Wireless Access Node Mesh Network Coverage Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Service providers face challenges in determining the actual wireless service area covered by deployed devices and detecting unauthorized devices, and they struggle to provide bandwidth during network outages or disasters due to fixed communication line limitations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that generate geographical coverage maps of wireless access nodes, enable wireless network establishment through emergency mesh networks, and detect unauthorized devices by using private and public SSIDs, allowing access nodes to communicate and share bandwidth during connectivity losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If service providers deploy wireless-enabled devices to users, then service coverage is expanded, but the ability to detect unauthorized devices and determine actual service area is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where access nodes report their operational status and detected nodes to a central server. The server maintains a database of authorized nodes and compares reported information against stored data to detect unauthorized devices, enabling continuous monitoring and verification of service area boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
A central server acts as an intermediary between access nodes and the service provider's network management system. This server collects information from access nodes about their locations and detected nodes, processes this data to determine actual service areas, and identifies unauthorized devices by comparing against authorized node databases.
2Productivity
If service providers use interconnected communication lines to provide service, then bandwidth is allocated, but the ability to provide service during network outages is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into autonomous access nodes that can independently establish wireless connections with neighboring nodes. Each access node operates as an independent unit capable of forming ad-hoc networks, allowing localized service continuation even when central communication lines fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static wired network to a dynamic wireless mesh network where access nodes can adaptively establish connections based on real-time availability. When communication lines fail, nodes dynamically reconfigure to form alternative wireless paths, ensuring service continuity.
3Power
If fixed maximum bandwidth is provided through communication lines, then data transmission is controlled, but the ability to share bandwidth during outages is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple access nodes merge their bandwidth capacities by forming wireless mesh networks. When communication lines fail, neighboring nodes combine their available bandwidth resources through wireless connections, creating a shared capacity that distributes data transmission across multiple nodes rather than relying on a single fixed-line connection.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for providing service to access nodes are presented. In some embodiments, a computing device may generate a geographical coverage map comprising a plurality of wireless access nodes respectively at a plurality of geographic locations and a wireless coverage range for each wireless access node. The computing device may receive from at least one wireless access node of the plurality of wireless access nodes an indication that the at least one wireless access node detected a first wireless access node of the plurality of wireless access nodes. The computing device may refine a first coverage range of the first wireless access node based on a respective geographic location of the at least one wireless access node. In some embodiments, a first wireless access node may receive and forward join emergency mesh (JEM) messages to establish a wireless network.