Self-directed mobile wireless access points and wireless endpoints for wireless testing

• US 9,781,609 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2016
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kurtz, Rachele S., Lingafelt, Charles S., Murray, James W., Swantek, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US15/230,678
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 455446, 455 6711, 455423, 455424, 4554561
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• 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 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Embodiments for testing a wireless network location by a processor. A collection of candidate wireless network test locations is selected for testing wireless network communication according to defined constraints, conditions, testing parameters, or a combination thereof. A self-directed, mobile wireless access point (WAP) is dispatched to at least one stationary location from the collection. A self-directed, testing receiver may be commanded to progressively move to each candidate test location along a testing route of the collection. The testing attributes relating to wireless network communication performance are measured for each of the candidate test locations along the testing route of the collection. Qualified WAP locations are identified from the candidate test locations based on the measured testing attributes.

Claims

1. A method, by a processor, for testing a wireless network environment, comprising:

selecting a collection of candidate wireless network test locations for testing wireless network communication according to defined constraints, conditions, testing parameters, or a combination thereof;

dispatching a mobile wireless access point (WAP) to at least one stationary location from the collection;

commanding a mobile receiver to progressively move to each candidate test location along a testing route of the collection;

dynamically measuring the testing attributes relating to wireless network communication performance for each of the candidate test locations along the testing route of the collection; and

identifying qualified WAP locations from the candidate test locations based on the measured testing attributes.

2. The method of claim 1, further including signaling the mobile WAP to perform a data transfer test with the mobile receiver, wherein the mobile WAP and the mobile receiver are drones and are self-directed.

3. The method of claim 1, further including defining a minimum physical distance between the mobile WAP and the mobile receiver, wherein the mobile WAP and the mobile receiver operate in a testing mode during the measuring and a wireless network communication link is established between the mobile WAP and the mobile receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, further including defining the constraints, conditions, testing parameters, such that reference is made to one or more of the defined constraints, conditions, and testing parameters when measuring the testing attributes relating to wireless network communication performance, wherein the wireless network communication is a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication system.

5. The method of claim 1, further including:

defining the testing route of the collection of the mobile receivers;

signaling the mobile WAP to transfer from the least one stationary location from the collection to at least one additional location for testing the wireless network communication;

or

signaling the self-directed, testing receiver to perform a test operation with an existing WAP.

6. The method of claim 1, further including defining a rate of movement and a movement pattern for the mobile receiver to traverse along the testing route.

7. The method of claim 1, further including disqualifying those of the candidate test locations having measured testing attributes less than one or more testing attribute thresholds.

8. A system for testing a wireless network location, comprising:

one or more computers with executable instructions that when executed cause the system to;

select a collection of candidate wireless network test locations for testing wireless network communication according to defined constraints, conditions, testing parameters, or a combination thereof;

dispatch a self-directed, mobile receiving wireless access point (WAP) to at least one location from the collection;

command a self-directed, testing receiver to progressively move to each candidate test location along a testing route of the collection;

dynamically measure the testing attributes relating to wireless network communication performance for each of the candidate test locations along the testing route of the collection; and

identify qualified WAP locations from the candidate test locations based on the measured testing attributes.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the executable instructions further signal the self-directed, mobile WAP to perform a data transfer test with the self-directed, testing receiver, wherein the self-directed, mobile WAP and the self-directed, testing receiver are drones.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the executable instructions further define a minimum physical distance between the self-directed, mobile WAP and the self-directed, testing receiver, wherein the self-directed, mobile WAP and the self-directed, testing receiver operate in a testing mode during the measuring and a wireless network communication link is established between the self-directed, mobile WAP and the self-directed, testing receiver.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the executable instructions further define the constraints, conditions, testing parameters, such that reference is made to one or more of the defined constraints, conditions, and testing parameters when measuring the testing attributes relating to wireless network communication performance, wherein the wireless network communication is a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication system.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the executable instructions further:

define the testing route of the collection for the self-directed, testing receiver;

signal the self-directed, mobile WAP to transfer from the least one stationary location from the collection to at least one additional location for testing the wireless network communication;

or

signal the self-directed, testing receiver to perform a test operation with an existing WAP.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the executable instructions further define a rate of movement and a movement pattern for the self-directed, testing receiver to traverse along the testing route.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the executable instructions further disqualify those of the candidate test locations having measured testing attributes less than one or more testing attribute thresholds.

15. A computer program product for, by a processor, testing a wireless network location, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion that selects a collection of candidate wireless network test locations for testing wireless network communication according to defined constraints, conditions, testing parameters, or a combination thereof;

an executable portion that dispatches a self-directed, mobile receiving wireless access point (WAP) to at least one location from the collection;

an executable portion that commands a self-directed, testing receiver to progressively move to each candidate test location along a testing route of the collection;

an executable portion that dynamically measures the testing attributes relating to wireless network communication performance for each of the candidate test locations along the testing route of the collection; and

an executable portion that identifies qualified WAP locations from the candidate test locations based on the measured testing attributes.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further including an executable portion that signals the self-directed, mobile WAP to perform a data transfer test with the self-directed, testing receiver, wherein the self-directed, mobile WAP and the self-directed, testing receiver are drones.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further including an executable portion that defines a minimum physical distance between the self-directed, mobile WAP and the self-directed, testing receiver, wherein the self-directed, mobile WAP and the self-directed, testing receiver operate in a testing mode during the measuring and a wireless network communication link is established between the self-directed, mobile WAP and the self-directed, testing receiver.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, further including an executable portion that defines the constraints, conditions, testing parameters, such that reference is made to one or more of the defined constraints, conditions, and testing parameters when measuring the testing attributes relating to wireless network communication performance, wherein the wireless network communication is a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication system.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, further including an executable portion that:

defines the testing route of the collection for the self-directed, testing receiver;

defines a rate of movement and a movement pattern for the self-directed, testing receiver to traverse along the testing route;

defines the testing route of the collection for the self-directed, testing receiver;

signals the self-directed, mobile WAP to transfer from the least one stationary location from the collection to at least one additional location for testing the wireless network communication;

or

signals the self-directed, testing receiver to perform a test operation by with an existing WAP.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, further including an executable portion that disqualifies those of the candidate test locations having measured testing attributes less than one or more testing attribute thresholds.