WLAN Performance Monitoring via Cloud Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing WiFi routers and access points lack comprehensive management and monitoring tools, making it difficult for users to assess network performance and usage changes, especially in dynamic environments with growing numbers of devices and limited resource-based self-optimization solutions that only provide real-time, passive data collection.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that collect both passive and active probing measurements of network performance in real-time, storing data in the cloud to overcome resource limitations, and provide current and historical performance and usage information to users through a graphical user interface, including metrics like throughput, latency, and signal strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If passive measurements only are used with limited resources, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and information completeness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based server as an intermediary to handle complex measurement and data processing tasks. The access point collects measurements and stores them in the cloud, where a server performs comprehensive analysis and generates reports. This mediator approach allows the access point to remain simple while achieving high measurement precision through cloud-based processing of both passive and active probing data.
2Speed
If only real-time data collection is implemented, then responsiveness is improved, but historical analysis capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by continuously collecting and storing measurement data in the cloud before it is needed for analysis. Both passive measurements and active probing results are saved historically, enabling both real-time monitoring and retrospective analysis. The system prepares data in advance, allowing users to query historical performance and compare changes over time while maintaining real-time responsiveness.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive performance monitoring is implemented, then information completeness is improved, but loss of information is reduced (less data loss)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring system into distinct functional components: the access point handles data collection, the cloud server handles storage and processing, and the user interface handles presentation. This segmentation allows comprehensive monitoring capabilities to be distributed across multiple systems, reducing the complexity burden on any single device while maintaining complete information capture through coordinated operation of all segments.
Data Source
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AI summary
A server coupled in communication with the WLAN, or an agent executing on at least one of the plurality of devices, receives input from the device to select one or more of the WLAN and the plurality of devices for which to report the current, and historical, performance and usage information to the device. A server or the agent retrieves the historical performance and usage information for the selected one or more of the WLAN and the plurality of devices. The server or the agent further retrieves the current performance and usage information from the selected one or more of the WLAN and the plurality of devices. The server, or the agent, transmits for presentation in a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display screen of the device, the current, and historical, performance and usage information for the selected one or more of the WLAN and the plurality of devices.