Portable Device Self-Healing Wireless Network via Autonomous Diagnostics

Solution Overview

Problem

Maintaining wireless networks is time-consuming and expensive due to the need for physical presence of repair personnel to troubleshoot and correct communication problems, especially when service providers are not located near customers.

Innovation Solution

A portable electronic device with an interface circuit, processor, and memory that measures wireless signals, diagnoses communication issues, and autonomously performs remedial actions such as re-establishing connections, changing configuration parameters, or upgrading software, and navigates to affected areas within the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a repair person is sent to the customer's location to troubleshoot and correct communication problems, then the communication problem can be diagnosed and corrected, but the maintenance time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication problem resolutionVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless network system performs self-diagnosis and self-correction by automatically detecting communication problems through measured wireless signals, identifying the nature of faults, and executing remedial actions without requiring physical presence of repair personnel. The system serves itself by autonomously navigating to affected areas, diagnosing issues, and correcting problems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A portable electronic device acts as an intermediary between the wireless network infrastructure and the diagnostic/correction process. This device autonomously navigates to affected areas, measures wireless signals, diagnoses communication problems, and executes remedial actions, serving as a mobile intermediary that eliminates the need for human repair personnel to be physically present at each problem location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a repair person is sent to the customer's location to troubleshoot and correct communication problems, then the communication problem can be diagnosed and corrected, but the maintenance cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication problem resolutionVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless network system performs self-diagnosis and self-correction by automatically detecting communication problems through measured wireless signals, identifying the nature of faults, and executing remedial actions without requiring physical presence of repair personnel. The system serves itself by autonomously navigating to affected areas, diagnosing issues, and correcting problems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of human repair personnel traveling to customer locations with an automated portable electronic device that uses wireless signal measurement, algorithm-based diagnosis, and automated remedial action execution. This substitution eliminates the need for physical travel and manual intervention, significantly reducing maintenance costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If automated remedial actions are performed to correct communication problems, then maintenance time and cost decrease, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the maintenance function into distinct modular components: wireless signal measurement, communication problem diagnosis, remedial action execution, and autonomous navigation. Each component operates independently but coordinates with others, allowing the complex maintenance task to be broken down into manageable segments that can be processed automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The portable electronic device is designed as a universal multi-functional platform that can perform wireless signal measurement, diagnose various types of communication problems, execute multiple kinds of remedial actions, and autonomously navigate to different locations. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into a single device, managing complexity through integration rather than proliferation of specialized equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12127288B2Self-healing wireless network using a robotic assistant

Publication Date: 2024.10.22 RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A portable electronic device that selectively performs a remedial action is described. During operation, the portable electronic device may measure wireless signals associated with communication with the second electronic device. Then, based at least in part on the measured wireless signals, the portable electronic device may diagnose a communication problem. Moreover, when the portable electronic device is able to correct the communication problem, the portable electronic device may automatically and selectively perform the remedial action based at least in part on the communication problem, where the remedial action corrects the communication problem. For example, the remedial action may include: re-establishing a connection between the second electronic device and a controller; changing one or more configuration parameters of the second electronic device; and/or upgrading software in the second electronic device. Otherwise, the portable electronic device may provide information specifying the measured wireless signals and/or the communication problem to a computer.