System for continuously improving the performance of wireless networks with mobile users
AssigneeFidelity Comtech, Inc.
InventorsJoseph Carey, Robert Weaver
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method is provided for performing an automated a site survey process for adjusting radiation patterns of access point antennas in a wireless network. The system and method utilize wireless mobile devices in their normal process of carrying about ordinary traffic to measure network performance. Further, such information is utilizes to configure the radiation patterns of the access point antennas to tailor coverage areas of the antennas to current network conditions.
Claims26
A method for providing coverage in a wireless network where at least a first access point provides RF coverage for client devices in at least a first geographic area, wherein each access point includes one or more electronically configurable antennas having adjustable radiation patterns comprising:
- identifying a location of an access point relative to a coordinate system of said first geographic area;
- receiving, at said access point, wireless communications originating from a plurality of wireless clients, wherein each wireless communication includes client location information for a corresponding one of said wireless clients;
- obtaining signal quality indications for said wireless clients, wherein each said signal quality indication is indicative of a signal quality of a corresponding one said wireless communications as received by said access point;
- and
- determining client positions in said coordinate system based on said client location information;
- recording, in an electronic storage media, said client positions and said signal quality indications;
- identifying at least first and second regions within said first geographical area having first and second different wireless client usage rates;
- and
- adjusting a radiation pattern of at least one electronically configurable antenna at said access point based on at least one client position and at least one corresponding signal quality indication to provide first and second different signal strengths to said first and second regions, respectively.
A computer implemented method for adjusting one or more adaptive antennas to provide coverage for a wireless network coverage area of a wireless network, comprising:
- generating a grid having a plurality of grid cells for a wireless coverage area, wherein the coverage area includes at least one wireless access point having an adaptive antenna;
- characterizing wireless performance for each grid cell to generate grid performance characteristics;
- assigning each grid cell a weight value;
- establishing a first coverage area performance value;
- iteratively adjusting settings of antenna elements of said adaptive antenna of said at least one access point to generate a series of second coverage area performance values;
- adjusting at least one antenna element to a setting that generated a second coverage area performance value greater than said first coverage area performance value;
- and
- after adjusting said at least one antenna element to said setting, resetting said first coverage area performance value to said second coverage area performance value and repeating said iterative adjusting step.
A computer implemented method for adjusting one or more adaptive antennas to provide coverage for a wireless network coverage area of a wireless network, comprising:
- generating a grid having a plurality of grid cells for a wireless coverage area, wherein the coverage area includes at least one wireless access point having an adaptive antenna;
- characterizing wireless performance for each grid cell to generate grid performance characteristics;
- assigning each grid cell a weight value based on wireless device usage of each said grid cell;
- establishing a first coverage area performance value;
- iteratively adjusting settings of antenna elements of said adaptive antenna of said at least one access point to generate a series of second coverage area performance values;
- and
- adjusting at least one antenna element to a setting that generated a second coverage area performance value greater than said first coverage area performance value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.