Wireless device deployment with reliable links

• US 8,396,007 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Gonia, Patrick S., Bhat, Ishwara
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US12/761,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20110255426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The embodiments are related to deploying wireless devices in a space to maximize a monitored area. In an embodiment, the system includes at least one first wireless device installed into a first position and set in a placed mode, and a second wireless device to be installed into a second position and set in an unplaced mode. The second wireless device is moved away from the at least one first wireless device. An application message is transmitted at a normal operating power. A link quality detection message is transmitted at a reduced power lower than the operating power by a headroom. The link quality between the at least one first wireless device and the second wireless device is estimated based on the link quality detection message to determine the second position to install the second wireless device. Once installed, the second wireless device is switched to the placed mode.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one first wireless device installed at a first position; and

a second wireless device to be installed at a second position;

wherein an application message is transmitted at a normal operating power, and a link quality detection message is transmitted from the at least one first wireless device to the second wireless device at a reduced power that is lower than the operating power by a headroom;

wherein the second wireless device is moved away from the at least one first wireless device;

wherein at least one link quality between at least one of the at least one first wireless device and the second wireless device is estimated based on the link quality detection message;

wherein the at least one estimated link quality is used by the second device to determine the second position to install the second wireless device, and wherein the second wireless device is installed at the second position once the at least one link quality has reduced to a predetermined level; and

wherein once installed, the second wireless device is operable to transmit another link quality detection message to another wireless device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein when the last one of the link quality estimates is found reduced to no more than a minimum level, the second position is determined and the second wireless device signals to an operator to install the second wireless device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one link quality estimate remains at or above a minimum and a following link quality estimate is found reduced to no more than the minimum level, the second position is determined and the second wireless device signals to an operator to install the second wireless device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the link quality detection message is a message packet, and wherein the link quality is detected by at least one of a loss of the message packet or a loss of an acknowledgement packet for the message packet.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal is presented to the operator using an installation indicator selected from at least one of an LCD display icon, a vibrator, or a sound maker.

6. A system comprising:

at least one first wireless device installed at a first position; and

a second wireless device to be installed at a second position;

wherein a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) is used to measure a link quality from at least one of the at least one first wireless device to the second wireless device;

wherein the second wireless device is moved away from the at least one first wireless device

wherein a difference between the RSSI and a base level is determined, and wherein when the difference is found reduced to no more than a predetermined headroom the second position is determined and the second wireless device signals to install the second wireless device; and

wherein once installed, the second wireless device is operable to transmit a signal strength indicator to another wireless device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second wireless device includes an installation indicator selected from at least one of an LCD display icon, a vibrator, or a sound maker.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the base level is a sensitivity level of a device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the base level is a noise level measured by the second device.

10. A method comprising:

installing at least one first wireless device at a first position in a wireless infrastructure;

moving a second wireless device away from the at least one first wireless device;

transmitting a link quality detection message from the at least one first wireless device at a reduced power lower than an operating power;

estimating a link quality between the at least one first wireless device and the second wireless device based on the link quality detection message; and

determining a second position to install the second wireless device by using the estimated link quality, wherein the second wireless device is installed at the second position once the estimated link quality has reduced to a predetermined level, and wherein once installed, the second wireless device is operable to transmit another link quality detection message to another wireless device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein

the second wireless device is operable to transmit a link quality detection message to another device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein one or more other second wireless devices are installed iteratively.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein one link quality estimate remains at or above a minimum and when a following link quality estimate is found reduced to no more than the minimum level, the second position is determined and the second wireless device signals to an operator to install the second wireless device.

14. A method comprising:

installing at least one first wireless device in a placed mode at a first position;

moving a second wireless device in an unplaced mode away from the at least one first wireless device;

measuring a link quality from the at least one first wireless device to the second wireless device by using a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI); and

signaling by the second wireless device to install the second wireless device at a second position, when a difference between the link quality and a base level is found reduced to no more than a predetermined headroom at the second position, wherein once installed, the second wireless device is operable to transmit another link quality detection message to another wireless device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

switching the second wireless device from the unplaced mode to the placed mode once installed.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein after signaling to install the second wireless device, the second wireless device continues to monitor the link quality and signaling at any time until the difference is found reduced to no more than the headroom.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the base level is a sensitivity level of a device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the base level is a noise level measured by the second device.

19. A wireless device, comprising:

a transceiver to transmit and receive wireless communication signals;

a power supply to supply power to the transceiver; and

wherein an application message is transmitted by the wireless device at an operating power, and

wherein a link quality detection message is transmitted by the wireless device at a reduced power that is lower than the operating power, and

wherein a link quality between the wireless device and an other wireless device is estimated based on the link quality detection message, wherein when the estimated link quality is lower than a predetermined level, the other wireless device signals to install the other wireless device at a second position, and wherein once installed, the other wireless device is operable to transmit another link quality detection message to another wireless device.

20. The wireless device of claim 19, further comprising an installation indicator selected from at least one of an LCD display icon, a vibrator, or a sound maker to indicate to install the wireless device once a link quality estimate is reduced to no more than a minimum level.