Graphical representations of associations between devices in a wireless communication network indicating available throughput and channel selection

• US 7,660,263 B1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xenogenic Development Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Autocell Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Callahan, Paul, Pfister, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US10/855,263
• Time in Patent Office: 2,084 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

A system and method for graphically representing associations between wireless network devices in a way that visually indicates the maximum amount of throughput between the associated devices, as well as a channel that is currently selected for communications between the associated devices. The thickness of a line between the associated devices may indicate the maximum throughput between the devices, whereas the color of the line may indicate the channel on which the associated devices are currently communicating. Other visual characteristics of lines generated between associated devices may be used to visually represent maximum possible throughput and current channel selection. Associations between the devices in the wireless network may be determined by checking a list of associated stations maintained in each access point.

Claims

1. A method for graphically representing associations between wireless network devices in a user interface to a wireless communication network management system including a display upon which the associations are presented, comprising:

generating at least one line between access point graphical representation of a corresponding access point wireless communication device and a client station graphical representation of a corresponding client station wireless communication device wherein said corresponding client station wireless communication device is associated with said corresponding access point wireless communication device, and wherein said at least one line is visually indicative of a maximum amount of throughput that is available between said corresponding access point wireless communication device and said corresponding client station wireless communication device; and

presenting the at least one line on the display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one line is visually indicative of said maximum amount of throughput between said corresponding access point wireless communication device and said corresponding client station wireless communication device by way of a thickness of said at least one line, wherein a relatively greater thickness of said at least one line is representative of a relatively larger maximum bandwidth, and a relatively smaller thickness of said at least one line is representative of a relatively smaller maximum bandwidth.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a list of client station devices that are associated with at least one access point device of reading a list of associated client station devices stored within said at least one access point device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a visual characteristic of said at least one line is visually indicative of a radio frequency channel that is currently selected for communications between the corresponding access point wireless communication device and said corresponding client station wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one line is visually indicative of said radio frequency channel by way of a color associated with said radio frequency channel.

6. A system for graphically representing associations between wireless network devices in a user interface to a wireless communication network management system, comprising:

user interface logic operable to generate at least one line between a access point graphical representation of a corresponding access point wireless communication device and a client station graphical representation of a corresponding client station wireless communication device, wherein said corresponding client station wireless communication device is associated with said corresponding access point wireless communication device, and wherein said at least one line is visually indicative of a maximum amount of throughput that is available between said corresponding access point wireless communication device and said corresponding client station wireless communication device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said at least one line is visually indicative of said maximum amount of throughput between said corresponding access point wireless communication device and said corresponding client station wireless communication device by way of a thickness of said at least one line, wherein a relatively greater thickness of said at least one line is representative of a relatively larger maximum bandwidth, and a relatively smaller thickness of said at least one line is representative of a relatively smaller maximum bandwidth.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

association determining logic operable to determine a list of client station devices that are associated with at least one access point device by reading a list of associated client station devices stored within said at least one access point device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein a visual characteristic of said at least one line is visually indicative of a radio frequency channel that is currently selected for communications between the corresponding access point wireless communication device and said corresponding client station wireless communication device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said at least one line is visually indicative of said radio frequency channel by way of a color associated with said radio frequency channel.

11. A computer program product including a computer readable medium, said computer readable medium having a computer program, which when executed by a processor, graphically represents associations between wireless network devices in a user interface to a wireless communication network management system stored thereon, said computer program comprising:

program code for generating at least one line between a access point graphical representation of a corresponding access point wireless communication device and a client station graphical representation of corresponding client station wireless communication device, wherein said corresponding client station wireless communication device is associated with said corresponding access point wireless communication device, and wherein said at least one line is visually indicative of a maximum amount of throughput that is available between said corresponding access point wireless communication device and said corresponding client station wireless communication device.

12. A system for graphically representing associations between wireless network devices in a user interface to a wireless communication network management system, comprising:

means for generating at least one line between a access point graphical representation of a corresponding access point wireless communication device and a client station graphical representation of a corresponding client station wireless communication device, wherein said corresponding client station wireless communication device is associated with said corresponding access point wireless communication device, and wherein said at least one line is visually indicative of a maximum amount of throughput that is available between said corresponding access point wireless communication device and said corresponding client station wireless communication device.