Method and system for providing real-time end-user WiFi quality data

• US 9,306,829 B1
• Filed: 11/11/2013
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NRT Technology Corp.
• Original Assignee: Joingo, LLC (NRT Technology Corp.)
• Inventors: Boyle, Stephen S., Greer, Russell S., Demmon, Maynard
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US14/076,587
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-229, 709217-219, 709/250
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

A system and method for providing WiFi operators real-time end-user WiFi quality information is disclosed herein. An application server injects a scriptlet into a content transferred to a web browser of a mobile device during a browsing activity. The scriptlet is configured to run in the background of the browsing activity and configured to periodically test a latency of HTTP requests from the mobile device to the application server to determine a quality of the WIFI network.

Claims

1. A system for providing WIFI operators real-time end-user WIFI quality information within a venue, the system comprising:

a mobile device comprising a mobile web browser;

a WIFI network for a venue;

a HTTP proxy engine; and

an application server comprising a scriptlet;

wherein the WIFI network is configured to include the HTTP proxy engine in the transmission of a browsing activity of the mobile device;

wherein the application server injects the scriptlet into a content transferred to the web browser of the mobile device during the browsing activity; and

wherein the scriptlet is configured to run in the background of the browsing activity and configured to perform a plurality of periodical tests of a latency of HTTP requests from the mobile device into the application server to determine a quality of the WIFI network.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the application server associates a physical location for each of the plurality of periodic tests through a query to the WIFI network which is configured to determine the physical location of the mobile device.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of periodic tests performed by the scriptlet also informs the application server of the preceding result as the scriptlet is performing a current test.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of periodic tests are displayed over time and geography on the management console.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of periodic tests are used to alert operators if quality levels of the WIFI network deteriorate to a predetermined threshold value.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein HTTP proxy engine is located on the application server.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the scriptlet determines a physical location of the mobile device through a query of the mobile device, and the scriptlet transmits the physical location along with the plurality of periodic tests.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the WIFI network comprises a plurality of access points.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the HTTP proxy engine is configured to overlay a venue menu on a web page requested by the mobile device.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the location of the mobile device within the venue is determined using triangulation of signals received at a plurality of wireless APs within the venue.