System, method, and apparatus for determining and using the position of wireless devices or infrastructure for wireless network enhancements

• US 20060019679A1
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wireless Valley Communications Incorporated (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rappaport, Theodore S., Skidmore, Roger R., Reifsnider, Eric, Anatha, Veera
• Granted Patent: US 8,019,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.500
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02521 using a radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system and method for estimating the position of wireless devices within a wireless communication network combines measured RF channel characteristics for the wireless device with one or more predicted performance lookup tables, each of which correlates an RF channel characteristic to some higher order network performance metric and/or a position within an environmental model. Measured RF channel characteristics for wireless devices are compared against the performance lookup tables to determine the sent of lookup tables that most closely match the measured RF channel characteristics. The positions within the environmental model corresponding to the selected set of matching lookup tables are identified as possible locations for the wireless device. The performance lookup tables are uniquely constructed by site-specific location, technology, wireless standard, and equipment types, and/or the current operating state of the communications network.

Claims

1. A system for locating the position of one or more wireless communications devices within a physical environment, comprising:

a site specific environmental model of said physical environment including representations of a plurality of wireless or optical communications components deployed within said physical environment;

a plurality of tables, each associated with a specific point in the physical environment modeled by said site specific environmental model, and each containing one or more RF channel characteristics or performance metrics of at least one wireless or optical device;

one or more measuring devices positioned or positionable at one or more locations within said physical environment, said one or more measuring devices measuring RF channel characteristics or performance metrics; and

a computer controller which compares measured RF channel characteristics or performance metrics with RF channel characteristics or performance metrics in said plurality of tables, and identifies one or more locations of one or more wireless or optical communications devices within said physical environment based on one or more closest matching tables of said plurality tables to said RF channel characteristics or performance metrics measured with said one or more measuring devices, and on a position of the specific point in the physical environment modeled by the site specific environmental model associated with said one or more closest matching tables.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said site specific environmental model is two dimensional.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said site specific environmental model is three dimensional.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer controller provides signals to one or more devices or users in a network or receives signals from said one or more devices or users in said network.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said site specific environmental model includes a plurality of alternative configurations of networks of components deployed or deployable within said physical environment, and wherein said plurality of tables includes different tables of said one or more RF channel characteristics or performance metrics of at least one wireless device, each of which is associated with said specific point and which depend on a configuration of a network of components of said plurality of alternative configurations of networks of components deployed or deployable within said physical environment.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said computer controller compares RF channel characteristics or performance metrics to a subset of said plurality of tables based on said configuration of said network of components.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more RF channel characteristics or performance metrics of at least one wireless or optical device in each table of said plurality of tables is determined by a performance prediction based on attributes of one or more wireless communication components deployed or deployable within said physical environment.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said site specific environmental model includes attribute information of one or more objects within said physical environment which affect wireless communication performance metrics, but which are not wireless communication components.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said attribute information includes one or more of physical, electrical, electromagnetic, mechanical, or aesthetic characteristics.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said one or more RF channel characteristics or performance metrics of at least one wireless or optical device in each table are updatable.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one measuring device of said one or more measuring devices is associated with a wireless or optical communication component of said plurality of wireless or optical communication components.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one measuring application which obtains measured RF channel characteristics or performance metrics from said one or more measuring devices, said computer controller obtaining said measured RF channel characteristics or performance metrics from said at least one measuring application.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one measuring device is at least one of an access point, a sensor, a probe, a wireless network client, or another receiving or listening device which can detect transmissions.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said wireless or optical communications components is selected from the group consisting of antennas, base stations, base station controllers, amplifiers, cables, RF ID tags, RF ID readers, mobile or portable transmitter, receiver or transceiver devices, splitters, attenuators, repeaters, wireless access points, couplers, connectors, connection boxes, splicers, switches, routers, hubs, sensors, transducers, translators, power cables, twisted pair cables, optical fiber cables, and MIMO systems.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer controller is distributed amongst a plurality of computers.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said site specific environmental model and said plurality of tables are managed within a single software, hardware or firmware component.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein either or both said site specific environmental model and said plurality of tables are combined with said computer controller.

18. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display which displays a two dimensional or three dimensional representation of said physical environment together with said one or more locations identified with said computer controller.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more locations identified with said computer controller are communicated to another device as position coordinates.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said position coordinates include x, y, and z coordinates.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein each specific point is an intersection point of a mesh.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein attributes of the mesh are adjustable.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein said plurality of tables step includes tables for each intersection point of said mesh.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of tables includes one or more tables which include both predicted and measured RF channel characteristics.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more wireless or optical communications components within said physical environment includes one or more client computers, each of which is configured to allow determining whether to initiate or participate in handoffs depending on said one or more locations identified by said computer controller.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer controller is configured to control network resource provisioning which is based on said one or more locations which are identified.

27. The system of claim 1 further comprising a stand alone or distributed network management system which is loaded wholly or partially on one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said network management system allows exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

29. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more devices for remotely accessing, displaying or controlling one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

30. A method for locating the position of one or more wireless communications devices within a physical environment, comprising the steps of:

providing a site specific environmental model of said physical environment including representations of a plurality of wireless or optical communications components deployed within said physical environment;

providing a plurality of tables, each associated with a specific point in the physical environment modeled by said site specific environmental model, and each containing one or more RF channel characteristics or performance metrics of at least one wireless or optical device;

measuring, using one or more measuring devices positioned or positionable at one or more locations within said physical environment, RF channel characteristics or performance metrics; and

using a computer controller to compare measured RF channel characteristics or performance metrics with RF channel characteristics or performance metrics in said plurality of tables, and identify one or more locations of one or more wireless or optical communications components within said physical environment based on one or more closest matching tables of said plurality tables to said RF channel characteristics or performance metrics measured with said one or more measuring devices, and on a position of the specific point in the physical environment modeled by the site specific environmental model associated with said one or more closest matching tables.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said site specific environmental model is two dimensional.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein said site specific environmental model is three dimensional.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein said computer controller provides signals to one or more devices or users in a network or receives signals from said one or more devices or users in said network.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein said site specific environmental model includes a plurality of alternative configurations of networks of components deployed or deployable within said physical environment, and wherein said plurality of tables includes different tables of said one or more RF channel characteristics or performance metrics of at least one wireless device, each of which is associated with said specific point and which depend on a configuration of a network of components of said plurality of alternative configurations of networks of components deployed or deployable within said physical environment, and further comprising the step of selecting one of said plurality of alternative configurations of networks of components.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said computer controller compares RF channel characteristics or performance metrics to a subset of said plurality of tables based on said configuration of said network of components selected in said step of selecting.

36. The method of claim 30 wherein said one or more RF channel characteristics or performance metrics of at least one wireless or optical device in each table of said plurality of tables is determined by a performance prediction based on attributes of one or more wireless communication components deployed or deployable within said physical environment.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said site specific environmental model includes attribute information of one or more objects within said physical environment which affect wireless communication performance metrics, but which are not wireless communication components.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said attribute information includes one or more of physical, electrical, electromagnetic, mechanical, or aesthetic characteristics.

39. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of updating one or more RF channel characteristics or performance metrics of at least one wireless or optical device in one or more tables.

40. The method of claim 30 wherein at least one measuring device of said one or more measuring devices is associated with a wireless or optical communication component of said plurality of wireless or optical communication components.

41. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of using at least one measuring application to obtain measured RF channel characteristics or performance metrics from said one or more measuring devices.

42. The method of claim 30 wherein said at least one measuring device is at least one of an access point, a sensor, a probe, a wireless network client, or another receiving or listening device which can detect transmissions.

43. The method of claim 30 wherein at least one of said wireless or optical communications components is selected from the group consisting of antennas, base stations, base station controllers, amplifiers, cables, RF ID tags, RF ID readers, mobile or portable transmitter, receiver or transceiver devices, splitters, attenuators, repeaters, wireless access points, couplers, connectors, connection boxes, splicers, switches, routers, hubs, sensors, transducers, translators, power cables, twisted pair cables, optical fiber cables, and MIMO systems.

44. The method of claim 30 wherein said computer controller is distributed amongst a plurality of computers.

45. The method of claim 30 wherein said site specific environmental model and said plurality of tables are managed within a single software, hardware or firmware component.

46. The method of claim 30 wherein either or both said site specific environmental model and said plurality of tables are combined with said computer controller.

47. The method of claim 30 further comprising displaying a two dimensional or three dimensional representation of said physical environment together with said one or more locations identified with said computer controller.

48. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of communicating said one or more locations identified with said computer controller to another device as position coordinates.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein said position coordinates include x, y, and z coordinates.

50. The method of claim 30 wherein each specific point is an intersection point of a mesh.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising the step of adjusting attributes of the mesh.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein said providing a plurality of tables step provides tables for each intersection point of said mesh.

53. The method of claim 30 wherein said providing a plurality of tables step provides one or more tables which include both predicted and measured RF channel characteristics.

54. The method of claim 30 wherein said one or more wireless or optical communications components within said physical environment includes one or more client computers, each of which is configured to allow determining whether to initiate or participate in handoffs depending on said one or more locations identified by said computer controller.

55. The method of claim 30 wherein said computer controller is configured to control network resource provisioning which is based on said one or more locations which are identified.

56. The method of claim 30 further comprising providing a stand alone or distributed network management system which is loaded wholly or partially on one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

58. The method of claim 30 further comprising providing one or more devices for remotely accessing, displaying or controlling one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

57. The method of claim 57 wherein said network management system allows exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

59. A computer implemented method for managing a wireless communications system, comprising:

modeling a physical environment;

modeling a wireless communication system positioned within said physical environment;

monitoring signal levels in the wireless communication system using network monitoring software installed on at least one wireless device of the wireless communications system; and

dynamically reconfiguring one or more wireless devices of the wireless communications system based on the signal levels, the modeled physical environment, and the modeled wireless communications system.

60. The computer implemented method of claim 59 wherein said step of modeling a wireless communication system includes the step of discovering wireless devices in said physical environment.

61. The computer implemented method of claim 59 wherein said discovering step recognizes one or more wireless devices added to said wireless communications system, and identifies the location of said one or more wireless devices in said physical environment based on a comparison of one or more measured performance characteristics of said one or more wireless devices added to said wireless communications system to performance characteristics stored in a plurality of table look ups associated with the modeled wireless communications system.

62. The computer implemented method of claim 59 further comprising the steps of:

generating a computer simulation of at least one performance characteristic for said wireless communication system operating in said physical environment;

incorporating information or data derived from the signal levels into the computer simulation; and

wherein said dynamically reconfiguring step uses values generated in said computer simulation.

63. The computer implemented method of claim 62 further comprising the steps of:

displaying said physical environment; and

displaying said at least one performance characteristic superimposed on said displayed physical environment.

64. The computer implemented method of claim 59 wherein said modeling said physical environment models in three dimensions.

65. The computer implemented method of claim 64 further comprising the steps of:

displaying said physical environment in three dimensions; and

displaying at least one performance characteristic as a three dimensional representation of fluctuating elevations superimposed on said displayed three dimensional environment.

66. The computer implemented method of claim 59 further comprising the step of exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

67. The computer implemented method of claim 59 wherein said dynamically reconfiguring step mitigates or overcomes interference of a hidden node.

68. The computer implemented method of claim 59 further comprising the step of providing a stand alone or distributed network management system which is loaded wholly or partially on one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

69. The computer implemented method of claim 68 wherein said network management system allows exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

70. The computer implemented method of claim 59 further comprising the step of providing one or more devices for remotely accessing, displaying or controlling one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

71. A system or apparatus for managing a wireless communications system, comprising:

a computerized model of a physical environment;

a computerized model a wireless communication system positioned within said physical environment, said computerized model of said wireless communication system being part of or separate from said computerized model of said physical environment;

one or more devices for monitoring signal levels in the wireless communication system using network monitoring software installed on at least one wireless device of the wireless communications system, said at least one wireless device of the wireless communication being separate from or one of said one or more devices for monitoring signal levels; and

a network management system for dynamically reconfiguring one or more wireless devices of the wireless communications system based on the signal levels, the modeled physical environment, and the modeled wireless communications system.

72. The system or apparatus of claim 71 wherein said network management system can discover wireless devices in said physical environment.

73. The system or apparatus of claim 72 wherein said network management system recognizes one or more wireless devices added to said wireless communications system, and identifies the location of said one or more wireless devices in said physical environment based on a comparison of one or more measured performance characteristics of said one or more wireless devices added to said wireless communications system to performance characteristics stored in a plurality of table look ups associated with the modeled wireless communications system.

74. The system or apparatus of claim 71 further comprising:

a computer simulation generated for at least one performance characteristic for said wireless communication system operating in said physical environment, wherein information or data derived from the signal levels into the computer simulation; and

wherein said network management system uses values generated in said computer simulation.

75. The system or apparatus of claim 71 further comprising a display for displaying said physical environment and said at least one performance characteristic superimposed on said displayed physical environment.

76. The system or apparatus of claim 75 wherein said display displays said physical environment in three dimensions, and displays at least one performance characteristic as a three dimensional representation of fluctuating elevations superimposed on said displayed three dimensional environment.

77. The system or apparatus of claim 71 further comprising hardware, firmware or software for exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

78. The system or apparatus of claim 71 wherein said network management system reconfigures in a way so as to mitigate or overcome interference of a hidden node.

79. The system or apparatus of claim 71 wherein said network management system is a stand alone or distributed network management system.

80. The system or apparatus of claim 79 wherein said network management system is loaded wholly or partially on one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

81. The system or apparatus of claim 80 wherein said network management system allows exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

82. The system or apparatus of claim 79 further comprising one or more devices for remotely accessing, displaying or controlling one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

83. A computer implemented method for managing a wireless communications system, comprising:

modeling a physical environment;

modeling a wireless communication system in said physical environment;

generating a computer simulation of at least one performance characteristic or signal level for said wireless communication system operating in said physical environment;

using embedded software in one or more wireless communications devices to monitor said at least one performance characteristic or signal level in said wireless communication system;

identifying interference in said wireless communication system from differences between said computer simulation and values of said at least one performance characteristic or signal level monitored using said embedded software; and

reconfiguring one or more wireless devices of said wireless communication system in response to interference identified in said identifying step.

84. The method of claim 83 wherein said reconfiguring step includes changing a channel or frequency of operation of one of said one or more wireless devices.

85. The method of claim 83 wherein said reconfiguring step includes changing the power or data rate of operation or transmission of at least one of said one or more wireless devices.

86. The method of claim 83 wherein said step of modeling a wireless communication system includes the step of discovering one or more wireless devices in said physical environment.

87. The computer implemented method of claim 86 wherein said discovering step recognizes one or more wireless devices added to said wireless communications system, where said one or more wireless devices added to said wireless communications system may be cooperative or uncooperative with said wireless communications system, and where said discovering step identifies the location of said one or more wireless devices or one or more said added wireless devices in said physical environment based on a comparison of one or more measured performance characteristics of said one or more added wireless devices to performance characteristics stored in a plurality of table look ups associated with the modeled wireless communications system.

88. The computer implemented method of claim 83 further comprising the step of exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

89. The computer implemented method of claim 83 wherein said reconfiguring step mitigates or overcomes interference of a hidden node.

90. The computer implemented method of claim 83 further comprising the step of providing a stand alone or distributed network management system which is loaded wholly or partially on one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

91. The computer implemented method of claim 90 wherein said network management system allows exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

92. The computer implemented method of claim 83 further comprising the step of providing one or more devices for remotely accessing, displaying or controlling one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

93. A system or apparatus for managing a wireless communications system, comprising:

a computerized model of a physical environment;

a computerized of a wireless communication system in said physical environment, said computerized model of said wireless communication system being part of or separate from said computerized model of said physical environment;

one or more devices for generating a computer simulation of at least one performance characteristic or signal level for said wireless communication system operating in said physical environment;

embedded software in one or more wireless communications devices for monitoring said at least one performance characteristic or signal level in said wireless communication system; and

a network management system for

(i) identifying interference in said wireless communication system from differences between said computer simulation and values of said at least one performance characteristic or signal level monitored using said embedded software, and

(ii) reconfiguring one or more wireless devices of said wireless communication system in response to interference identified in said identifying step.

94. The system or apparatus of claim 93 wherein said network management system changes a channel or frequency of operation of one of said one or more wireless devices.

95. The system or apparatus of claim 93 wherein said network management system changes the power or data rate of operation or transmission of at least one of said one or more wireless devices.

96. The system or apparatus of claim 93 wherein said network management system can discover one or more wireless devices in said physical environment.

97. The system or apparatus of claim 96 wherein said network management system recognizes one or more wireless devices added to said wireless communications system, where said one or more wireless devices added to said wireless communications system may be cooperative or uncooperative with said wireless communications system, and where said discovering step identifies the location of said one or more wireless devices or one or more said added wireless devices in said physical environment based on a comparison of one or more measured performance characteristics of said one or more added wireless devices to performance characteristics stored in a plurality of table look ups associated with the modeled wireless communications system.

98. The system or apparatus of claim 93 further comprising hardware, firmware or software for exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

99. The system or apparatus of claim 93 wherein said network management system reconfigures so as to mitigate or overcome interference of a hidden node.

100. The system or apparatus of claim 93 wherein said network management system is stand alone.

101. The system or apparatus of claim 93 wherein said network management system is distributed.

102. The system or apparatus of claim 93 wherein said network management system is loaded wholly or partially on one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

103. The system or apparatus of claim 102 wherein said network management system allows exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

104. The system or apparatus of claim 93 further comprising one or more devices for remotely accessing, displaying or controlling one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

105. A computer implemented method for managing a wireless communications system, comprising:

modeling a physical environment;

modeling a wireless communication system in said physical environment, said wireless communication system having a plurality of access points each of which has a predefined service region;

determining a location of one or more clients in said physical environment using a site-specific model of said physical environment and software which monitors at least one performance characteristic or signal level between said one or more clients and at least one of said plurality of access points; and

adjusting power of at least one of said one or more clients based on said site-specific model of said physical environment, where said site-specific model is used to predict distance, signal level, or one or more performance characteristics for at least one of said one or more clients and at least one of said plurality of access points.

106. The computer implemented method of claim 105 further comprising the step of exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

107. The computer implemented method of claim 105 wherein said dynamically reconfiguring step mitigates or overcomes interference of a hidden node.

108. The computer implemented method of claim 105 further comprising the step of providing a stand alone or distributed network management system which is loaded wholly or partially on one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

109. The computer implemented method of claim 108 wherein said network management system allows exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

110. The computer implemented method of claim 105 further comprising the step of providing one or more devices for remotely accessing, displaying or controlling one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

116. The system or apparatus of claim 105 wherein said network management system allows exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

117. The system or apparatus of claim 105 further comprising one or more devices for remotely accessing, displaying or controlling one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

111. A system or apparatus for managing a wireless communications system, comprising:

a computerized model of a physical environment;

a computerized model of a wireless communication system in said physical environment, said wireless communication system having a plurality of access points each of which has a predefined service region, said computerized model of said wireless communication system being part of or separate from said computerized model of said physical environment;

position location determining hardware, firmware or software for determining a location of one or more clients in said physical environment using a site-specific model of said physical environment and software which monitors at least one performance characteristic or signal level between said one or more clients and at least one of said plurality of access points; and

a network management system for adjusting power of at least one of said one or more clients based on said site-specific model of said physical environment, where said site-specific model is used to predict distance, signal level, or one or more performance characteristics for at least one of said one or more clients and at least one of said plurality of access points.

112. The system or apparatus of claim 111 further comprising hardware, firmware or software for exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

113. The system or apparatus of claim 111 wherein said network management system reconfigures one or more wireless devices of said wireless communications system so as to mitigate or overcome interference of a hidden node.

114. The system or apparatus of claim 111 wherein said network management system is either stand alone or part of a distributed network.

115. The system of apparatus of claim 114 wherein said network management system is loaded wholly or partially on one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

118. A computer implemented method for managing a wireless communications system, comprising:

modeling a physical environment;

modeling a wireless communication system in said physical environment, said wireless communication system having a plurality of access points each of which has a predefined service region;

determining a site-specific location of one or more clients in said physical environment using a site-specific model of said physical environment and software which monitors at least one performance characteristic or signal level between said one or more clients and at least one of said plurality of access points; and

selecting at least one access point of said plurality of access points for at least one of said one or more clients based on a predicted distance, signal level, or one or more other performance characteristics for said at least one of said one or more clients and one or more of said plurality of access points.

119. The computer implemented method of claim 118 wherein said selecting step includes the step of reducing hand off frequency or determining hand-off zones based on site specific information for said modeled physical environment.

120. The computer implemented method of claim 118 further comprising the step of exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

121. The computer implemented method of claim 118 further comprising the step of providing a stand alone or distributed network management system which is loaded wholly or partially on one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

122. The computer implemented method of claim 121 wherein said network management system allows exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

123. The computer implemented method of claim 118 further comprising the step of providing one or more devices for remotely accessing, displaying or controlling one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

124. A system or apparatus for managing a wireless communications system, comprising:

a computerized model of a physical environment;

a computerized model of a wireless communication system in said physical environment, said wireless communication system having a plurality of access points each of which has a predefined service region, said computerized model of said wireless communication system being part of or separate from said computerized model of said physical environment;

position location determining hardware, firmware or software for determining a site-specific location of one or more clients in said physical environment using a site-specific model of said physical environment and software which monitors at least one performance characteristic or signal level between said one or more clients and at least one of said plurality of access points; and

a network management system for selecting at least one access point of said plurality of access points for at least one of said one or more clients based on a predicted distance, signal level, or one or more other performance characteristics for said at least one of said one or more clients and one or more of said plurality of access points.

125. The system or apparatus of claim 124 wherein said network management system reduces hand off frequency or determines hand-off zones based on site specific information for said modeled physical environment.

126. The system or apparatus of claim 124 further comprising hardware, firmware or software for exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

127. The system or apparatus of claim 124 wherein said network management system reconfigures one or more wireless devices of said wireless communications system so as to mitigate or overcome interference of a hidden node.

128. The system or apparatus of claim 124 wherein said network management system is either stand alone or part of a distributed network.

129. The system of apparatus of claim 128 wherein said network management system is loaded wholly or partially on one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.

130. The system or apparatus of claim 124 wherein said network management system allows exchanging data between a plurality of computing platforms.

131. The system or apparatus of claim 124 further comprising one or more devices for remotely accessing, displaying or controlling one or more of a personal computer, server, base station, switch, router, hub, access point, client or portable computing device, radio, modem, web portal or interface, home to media gateway, operating system or other device or application capable of interacting locally or remotely with other devices through a communication network.