Systems, methods, and computer readable media for utilizing a mobile robotic platform to conduct functionality testing in a wireless communications network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9301170-B2
Application number	US-201414229791-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2014
Priority date	Nov 6, 2013
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

According to one aspect, the disclosed subject matter describes herein a system that includes a mobile robotic platform for navigating within a coverage area associated with an access point belonging to a communications network under test, wherein the mobile robotic platform includes a client device emulation module configured to emulate multiple client devices that are wirelessly connected to the access point and to send emulated test traffic data to the access point from each of the emulated client devices via a wireless connection. The mobile robotic platform also includes a real client device that includes a client application configured to communicate simulated test traffic data to the access point via an established wireless connection and a performance metrics module configured to determine wireless communication performance metrics associated with the wireless connection between the access point and at least one of the real client device or the emulated client devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for testing a wireless access point associated with a wireless communications network, the system comprising:
a mobile robotic platform configured to navigate within a service coverage area associated with a wireless access point belonging to a wireless communications network, wherein the mobile robotic platform includes:
a client device emulation module configured to emulate multiple client devices that are wirelessly connected to the wireless access point via multiple wireless connections, to generate emulated test traffic data for each of the emulated client devices, and to send the emulated test traffic data to the wireless access point from each of the emulated client devices via the multiple wireless connections;
at least one real client device that includes a client application configured to establish a wireless connection with the wireless access point and to communicate simulated test traffic data to the wireless access point via the established wireless connection; and
a performance metrics module configured to determine performance metrics associated with traffic data being wirelessly communicated between the wireless access point and at least one of the emulated client devices or the at least one real client device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile robotic platform is configured to navigate with the service coverage area by using waypoint devices.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the mobile robotic platform utilizes locating beacon signals and identification information emitted from the waypoint devices to navigate the service coverage area.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the mobile robotic platform generates the emulated test traffic data for each of the emulated client devices at a test point in the service coverage area, wherein the test point is determined using a measured distance from at least one of the waypoint point devices.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile robotic platform is configured to navigate with the service coverage area using global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile robotic platform includes a battery power source.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the emulated test traffic data sent to the wireless access point is configured to apply a loaded condition at the wireless access point.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile robotic platform is remotely controlled by a human operator.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile robotic platform is navigated autonomously via onboard proximity sensors.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the multiple wireless connections between the emulated client devices and the wireless access point includes a Wi-Fi connection, a radio frequency (RF) connection, a long term evolution (LTE) connection, or a 3G connection.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless connection between the at least one real client device and the wireless access point includes a Wi-Fi connection, a radio frequency (RF) connection, a long term evolution (LTE) connection, or a 3G connection.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile robotic platform includes a terrestrial vehicle, an aircraft, a hovercraft, or a watercraft.

13. A method for testing a wireless access point associated with a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
navigating, by a mobile robotic platform, within a service coverage area associated with a wireless access point belonging to a wireless communications network;
emulating, by the mobile robotic platform, multiple client devices that are wirelessly connected to the wireless access point via multiple wireless connections, wherein the emulated client devices generate emulated test traffic that is communicated to the wireless access point via the multiple wireless connections;
establishing, by at least one real client device on the mobile robotic platform, a wireless connection with the wireless access point;
communicating simulated test traffic data generated by the real client device to the wireless access point via the established connection; and
determining performance metrics associated with traffic data being wirelessly communicated between the wireless access point and at least one of the emulated client devices or the at least one real client device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the mobile robotic platform is configured to navigate with the service coverage area by using waypoint devices.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the mobile robotic platform utilizes locating beacon signals and identification information emitted from the waypoint devices to navigate the service coverage area.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the mobile robotic platform generates the emulated test traffic data for each of the emulated client devices at a test point in the service coverage area, wherein the test point is determined using a measured distance from at least one of the waypoint point devices.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the mobile robotic platform is configured to navigate with the service coverage area using global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the mobile robotic platform includes a battery power source.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the emulated test traffic data sent to the wireless access point is configured to apply a loaded condition at the wireless access point.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the mobile robotic platform is remotely controlled by a human operator.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the mobile robotic platform is navigated autonomously via onboard proximity sensors.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein each of the multiple wireless connections between the emulated client devices and the wireless access point includes a Wi-Fi connection, a radio frequency (RF) connection, a long term evolution (LTE) connection, or a 3G connection.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein the wireless connection between the at least one real client device and the wireless access point includes a Wi-Fi connection, a radio frequency (RF) connection, a long term evolution (LTE) connection, or a 3G connection.

24. The method of claim 13 wherein the mobile robotic platform includes a terrestrial vehicle, an aircraft, a hovercraft, or a watercraft.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:
navigating, by a mobile robotic platform, within a service coverage area associated with a wireless access point belonging to a wireless communications network;
emulating, by the mobile robotic platform, multiple client devices that are wirelessly connected to the wireless access point via multiple wireless connections, wherein the emulated client devices generate emulated test traffic that is communicated to the wireless access point via the multiple wireless connections;
establishing, by at least one real client device on the mobile robotic platform, a wireless connection with the wireless access point;
communicating simulated test traffic data generated by the real client device to the wireless access point via the established connection; and
determining performance metrics associated with traffic data being wirelessly communicated between the wireless access point and at least one of the emulated client devices or

Assignees

• Ixia

Inventors

• Rangappagowda Madhu H
• Hardy Jimmy
• Liu Qing
• Bennington-Davis Timothy Earl
• Bennington Dane

Classifications

• Y10S901/01

  Mobile robot · CPC title

• H04W88/08

  Access point devices · CPC title

• H04W24/06 Primary

  Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using simulated traffic · CPC title