Methodology and apparatus for validating network coverage

• US 8,781,462 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2010
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Osterloh, Christopher L., Johnson, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsvey, Gennadiy
• Application Number:
  US12/888,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.14, 455/423, 705/63, 370241-253
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for validating network coverage (i.e., desired functionality) of newly installed network devices. Per use of presently disclosed technology, equipment installers may confirm both one and two way communications abilities of newly installed network devices as well as receive network diagnostic related data to assist them in the equipment installation process. Validation of communications operation may be initiated by any of the newly installed equipment, a handheld device, or via mobile device communications.

Claims

1. A network coverage validation apparatus for validating wireless communication operability for a network of RF transceivers, comprising a testing device for initiating transmission of a validation message from a data endpoint intended for RF association with said network of RF transceivers, and for directly receiving at said testing device any reply messages from said RF transceivers, said reply messages including reply message data and originating from such RF transceivers in response to said validation message transmitted by said data endpoint intended for RF association, wherein said testing device offsets received data included in said reply messages based on a difference in RF performance between said testing device and a data endpoint intended for RF association with said network of RF transceivers.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said RF transceivers comprise a plurality of cell control units and repeaters, each of which has RF transceiver functionality, with said repeaters providing communications between selected of said cell control units, and with said cell control units providing communications with a plurality of data generating endpoints associated therewith.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said reply messages comprise a randomly timed transmission which includes data identifying the transmitting RF transceiver and indicating the relative strength of the signal of the validation message received by such RF transceiver, said testing device offsetting said data indicating the relative strength of the signal of the validation based on said difference in RE performance between said testing device and said data endpoint intended for RF associated with said network of RE transceivers.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said testing device includes GPS functionality for logging the location of said testing device upon receipt of any reply messages from said network of RF transceivers.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said testing device initiates said validation message transmission at periodic intervals while said testing device is continuously relocated relative to said network, for mapping the wireless communication operability for such network.

6. A network coverage verification tool for confirming RF communication operability for a data endpoint intended for RF association with a network of RF transceivers comprising a plurality of RF transceivers,

comprising an installation testing device for initiating transmission of a validation message from said endpoint to be validated for RF association with said network of RF transceivers, wherein said installation testing device is configured for receiving RF transmissions comprising

direct receipt of reply message data as directly originated from said plurality of RF transceivers in response to said validation message from said endpoint to be validated.

7. A network coverage verification tool as in claim 6, wherein said installation testing device comprises a mobile, handheld device field-usable by an installer for real time checking of communication operability of an installed endpoint.

8. A network coverage verification tool as in claim 6, wherein said installation testing device includes means for placing such endpoint to be validated, after transmission of said validation message, into a receive and retransmit mode for receiving reply messages originating from said network of RF transceivers and for forwarding reply message data to said testing device.

9. A network coverage verification tool as in claim 6, wherein said reply message data includes data identifying the transmitting RF transceiver and indicating the relative strength of the signal of the validation message received by such RE transceiver.

10. A network coverage verification tool as in claim 6, wherein said validation message transmission is initiated a plurality of times at intervals, and said RF transceivers transmit reply messages on randomly selected communications channels.

11. A network coverage verification tool as in claim 6, wherein said validation message includes data for requesting response from any receiving RF transceiver of said network, and said RE transceivers transmit reply messages at randomly selected times after a predetermined minimum amount of delay after receipt of a validation message.

12. Methodology for validating wireless communication operability for a data collection network of the type comprising a plurality of data endpoints intended for RF association with a network of RF transceivers, such methodology comprising:

using an installation testing device for initiating transmission of a validation message from a data endpoint intended for RF association with said network of RF transceivers;

directly receiving at said installation testing device any reply messages originating from such RF transceivers, said reply messages including reply message data and originating from such RF transceivers in response to said validation message transmitted by said data endpoint intended for RF association; and

offsetting said reply message data to compensate for differences in RF characteristics associated with said network of RE transceivers.

13. Methodology as in claim 12, wherein said receiving includes receiving any reply messages directly from such RF transceivers and indirectly from a data endpoint having received such reply messages directly from such RF transceivers and retransmitting same.

14. Methodology as in claim 12, wherein:

said RE transceivers comprise a plurality of cell control units and repeaters, each of which has RF transceiver functionality;

said initiating includes initiating transmission of a validation message from a mobile device provided for transmission of validation messages;

said reply messages comprise a randomly timed transmission which includes said reply message data identifying the transmitting RF transceiver and indicating the relative strength of the signal of the validation message received by such RF transceiver; and

said methodology further includes using GPS functionality and logging the location of said mobile device upon receipt of any reply messages thereat from said network of RF transceivers while moving such mobile device around in such network, and correlating such reply messages and logged locations, for mapping the wireless communication operability for such network.

15. Methodology as in claim 12, further including using a mobile, handheld device field-usable by an installer for said initiating step, for real time checking of communication operability of an installed endpoint.

16. Methodology as in claim 12, further including:

initiating said validation message transmission a plurality of times at intervals; and

wherein said RE transceivers trans reply messages on randomly selected communications channels.

17. Methodology as in claim 12, wherein:

said validation message includes data for requesting response from any receiving RF transceiver of said network; and

each of said RE transceivers transmits a plurality of reply messages at randomly selected times after a predetermined minimum amount of delay after receipt of said validation message.

18. Methodology as in claim 12, further including:

newly installing a data endpoint for RF association with an existing network of RE transceivers; and

validating wireless communication operability for such newly installed data endpoint by transmitting a validation message from such newly installed data endpoint, listening with such newly installed data endpoint for any reply messages from said RF transceivers, retransmitting reply message related data from such newly installed data endpoint to a receiver, and assessing said retransmitted reply message related data in order to validate wireless communication operability for such newly installed data endpoint.

19. Methodology as in claim 12, wherein:

said reply messages include data identifying the transmitting RF transceiver and indicating the relative strength of the signal of the validation message received by such RF transceiver; and

said methodology further includes assessing reply message data to respectively determine the quality of wire communication operability coverage at the locations of selected of said plurality of data endpoints.

20. Methodology as in claim 12, wherein:

said network of RF transceivers comprises a plurality of RF transceivers respectively belonging to a plurality of device families; and

said differences in RF characteristics associated with said network of RF transceivers comprise differences in RF characteristics associated with said plurality of device families.

21. Methodology as in claim 19, comprising assessing reply message data to respectively determine whether a dual coverage requirement is met at the locations of selected of said plurality of data endpoints.