Real-time assessment of multimedia service in a particular environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019373675-A1
Application number	US-201815994362-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 31, 2018
Priority date	May 31, 2018
Publication date	Dec 5, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Some embodiments include assessing multimedia service in a particular environment, determining in real-time whether an extender device would improve the multimedia service in the particular environment, and communicating a recommendation via a graphical user interface (GUI). The assessing is based on physical layer and application layer measurements of the multimedia service in the particular environment. Some embodiments utilize an application on a mobile communications device that may be used in conjunction with a multimedia device to determine placement of an extender device among multimedia devices associated with a same multimedia service customer account for a desired performance and hence, a desired customer experience.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for an electronic device that recommends placement of an extender device of a multimedia service customer account, comprising:
a memory; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to:
detect an extender device;
obtain network topology and one or more connection quality metrics from the extender device;
first determine that a connection quality metric of the connection quality metrics satisfies a threshold; and
provide instructions for placing the extender device according to the network topology and the threshold satisfied.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
provide a first indication for a first connection quality of an access point (AP) to extender device connection, and a second indication for a second connection quality of an extender device to multimedia device connection.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
display the first indication and the second indication according to the network topology obtained.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first indication is based on: a received signal strength indication (RSSI), a time-average of downlink SNR values, an uplink data rate, and/or a downlink data rate.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
determine that a timer has not expired; obtain updated connection quality metrics from the extender device; and provide an updated first indication and an updated second indication.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
determine that a timer has expired; and receive a placement adjustment recommendation, wherein the placement adjustment recommendation is based on an analysis including the connection quality metric over a longer period of time than the first determination.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more connection quality metrics from the extender device are associated with the multimedia service customer account and a corresponding environment.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein to obtain the one or more connection quality metrics the one or more processors are configured to utilize Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol messaging.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein to obtain the one or more connection quality metrics the one or more processors are configured to utilize External Control Protocol (ECP) messaging.

10 . A method for an electronic device that recommends placement of an extender device of a multimedia service customer account, comprising:
detecting an extender device; obtaining network topology and one or more connection quality metrics from the extender device; first determining that a connection quality metric of the connection quality metrics satisfies a threshold; and providing instructions for placing the extender device according to the network topology and the threshold satisfied.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
providing a first indication for a first connection quality of an access point (AP) to extender device connection, and a second indication for a second connection quality of an extender device to multimedia device connection.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
displaying the first indication and the second indication according to the network topology obtained.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first indication is based on: a received signal strength indication (RSSI), a time-average of downlink SNR values, an uplink data rate, and/or a downlink data rate.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining that a timer has not expired; obtaining updated connection quality metrics from the extender device; and providing an updated first indication and an updated second indication.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining that a timer has expired; and receiving a placement adjustment recommendation, wherein the placement adjustment recommendation is based on an analysis including the connection quality metric over a longer period of time than the first determination.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more connection quality metrics from the extender device are associated with the multimedia service customer account and a corresponding environment.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the obtaining the one or more connection quality metrics comprises: utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol messaging.

18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors in an electronic device cause the one or more processors to perform operations for recommending placement of an extender device of a multimedia service customer account, the operations comprising:
detecting an extender device; obtaining network topology and one or more connection quality metrics from the extender device; first determining that a connection quality metric of the connection quality metrics satisfies a threshold; and providing instructions for placing the extender device according to the network topology and the threshold satisfied.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise:
providing a first indication for a first connection quality of an access point (AP) to extender device connection, and a second indication for a second connection quality of an extender device to multimedia device connection.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining that a timer has not expired; obtaining updated connection quality metrics from the extender device; and providing an updated first indication and an updated second indication.

Assignees

• Roku Inc

Inventors

• Chari Amalavoyal Narasimha
• Funk Jim
• Jagannathan Sujatha
• Huang Liang-Jong
• Schmidlapp Jason
• Thomas Tito
• Asnis Ilya

Classifications

• H04W16/26

  Cell enhancers {or enhancement}, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow · CPC title

• H04W88/182 Primary

  Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy · CPC title

• H04W24/02

  Arrangements for optimising operational condition · CPC title

• H04W88/04

  adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user · CPC title

• H04W74/006

  in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal · CPC title