Adaptive Wireless Coverage Configuration for WLAN Coverage Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless local area networks (WLANs), there are areas known as 'coverage holes' where the desired level of wireless coverage is not achieved, as defined by a minimum number of network devices receiving or transmitting wireless signals at or above a certain threshold, leading to inadequate connectivity for client devices.
Innovation Solution
The system determines adaptive wireless coverage configurations by modifying parameters such as transmit power, receive sensitivity, Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS), Physical Layer (PHY) rate, and the addition/movement of network devices to ensure that client devices within coverage holes receive wireless signals from a sufficient number of network devices at or above the desired threshold, thereby expanding the wireless communication cell size and improving connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If network devices are added or transmit power is increased to improve coverage, then wireless coverage area is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables network devices to automatically detect coverage holes and self-adjust their transmit power or receive sensitivity without manual configuration. The adaptive coverage configuration system allows devices to autonomously identify areas with insufficient coverage and modify their operational parameters to fill these gaps, eliminating the need for complex manual planning and deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of wireless coverage parameters based on real-time detection of coverage holes. Network devices can change their transmit power, receive sensitivity, or operational state adaptively in response to detected coverage deficiencies, allowing the system to optimize coverage area without requiring static pre-configuration for all possible scenarios.
2Area of stationary object
If transmit power is increased to extend coverage range, then coverage area is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing transmit power across all network devices, the system applies power adjustment locally only to devices that detect coverage holes in their vicinity. Each network device monitors its own coverage area and selectively increases power only when and where needed, rather than maintaining high power universally, thus reducing overall energy consumption while still improving coverage area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes in transmit power and receive sensitivity based on detected coverage conditions. Network devices dynamically adjust these parameters upward only when coverage holes are detected, and can reduce them when coverage is sufficient, creating an adaptive energy consumption pattern that correlates with actual coverage needs rather than maintaining constant high consumption.
3Reliability
If receive sensitivity is increased to detect weaker signals, then connectivity reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where network devices monitor signal reception quality and client device connectivity status. When coverage holes are detected through this feedback, the system automatically adjusts receive sensitivity parameters to improve signal detection in problematic areas, maintaining connectivity reliability without requiring complex manual tuning of receiver settings.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of determining adaptive wireless coverage configurations is disclosed. One or more network devices receive wireless signals from a wireless device at respective signal strength values that are above a minimum threshold. The network devices are identified as a first subset of network devices. Additionally or alternatively, one or more network devices transmit wireless signals that are received by the wireless device at respective signal strength values that are above a minimum threshold. The network devices are identified as a second subset of network devices. Based on the number of network devices in the first subset of network devices and/or the number of network devices in the second subset of network devices, a wireless coverage configuration corresponding to a location associated with the wireless device is modified.