Apparatuses and methods for measuring signal strengths of wireless networks

• US 7,596,372 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Assets 19 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: U-Smart Networking LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Warren, Phillip D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; CongVan
• Application Number:
  US11/153,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20060014533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/67.14, 455/67.13, 455/67.7, 455423-4261, 455/513, 455/115.1, 455/115.2, 455/115.3, 455/115.4, 455/552.1, 455/553.1
• US Class Current: 455/423
• 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: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

A signal tester including a controller operable to communicate with and receive signal strength data for a wireless networks corresponding to first and second modems, respectively. The tester includes a display operable to display the signal strength data for the first wireless network and the second wireless network.

Claims

1. A signal tester, comprising:

a controller, wherein the controller is operable to;

receive first signal strength data from a first wireless modem for a first wireless network in communication with the first wireless modem; and

receive second signal strength data from a second wireless modem for a second wireless network in communication with the second wireless modem;

at least one display operable to selectively display the first signal strength data and the second signal strength data or to simultaneously display the first signal strength data and the second signal strength data; and

at least one memory operable to store the first signal strength data and the second signal strength data for communication to an external device.

2. The signal tester of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first wireless modem and the second wireless modem is located internal to the signal tester.

3. The signal tester of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first wireless moden and the second wireless modem is located external to the signal tester.

4. The signal tester of claim 1, wherein the first wireless modem is operable to generate the first signal strength data for the first wireless network, and wherein the first wireless network is a wide area network.

5. The signal tester of claim 4, wherein the second wireless modem is operable to generate the second signal strength data for the second wireless network, and wherein the second wireless network is a local area network.

6. The signal tester of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to receive network data associated with one of the first wireless network and the second wireless network;

wherein the received network data comprises a current location of at least one of the first wireless modem and the second wireless modem.

7. The signal tester of claim 6, wherein the current location comprises a global positioning system location.

8. A tester, comprising:

a universal communications interface operable to;

communicate with a first modem operable to generate first signal strength data for a first wireless network; and

communicate with a second modem operable to generate second signal strength data for a second wireless network;

a controller coupled to the universal communications interface and operable to receive, from the universal communications interface, the first signal strength data generated by the first modem and the second signal strength data generated by the second modem;

at least one display operable to selectively display the first signal strength data and the second signal strength data or to simultaneously display the first signal strength data and the second signal strength data; and

at least one memory operable to store the first signal strength data and the second signal strength data for communication to an external device.

9. The tester of claim 8, further comprising an interface for coupling the universal communications interface to the first modem and the second modem.

10. The tester of claim 9, wherein the interface is capable of receiving signal strength data from only the first modem or the second modem at one time.

11. The tester of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first modem and the second modem is located external to the tester.

12. The tester of claim 9, wherein the first wireless network is a wide area network.

13. The tester of claim 12, wherein the second wireless network is a local area network.

14. The tester of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first modem and the second modem is located internal to the tester.

15. The tester of claim 8, wherein the first modem and the second modem are of different types.

16. The tester of claim 8, wherein the controller is further operable to receive network data associated with one of the first wireless network and the second wireless network;

wherein the received network data comprises a current location of at least one of the first modem and the second modem.

17. The tester of claim 16, wherein the current location comprises a global positioning system location.

18. A signal tester, comprising:

a controller, wherein the controller is operable to;

receive first signal strength data and first wireless network data from a first wireless modem for a first wireless network in communication with the first modem; and

receive second signal strength data and second network data from a second wireless modem for a second wireless network in communication with the second wireless modem; and

at least one display operable to selectively display the first signal strength data and the network data and the second signal strength data or to simultaneously display the first signal strength data and the second signal strength data;

wherein the received first or second network data comprises a current location of at least one of the first wireless modem and the second wireless modem.