US 12,068,794 B2
Method and system for Wi-Fi field-to-lab testing
Janne Linkola, Lexington, MA (US); and Michael Haley, Marlboro, MA (US)
Assigned to SPIRENT COMMUNICATIONS, INC., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by SPIRENT COMMUNICATIONS, INC., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on May 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/197,684.
Application 18/197,684 is a continuation of application No. 17/452,880, filed on Oct. 29, 2021, granted, now 11,652,559.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/106,940, filed on Oct. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0283387 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. H04B 17/391 (2015.01); H04B 17/10 (2015.01); H04B 17/318 (2015.01); H04W 16/20 (2009.01)
CPC H04B 17/103 (2015.01) [H04B 17/318 (2015.01); H04B 17/391 (2015.01); H04W 16/20 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method of replaying wireless signal field conditions experienced by a client device moving through a field environment that includes a root access point (“AP”) and an extender AP that is wirelessly coupled to the root AP, the method including:
retrieving from storage received signal strength indicator (“RSSI”) data recorded in the field environment for field instances of each of the client device, root AP and extender AP for two-way wireless channels between device pairs, as the client device moves through the field environment including:
first RSSI data for a first channel between the client device and the root AP;
second RSSI data for a second channel between the client device and the extender AP; and
third RSSI data for a third channel between the root AP and the extender AP;
generating and transmitting test signals among test instances of the client device, the root AP and the extender AP in a test environment with signal strengths based on the RSSI data recorded, including:
positioning the test instances of the client device, the root AP and the extender AP in separate isolated chambers;
coupling antennas in pairs of the isolated chambers with first, second and third signal lines corresponding respectively to the first, second and third channels, wherein first, second and third attenuators control signal strength transmitted over the first, second and third signal lines;
attenuating the signal strengths of the generated signals by
sending a first control signal to the first attenuator based on the first RSSI data recorded for the first channel between the client device and the root AP;
sending a second control signal to the second attenuator based on the second RSSI data recorded for the second channel between the client device and the extender AP; and
sending a third control signal to the third attenuator based on the third RSSI data recorded for the third channel between the root AP and the extender AP.
 
9. A non-transitory computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to replay wireless signal field conditions experienced by a client device moving through a field environment that includes a root access point (“AP”) and an extender AP that is wirelessly coupled to the root AP, the replay including:
retrieving from storage received signal strength indicator (“RSSI”) data recorded in the field environment for field instances of each of the client device, root AP and extender AP for two-way wireless channels between device pairs, as the client device moves through the field environment including:
first RSSI data for a first channel between the client device and the root AP;
second RSSI data for a second channel between the client device and the extender AP; and
third RSSI data for a third channel between the root AP and the extender AP;
generating and transmitting test signals among test instances of the client device, the root AP and the extender AP in a test environment with signal strengths based on the RSSI data recorded, including:
positioning the test instances of the client device, the root AP and the extender AP in separate isolated chambers;
coupling antennas in pairs of the isolated chambers with first, second and third signal lines corresponding respectively to the first, second and third channels, wherein first, second and third attenuators control signal strength transmitted over the first, second and third signal lines;
attenuating the signal strengths of the generated signals by
sending a first control signal to the first attenuator based on the first RSSI data recorded for the first channel between the client device and the root AP;
sending a second control signal to the second attenuator based on the second RSSI data recorded for the second channel between the client device and the extender AP; and
sending a third control signal to the third attenuator based on the third RSSI data recorded for the third channel between the root AP and the extender AP.
 
17. A system including a processor coupled to non-transitory computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to replay wireless signal field conditions experienced by a client device moving through a field environment that includes a root AP and an extender AP that is wirelessly coupled to the root access point (“AP”), the replay including:
retrieving from storage received signal strength indicator (“RSSI”) data recorded in the field environment for field instances of each of the client device, root AP and extender AP for two-way wireless channels between device pairs, as the client device moves through the field environment including:
first RSSI data for a first channel between the client device and the root AP;
second RSSI data for a second channel between the client device and the extender AP; and
third RSSI data for a third channel between the root AP and the extender AP;
generating and transmitting test signals among test instances of the client device, the root AP and the extender AP in a test environment with signal strengths based on the RSSI data recorded, including:
positioning the test instances of the client device, the root AP and the extender AP in separate isolated chambers;
coupling antennas in pairs of the isolated chambers with first, second and third signal lines corresponding respectively to the first, second and third channels, wherein first, second and third attenuators control signal strength transmitted over the first, second and third signal lines;
attenuating the signal strengths of the generated signals by
sending a first control signal to the first attenuator based on the first RSSI data recorded for the first channel between the client device and the root AP;
sending a second control signal to the second attenuator based on the second RSSI data recorded for the second channel between the client device and the extender AP; and
sending a third control signal to the third attenuator based on the third RSSI data recorded for the third channel between the root AP and the extender AP.