Method and system for wireless network management

• US 8,948,027 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2009
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Montemurro, Michael, Durand, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beyen, Zewdu A
• Application Number:
  US12/355,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20100182915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,209 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/913 Wireless or radio

Abstract

Methods and systems for wireless network management are described. In one embodiment, a radio measurement of a characteristic of a wireless access technology may be taken. The wireless access technology may enable data communication through a wireless network when connected to an access point. A report may be transmitted through an alternate access technology. The report may be based on the radio measurement. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating, at a wireless device, a report associated with a wireless local area network (WLAN), the WLAN being associated with an access point configured to provide WLAN connectivity to the wireless device wherein the report is generated in response to a diagnostic report request received from the access point and the diagnostic report request includes a notification element including a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with an alternate access technology; and

transmitting the report via a wired connection using the URL from the wireless device to the access point configured to provide WLAN connectivity to the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the report is transmitted through the wired connection based on a loss of connectivity through the WLAN.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an availability of the wired connection prior to transmission of the report.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the report is transmitted, to the access point, using the URL.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the report further comprises:

transmitting, via the access point, the report to a network manager.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the report further comprises:

transmitting, via the access point, the report to a recipient.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the report to diagnose a network problem.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the report is further based on context information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the context information includes at least one of a time stamp and device location information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point that is configured to provide WLAN connectivity to the wireless device takes one or more background measurements of the wireless local area network and identifies a network problem based on the one or more background measurements.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, at an access point configured to provide network connectivity to a wireless device, a report regarding a wireless access technology, the reporting being transmitted via a wired connection to the access point configured to provide network connectivity to the wireless device wherein the report is received in response to a diagnostic report request sent from the access point to the wireless device and the diagnostic report request includes a notification element including a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with an alternate access technology and the report is sent by the wireless device using the URL;

identifying by the access point, a network problem based on the report; and

altering by the access point, connectivity through the wireless access technology based on identification of the network problem.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting a notification to at least one mobile electronic device regarding the network problem.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the report is based on context information.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the altering of the connectivity comprises:

altering transmit power of the access point based on identification of the network problem.

15. A wireless device comprising:

a processor configured to;

generate a report associated with a wireless local area network (WLAN),

the WLAN being associated with an access point configured to provide WLAN connectivity to the wireless device wherein the report is generated in response to a diagnostic report request received from the access point and the diagnostic report request includes a notification element including a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with an alternate access technology; and

transmit the report via a wired connection using the URL from the wireless device to the access point configured to provide WLAN connectivity to the wireless device.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a report request from the access point.

17. The wireless device of claim 16 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the report in response to the report request.

18. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an availability of the wired connection prior to transmission of the report.

19. The wireless device of claim 15 wherein the processor is configured to transmit the report to the access point using the URL.

20. The wireless device of claim 15 wherein the report is based on context information.