Distributed sensor network for measuring and optimizing wireless networks
Inventors
Kasch, William Thomas Morgan • Barmettler, Mark G.
Assignees
Focus Strategies Capital Advisors LLC • Tempo Communications Inc
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Publication Number
US-10360335-B2
Publication Date
2019-07-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods of planning network provisioning that incorporate real-world measurements of signal quality into simulations of signal quality under alternative configurations. In one embodiment, the disclosure includes a method of determining placements for access points in a wireless network, comprising ingesting a floor plan for a deployment site, determining initial placements for the access points, determining placements for sensors, each sensor configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one access point, measuring a signal metric for each sensor, based at least in part on the measured signal metric for each of the sensors, simulating a projected coverage map for a plurality of alternate placements for the access points, determining an placement of the access points, and presenting, to a user, the placement of the plurality of access points.
Core Innovation
A method, non-transitory computer storage media, system, and apparatus are described for determining placements for a plurality of access points in a wireless network for a deployment site. The approach ingests a floor plan, determines initial placements for the plurality of access points, and determines placements for a plurality of sensors configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one access point. Signal metrics are measured for each sensor while the plurality of sensors are in communications with the plurality of access points at the initial placements.
Based at least in part on the measured signal metric for each sensor, the method simulates a projected coverage map for each of a plurality of alternate placements for each of the plurality of access points. A new placement for each of the plurality of access points is determined from the simulated projected coverage. The new placement of the plurality of access points is presented to a user.
In the computer-implemented versions, initial placements include determining an estimated signal metric throughout the deployment site based at least in part on the plurality of initial placements. The estimated signal metric and the measured signal metric are used together to simulate a projected coverage map for alternate placements. In the system and apparatus variants, the workflow is supported by sensors and program instructions executed by at least one processor, including causing presentation of placements to the user.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover four inventive features across a method, computer storage media, a system, and an apparatus for determining placements of multiple wireless access points.
Determining access-point placements using floor plan, measured sensor signal metrics, and simulated projected coverage for alternate placements
ingesting a floor plan for a deployment site; determining a plurality of initial placements for the plurality of access points; determining a plurality of placements for a plurality of sensors; measuring at least one signal metric for each sensor while the sensors are in communications with the access points at the initial placements; simulating a projected coverage map for each of a plurality of alternate placements; determining a new placement; and presenting the new placement to a user.
Computer storage media with estimated signal metric and projected coverage simulation
ingesting a floor plan; determining a plurality of initial placements including determining an estimated signal metric throughout the deployment site based at least in part on the initial placements; determining placements for sensors configured to communicate with the access points; measuring a signal metric for each sensor while in communications with the access points at the initial placements; simulating a projected coverage map for alternate placements based at least in part on the measured signal metric and the estimated signal metric; determining a new placement; and causing presentation to a user.
System using simulation-based initial placements and projected coverage simulation
a plurality of sensors configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one access point; program instructions causing a processor to ingest a floor plan; determine, via a simulation of a signal metric, a plurality of initial placements for the access points in the floor plan; determine a plurality of placements for the sensors; measure the signal metric for each sensor using the plurality of access points while the access points are at the initial placements; simulate a projected coverage map for alternate placements; determine a placement; and present the placement of the access points to a user.
Apparatus for access-point placement determination with processor-estimated signal metric
at least one processor; a communication interface communicatively coupled to a plurality of sensors; at least one memory storing program instructions causing the processor to ingest a floor plan; determine a plurality of initial placements for the access points with estimating a signal metric throughout the deployment site based at least in part on the initial placements; receive a signal metric for each sensor while the access points remain at the initial placements; determine a placement of the plurality of alternate placements; and cause presentation of the placement of the plurality of access points.
The inventive coverage centers on floor-plan-based initial placements, sensor communications and measured signal metrics, and simulated projected coverage for alternate access-point placements to determine new placements and present them to a user.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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