Methods and tools for assisting in the configuration of a wireless radio network

Abstract

Tools and methods for optimizing the selection and placement of wireless radio devices in a wireless network within a geographic region using a remote database that includes a geographic mapping of existing wireless devices within the network and/or adjacent networks, device characteristics for the wireless devices within the network and/or adjacent networks, and radio frequency spectral information across times for a plurality of regions (e.g., corresponding to locations of existing wireless devices). A tool may include a local user interface, a remote database, and a processor that communicates with the user interface and remote database. The methods and tools described herein may receive user input indicating a desired location and/or operational characteristics of new wireless radio device and may determine and suggest an optimal type, location and/or operational parameters for the additional device, or may suggest other modifications to the current network to optimize the network including the new device.

1 . A tool for assisting in the configuration of a wireless radio network, the tool comprising:
 a user interface, the user interface configured to:
 receive an input from a user, wherein the input includes location information for a new wireless device to be added to the wireless radio network; and 
 output an interactive map and link simulation of a link between one or more wireless devices and a new wireless radio device; 
   a database, remote to the user interface, the database including a map of a geographic region of the wireless radio network, geographic location information for wireless devices within the wireless radio network, device characteristics of the wireless devices within the wireless radio network, and radio frequency (RF) spectral information for the wireless devices within the wireless radio network; and   a processor adapted to communicate with the user interface and the database, the processor configured to determine and send, to the user interface the interactive map and the link simulation based on the input from the user and the database,   wherein the link simulation includes an indication of a potential radar source interference with the link between the one or more wireless devices and the new wireless radio device.   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of the potential radar source interference is based at least in part on a radar source signals above threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless devices are selected by the user. 
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the link simulation describes a wireless link between known and simulated wireless devices. 
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the link simulation describes a wireless link between at least two simulated wireless devices. 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the link simulation includes predicted signal to noise radios, network capacity, data throughput, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the link simulation is based on weather information associated with the one or more wireless devices and the new wireless radio device. 
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the potential radar source interference is from one or more terminal doppler weather radar towers. 
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the link simulation includes an estimated link quality between the one or more wireless devices and the new wireless radio device. 
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 9 , wherein the estimated link quality is indicated by a color on the interactive map. 
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the location information is entered in the user interface by dragging and dropping markers/pins, and/or entering a location, address or latitude/longitude corresponding to the new wireless device. 
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the link simulation is adjusted based on a presence of other devices in the wireless radio network. 
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the link simulation is based on at least one of local frequency spectrum information, geographic information, time information and device characteristics provided by a spectrum analyzer included within one or more of the wireless devices. 
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the database includes frequency spectral information received from a plurality of the wireless devices within the wireless radio network at multiple times over a time period of greater than  24  hours comprising the RF spectral information over time for a plurality of regions within the geographic region. 
     
     
         15 . A method for configuring a wireless radio network, the method comprising:
 displaying, on a user interface, an interactive map displaying positions of one or more wireless devices within the wireless radio network;   receiving, via the user interface, an input from a user, wherein the input includes location information for a new wireless radio device to be added to the wireless radio network;   contacting a database remote to the user interface, the database including a map of a geographic region of the wireless radio network, geographic location information for wireless devices within the wireless radio network, device characteristics of the wireless devices within the wireless radio network;   determining, by a processor, a link simulation based on the input from the user and the database; and   displaying the link simulation on the user interface, wherein the link simulation includes an indication of a potential radar source interference with a link between the one or more wireless devices and the new wireless radio device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the indication of the potential radar source interference is based at least in part on a radar source signals above threshold. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more wireless devices are selected by the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the link simulation describes a wireless link between known and simulated wireless devices. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the link simulation includes predicted signal to noise radios, network capacity, data throughput, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the link simulation is based on weather information associated with the one or more wireless devices and the new wireless radio device.