WLAN Coverage Visualization via Mobile Signal Extrapolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customers face difficulties in understanding and optimizing their home wireless local area network (WLAN) coverage, particularly in determining the effectiveness of using repeaters and router positioning, due to complex and inaccurate methods for visualizing signal strength and interference.
Innovation Solution
A method using a mobile communication unit with a navigation and evaluation application to create a three-dimensional representation of WLAN coverage, allowing users to visualize reception quality through measured signal strength indicators, extrapolate signal strength to all positions, and identify interference factors, thereby optimizing network configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a heatmap is created to visualize Wi-Fi signal strength, then the user can see where the signal is good or bad, but the process becomes very time-consuming requiring manual floor plan creation and multiple measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically creating the coordinate system and preparing the measurement framework before actual signal measurements are taken. The mobile communication unit pre-configures the spatial reference system and ready-to-use measurement protocols, eliminating the need for users to manually create floor plans or prepare measurement setups.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the mobile communication unit to automatically perform all measurement tasks without external intervention. The device autonomously navigates the space, takes signal strength measurements at multiple positions, and generates the complete visualization independently, eliminating the need for users to manually position measurement points or process data.
2Loss of information
If manual measurements are taken at multiple positions to create a heatmap, then signal strength can be visualized, but inaccuracies arise due to non-scale drawings and imprecise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical manual positioning and drawing system with an automated electronic coordinate system. Instead of users manually drawing floor plans and marking positions, the mobile communication unit uses its navigation application to automatically establish a three-dimensional coordinate system, capturing precise spatial information digitally and eliminating manual measurement errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from two-dimensional manual floor plan drawings to a three-dimensional coordinate system. By adding the vertical dimension and using spatial coordinates (x, y, z) instead of flat 2D drawings, the system achieves more accurate and comprehensive positioning that naturally accounts for the actual spatial relationships in the environment.
3Loss of information
If the mobile communication unit determines position and measures signal quality at multiple points, then comprehensive coverage data is obtained, but the computational effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by measuring signal strength at a strategically selected subset of positions rather than every possible point in the space. The mobile communication unit determines positions and takes measurements at key locations that provide sufficient information to characterize the coverage area, avoiding the excessive computational burden of measuring every point while still achieving comprehensive coverage understanding.
4Loss of information
If existing heatmap applications are used, then signal visualization is provided, but only a snapshot at a given moment is captured which can change due to interference
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamics by enabling the mobile communication unit to perform repeated measurements over time and update the coverage area information dynamically. Instead of capturing a static snapshot, the system continuously monitors and updates signal strength data, allowing the coverage visualization to adapt to changing environmental conditions and interference sources, thereby improving reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for visualizing the coverage area of a wireless local area communication network by means of a mobile communication unit, in which the mobile communication unit calculates and provides a position of the access point (120), measures a respective value of the reception quality of signals sent from the access point to the mobile communication unit through the wireless local area communication network at a plurality of different positions of the mobile communication unit in the space surrounding the mobile communication unit (130) and stores this value together with the position of the mobile communication unit associated with the respective value as a respective value pair (140).The mobile communication unit extrapolates the respective reception quality values to all detectable positions in the room based on the measured value pairs (150), and displays the room together with the respective reception quality values at the positions assigned to those reception quality values as a reality-enhanced representation on a display unit of the mobile communication unit (160). Furthermore, a corresponding mobile communication unit is provided.