Access Point Adjacency Graph for Wireless Network Coverage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless local area networks (WLANs) face challenges in determining the overlap of coverage areas and distances between access points, which affects signal quality and overall network coverage, leading to potential gaps in service.

Innovation Solution

A controller receives signal quality indicators from mobile devices to estimate edge weight values, creating an access point adjacency graph that indicates overlapping coverage points and maximum distances between access points, facilitating the identification of common transmission areas and coverage holes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If signal quality indicators are collected from multiple mobile devices to determine coverage overlap and distances between access points, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for controllers, mobile devices, and adjacency graph processing systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage area determination accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Mobile devices automatically measure signal quality indicators (SNR, received power levels) from access points and report them to controllers without requiring manual intervention. The system uses existing mobile device capabilities to perform measurements, making the complex measurement task self-executing rather than requiring dedicated specialized equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Controllers act as intermediaries that collect signal quality indicators from multiple mobile devices and process this data to determine coverage overlap and distances between access points. The adjacency graph serves as an intermediary data structure that organizes and represents the spatial relationships, simplifying the complex task of coverage analysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If adjacency graphs are constructed using signal quality indicators from multiple mobile devices, then coverage hole identification accuracy is improved, but loss of time increases due to data collection and processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage hole detection accuracyVSAvoiddata collection and processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously collects and stores signal quality indicators from mobile devices in advance, building up a database of measurements before coverage analysis is needed. This preliminary data collection allows for rapid adjacency graph construction and coverage hole identification when required, rather than performing all measurements from scratch

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Mobile devices continuously report signal quality indicators to controllers as they move through the coverage area, providing an ongoing stream of data. This continuous data collection ensures that the adjacency graph remains current and accurate without requiring periodic complete resurveys of the coverage area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS7430189B2Methods and devices for determining the adjacency of access points in a wireless network

Publication Date: 2008.09.30 RPX CORP

AI summary

The adjacency of access points in a wireless, local area network is used to determine the existence of common overlapping access point coverage areas and to determine maximum distances between access points.