Methods and systems for improving wireless signal

• US 9,629,006 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Iuzzolino, Nicholas, Peterson, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US14/816,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20170041812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 455501, 4554561, 455 411- 413, 455507, 455512, 455513
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

An example method can comprise receiving a plurality of signal characteristic measurements from each of a plurality of sensors disposed at geographically distinct premises or geographically distinct locations throughout a premises. A prioritized sensor (e.g., prioritized relative to other sensors) can be determined from among the plurality of sensors, and the signal characteristic measurement from the prioritized sensor can be compared to a set of predefined signal characteristics. A network device can adjust one or more transmission characteristics based on the received signal characteristic measurements.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a network device, a plurality of signal characteristic measurements from each of a plurality of sensors disposed at and associated with geographically distinct locations throughout a premises, wherein each of the plurality of sensors measures signal characteristics;

determining a prioritized sensor among the plurality of sensors;

comparing a signal characteristic measurement from the prioritized sensor to a set of predefined signal characteristics; and

adjusting one or more transmission characteristics of the network device based on a difference between the signal characteristic measurement from the prioritized sensor and the set of predefined signal characteristics, such that a signal provided to a location associated with the prioritized sensor is altered relative to a signal provided to another of the plurality of sensors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the prioritized sensor comprises selecting the prioritized sensor based on a user input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the prioritized sensor comprises selecting the prioritized sensor based on a timetable.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the one or more transmission characteristics comprises adjusting one or more of a signal strength and a directionality.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the directionality comprises adjusting one or more of a phase and an amplitude of each of a plurality of transmitting antennas.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured signal characteristics comprise measurements based on signals transmitted from the network device to the plurality of sensors.

7. A method comprising:

receiving, at a network device, measurements from each of a plurality of sensors disposed at geographically distinct locations throughout a premises, each of the plurality of sensors measuring signal characteristics;

determining a sensor priority ranking of the plurality of sensors;

selecting a first sensor of the plurality of sensors based on the sensor priority ranking;

selecting a second sensor of the plurality of sensors based on the sensor priority ranking;

adjusting one or more characteristics of a signal transmission at the network device until the received measurements from the first sensor meet first predefined signal characteristics; and

adjusting the one or more characteristics of the signal transmission at the network device until the received measurements from the second sensor meet second predefined signal characteristics.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the sensor priority ranking comprises determining the sensor priority ranking based on a user input.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the sensor priority ranking comprises determining the sensor priority ranking based on a timetable.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first predefined signal characteristics correspond to a stronger signal than the second predefined signal characteristics.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein adjusting the signal transmission comprises adjusting one or more of a signal strength and a directionality.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the directionality comprises adjusting one or more of a phase and an amplitude of each of a plurality of transmitting antennas.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the first sensor is ranked higher than the second sensor in the sensor priority ranking.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the measured signal characteristics comprise one or more of a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a signal to noise ratio (SNR), a bit error rate, and a frame error rate.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, at a network device, measurements from each of a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein the first sensor is disposed at a first premises and the second sensor is disposed at a second premises, and wherein each of the first sensor and the second sensor measures signal characteristics;

receiving, from a service provider, an indication that the first sensor is a prioritized sensor; and

adjusting one or more characteristics of a signal transmission to the first premises until the received measurements from the prioritized sensor meet predefined signal characteristics.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the indication that the first sensor is the prioritized sensor is based on a number of connections from the first premises.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the indication that the first sensor is the prioritized sensor is based on a timetable.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein adjusting the one or more transmission characteristics comprises adjusting one or more of a signal strength and a directionality.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein adjusting the directionality comprises adjusting one or more of a phase and an amplitude of a signal transmitted by one or more transmitting antennas.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the received measurements comprise one or more of a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a signal to noise ratio (SNR), a bit error rate, and a frame error rate.