Granted Patent B2

US 9,538,331 · App. 14/729,687 · Granted Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

Claims (60)

1. A method for wireless networking and communications, comprising:

identifying a geographic area;

receiving topography data related to the geographic area;

analyzing the topography data;

determining a change in the topography data;

identifying a first line of sight path related to a first access point location and one or more customer premises device locations based at least in part on the analyzing;

identifying a second line of sight path based at least in part on a predetermined amount and the change; and

adjusting a characteristic of an antenna associated with the first access point location based at least in part on identifying the first line of sight path and the second line of sight path, wherein the adjusting alters a wireless signal transmitted by the antenna.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount comprises:

a degree value that describes a relationship between the first line of sight path and the second line of sight path.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount comprises:

a relative relationship between the first line of sight path and the second line of sight path.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second line of sight path relates to a second access point location and the first access point location.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein analyzing the topography data comprises:

determining relative positions of the first access point location and the second access point location based at least in part on one or more operating characteristics.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second line of sight path relates to a second access point location and one or more other customer premises device locations.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the topography data comprises:

determining a line of sight between two or more locations within the geographic area.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the topography data comprises:

at least one of satellite imaging data, or flyover imaging data, or user device captured data, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the topography data comprises:

comparing the first access point location and the one or more customer premises device locations with a location of one or more signal inhibitors.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the topography data comprises:

calculating a distance between the first access point location and a second access point location.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the topography data comprises:

comparing a visual characteristic of one or more points within the geographic area.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the visual characteristic comprises:

at least one of a texture, or a color, or a shape, or a reflectivity, or a structure type, or a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

positioning at least one of a first access point at the first access point location or one or more customer premises devices based at least in part on the identifying the first line of sight path; and

initiating a narrow beam communication relating to the first access point and the one or more customer premises devices.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the narrow beam communication comprises:

a communication in a range of 1 degree to 45 degrees.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the narrow beam communication comprises:

a millimeter wave signal.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the narrow beam communication comprises:

a non-millimeter wave signal.

17. An apparatus for wireless networking and communications, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

identify a geographic area;

receive topography data related to the geographic area;

analyze the topography data;

determine a change in the topography data;

identify a first line of sight path related to a first access point location and one or more customer premises device locations based at least in part on the analyzing;

identify a second line of sight path based at least in part on a predetermined amount; and

adjust a characteristic of an antenna associated with the first access point location based at least in part on identifying the first line of sight path and the second line of sight path, wherein the adjusting alters a wireless signal transmitted by the antenna.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the predetermined amount comprises:

a relative angle between the first line of sight path and the second line of sight path.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the predetermined amount comprises:

a relative direction between the first line of sight path and the second line of sight path.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code, the code executable by a processor to:

identify a geographic area;

receive topography data related to the geographic area;

analyze the topography data;

determine a change in the topography data;

identify a first line of sight path related to a first access point location and one or more customer premises device locations based at least in part on the analyzing;

identify a second line of sight path based at least in part on a predetermined amount;

adjust a characteristic of an antenna associated with the first access point location based at least in part on identifying the first line of sight path and the second line of sight path, wherein the adjusting alters a wireless signal transmitted by the antenna.

Assignments (13)