Dynamic monitoring and diagnosis of wireless network configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016173337-A1
Application number	US-201414566353-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 10, 2014
Priority date	Dec 10, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Wireless networking methodologies and related apparatus are presented here. An embodiment of a wireless coordinator device is operated to monitor and control other wireless devices in a network. The coordinator device maintains a record that includes information related to a network topology and wireless connectivity of the wireless network. The coordinator device detects a change to the network topology or wireless connectivity of the wireless network, and analyzes the record to determine an event that caused the change to the network topology or wireless connectivity of the wireless network. Next, a diagnostic notification (that identifies the event) is communicated to a user or administrator of the wireless network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a wireless data communication module to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of wireless devices arranged in a wireless network; an output interface to provide notifications for presentation on a device coupled to the apparatus; and a processor coupled to the wireless communication module and to the output interface, wherein the processor detects a change to a network topology or wireless connectivity of the wireless network, determines an event that caused the change to the network topology or wireless connectivity of the wireless network, and creates a diagnostic notification that identifies the event, the output interface providing the diagnostic notification for presentation on the device.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the apparatus comprises a video services receiver; the video services receiver is operatively coupled to a display element; and the output interface provides the diagnostic notification for rendering on the display element.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the processor detects that the apparatus has lost wireless connectivity with one of the plurality of wireless devices.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of wireless devices comprises a wireless router device; and the processor detects that the wireless router device has lost wireless connectivity with one of the plurality of wireless devices.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:
the diagnostic notification comprises an inquiry regarding whether the wireless router device has been moved relative to the one of the plurality of wireless devices.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of wireless devices comprises a wireless repeater device; and the processor detects that the wireless router device has lost wireless connectivity with one of the plurality of wireless devices.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the diagnostic notification comprises an inquiry regarding whether the wireless repeater device has been moved relative to the one of the plurality of wireless devices.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein:
the diagnostic notification comprises troubleshooting instructions related to reconfiguring the network topology.

9 . An apparatus comprising:
a receiver interface to receive data associated with video services; a wireless data communication module to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of wireless devices arranged in a local network; a display interface for a display element operatively coupled to the apparatus, the display interface facilitating presentation of content on the display, the content including video content provided by the video services; and a processor coupled to the receiver interface and the display interface, wherein the processor detects a change to a network topology or wireless connectivity of the local network, determines an event that caused the change to the network topology or wireless connectivity of the local network, and creates a diagnostic notification that identifies the event, the display interface providing the diagnostic notification for rendering on the display element.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the plurality of wireless devices comprises a wireless router device; and the processor detects that the wireless router device has lost wireless connectivity with one of the plurality of wireless devices.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the plurality of wireless devices comprises a wireless repeater device; and the processor detects that the wireless router device has lost wireless connectivity with one of the plurality of wireless devices.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the diagnostic notification comprises troubleshooting instructions related to reconfiguring the network topology.

13 . A process comprising:
maintaining, with a wireless coordinator device of a wireless network that includes a plurality of wireless devices, a record that includes information related to a network topology and wireless connectivity of the wireless network; detecting, with the wireless coordinator device, a change to the network topology or wireless connectivity of the wireless network; analyzing, with the wireless coordinator device, the record to determine an event that caused the change to the network topology or wireless connectivity of the wireless network; and communicating a diagnostic notification that identifies the event.

14 . The process of claim 13 , wherein:
the wireless coordinator device comprises a video services receiver; the video services receiver is operatively coupled to a display element; and the diagnostic notification is generated by the video services receiver for rendering on the display element.

15 . The process of claim 13 , wherein:
the detecting comprises determining that the wireless coordinator device has lost wireless connectivity with one of the plurality of wireless devices.

16 . The process of claim 13 , wherein:
the plurality of wireless devices comprises a wireless router device; and the detecting comprises determining that the wireless router device has lost wireless connectivity with one of the plurality of wireless devices.

17 . The process of claim 16 , wherein:
the diagnostic notification comprises an inquiry regarding whether the wireless router device has been moved relative to the one of the plurality of wireless devices.

18 . The process of claim 13 , wherein:
the plurality of wireless devices comprises a wireless repeater device; and the detecting comprises determining that the wireless router device has lost wireless connectivity with one of the plurality of wireless devices.

19 . The process of claim 18 , wherein:
the diagnostic notification comprises an inquiry regarding whether the wireless repeater device has been moved relative to the one of the plurality of wireless devices.

20 . The process of claim 13 , wherein:
the diagnostic notification comprises troubleshooting instructions related to reconfiguring the network topology.

Assignees

• Echostar Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Lea Mark Wayne

Classifications

• H04L41/12 Primary

  Discovery or management of network topologies · CPC title

• H04L43/045

  for graphical visualisation of monitoring data · CPC title

• H04L41/06

  Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications · CPC title

• H04L43/0811

  by checking connectivity · CPC title