Wireless Range Extender Placement Using Signal Reach Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional installation of wireless network equipment by service provider personnel delays service provision and prevents timely diagnosis and remediation of network errors or failures.
Innovation Solution
Customers are empowered to install wireless access points and range extenders within their premises using a wireless network installation tool, which estimates communication range and identifies optimal locations for extenders based on signal metrics, enabling continuous wireless communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If service provider personnel install wireless network equipment, then installation reliability is improved, but service provision time is delayed and network issue diagnosis is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables customers to self-install wireless network equipment using a mobile application that guides them through the installation process, automatically estimates communication ranges, and configures optimal extender placements without requiring service provider personnel presence
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating communication ranges, pre-identifying optimal extender locations, and pre-configuring network parameters before the customer physically installs the equipment, enabling immediate operational readiness
2Manufacturing precision
If service provider personnel are dispatched for installation, then proper equipment setup is ensured, but network error diagnosis and remediation are delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile application provides real-time feedback during installation, monitors network performance continuously, and automatically detects and reports errors, faults, and failures enabling immediate diagnosis and remediation without waiting for service personnel dispatch
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of service personnel physically present for installation and diagnosis with an automated software-based system that performs configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting functions remotely
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatuses disclosed herein can be utilized to install wireless networking equipment, such as a wireless access point and/or a wireless range extender, with a customer premises. These systems, methods, and apparatuses estimate a communication range, or a reach, of the wireless access point within the customer premises. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can thereafter identify one or more locations within the customer premises that are situated at or near a maximum communication range, or a maximum reach, of the wireless access point provides reliable packet delivery from in which to place the wireless range extender. The maximum communication range, or the maximum reach, of the wireless access point can be associated with a minimum signal metric for applications, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi), and/or streaming video to provide some examples, that provides very reliable, timely packet delivery, and/or a minimum signal metric that provides reliable packet delivery for applications, such as electronic mail (email) and/or web surfing to provide some examples. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can identify the one or more locations within the customer premises that are associated with signal metrics between the minimum signal metric that provides the very reliable, timely packet delivery, and the minimum signal metric that provides the reliable packet delivery in which to place the wireless range extender.