 49 wherein said means for manipulating or modifying allows altering site specific content of said one or more drawings.

51. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 50 wherein said site specific content of said one or more drawings is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

52. The system for creating a computer database model of recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said computer database model represents a three dimensional position location by specifying a point in space using an x, y coordinate pair and a height value above a floor or ground within a facility.

53. The system for creating a computer database model of recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said computer database model represents a two-dimensional location as a point on a top-plan view of a floor plan of said facility.

54. The system for creating a computer database model of recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said computer database model identifies a transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility.

55. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 54 wherein an identified transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility is altered by movement of said transmitter, receiver or transceiver.

56. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said computer database model includes at least one floor plan of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

57. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said computer database model includes a plurality of floor plans of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

58. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 further comprising means for verifying performance of communication or data networks.

59. The system for creating a computer database model of recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 further comprising means for averaging measured network properties over space or time.

60. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein measured network properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic distance intervals.

61. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein recorded network properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic time intervals.

62. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said means for embedding embeds said network properties as they are measured.

63. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said means for embedding embeds network properties taken while said mobile client computer is moving throughout said facility.

64. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said means for embedding embeds recorded network properties taken while said mobile client computer is stationary at a selected location in said facility.

65. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 further comprising a means for defining a direction of travel of said mobile client computer.

66. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 further comprising a means for defining a starting point and an ending point for said mobile client computer.

67. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 further comprising means for joining separate floor measurements collected within said facility.

68. The system for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said computer database model provides a three dimensional representation of said facility with embedded measurements obtained from said means for embedding.

69. A system for creating a computer database model of signal or network properties, comprising:

a database model of a facility, said database model providing a computerized representation of a facility which includes at least one building; and

means for embedding measurements of signal or network properties as they are made into said database model by inputting measurements of signal or network properties obtained from one or more locations in said facility wherein each of said measurements being input is associated with location information descriptive of a location of said one or more locations where said measurements of said signal or network properties were made within said facility.

70. The system of claim 69 further comprising a receiver or transceiver which communicates said measurement of said signal or network properties and a locating device which communicates said location information to a computer on which said database model is located.

71. The system of claim 69 wherein said receiver or transceiver automatically makes measurements at a timed interval.

72. The system of claim 69 wherein said receiver or transceiver is equipped with a means for making measurements selectively after said receiver or transceiver has been located at a desired location within said facility.

73. The system of claim 69 wherein said means for embedding operates on an automated basis.

74. The system of claim 69 further comprising means for displaying said computer database model of said facility with embedded measured signal or network properties.

75. The system of claim 69 further comprising a location tracking or positioning device.

76. The system of claim 69 wherein said computer database model includes site specific information.

77. The system of claim 76 further comprising means for forming site-specific models of measured signal or network properties selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

78. The system of claim 77 wherein site specific models formed by said means for forming model a network selected from the group consisting of microcell communications systems, local area networks, wireless local area networks, wide area networks, campus and inbuilding wireless and wired communication networks, data networks, and wireless communication networks.

79. The system of claim 69 wherein said measured signal or network properties are selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

80. The system of claim 76 wherein said site specific information is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

81. The system of claim 69 further comprising a means for manipulating or modifying one or more drawings in said computer database model.

82. The system of claim 81 wherein said means for manipulating or modifying allows altering site specific content of said one or more drawings.

83. The system of claim 82 wherein said site specific content of said one or more drawings is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

84. The system of claim 69 wherein said computer database model represents a three dimensional position by specifying a point in space using an x, y coordinate pair and a height value above a floor or ground within a facility.

85. The system of claim 69 wherein said computer database model represents a two-dimensional location as a point on a top-plan view of a floor plan of said facility.

86. The system of claim 69 wherein said computer database model identifies a transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility.

87. The system of claim 86 wherein an identified transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility is altered by movement of said transmitter, receiver or transceiver.

88. The system of claim 69 wherein said computer database model includes at least one floor plan of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

89. The system of claim 69 wherein said computer database model includes a plurality of floor plans of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

90. The system of claim 69 further comprising means for verifying performance of communication or data networks.

91. The system of claim 69 further comprising means for averaging measured signal or network properties over space or time.

92. The system of claim 69 wherein measured signal or network properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic distance intervals.

93. The system of claim 69 wherein measured signal or network properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic time intervals.

94. The system of claim 69 wherein said one or more locations are identified and embedded on an automated basis in said embedding step.

95. The system of claim 69 wherein said measurements of signal or network properties are embedded on an automated basis in said embedding step.

96. The system of claim 69 further comprising a display for displaying said computerized representation of said facility with embedded measurements of signal or network properties.

97. The system of claim 69 wherein said means for embedding embeds measured signal properties taken while a mobile receiver or transceiver is moving throughout said facility.

98. The system of claim 69 wherein said means for embedding embeds measured signal properties taken while a mobile receiver or transceiver is stationary at a selected location in said facility.

99. The system of claim 69 further comprising a means for defining a direction of travel of a mobile receiver or transceiver.

100. The system of claim 69 further comprising a means for defining a starting point and an ending point for a mobile receiver or transceiver.

101. The system of claim 69 further comprising means for joining separate floor measurements collected within said facility.

102. The system of claim 69 wherein said computer database model provides a three dimensional representation of said facility with embedded measurements obtained from said means for embedding.

103. A system for creating a three dimensional computer database model of signal or network properties, comprising:

a database model of a facility, said database model providing a computerized three dimensional representation of a facility which includes at least one building; and

means for embedding measurements of signal or network properties into said database model by inputting measurements of signal or network properties obtained from one or more locations in said facility wherein each of said measurements being input is associated with location information descriptive of a location of said one or more locations where said measurements of said signal or network properties were made within said facility.

104. The system of claim 103 further comprising a receiver or transceiver which communicates said measurement of said signal or network properties and a locating device which communicates said location information to a computer on which said database model is located.

105. The system of claim 103 wherein said receiver or transceiver makes measurements at a time or distance interval.

106. The system of claim 103 wherein said receiver or transceiver is equipped with a means for making measurements selectively after said receiver or transceiver has been located at a desired location within said facility.

107. The system of claim 103 wherein said means for embedding operates on an automated basis.

108. The system of claim 103 further comprising means for displaying said computer database model of said facility with embedded measured signal or network properties.

109. The system of claim 103 further comprising a location tracking or positioning device.

110. The system of claim 103 wherein said computer database model includes site specific information.

111. The system of claim 103 further comprising means for forming site-specific models of measured signal or network properties selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

112. The system of claim 111 wherein site specific models formed by said means for forming model a network selected from the group consisting of microcell communications systems, local area networks, wireless local area networks, wide area networks, campus and inbuilding wireless and wired communication networks, data networks, and wireless communication networks.

113. The system of claim 112 wherein said site specific information is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

114. The system of claim 103 wherein said measured signal or network properties are selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

115. The system of claim 103 further comprising a means for manipulating or modifying one or more drawings in said computer database model.

116. The system of claim 115 wherein said means for manipulating or modifying allows altering site specific content of said one or more drawings.

117. The system of claim 116 said site specific content is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

118. The system of claim 103 wherein said computer database model represents a three dimensional position by specifying a point in space using an x, y coordinate pair and a height value above a floor or ground within a facility.

119. The system of claim 103 wherein said computer database model represents a two-dimensional location as a point on a top-plan view of a floor plan of said facility.

120. The system of claim 103 wherein said computer database model identifies a transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility.

121. The system of claim 120 wherein an identified transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility is altered by movement of said transmitter, receiver or transceiver.

122. The system of claim 103 wherein said computer database model includes at least one floor plan of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

123. The system of claim 103 wherein said computer database model includes a plurality of floor plans of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

124. The system of claim 103 further comprising means for verifying performance of communication or data networks.

125. The system of claim 103 further comprising means for averaging measured signal measurements over space or time.

126. The system of claim 103 wherein measured signal or network properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic distance intervals.

127. The system of claim 103 wherein measured signal or network properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic time intervals.

128. The system of claim 103 wherein said means for embedding embeds measured signal properties taken while a mobile receiver or transceiver is moving throughout said facility.

129. The system of claim 103 wherein said means for embedding embeds measured signal properties taken while a mobile receiver or transceiver is stationary at a selected location in said facility.

130. The system of claim 103 further comprising a means for defining a direction of travel of a mobile receiver or transceiver.

131. The system of claim 103 further comprising a means for defining a starting point and an ending point for a mobile receiver or transceiver.

132. The system of claim 103 further comprising means for joining separate floor measurements collected within said facility.

133. The system of claim 103 wherein said means for embedding embed measurements of signal or network properties as they are made.

134. A method for creating a computer database model of measured signal properties within a facility, comprising at least one base transceiver for transmitting or receiving signals, and at least one mobile receiver or transceiver for measuring signal properties at one or more locations within said facility;

comprising the steps of;

representing said facility in a computer database model;

determining a location of said mobile receiver or transceiver within said facility; and

embedding said measured signal properties as they are made at said location within said computer database model of said facility.

135. The method of claim 134 further comprising the step of displaying said computer database model of said facility with said embedded signals.

136. The method recited in claim 134, wherein said facility is a multi-level building, and said periodically determining includes the step of moving said mobile receiver or transceiver to a plurality of locations within said multi-level building.

137. The method recited in claim 134, wherein said facility is a plurality of multi-level buildings, and said determining step includes the step of moving said mobile transceiver to a plurality of locations within different buildings of said plurality of multi-level buildings.

138. The method recited in claim 135, wherein said representing and said displaying steps are performed in three dimensions.

139. The method recited in claim 134 wherein said determining step is performed on an automated basis.

140. The method recited in claim 134 wherein said embedding step is performed on an automated basis.

141. The method in claim 134 determining step uses a location tracking or positioning device.

142. The method of claim 134 wherein said computer database model includes site specific information.

143. The method of claim 142 wherein said site specific information is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

144. The method of claim 142 further comprising the step of forming site-specific models of measured signal or network properties selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

145. The method of claim 144 wherein site specific models formed in said forming step model a network selected from the group consisting of microcell communications systems, local area networks, wireless local area networks, wide area networks, campus and inbuilding wireless and wired communication networks, data networks, and wireless communication networks.

146. The method of claim 134 wherein said measured signal or network properties are selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

147. The method of claim 134 further comprising the step of manipulating or modifying one or more drawings in said computer database model.

148. The method of claim 147 wherein said step of manipulating or modifying allows altering site specific content of said one or more drawings.

149. The method of claim 148 wherein said site specific content is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

150. The method of claim 134 wherein said computer database model represents a three dimensional position location by specifying a point in space using an x, y coordinate pair and a height value above a floor or ground within a facility.

151. The method of claim 134 wherein said computer database model represents a two-dimensional location as a point on a top-plan view of a floor plan of said facility.

152. The method of claim 134 further comprising the step of identifying a transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility.

153. The method of claim 152 wherein an identified transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility is altered by movement of said transmitter, receiver or transceiver.

154. The method of claim 134 wherein said computer database model includes at least one floor plan of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

155. The method of claim 134 wherein said computer database model includes a plurality of floor plans of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

156. The method of claim 134 further comprising the step of verifying performance of communication or data networks.

157. The method of claim 134 further comprising the step of averaging measured signal measurements over space or time.

158. The method of claim 134 wherein measured signal properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic distance intervals.

159. The method of claim 134 wherein measured signal properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic time intervals.

160. The method of claim 134 wherein said embedding step embeds measured signal properties taken while said mobile receiver or transceiver is moving throughout said facility.

161. The method of claim 134 wherein said embedding step embeds measured signal properties taken while said mobile receiver or transceiver is stationary at a selected location in said facility.

162. The method of claim 134 further comprising the step of defining a direction of travel of said mobile receiver or transceiver.

163. The method of claim 134 further comprising the step of defining a starting point and an ending point for said mobile receiver or transceiver.

164. The method of claim 134 further comprising the step of joining separate floor measurements collected within said facility.

165. The method of claim 134 wherein said computer database model provides a three dimensional representation of said facility with embedded measurements obtained from said embedding step.

166. The method of claim 165 wherein said embedding step includes the steps of:

measuring one or more signal or network properties;

associating location information with each measurement made in said measuring step; and

loading said measurements made in said measuring step and location information obtained from said associating step into a computer which includes said database model.

167. The method of claim 134 wherein said embedded signal properties obtained from said embedding step are obtained in random order.

168. The method of claim 134 wherein said measurements embedded in said embedding step are obtained from one or more measurement runs throughout said facility.

299. The method of claim 134 wherein said measurements embedded in said embedding step are obtained from a plurality of measurement runs throughout said facility.

169. A method for creating a computer database model for recorded network properties within a facility, comprising a mobile client computer for roving within a facility, and a server computer or other mobile client computer for hosting said mobile client computer, comprising the steps of:

recording network properties between said mobile client computer and said server computer or other mobile client computer at one or more locations within said facility;

representing said facility in a database model; and

embedding said recorded network properties at one or more locations within said database model of said facility.

170. The method of claim 169 further comprising the step of displaying said database model of said facility with said embedded network properties.

171. The method of claim 169, wherein said recording step records network properties as a function of time or location within said facility.

172. The method of claim 169 wherein said recording step includes the step of moving said mobile client computer to different locations within said facility.

173. A method of claim 169 wherein said facility comprises a plurality of buildings, each with one or more levels, and said recording step includes the step of moving said mobile client computer to different levels or different buildings within said plurality of buildings.

174. The method of claim 169 farther comprising the step of periodically determining a location of said mobile client computer within said facility.

175. The method of claim 170 wherein said representing and displaying steps are performed in three dimensions.

176. The method of claim 169 further comprising the step of moving said server computer within said facility.

177. The method of claim 169, wherein said step of embedding network properties includes embedding at least one of data throughput rate, frame errors, packet retries, network data throughput, and network delay due to a fixed non-wireless portion of a network.

178. The method of claim 169 wherein said network properties are selected from the group consisting of consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

179. The method of claim 169 wherein said recording step is performed on an automated basis.

180. The method of claim 169 wherein said embedding step is performed on an automated basis.

181. The method of claim 169 further comprising the step of identifying said one or more locations within said facility on an automated basis.

182. The method in claim 169 further comprising the step of determining a location of said mobile client computer using a location tracking or positioning device.

183. The method of claim 169 wherein said computer database model includes site specific information.

184. The method of claim 181 wherein said site specific information is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

185. The method of claim 169 further comprising the step of forming site-specific models of measured signal properties selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

186. The method of claim 185 wherein site specific models formed in said forming step model a network selected from the group consisting of microcell communications systems, local area networks, wireless local area networks, wide area networks, campus and inbuilding wireless and wired communication networks, data networks, and wireless communication networks.

187. The method of claim 169 further comprising the step of manipulating or modifying one or more drawings in said computer database model.

188. The method of claim 169 wherein said step of manipulating or modifying allows altering site specific content of said one or more drawings.

189. The method of claim 188 wherein said site specific content is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

190. The method of claim 169 wherein said computer database model represents a three dimensional position location by specifying a point in space using an x, y coordinate pair and a height value above a floor or ground within a facility.

191. The method of claim 169 wherein said computer database model represents a two-dimensional location as a point on a top-plan view of a floor plan of said facility.

192. The method of claim 169 further comprising the step of identifying a transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility.

193. The method of claim 192 wherein an identified transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility is altered by movement of said transmitter, receiver or transceiver.

194. The method of claim 169 wherein said computer database model includes at least one floor plan of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

195. The method of claim 169 wherein said computer database model includes a plurality of floor plans of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

196. The method of claim 169 further comprising the step of verifying performance of communication or data networks.

197. The method of claim 169 further comprising the step of averaging measured network properties over space or time.

198. The method of claim 169 wherein measured network properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic distance intervals.

199. The method of claim 169 wherein measured network properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic time intervals.

200. The method of claim 169 wherein said embedding step embeds measured network properties taken while said mobile client computer is moving throughout said facility.

201. The method of claim 169 wherein said embedding step embeds measured network properties taken while said mobile client computer is stationary at a selected location in said facility.

202. The method of claim 169 further comprising the step of defining a direction of travel of said mobile client computer.

203. The method of claim 169 further comprising the step of defining a starting point and an ending point for said mobile client computer.

204. The method of claim 169 further comprising the step of joining separate floor measurements collected within said facility.

205. The method of claim 169 wherein said computer database model provides a three dimensional representation of said facility with embedded measurements obtained from said embedding step.

206. The method of claim 205 wherein said embedding step includes the steps of:

measuring one or more network properties;

associating location information with each measurement made in said measuring step; and

loading said measurements made in said measuring step and location information obtained from said associating step into a computer which includes said database model.

207. The method of claim 169 wherein said embedded signal properties obtained from said embedding step are obtained in random order.

298. The method of claim 169 wherein said embedded signal properties obtained from said embedding step are obtained in one or more measurement runs.

208. A method for creating a computer database model of signal or network properties, comprising the steps of:

providing a computerized representation of a facility which includes at least one building, said computerized representation being constructed from a database model of said facility; and

embedding measurements of signal or network properties as they are made into said database model by inputting measurements of said signal or network properties obtained from one or more locations in said facility wherein each of said measurements being input is associated with location information descriptive of a location of said one or more locations where said measurements of said signal or network properties were made within said facility.

209. The method of claim 208 wherein said embedding step is performed using a receiver or transceiver which communicates said signal or network properties measurement and a locating device which communicates said location information to a computer on which said database model is located.

210. The method of claim 208 wherein said embedding step includes the step of moving said receiver or transceiver to different locations within said facility.

211. The method of claim 210 wherein measurements are made with said receiver or transceiver at a timed interval, each measurement being associated with said location information for said receiver or transceiver at said timed interval.

212. The method of claim 211 wherein measurements are made selectively with said receiver or transceiver after said receiver or transceiver has been located at a desired location within said facility.

213. The method of claim 210 wherein measurements are made with said receiver or transceiver at a distance interval, each measurement being associated with said location information for said receiver or transceiver at said distance interval.

214. The method of claim 208 wherein said computer database model is three dimensional and wherein said embedding step includes the steps of:

measuring one or more signal or network properties;

associating location information with each measurement made in said measuring step; and

loading said measurements made in said measuring step and location information obtained from said associating step into a computer which includes said database model.

215. The method recited in claim 208 wherein measurements made during said embedding step are made on an automated basis.

216. The method recited in claim 208 wherein said one or more locations are input in said embedding step on automated basis.

217. The method recited in claim 208 further comprising the step of displaying said computerized representation of said facility with embedded signal or network property measurements.

218. The method in claim 208 wherein embedding step uses data obtained from a location tracking or positioning device.

219. The method of claim 208 wherein said computer database model includes site specific information.

220. The method of claim 219 wherein said site specific information is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

221. The method of claim 208 further comprising the step of forming site-specific models of measured signal properties selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

222. The method of claim 221 wherein site specific models formed in said forming step model a signal or network property selected from the group consisting of microcell communications systems, local area networks, wireless local area networks, wide area networks, campus and inbuilding wireless and wired communication networks, data networks, and wireless communication networks.

223. The method of claim 208 wherein said signal or network properties are selected from the group consisting of microcell communications systems, local area networks, wireless local area networks, wide area networks, campus and inbuilding wireless and wired communication networks, data networks, and wireless communication networks.

224. The method of claim 208 further comprising the step of manipulating or modifying one or more drawings in said computer database model.

225. The method of claim 224 wherein said step of manipulating or modifying allows altering site specific content of said one or more drawings.

226. The method of claim 225 wherein said site specific content is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

227. The method of claim 208 wherein said computer database model represents a three dimensional position location by specifying a point in space using an x, y coordinate pair and a height value above a floor or ground within a facility.

228. The method of claim 208 wherein said computer database model represents a two-dimensional location as a point on a top-plan view of a floor plan of said facility.

229. The method of claim 208 further comprising the step of identifying a transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility.

230. The method of claim 229 wherein an identified transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility is altered by movement of said transmitter, receiver or transceiver.

231. The method of claim 208 wherein said computer database model includes at least one floor plan of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

232. The method of claim 208 wherein said computer database model includes a plurality of floor plans of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

233. The method of claim 208 further comprising the step of verifying performance of communication or data networks.

234. The method of claim 208 further comprising the step of averaging measured signal measurements over space or time.

235. The method of claim 208 wherein measured signal or network properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic distance intervals.

236. The method of claim 208 wherein measured signal or network properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic time intervals.

237. The method of claim 208 wherein said embedding step embeds measured signal network properties taken while said mobile receiver or transceiver is moving throughout said facility.

238. The method of claim 208 wherein said embedding step embeds measured signal or network properties taken while said mobile receiver or transceiver is stationary at a selected location in said facility.

239. The method of claim 208 further comprising the step of defining a direction of travel of said mobile receiver or transceiver.

240. The method of claim 208 further comprising the step of defining a starting point and an ending point for said mobile receiver or transceiver.

241. The method of claim 208 further comprising the step of joining separate floor measurements collected within said facility.

242. The method of claim 208 wherein said computer database model provides a three dimensional representation of said facility with embedded measurements obtained from said embedding step.

243. The method of claim 242 wherein said embedding step includes the steps of:

measuring one or more signal or network properties;

associating location information with each measurement made in said measuring step; and

loading said measurements made in said measuring step and location information obtained from said associating step into a computer which includes said database model.

244. The method of claim 208 wherein said embedded signal or network properties obtained from said embedding step are obtained in random order.

245. The method of claim 208 wherein said measurements embedded in said embedding step are obtained from a single measurement run throughout said facility.

246. The method of claim 208 wherein said measurements embedded in said embedding step are obtained from a plurality of measurement runs throughout said facility.

247. A method for creating a three dimensional computer database model of signal or network properties, comprising the steps of:

providing a computerized three dimensional representation of a facility which includes at least one building, said computerized three dimensional representation being constructed from a database model of said facility; and

embedding measurements of signal or network properties into said database model by inputting measurements of said signal or network properties obtained from one or more locations in said facility wherein each of said measurements being input is associated with location information descriptive of a location of said one or more locations where said measurements of said signal or network properties were made within said facility.

248. The method of claim 247 wherein said embedding step is performed using a receiver or transceiver which communicates said signal or network properties measurement and a locating device which communicates said location information to a computer on which said database model is located.

249. The method of claim 248 wherein said embedding step includes the step of moving said receiver or transceiver to different locations within said facility.

250. The method of claim 249 wherein measurements are made with said receiver or transceiver at a timed interval, each measurement being associated with said location information for said receiver or transceiver at said timed interval.

251. The method of claim 249 wherein measurements are made with said receiver or transceiver at a distance interval, each measurement being associated with said location information for said receiver or transceiver at said distance interval.

252. The method of claim 249 wherein measurements are made selectively with said receiver or transceiver after said receiver or transceiver has been located at a desired location within said facility.

253. The method of claim 247 wherein said embedding step includes the steps of:

measuring one or more signal or network properties;

associating location information with each measurement made in said measuring step; and

loading said measurements made in said measuring step and location information obtained from said associating step into a computer which includes said database model.

254. The method recited in claim 247 wherein measurements made during said embedding step are made on an automated basis.

255. The method in claim 247 wherein embedding step uses data obtained from a location tracking or positioning device.

256. The method recited in claim 247 wherein said one or more locations input in said embedding step are input on an automated basis.

257. The method of claim 247 wherein said computer database model includes site specific information.

258. The method of claim 247 wherein said site specific information is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

259. The method of claim 247 further comprising the step of forming site-specific models of measured signal or network properties selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

260. The method of claim 259 wherein site specific models formed in said forming step model a network selected from the group consisting of microcell communications systems, local area networks, wireless local area networks, wide area networks, campus and inbuilding wireless and wired communication networks, data networks, and wireless communication networks.

261. The method of claim 247 wherein said measured signal or network properties are selected from the group consisting of RF signal strength, signal interference, coverage, frame errors, frame error rate, packet retries, network data throughput, throughput time, network delay, measured throughput properties, best throughput time locations, degradation of throughput based on locations, and improvement of throughput based on location.

262. The method of claim 247 further comprising the step of manipulating or modifying one or more drawings in said computer database model.

263. The method of claim 262 wherein said step of manipulating or modifying allows altering site specific content of said one or more drawings.

264. The method of claim 263 wherein said site specific content is selected from the group consisting of building materials, building configuration, transceiver locations, measurement locations, modeled signal properties, modeled network properties, partition types, measured signal properties, and measured network properties.

265. The method of claim 247 wherein said computer database model represents a three dimensional position location by specifying a point in space using an x, y coordinate pair and a height value above a floor or ground within a facility.

266. The method of claim 247 wherein said computer database model represents a two-dimensional location as a point on a top-plan view of a floor plan of said facility.

267. The method of claim 247 further comprising the step of identifying a transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility.

268. The method of claim 267 wherein an identified transmitter, receiver or transceiver location within said facility is altered by movement of said transmitter, receiver or transceiver.

269. The method of claim 247 wherein said computer database model includes at least one floor plan of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

270. The method of claim 247 wherein said computer database model includes a plurality of floor plans of one or more floors of one or more buildings in said facility.

271. The method of claim 247 further comprising the step of verifying performance of communication or data networks.

272. The method of claim 247 further comprising the step of averaging measured signal measurements over space or time.

273. The method of claim 247 wherein measured signal or network properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic distance intervals.

274. The method of claim 247 wherein measured signal or network properties are embedded in said computer database model using periodic time intervals.

275. The method of claim 247 wherein said embedding step embeds measured signal network properties taken while said mobile receiver or transceiver is moving throughout said facility.

276. The method of claim 247 wherein said embedding step embeds measured signal or network properties taken while said mobile receiver or transceiver is stationary at a selected location in said facility.

277. The method of claim 247 further comprising the step of defining a direction of travel of said mobile receiver or transceiver.

278. The method of claim 247 further comprising the step of defining a starting point and an ending point for said mobile receiver or transceiver.

279. The method of claim 247 further comprising the step of joining separate floor measurements collected within said facility.

280. The method of claim 247 wherein said embedded signal or network properties obtained from said embedding step are obtained in random order.

281. The method of claim 247 wherein said measurements embedded in said embedding step are obtained from a single measurement run throughout said facility.

282. The method of claim 247 wherein said measurements embedded in said embedding step are obtained from a plurality of measurement runs throughout said facility.

283. The method of claim 247 wherein said measurements embedded in said embedding step are embedded as the measurements are made.

284. A method for creating a computer database model of measured RF signal properties within a facility, comprising at least one base transceiver for transmitting or receiving RF signals, and at least one mobile receiver or transceiver for measuring the properties of said RF signals at a plurality of locations within said facility, comprising the steps of:

representing said facility in a computer database model;

periodically determining a location of said mobile receiver or transceiver within said facility;

embedding said measured RF signal properties at said location within said computer database model of said facility; and

displaying said computer database model of said facility overlayed with said embedded signals.

285. The method recited in claim 284 wherein said facility is a single building, and said periodically determining step includes the step of moving said mobile receiver or transceiver to a plurality of locations within said building.

286. The method recited in claim 284 wherein said facility comprises a plurality of buildings, and said periodically determining step comprises the step of moving said mobile receiver or transceiver to a plurality of locations within different buildings of said plurality of buildings.

287. The method recited in claim 284 wherein said representing and said displaying steps are performed in three dimensions.

288. The method recited in claim 284 wherein said periodically determining step is performed automatically.

289. A method for creating a computer database model for recorded network data throughput properties within a facility, comprising a mobile client computer for roving within a facility, and a server computer or other mobile client computer for hosting said mobile client computer, comprising the steps of:

recording data throughput properties between said mobile client computer and said server computer or other mobile client computer at a plurality of locations within said facility,

representing said facility in a database model;

embedding said recorded data throughput properties at each of said plurality of locations within said database model of said facility; and

displaying said database model of said facility overlayed with said embedded data throughput properties.

290. The method of claim 289 wherein said recording step records data throughput properties as a function of time or location within said facility.

291. The method of claim 289 wherein the facility is a single building and said recording step comprises the step of moving said mobile client computer to different locations within said building with respect to said server computer or said other mobile client computer.

292. The method of claim 289 wherein said facility comprises a plurality of buildings and said recording step comprises the step of moving said mobile client computer to different locations within different buildings of said plurality of buildings with respect to said server computer or said other mobile client computer.

293. The method of claim 289 further comprising the step of periodically determining a location of said mobile client computer within said facility.

294. The method of claim 289 wherein said representing and displaying steps are performed in three dimensions.

295. The method of claim 289 further comprising the step of moving said server computer or other mobile computer within said facility.

296. The method of claim 289 wherein said step of embedding data throughput properties comprises embedding at least one of data throughput rate, frame errors, packet retries, network data throughput, and network delay due to a fixed non-wireless portion of a network.

297. The method of claim 289 wherein said periodically determining step is performed automatically.