IP Library Granted Patent US 9,723,494
Granted Patent B2
US 9,723,494 · App. 14/932,103 · Granted Aug 1, 2017

Augmented reality visual Wi-Fi signal

Inventors: Steven Belz (Sunnyvale, TX); Constance Missimer (Seattle, WA); Greg W. Edwards (Austin, TX); James H. Pratt (Round Rock, TX); Michael Lattanzi (Bothell, WA)
Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.; AT&T Mobility II LLC
H04W16/18G06K9/00671G06T19/006H04W40/244
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,723,494
App. No.
14/932,103
Granted
Aug 1, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method includes identifying a location of at least on of a plurality of electronic devices within an area of interest. The method includes, based on at least the location of the at least one of the plurality of electronic devices, determining signal strength at a plurality of points within the area of interest. The method includes providing a modification of the area of interest to improve the signal strength at one of the plurality of points.

Claims (48)

1. A method comprising:

identifying a location of an electronic device;

based at least on the location, for each of a plurality of points within an area of interest, determining a signal strength;

associating each of the plurality of points with a reference point on a map of the area of interest;

including an indicator of the determined signal strength at each reference point;

determining a floor plan associated with the area of interest, wherein the map of the area of interest is based on at least the floor plan;

determining a viewpoint of a user device within the area of interest based on at least a relative location of the user device to at least one of the plurality of points, the user device configured to display an image indicative of the viewpoint;

overlaying the image with the indicator at the reference point associated with the at least one of the plurality of points; and

providing a modification to improve the signal strength at one of the plurality of points.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator of the determined signal strength at each reference point comprises at least one of a color-coded indicator, contour lines, or a symbol.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, based on the viewpoint of the user device and the relative location of the user device, causing the user device to emit a sound or vibration indicative of the signal strength associated with the at least one of the plurality of points.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a wireless access point and the modification comprises moving the wireless access point to a different location.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a wireless access point and the modification comprises changing a configuration of the wireless access point.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the modification comprises providing an estimated improvement of the signal strength associated with at least one of the plurality of points.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying an interference associated with the electronic device,

wherein determining the signal strength at at least one of the plurality of points is further based on the interference.

8. A device comprising:

a display configured to display a map;

a processor; and

memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

identifying a location of an electronic device;

based at least on the location, for each of a plurality of points within an area of interest, determining a signal strength;

associating each of the plurality of points with a reference point on the map;

including an indicator of the determined signal strength at each reference point on the map; and

determining a floor plan associated with the area of interest, wherein the map of the area of interest is based on at least the floor plan;

determining a viewpoint of the device within the area of interest based on at least a relative location of the device to at least one of the plurality of points;

displaying on the display an image indicative of the viewpoint;

overlaying the image with the indicator at the reference point associated with the at least one of the plurality of points; and

determining a modification of the area of interest to improve the signal strength at at least one of the plurality of points.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein determining the floor plan is based on input from a user interface of the device.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein determining the floor plan is based on a walkthrough of the area of interest by the device.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise based on the viewpoint and the relative location, causing the device to emit a sound or vibration indicative of the signal strength associated with the at least one of the plurality of points.

12. A nontransitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

identifying a location of an electronic device;

based at least on the location, for each of a plurality of points within an area of interest, determining a signal strength;

associating each of the plurality of points with a reference point on a map of the area of interest;

including an indicator of the determined signal strength at each reference point;

determining a floor plan associated with the area of interest, wherein the map of the area of interest is based on at least the floor plan;

determining a viewpoint of a device within the area of interest based on at least a relative location of the device to at least one of the plurality of points;

displaying on the device an image indicative of the viewpoint;

overlaying the image with the indicator at the reference point associated with the at least one of the plurality of points; and

determining a modification of the area of interest to improve the signal strength at at least one of the plurality of points.

13. The nontransitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the electronic device comprises a router and the modification includes at least one of installing a second router; reconfiguring the router; replacing the router; installing a repeater; or moving the router.

14. The nontransitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the modification includes an indication of an estimated improvement of the signal strength associated with at least one of the plurality of points.

15. The nontransitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the operations further include:

identifying an interference associated with the electronic device,

wherein determining the signal strength at at least one of the plurality of points is further based on the interference.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2015
From: BELZ, STEVEN; EDWARDS, GREG W.; PRATT, JAMES W.
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 036959/0295 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2015
From: MISSIMER, CONSTANCE; LATTANZI, MICHAEL
To: AT&T MOBILITY II, LLC
Reel/Frame 036959/0410 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170127289A1 · May 4, 2017