System and method for aligning a radio using an automated audio guide

• US 9,780,892 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mimosa Networks, Inc. (Airspan Networks Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mimosa Networks, Inc. (Airspan Networks Inc.)
• Inventors: Hinman, Brian L., Fink, Jaime
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Justus, Ralph H
• Application Number:
  US14/639,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20150256275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 455 412
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A method and system are provided. The method includes receiving a signal strength corresponding to a long range wireless link established between a first directional wireless radio and a second wireless radio, the signal strength varying over time as the first directional wireless radio is aligned with a second wireless radio by an installer, and producing a sound indicator indicative of the signal strength. The sound indicator varies over time as the first directional wireless radio is aligned with the second wireless radio.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a mobile device, a signal strength corresponding to a long range wireless link established between a first directional wireless radio and a second wireless radio, the signal strength varying over time as the first directional wireless radio is aligned with the second wireless radio by an installer, wherein the signal strength is received by the mobile device over a short range wireless link from a short range wireless radio associated with the first directional wireless radio;

producing, by the mobile device, a sound indicator indicative of the signal strength, wherein the sound indicator varies over time as the first directional wireless radio is aligned with the second wireless radio by the installer, further wherein the sound indicator is a tone that varies in frequency; and

outputting a constant tone at a frequency while at a same time outputting the sound indicator, the constant tone representing an optimal signal strength, the constant tone and the tone converging at the same frequency when the first directional wireless radio is aligned with the second wireless radio.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the varying sound indicator comprises a tone with variable volume.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the varying sound indicator comprises a tone with variable frequency.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the varying sound indicator comprises a natural language output that includes a verbalized representation of the signal strength compared with an optimal signal strength value.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing an optimal signal strength value, wherein the optimal signal strength value comprises an expected signal strength when the first directional wireless radio and the second wireless radio are substantially in optimal alignment with one another;

comparing the optimal signal strength value to the signal strength; and

outputting either a convergence tone or a divergence tone based on the comparison, wherein the convergence tone is utilized when a difference between the optimal signal strength value and the signal strength is decreasing, further wherein the divergence tone is utilized when a difference between the optimal signal strength value and the signal strength is increasing.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the varying sound indicator comprises an alignment sound when the first directional wireless radio and the second wireless radio are in alignment with one another.

7. A method, comprising:

executing an audible alignment application by a single installer using a mobile device, the audible alignment application being stored in memory and executable by a processor of the mobile device; and

aligning a first directional wireless radio with a second wireless radio by;

bringing the mobile device in proximity to the first directional wireless radio;

receiving a signal strength corresponding to a long range wireless link established between the first directional wireless radio and the second wireless radio, the signal strength varying over time as the first directional wireless radio is aligned with the second wireless radio by the single installer; and

producing a sound indicator indicative of the signal strength, wherein the sound indicator varies over time as the first directional wireless radio is aligned with the second wireless radio by the single installer, further wherein the sound indicator is a tone that varies in frequency, and the method further comprises outputting a constant tone at a frequency while at a same time outputting the sound indicator, the constant tone representing an optimal signal strength, the constant tone and the tone converging at the same frequency when the first directional wireless radio is aligned with the second wireless radio.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the varying sound indicator comprises a tone with variable volume.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the varying sound indicator comprises a natural language output that includes a verbalized representation of the signal strength compared with an optimal signal strength value.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

storing an optimal signal strength value, wherein the optimal signal strength value comprises an expected signal strength when the first directional wireless radio and the second wireless radio are substantially in optimal alignment with one another; and

outputting the optimal signal strength value prior to, or in combination with, receiving the signal strength to aid the single installer in knowing the optimal signal strength value.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising calculating the optimal signal strength value using a conductive transmit power level, a transmit radio gain, a receive radio gain, as well as a free space path loss between the first directional wireless radio and the second wireless radio.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising refining the optimal signal strength value using any of atmospheric attenuation, cable losses, and line-of-sight obstacle attenuation.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the varying sound indicator comprises an alignment sound when the first directional wireless radio and the second wireless radio are in alignment with one another.

14. The method according to claim 7, wherein the varying sound indicator comprises a tone with variable frequency.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage media having a program embodied thereon, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method, comprising:

coupling a mobile device with a first directional wireless radio using a wireless communication protocol;

receiving a signal strength corresponding to a long range wireless link established between the first directional wireless radio and a second wireless radio, the signal strength varying over time as the first directional wireless radio is aligned with the second wireless radio by an installer;

producing a sound indicator indicative of a comparison of the signal strength to an optimal signal strength value that aids in alignment of the first directional wireless radio and the second wireless radio, further wherein the sound indicator is a tone that varies in frequency; and

outputting a constant tone at a frequency while at a same time outputting the sound indicator, the constant tone representing an optimal signal strength, the constant tone and the tone converging at the same frequency when the first directional wireless radio is aligned with the second wireless radio.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage media according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises receiving a spoken request from a single installer, the spoken request comprising a request for a signal strength reading, wherein the varying sound indicator is output after the spoken request is received.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage media according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises storing values for the signal strength in a log for further analysis.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage media according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises receiving the signal strength on a band that is different than a primary band used for transmitting a primary signal carrier.

19. A system, comprising:

a first directional wireless radio; and

a mobile device that is communicatively coupled with the first directional wireless radio, wherein the mobile device is configured to;

measure a location and signal strength of the first directional wireless radio relative to a second wireless radio, in a plurality of radio positions;

determine an optimal radio position from the plurality of radio positions;

output a varying sound signal that aids an installer in bringing the first directional wireless radio into alignment with the second wireless radio, the varying sound signal based on a comparison of the signal strength to an optimal signal strength value, further wherein the varying sound signal is a tone that varies in frequency; and

output a constant tone at a frequency while at a same time outputting the varying sound signal, the constant tone representing an optimal signal strength, the constant tone and the tone converging at the same frequency when the first directional wireless radio is aligned with the second wireless radio.

20. The system according to claim 19, further comprising a short range wireless antenna that communicatively couples the mobile device with the first directional wireless radio over a short range wireless link.