Method and system for analysis, design, and optimization of communication networks

• US 7,035,642 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• 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): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THUAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/946,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20020006799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: 455/450, 455/440, 455/452, 455/456, 455/432, 455/434, 455/437, 455/441, 455/517, 455/466, 455/422.1, 455/414.1, 455/446, 455/448, 455/449, 455/452.2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/10, 370/254, 364/149, 395/615, 395/200.1
• US Class Current: 455/446
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/80 Arrangements for signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/20 for indoor coverage or short range network deployment

Abstract

A method for engineering management and planning for the design of a wireless communications network in three-dimensions (3-D) combines computerized organization, database fusion, and radio frequency (RF) site-specific planning models. The method enables a designer to keep track of wireless system performance throughout the process of pre-bid design, installation and maintenance of a wireless system. Using a database of information that defines the desired environment, predictions of antenna coverage, system coverage and interference, and other wireless system performance criteria, such as frame error rate and network throughput, can be made. Watch points are created to ensure, in real time, that any modifications to the design of the wireless system do not degrade the performance of the system with respect to the watch point locations.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing wireless communications network performance for a physical environment in which a network which includes one or more wireless communications network components is or will be deployed, comprising the steps of:

storing or displaying a computerized representation of a physical environment and one or more computer representations of one or more wireless communications network components which are or can be incorporated within said physical environment, said computerized representation of said physical environment having one or more computer representations of physical objects which model said physical environment and having one or more values or properties which may affect wireless communications assigned to said one or more computer representations of said physical objects, and said computer representations of said one or more wireless communications network components or said one or more computer representations of said physical objects being stored or displayed at specified locations within said computerized representation of said physical environment;

defining one or more watch points within said computerized representation of said physical environment where at least one performance metric is to be assessed by using a mouse or other positioning device; and

predicting said at least one performance metric for said one or more watch points using said one or more values or properties assigned to said one or more physical objects when predicting said at least one performance metric for said one or more watch points.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said at least performance metric is displayed or stored at said one or more watch points in said computerized representation model of said physical environment.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting said one or more computer representations of said wireless communications network components from amongst a plurality of computer representations of wireless communication network components.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the steps of selecting and predicting and displaying are performed iteratively a plurality of times.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein the steps of selecting and predicting and storing are performed iteratively a plurality of times.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of storing or displaying said computerized representation of said physical environment is performed in three dimensions.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying or storing said at least one performance metric in three dimensions.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of choosing an orientation of one or more of said computer representations of network components at said specified locations within said computer representation of said physical environment.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one performance metric is interactively updated by moving said mouse or other positioning device.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one or more watch points are redefined or moved interactively using said mouse or other positioning device.

11. A system for analyzing wireless communications network performance in a physical environment in which a network which includes one or more wireless communication network of components is or will be deployed, comprising:

a computer with a display for storing or displaying a computerized representation of a physical environment and one or more computer representations of one or more wireless communications network components which are or can be incorporated within said physical environment, said computerized representation having one or more computer representations of physical objects which model said physical environment and having one or more values or properties which may affect wireless communications assigned to said one or more computer representations of said physical objects, and said computer representations of said one or more wireless communications network components or said one or more computer representation of said physical objects being stored or displayed at specified locations within said computerized representation of said physical environment;

a mouse or other positioning device for defining one or more watch points within said computerized representation of said physical environment where at least one performance metric is to be assessed; and

a computer, which may be the same as said computer with said display, predicting said at least one performance metric for said one or more watch points using said one or more values or properties assigned to said one or more physical objects when predicting said at least one performance metric for said one or more watch points.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said performance metric is stored or displayed at said one or more watch points in said computerized representation of said physical environment.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more computer representations of wireless communications network components are selected from amongst a plurality of computer representations of wireless communications network components.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said computer with a display stores or displays said computerized representation of said physical environment in three dimensions.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said at least one performance metric is stored or displayed in three dimensions.

16. The system according to claim 11, further wherein orientations of one or more of said computer representations of said wireless communications network components at said one or more specified locations within said computerized representation of said physical environment can be selectively chosen or changed.

17. The system according to claim 11 wherein at least one performance metric is updated interactively through the use of said mouse or other positioning device.

18. The system according to claim 11 wherein said at least one or more watch points are redefined or moved interactively by using said mouse or other positioning device.

19. A system for dynamically designing or analyzing a wireless communications network, comprising:

an input device for accepting input parameters into a computer representation defining a physical environment in which a wireless communications network is implemented or to be implemented, said input parameters including one or more values or properties assigned to one or more physical objects which define said physical environment and which may affect wireless communications;

a device for selecting data representing one or more wireless communications components which are or will be used in said wireless communications network and associated locations for said one or more wireless communications components which are or will be used within said physical environment;

a display for displaying the locations of said wireless communications components within a computer representation of said physical environment;

a selector for selecting or moving one or more points of specific interest in said computer representation of said physical environment; and

a computer for predicting or displaying performance information for said one or more points of specific interest in said computer representation of said physical environment using said one or more values or properties assigned to said one or more physical objects when predicting said performance information for said one or more points of specific interest.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein at least one wireless communication component of said one or more wireless communications components is movable within said computer representation of said physical environment with said performance information displayed for said one or more points of specific interest being updated after moving said one or more wireless communications components.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein at least one of said one or more wireless communications components within said computer representation of said physical environment is replaceable with a substitute component having different performance characteristics and updating said performance information for said one or more points of specific interest after replacing said one or more wireless communications components.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein at least one point of specific interest of said one or more points of specific interest is moveable to a second location in said computer representation of said physical environment and determining said performance information for said second location.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein data for a select group of wireless communications components is obtained from a stored data set for a plurality of wireless communications components, wherein said device for selecting selects said one or more wireless communications components from said select group.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein said computer saves computerized representation of said physical environment or said performance information.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said computerized representation of said physical environment or said performance information can be recalled.

26. The system of claim 24 further comprising an output device for generating at least one of the following:

transmitter power information,

frequency channel allocation data,

optimized performance data based on field measurements,

a computer representation of at least one distant transmitter modeled by a virtual transmitter,

a bill of materials for said one or more wireless communications components,

cost and manufacturer data pertaining to one or more of said one or more wireless communications of components, and

representations of the physical location and orientation of said one or more wireless communications components.

27. The system of claim 19 wherein at least one wireless communications component of said one or more wireless communications comnonents can be re-oriented within said computer representation of said physical environment, and updating said performance information displayed for said one or more points of specific interest.

28. A system for dyamically designing or analyzing a wireless communications network comprising:

input device for accepting input parameters into a computer representation defining a physical environment in which a wireless communications network is implemented or to be implemented, said input parameters including one or more values or properties assigned to one or more physical objects which define said physical environment and which may affect wireless communications;

a device for selecting data representing one or more wireless communications components which are or will to be used in said wireless communications network and associated locations for said one or more wireless communications components which are or will be used within said physical environment;

a display for displaying the locations of said wireless communications components within a computer representation of said physical environment;

a selector for selecting or moving one or more points of specific interest in said computer representation of said physical environment; and

a computer for predicting or displaying performance information for said one or more points of specific interest in said computer representation of said physical environment using said one or more values or properties assigned to said one or more physical objects when predicting said performance information for said one or more points of specific interest, wherein said system performance values are displayed at said one or more points of specific interest on said display.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said computer saves a computerized representation of said physical environment and said performance information.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said computerized representation of said physical environment and said performance information can be recalled.

31. The system of claim 28 further comprising a means for generating at least one of the following:

transmitter power information,

frequency channel allocation data,

optimized performance data based on field measurements,

a computer representation of at least one distant transmitter modeled by a virtual transmitter,

a bill of materials for said one or more wireless communications components,

cost and manufacturer data pertaining to one or more of said one or more wireless communications components, and

representations of the physical location and orientation of said one or more wireless communications components.

32. A system for dynamically designing or analyzing an in-building wireless communications network comprising

an input device for accepting input parameters into a computer representation defining a physical environment in which a wireless communications network is implemented or to be implemented, said input parameters including one or more values or properties assigned to one or more physical objects which define said physical environment and which may affect wireless communications;

a device for selecting data representing one or more wireless communication components which are or will to be used in said wireless communications network and associated locations for said one or more wireless communications components which are or will be used within said physical environment;

a display for displaying the locations of said wireless communications components within a computer representation of said physical environmental;

selector for selecting or moving one or more points of specific interest in said computer representation of said physical environment;

a computer for predicting or displaying performance information for said one or more points of specific interest in said computer representation of said physical environment using said one or more values or properties assigned to said one or more physical objects when predicting said performance information for said one or more points of specific interest; and

a display for displaying interconnections in said computer representation between one or more wireless communications components which are or will be used within said physical environment.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said computer saves a constructed said computerized representation of said physical environment and said performance information.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said computerized representation of said physical environment and said performance information can be recalled.

35. The system of claim 33 further comprising an output device for generating at least one of the following:

transmitter power information,

frequency channel allocation data,

optimized performance data based on field measurements,

a computer representation of at least one distant transmitter modeled by a virtual transmitter,

a bill of materials for said one or more wireless communications components,

cost and manufacturer data pertaining to one or more of said one or more wireless communications components, and

representations of the physical location and orientation of said one or more wireless communications components.

36. A method for dynamically designing or analyzing a wireless communications network, comprising the steps of:

accepting input parameters into a computer representation representing a physical environment in which a wireless communications network is implemented or to be implemented, said input parameters including one or more values or properties assigned to one or more physical objects which model said physical environment and which may affect wireless communications;

selecting data representing one or more wireless communication components which are or will be used in said wireless communications network and associated locations for said one or more wireless communication components which are or will be used within said physical environment;

displaying the locations of said wireless communications components within a computer representation of said physical environment on a display;

selecting one or more points of specific interest in said computer representation of said physical environment; and

predicting or displaying performance information for said one or more points of specific interest using said computer representation of said physical environment, and using said one or more values or properties assigned to said one or more physical objects when predicting said performance information for said one or more points of specific interest.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of moving at least one wireless communications component of said one or more wireless communications components within said computer representation of said physical environment and updating said performance information displayed for said one or more points of specific interest.

38. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of replacing at least one said wireless communications component of said one or more wireless communications components within said computer representation of said physical environment with a substitute component having different performance characteristics and updating said performance information for said one or more points of specific interest.

39. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of moving at least one point of specific interest of said one or more points of specific interest to a second location in said computer representation of said physical environment and determining said performance information for said second location.

40. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of obtaining data for a select group of wireless communications components from a stored data set for a plurality of wireless communications components, wherein said selecting data step selects said one or more wireless communications components from said select group.

41. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of saving a computerized representation of said physical environment or said performance information.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of recalling said computerized representation of said physical environment or said performance information.

43. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of generating at least one of the following:

transmitter power information,

frequency channel allocation data,

optimized performance data based on field measurements,

a computer representation of at least one distant transmitter modeled by a virtual transmitter,

a bill of materials for said one or more wireless communications components,

cost and manufacturer data pertaining to one or more of said one or more wireless communications components, and

representations of the physical location and orientation of one or more of said one or more wireless communications components.

44. The method of claim 36 further comprising the steps of re-orienting at least one wireless communications component of said one or more wireless communications components within said computer representation of said physical environment, with subsequent updating of said performance information displayed for said one or more points of specific interest.

45. A method for dynamically designing or analyzing a wireless communications network comprising the steps of:

accepting input parameters into a computer representation defining a physical environment in which a wireless communications network is implemented or to be implemented, said input parameters including one or more values or properties assigned to one or more physical objects which model said physical environment and which may affect wireless communications;

selecting data representing one or more wireless communication components which are or will be used in said wireless communications network and associated locations for said one or more wireless communications components which are or will be used within said physical environment;

displaying the locations of said wireless communications components within a computer representation of said physical environment on a display;

selecting one or more points of specific interest in said computer representation of said physical environment; and

predicting or displaying performance information for said one or more points of specific interest using said computer representation of said physical environment, and using said one or more values or properties assigned to said one or more physical objects when predicting said performance information for said one or more points of specific interest, wherein said system performance values are displayed in said computer representation at said one or more points of specific interest on said display.

46. The method of claim 45 further comprising the step of saving a computerized representation of said physical environment and said performance information.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of recalling said computerized representation of said physical environment and said performance information.

48. The method of claim 45 further comprising the step of generating at least one of the following:

transmitter power information,

frequency channel allocation data,

optimized performance data based on field measurements,

a computer representation of at least one distant transmitter modeled by virtual transmitter,

a bill of materials for said one or more wireless communications components,

cost and manufacturer data pertaining to one or more of said one or more wireless communications components, and

representations of the physical location and orientation of said one or more wireless communications components.

49. A method for designing or analyzing an in-building wireless communications network comprising the steps of:

accepting input parameters into a computer representation modeling a physical environment in which a wireless communications network is implemented or to be implemented, said input parameters including one or more values or properties assigned to one or more physical objects which model said physical environment and which may affect wireless communications;

selecting data representing wireless communications components which are or will be used in said wireless communications network and associated locations for said one or more wireless communications components which are or will be used within said physical environment;

displaying the locations of said wireless communications components within a computer representation of said physical environment on a display;

selecting one or more points of specific interest in said computer representation of said physical environment;

predicting or displaying performance information for said one or more points of specific interest using said computer representation of said physical environment, and using said one or more values or properties assigned to said one or more physical objects when predicting said performance information for said one or more points of specific interest; and

displaying one or more interconnections between one or more wireless communications components in said computer representation of said physical environment.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising the step of saving a computerized representation of said physical environment or said performance information.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising the step of recalling said computerized representation of said physical environment or said performance information.

52. The method of claim 49 further comprising the step of generating at least one of the following:

transmitter power information,

frequency channel allocation data,

optimized performance data based on field measurements,

a computer representation of at least one distant transmitter modeled by a virtual transmitter,

a bill of materials for said one or more wireless communications components,

cost and manufacturer data pertaining to one or more of said one or more wireless communications components, and

representations of the physical location and orientation of said one or more wireless communications components.