Systems and methods for tracking signal strength in wireless networks
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A wireless device comprising:
- a radio-frequency (RF) subsystem configured to transmit and receive RF signals over a wireless network; and
a processing and control subsystem coupled to the RF subsystem and configured toreceive a schedule from the wireless network, wherein the received schedule initiates a ping over the wireless network;
obtain a measurement of signal strength of a wireless signal received by the RF subsystem, wherein obtaining the measurement is performed based on the ping initiated by the received schedule;
determine a current approximate location of the wireless device;
determine an approximate time at which the measurement of signal strength is obtained; and
cause the RF subsystem to transmit signals representative of the measured signal strength, the location, the time, and a device identifier to a network operations center over the wireless network.
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Abstract
Tracking of signal strength in wireless networks is disclosed. In one of many possible embodiments, signal strength of a wireless signal received by at least one wireless device is measured, the wireless device being configured for operation in the wireless network. A parameter of the wireless device is determined, the parameter corresponding with the measurement of signal strength. The measured signal strength and the determined parameter are transmitted to a network operations center. The measured signal strength and the determined parameter are used to analyze signal coverage of the wireless network.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A wireless device comprising:
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a radio-frequency (RF) subsystem configured to transmit and receive RF signals over a wireless network; and a processing and control subsystem coupled to the RF subsystem and configured to receive a schedule from the wireless network, wherein the received schedule initiates a ping over the wireless network; obtain a measurement of signal strength of a wireless signal received by the RF subsystem, wherein obtaining the measurement is performed based on the ping initiated by the received schedule; determine a current approximate location of the wireless device; determine an approximate time at which the measurement of signal strength is obtained; and cause the RF subsystem to transmit signals representative of the measured signal strength, the location, the time, and a device identifier to a network operations center over the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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selecting a plurality of wireless devices; sending a command over a wireless network to the plurality of wireless devices, wherein the command includes a schedule for initiating a ping over the wireless network; each of the plurality of wireless devices performing the following in response to receiving the ping initiated by the predefined schedule; measuring a signal strength of downstream wireless signals, determining a current approximate location of the wireless device, determining an approximate time at which the measurement of signal strength is obtained, and sending a signal including the measured signal strength, the location, the time, and a device identifier to a network operations center over the wireless network; and performing an analysis based on the received data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system comprising:
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a network operations center communicatively coupled to a plurality of wireless devices, said network operations center being configured to; select a subset of said plurality of wireless devices, send a command over a wireless network to said subset of said plurality of wireless devices, wherein the command includes a schedule for initiating a ping over the wireless network, receive data in response to said ping initiated by said schedule, and analyze said received data; and at least one wireless device configured for operation in a wireless network, said wireless device being configured to; receive said ping from said network operations center via said wireless network; measure a signal strength of downstream wireless signals received by said wireless device, wherein measuring said signal strength is performed in response to receiving said ping; determine a current approximate location of said wireless device, determine an approximate time at which said measurement of signal strength is obtained, and transmit signals representative of said signal strength, said location, said time, and a device identifier to said network operations center upstream over said wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification