Self-assignment of detectors and workers among access devices in a wireless network environment
A self-assignment method for assigning detector and working devices among a plurality of access devices in a wireless network begins by performing wireless data collection with the access devices during an automated calibration period. During this time, each access device receives beacons from one or more other transmitting access devices. The method records radio frequency (RF) data associated with beacons received during the wireless data collection, and thereafter automatically designates at least one of the access devices as a detector device, based upon the recorded RF data.
1. A self-assignment method for assigning detector and working devices among a plurality of access devices in a wireless network, the method comprising:
performing wireless data collection with the access devices during an automated calibration period, wherein each of the access devices receives beacons from one or more transmitting access devices;
recording radio frequency (RF) data associated with beacons received during the wireless data collection; and
automatically designating at least one of the access devices as a detector device, based upon the recorded RF data;
wherein for a given access device, the recording step comprises:
recording a sender count corresponding to the number of access devices from which the given access device received a beacon; and recording a sensor count corresponding to the number of access devices that received a beacon from the given access device; and
wherein the step of automatically designating comprises:
advancing through a sorted list in an ordered manner, to analyze candidate access devices in the sorted list; and
attempting to designate each candidate access device as either the detector device or a working device while advancing through the sorted list.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing step comprises performing wireless data collection with all of the access devices transmitting at their maximum transmit power levels.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising preparing the sorted list of access devices that is sorted based on the sender count, wherein the step of automatically designating is influenced by the sorted list.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically designating comprises:
assigning an analyzed candidate access device as the detector device; and
thereafter removing the analyzed candidate access device from the sorted list.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically designating comprises:
assigning an analyzed candidate access device as the working device;
updating the sensor count of access devices that received a beacon from the analyzed candidate access device; and
thereafter removing the analyzed candidate access device from the sorted list.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising preparing the sorted list of access devices that is sorted based on the sensor count, wherein the step of automatically designating is influenced by the sorted list.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically designating at least one of the access devices, other than the detector device, as the working device.
8. A self-assignment method for assigning detector and working devices among a plurality of access devices in a wireless network, the method comprising:
performing wireless data collection with the plurality of access devices during an automated calibration period, wherein each of the plurality of access devices transmits beacons during the automated calibration period;
recording a sender count for each of the plurality of access devices, the sender count corresponding to the number of other access devices from which the access device received a beacon;
recording a sensor count for each of the plurality of access device, the sensor count corresponding to the number of other access devices that received a beacon from the access device;
preparing a sorted list of unassigned access devices that is sorted in accordance with increasing sender count or increasing sensor count; and
automatically advancing through the sorted list in an ordered manner while making assignment decisions for candidate unassigned access devices, wherein each assignment decision results in a detector assignment, a worker assignment, or an undecided outcome for the respective candidate unassigned access device.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
selecting a candidate unassigned access device for an assignment decision;
selecting, from the sorted list, a sender device for the candidate unassigned access device, wherein the sender device is an access device from which the candidate unassigned access device received a beacon;
determining that the sender device has a respective sensor count that is equal to one;
determining that the sender device is unassigned; and
generating an undecided outcome for the candidate unassigned access device in response to the determining steps.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
selecting a candidate unassigned access device for an assignment decision;
selecting, from the sorted list, a sender device for the candidate unassigned access device, wherein the sender device is an access device from which the candidate unassigned access device received a beacon;
determining that the sender device has a respective sensor count that is equal to one;
determining that the sender device is assigned as a worker; and
assigning the candidate unassigned access device as a detector in response to the determining steps.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising removing the candidate unassigned access device from the sorted list, the removing step being performed in response to the assigning step.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
selecting a candidate unassigned access device for an assignment decision;
identifying, from the sorted list, all sender devices for the candidate unassigned access device, wherein a sender device is an access device from which the candidate unassigned access device received a beacon;
determining that each sender device for the candidate unassigned access device has a respective sensor count that is greater than one; and
assigning the candidate unassigned access device as a worker in response to the determining step.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising decrementing the sensor count for all of the sender devices for the candidate unassigned access device, the decrementing step being performed in response to the assigning step.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising removing the candidate unassigned access device from the sorted list, the removing step being performed in response to the assigning step.