GB2560015A

GB2560015A - Wireless device installation arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2560015A
Application number: GB1703100.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: B Kenington P; J Wilkinson R
Original assignee: Zoneart Networks Ltd
Current assignee: Zoneart Networks Ltd
Priority date: 2017-02-24
Filing date: 2017-02-24
Publication date: 2018-08-29
Also published as: GB201703100D0

Abstract

An installed wireless device 430 is described having an at least partially reflective casing and allowing an incident light beam emanating from a light source 450 aimed at the installed wireless device to at least partially reflect from it and thereby to project a spot 4100 or small area of light onto a surface 420. The location of the light source and a linear distance between the light source and the spot or small area of light allows the calculation of the pointing angle of an installed wireless device. The pointing angle allowing for any error in the pointing angle to be determined.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Wireless device installation arrangement

Abstract Title: A wireless installation system for ensuring a device is oriented correctly (57) An installed wireless device 430 is described having an at least partially reflective casing and allowing an incident light beam emanating from a light source 450 aimed at the installed wireless device to at least partially reflect from it and thereby to project a spot 4100 or small area of light onto a surface 420. The location of the light source and a linear distance between the light source and the spot or small area of light allows the calculation of the pointing angle of an installed wireless device. The pointing angle allowing for any error in the pointing angle to be determined.

⁴⁰⁰ Fig. 4

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy. The claims were filed later than the filing date but within the period prescribed by Rule 22(1) of the Patents Rules 2007.

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Wireless Device Installation Arrangement

Technical field

The present invention relates to wireless equipment and in particular to the physical installation of a wireless device in an environment.

Background

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that the prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

The physical installation of a wireless transmitter, receiver or transceiver device, for example on a wall or a ceiling within a building or on an outdoor mast, typically involves the careful pointing of the wireless device itself, or one or more antenna systems connected to the wireless device where the wireless device does not incorporate an internal antenna system. It may be necessary, for example, to arrange for the wireless device or an associated antenna system to provide coverage over a particular geographic area, thereby requiring the wireless device or antenna system to be pointed toward a location at a suitable point within that coverage area. Alternatively, where an installed wireless device, consisting of a wireless device and any associated antenna system, is required to form a part of a wireless geolocation solution, both the precise physical location of the installed wireless device and its associated pointing angle or angles is typically a critical component in determining the overall accuracy of the system.

One commonly-used option for determining at least one of a location or an orientation of a installed wireless device relative to horizontal surface, such as a floor or a pavement, is to use a plumb-line which is suspended beneath the installed wireless device and which may reach down to the horizontal surface such that its position can be accurately marked. Whilst this solution may provide an accurate position for the installed wireless device, it does not typically provide any information regarding whether the installed wireless device is level or at a correct designed angle relative to either its mounting surface, such as a ceiling, or its intended coverage area, such as a floor or part thereof. Thus it is entirely possible to mount an installed wireless device in a correct designed location and yet for the said installed wireless device to fail to cover the required designed coverage area, due to the installed wireless device being angled to point in an incorrect direction. In certain applications, such as high-density deployments or wireless geolocation applications involving directional antennas or steerable antennas, even minor pointing errors can result in poor or patchy coverage or inaccurate geolocation position reporting.

A prior art method for determining an angular position for a installed wireless device may be to use a spirit level or inclinometer or other angular measurement apparatus either attached to or held close to or against the installed wireless device. Whilst such devices can be used to set or measure an angular position for an installed wireless device, they have a number of drawbacks. For example, if items of angular measurement apparatus are integrated with the installed wireless device, they will add both cost and weight and may interfere with the wireless signals radiating from the installed wireless device. If, as is more typical, items of angular measurement apparatus are temporarily attached to the installed wireless device or are held against the installed wireless device, whilst adjustments are made to the angle or angles of the installed wireless device or any associated antennas, there is a danger that such angular measurement apparatus may become detached and fall to the ground, presenting a hazard to those below perhaps at a distance of many tens of metres. Items of angular measurement apparatus are also difficult to read whilst making physical angular adjustments to the installed wireless device or any associated antennas, potentially leading to longer installation times or a poorer angular setting up of the installed wireless device or its antennas.

It is an aim of the invention described herein to enable both a precise location for a installed wireless device to be determined and a precision mechanism for the angular positioning of the said installed wireless device to be realised, in particular without the need for additional circuitry or additional set-up jigs or similar on the installed wireless device itself.

A further aim of the invention described herein is to accurately determine a location of a centre of coverage of an installed wireless device once installed, or a datum point for a geolocation coverage area once an installed wireless device is in-situ.

Summary of invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for positioning an installed wireless device to meet a desired wireless coverage metric, the system comprising:

an installed wireless device at least a portion of which is externally covered by a housing or covering at least a portion of which has at least partially optically reflective properties; and a light source capable of emitting a minimally divergent optical beam directed toward a wireless device and which is temporarily placed on or near to a surface or within an area over which it is desired to provide wireless coverage from an installed wireless device.

A light source may, for example, comprise a laser light source.

A light source may, for example, comprise a light-emitting diode light source or an incandescent or gas discharge lamp forming a part or a whole of a light source.

A light source may additionally comprise a lens or lenses in order to focus or narrow a light beam.

A light source may additionally comprise a reflector, such as a parabolic reflector, in order to focus or narrow a light beam.

A light source may, necessarily, be of an intensity such that in the prevailing light conditions incident upon a surface, a reflected spot or area of light may be observed or detected on or close to the surface wherein a reflected light spot or area of light results from a reflection of a light beam emanating from a light source and reflected by an installed wireless device.

A housing or covering at least a portion of which has at least partially optically reflective properties may comprise a covering or a portion of a covering which is characterised by a low degree of surface roughness such that it minimally scatters incident optical energy.

A housing or covering at least a portion of which has at least partially optically reflective properties may comprise a covering or a substantial portion of a covering which is planar or flat to a degree such that it minimally deviates incident optical energy and, in particular, optical energy which is not incident directly on a centre or central area of a covering and is incident at a perpendicular to a mounting plane of the installed wireless device.

A housing or covering at least a portion of which has at least partially optically reflective properties may comprise a transparent portion or layer and a reflective or partially reflective layer.

A reflective or partially reflective layer may comprise a glossy coating, such as a glossy paint layer, or a silvered or metallic coating or layer.

A transparent portion may comprise a glass or polycarbonate, acrylic or other transparent plastic layer.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for determining a positional or pointing error for an installed wireless device, the method comprising:

directing a minimally-divergent beam of light, emanating from a light source placed on or near to a surface, at an installed wireless device;

observing a location of a reflected spot or area of light on a surface, the said reflected spot or area of light resulting from a reflection, from an installed wireless device, of a minimally-divergent beam of light emanating from a light source; and calculating a positional or pointing error of an installed wireless device based upon a separation distance between a reflected spot or area of light on a surface and a centre of a light source placed on or near to that surface.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for correcting a positional or pointing error of an installed wireless device, the method comprising:

directing a minimally-divergent beam of light at an installed wireless device, the said minimally-divergent beam of light emanating from a light source placed on or near to a surface over which an area of wireless coverage is desired;

observing a location of a reflected spot or area of light on a surface, the said reflected spot or area of light resulting from a reflection, from an installed wireless device, of a minimally-divergent beam of light emanating from a light source; and adjusting an angle of an installed wireless device to direct a reflected spot or area of light toward or coincident with a centre of a light source.

The method may further comprise placing a light source at an angle to a surface to correct for angular or roughness errors in the surface or angular or roughness errors at a location to which an installed wireless device is attached.

The method may further or alternately comprise placing a light source at an angle to a surface to compensate for a deliberately chosen non-horizontal mounting angle of an installed wireless device required, for example, to extend or alter a wireless coverage area over a surface.

The method may further comprise calculating a positional or pointing error of an installed wireless device based upon resolving a separation distance between a reflected spot or area of light and a centre of a light source into orthogonal Cartesian components.

The method may additionally or alternately comprise the adjustment of at least one of a position or an angle of a light source relative to a surface such that a spot of light or the centre of an area of light resulting from a reflected minimally-divergent light beam striking a surface becomes approximately coincident with a location of a centre of the light source, wherein a position of a light source may then be interpreted as a position of a centre of coverage, a boresight pointing direction or a geolocation datum point for an installed wireless device.

Brief description of the drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side-view of a prior art method for aligning an installed wireless device;

Figure 2 shows a side-view of an arrangement for aligning an installed wireless device according to one aspect of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a side-view of an arrangement for aligning an installed wireless device according to a further aspect of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a side-view of an arrangement for aligning an installed wireless device illustrating one method of determining a centre of coverage for installed wireless device, according to a still further aspect of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a plan view of a number of loci and their associated relative distances;

Figure 6 shows a side-view of an arrangement for aligning an installed wireless device according to a yet further aspect of the present invention;

Figure 7 shows a flowchart of a method for determining an approximate location of a centre of coverage, a boresight pointing direction or a geolocation datum point for an installed wireless device;

Figure 8 shows a flowchart of a method for aligning an installed wireless device.

Detailed description

An example of an installed wireless device, such as a Wi-Fi access point with or without an external antenna system and which may be attached to a mounting surface, mast or pole, will be described together with a methodology for the physical placement and orienting of the installed wireless device, with reference to the accompanying drawings. An installed wireless device may incorporate one or more antennas either internally or attached externally or it may comprise one or more physically separate antennas connected by cables or other means to a wireless device which may contain at least one of: one or more transmitters and one or more receivers and these separate antennas may also require separate mounting, perhaps in disparate locations. For the avoidance of doubt, all such arrangements are envisioned within the term “installed wireless device” in the ensuing description and the physical placement and pointing of one or more antennas, whether incorporated, attached to or merely connected to a wireless device are deemed to be constituted within the physical placement and pointing of an “installed wireless device”.

The installed wireless device to be described herein may be constructed in a manner which may enable a simple but powerful installation setup methodology to be employed, a methodology which does not typically require additional hardware to be included within the installed wireless device nor does it typically require external items, devices or equipment to be attached to the installed wireless device or placed immediately adjacent to the installed wireless device.

Figure 1 shows a installed wireless device arrangement 100 in which an installed wireless device 130, such as a Wi-Fi access point, is attached to an upper horizontal surface such as a ceiling 110 above a lower horizontal surface such as a floor 120.

Immediately adjacent to or attached to installed wireless device 130 is an inclination angle measurement apparatus 140 such as a spirit level or an inclinometer which is capable of measuring an angle of inclination of installed wireless device 130 relative to a datum such as ceiling 110. As such, Figure 1 shows a prior art apparatus for determining at least an angle of inclination of installed wireless device 130.

There are a number of disadvantages of this approach to the physical installation setup of installed wireless device 130. Inclination angle measurement apparatus 140 may be difficult to read given its close proximity to ceiling 110 and in particular may prove difficult to read whilst simultaneously attempting to slacken and tighten adjustment bolts (not shown) which are typically used to make fine adjustments to an angle of inclination of installed wireless device 130. Furthermore there is a danger of dropping inclination angle measurement apparatus 140 whilst attempting such measurements or adjustments and this may be a danger to co-workers or members of the public walking across floor 120 many metres or tens of metres below.

In addition, the approach shown in Figure 1 does not enable the position of a centre of coverage or a geolocation datum point for installed wireless device 130 to be located on a floor 120. An additional means such as a plumb line or similar would normally be required for this purpose and such means would typically need to assume that installed wireless device 130 was perfectly level to a high degree of accuracy, in order to realise a reasonable estimate for a boresight direction, a centre of coverage or a geolocation datum point. If this were not the case, significant errors could be introduced into any geolocation estimates made using installed wireless device 130.

Note that whilst Figure 1 shows a two dimensional representation of an installed wireless device 130 and an inclination angle measurement apparatus 140, a real installation would be three-dimensional with an angular adjustment procedure therefore typically being required in two orthogonal directions or axes.

Figure 2 shows a installed wireless device arrangement 200 including in outline form an improved apparatus which may be used for a range of installed wireless device physical setup tasks including: locating on a floor 220 a vertical or near vertical projection of a centre of installed wireless device 230; determining in two orthogonal directions an angle or angles of inclination of installed wireless device 230 relative to a floor 220 or relative to any other datum when used in conjunction with an appropriate angular offset or offsets (not shown) if a floor 220 is known not to be level; and locating a boresight direction, a centre of coverage or a geolocation datum point on a floor 220 whether or not installed wireless device 230 is level.

Figure 2 shows a number of similar features to Figure 1 and these are given correspondingly related designation numbers, specifically; a ceiling 210 to which installed wireless device 230 may be attached and a floor 220 partially or wholly over which wireless coverage is required from installed wireless device 230. In addition, light source 250 is optionally mounted in housing 240 and emits incident light beam 260 which is typically a minimally-divergent beam and which may radiate upwards toward installed wireless device 230. The purpose of optional housing 240 is to hold light source 250 such that it is approximately perpendicular to floor 220 or at any other angle as may be deemed necessary to compensate for angular errors in floor 220 relative to ceiling 210 or installed wireless device 230 or both.

Incident light beam 260 may be a narrow beam of light which is sufficiently minimally divergent and intense that it is capable of projecting a small spot of light on installed wireless device 230. Light source 250 may, for example, be a laser light source and incident light beam 260 may consequently be a beam of laser light. Point 270 may for example represent a boresight direction, a centre of coverage or a geolocation datum point when installed wireless device 230 is mounted approximately parallel to floor 220 such that it radiates downward to cover at least a partial area of floor 220. Alternatively point 270 may represent a point vertically beneath a centre of installed wireless device 230.

Installed wireless device 230 may be arranged to have an optically at least partially reflective covering on at least a lower surface or a lower portion of a casing as it is oriented in Figure 2. In this example, a lower surface of installed wireless device 230 is also assumed to be a surface from which or through which electromagnetic energy in the form of radio waves can radiate in at least a downward direction or through which electromagnetic radiation in the form of radio waves may pass in order to be received by antenna and receiver circuits contained within installed wireless device

230. In the example arrangement shown in Figure 2, a lower surface of installed wireless device 230 is shown to be parallel to floor 220 and thereby perpendicular to incident light beam 260. Incident light beam 260 may therefore at least partially reflect from a lower surface of installed wireless device 230 directly back toward a centre of light source 250. In this event, point 270 may be deemed to be a boresight direction, a centre of coverage or a geolocation datum point. In the event that a lower surface of installed wireless device 230 is not perpendicular to incident light beam 260 a distinct reflected beam (not shown) at an angular separation from an incident light beam 260 may result, as will be discussed below.

Whilst installed wireless device 230 is shown as being illuminated by incident light beam 260 at approximately a central point on its lower surface, this will typically be difficult to achieve in practice, due to the typically large distances between a floor 220 and a ceiling 210 in many deployments and the impact of a very small angular error in the placement of light source 250 upon the likelihood of positioning incident light beam 260 centrally on installed wireless device 230. This problem highlights a further preferred feature of installed wireless device 230: a housing or covering at least a portion of which has at least partially optically reflective properties may comprise a covering or a substantial portion of a covering which is planar or flat to a degree such that it minimally deviates incident optical energy, for example from incident light beam 260 and, in particular, optical energy which is not incident directly on a centre or central area of a covering and yet is incident at a perpendicular to a mounting plane of the installed wireless device. In a further preferred embodiment, a planar or flat covering may be linear in any two orthogonal directions across its surface or a significant portion of its surface.

Figure 3 shows an installed wireless device configuration 300 an analogous configuration to installed wireless device configuration 200 of Figure 2 with the exception that installed wireless device 330 is now shown to be at an angle θ 380 to ceiling 310; like features between Figure 2 and Figure 3 share like numerals. Incident light beam 360 emanating from light source 350 is now reflected from a lower surface of installed wireless device 330 to form reflected light beam 390 at an angle which is proportional to the angular separation 0 380 of installed wireless device 330 from ceiling 310 assuming that ceiling 310 and floor 320 are substantially parallel. Reflected light beam 390 results in a spot of light being projected onto floor 320 at point 3100. This spot of light will typically be visible to an installation technician (not shown) who is installing or adjusting installed wireless device 330 in order to ensure that it provides the desired coverage area, centre of coverage, datum for geolocation or to fulfil any other similar metric. A linear difference between point 3100 and point 370, which may optionally be resolved into orthogonal Cartesian x-direction and ydirection components, may be used by an installation technician as a metric for determining one or more angular pointing errors for installed wireless device 330 and enabling the correction of such an error or errors by altering an angle or position of installed wireless device 330, as will be described below.

It should be noted that both Figure 2 and Figure 3 show two-dimensional representations of installed wireless device 330 mounted adjacent to a ceiling 310 and consequently only an angle Θ 380 in a single Cartesian direction can be illustrated. In a real deployment scenario, installed wireless device 330 may be mounted at an angle or angles to ceiling 310 in up to two Cartesian directions; these Cartesian angles may be designated Ox and 0y and will be discussed further below.

Figure 4 shows in installed wireless device arrangement 400, an example of installed wireless device 430 positioned at an angle 380 of Ox degrees to a horizontal surface, such as a ceiling 410. Installed wireless device 430 may also be mounted at a height of h metres above a second horizontal surface, such as a floor 420. Since installed wireless device 430 is mounted, whether intentionally or unintentionally, at an angle of Ox degrees to a horizontal, a notional centre 4110 of its coverage area may no longer be located at a point 470 directly beneath a centre of installed wireless device 430. It is an objective of the apparatus and method described herein to permit a notional centre 4110 of a coverage area of installed wireless device 430 to be located at least in part by means of a light source 450 which may be mounted in a housing 440.

Light source 450 together with optional base 440 may, for example, be arranged to emit incident light beam 460 in a vertically upward direction which is substantially perpendicular to a floor 420. For the purposes of this example, floor 420 upon which a light source 450 sits and ceiling 410 to which installed wireless device 430 is attached are assumed to be accurately parallel to one another. Incident light beam 460 may be generated by a laser or a lasing method, it may be generated by means of a light bulb and a suitable reflector, lens, hole or slot or by any other means which is capable of realising a suitably bright, small, spot of light, when that light arrives at a surface of installed wireless device 430. In a preferred embodiment, light source 450 may be a visible light source, however in other embodiments it may be a non-visible light source, such as an infra-red light source. In embodiments which involve a nonvisible light source, a suitable non-visible light detection apparatus (not shown in Figure 4), for example a photodetector or an array of photodetectors, would need to be added to the system, and this light detection apparatus may typically be located on floor 420.

Returning to the example embodiment shown in Figure 4, a notional centre 4110 of a coverage area of a wireless access point 430 may be derived as follows. Assuming, for simplicity, that installed wireless device 430 is mounted at an angle θ to a horizontal in a single Cartesian direction, say an x-direction, and is level in an orthogonal Cartesian direction, say a y-direction. A light source 450 may emit an incident light beam 460 which may then reflect from an at least partially reflective surface on installed wireless device 430, thereby causing a reflected light beam 490 which results in the projection of a spot of light at point 4100 on floor 420. In the event that reflected light beam 490 proceeds vertically downward such that point 4100 appears at the horizontal centre of light source 450, it may typically be concluded that access point 430 is mounted horizontally, to a high degree of accuracy. In the event that reflected light beam 490 does not proceed vertically downward such that point 4100 appears at the horizontal centre of light source 450, it may typically be concluded that access point 430 is mounted at an angle to the horizontal and this angle may be estimated and corrected, either electronically within the installed wireless device, for example by re-assigning its notional boresight steering angle or angles if it is capable of beam-steering operation, or by physical adjustment of the installed wireless device. Both of these scenarios will be described in more detail below.

Figure 5 shows a locus arrangement 500 consisting of a plan view of a floor 520 and a number of points or loci, analogous to the points described above, together with their respective distances in both x and y Cartesian co-ordinates. To calculate angles θχ and 0y (not shown in Figure 4) at which an installed wireless device, such as access point 430 shown in Figure 4, is mounted relative to a horizontal reference such as ceiling 410 shown in Figure 4 in two orthogonal Cartesian directions x and y, a distance Dx at which a point 5100 is positioned in an x-direction relative to a point 570 located directly beneath a centre of an installed wireless device, such as installed wireless device 430 shown in Figure 4, may be measured. Similarly a distance Dy (not shown in Figure 4) at which a point 5100 is positioned in a y-direction, which is orthogonal to an x-direction, relative to a point 570 located directly beneath a centre of an installed wireless device, such as installed wireless device 430, shown in Figure 4, may also be measured.

Distance, Dx may be broken down into distances dx and dx’ where distance dx is a distance in a Cartesian x-direction at which a resolved x component of a centre of coverage point 5110 may be located and distance dx’ is a distance relative to point 5110 in a Cartesian x-direction at which a resolved x component of a location of a point 5100 at which a reflected light beam 490 (shown in Figure 4) intersects a floor 410 (shown in Figure 4) or 510 (shown in Figure 5). Likewise, distance Dy may be broken down into distances dy and dy’ where distance dy is a distance in a Cartesian y-direction at which a resolved y component of a centre of coverage point 5110 may be located and distance dy’ is a distance relative to point 5110 in a Cartesian ydirection at which a resolved y component of a location of a point 5100 at which a reflected light beam 490 (shown in Figure 4) intersects a floor 410 (shown in Figure 4) or 510 (shown in Figure 5).

Distances dx and dy may be calculated using the following equations:

dx = htan0x Equation 1 dy — h tan Qy

Equation 2

Where h is the distance between floor 420 and a centre of an antenna or antenna array within, or connected to, installed wireless device 430, shown in Figure 4.

Distances dx’ and dy’ may be calculated using the following equations:

Equation 3

Equation 4

In equations 1 to 4, above, h, refers to a height of an installed wireless device above a horizontal reference (as shown in, for example, Figure 4) which may be conveniently and accurately measured, for example, by means of a laser-based or an ultrasoundbased distance measuring instrument, as is known in the art, or by any other means. Likewise, distances Dx and Dy can be measured directly using a tape measure, for example, or distance D and angle a may be measured, with distances Dx and Dy being calculated from distance D and angle a by means of suitable trigonometric formulae. Distances D, Dx and Dy and angle a are shown within locus arrangement 500 in Figure 5.

An angle in a Cartesian x-direction at which an installed wireless device is angled, Ox, may be calculated from:

Equation 5

Likewise, an angle in a Cartesian y-direction at which an installed wireless device is angled, 0y, may be calculated from:

Equation 6

Using Equation 5 and Equation 6 it is possible to calculate an angular error, 0 = (Ox, 0y) resolved into orthogonal Cartesian x and y directions and thereby to correct for an angular error by adjusting an angle of an installed wireless device by an amount Ox in an x-direction and an amount 0y in a y-direction.

Alternatively, it is possible to adjust an angle or angles of an installed wireless device whilst, for example, light source 450 (shown in Figure 4) is turned on, with a goal of arranging that the centre of a spot of light produced by a reflection of the light emanating from light source 450 on floor 420 becomes coincident, in both x and y Cartesian directions, with the centre or origin of light source 450. In this case, point 470 would typically become an approximate centre of coverage.

In a further alternative embodiment, it may not be possible to make physical adjustments to an installed wireless device 430 following its initial installation, for example if access point 430 is mounted high above floor 420 and suitable scaffolding is no longer available. In this instance, Equations 1 to 6 may be used to calculate a coordinate location (dx’, dy’) relative to point 4100 at which point 4110 is located, wherein point 4100 is visible as the centre of a spot of light on floor 420 produced by a reflection off installed wireless device 430 of light emanating from light source 450. Alternatively, Equations 1 to 6 may be used to calculate a co-ordinate location (dx, dy) relative to point 470 at which point 4110 is located, wherein point 470 represents centre of placement of light source 450 on floor 420. Point 4110 may then represent a centre of coverage, a boresight direction or a datum point relative to which geolocated user devices can be calculated to be positioned, projected onto floor 420 based on installed wireless device 430.

Consider, for example, Dx = +lm and Dy = +0.5m, both of which may be obtained by linear measurements taken on floor 420, and h = 10 metres. Using Equation 5, it is possible to obtain a value for Ox and using Equation 6 a value for 0y may be derived. In this example, with Dx = +lm and Dy = +0.5m, Ox = 2.89 degrees and 0y = 1.43 degrees. Finally, using Equations 1 and 2 it is possible to obtain values for dx and dy, where in this example dx = 0.50 metres and dy = 0.25 metres. The distances dx and dy may then be measured on floor 420 and point 4110 thereby determined.

The above example also illustrates that a simplification of the above calculation-based method for obtaining an approximate location for point 4110 may be made. For small angular errors in the mounting of access point 430:

Equation 7

Dx dx & — and

Dv d_y„Equation 8

Thus it is possible, in the case of small angular mounting errors for installed wireless device 430, to determine point 4110 to a usable degree of accuracy by simply halving the linear distance between a point 470 representing a centre of placement of a light source 450 on floor 420 and point 4100 being a centre of a spot of light resulting from reflected light beam 490 being incident upon floor 420. This can perhaps be seen more clearly when considering Figure 5. In Figure 5, a location of point 5110 may be approximately obtained by halving a distance, D, between point 570 (point 570 being analogous to point 470 of Figure 4) and point 5100 (point 5100 being analogous to point 4100 of Figure 4).

Access point 430 may be deployed as a part of a wireless geolocation system, for example a geolocation system of a form described in UK Patent Application Number 1616386.7 dated 27^th September 2016, or any other wireless geolocation system in which a datum point is defined relative to which geolocated positions are calculated or to which geolocated positions are referenced. In such cases, it is desirable to know the location of a datum point and, where such a datum point cannot be physically or mechanically adjusted such that it can be relocated to a desired position on a floor, for example, by installed wireless device adjustment mechanisms and calculations described herein, it is nevertheless desirable to know its location so that corrections may be made to any geolocated positions returned by the geolocation system, to take account of a positional error of the datum point. For example, an installed wireless device may have been installed and may not have been adjusted to a correct angular alignment relative to a floor. Subsequent angular adjustment may be impractical due to the need to close a venue in which the installed wireless device is installed, in order to facilitate the building of scaffolding to gain access to the installed wireless device and the scaffolding itself may get in the way of any angular measurement process by the methods described herein. It may therefore be preferable to measure an offset of the actual geolocation datum point for that installed wireless device relative to a desired or originally designed geolocation datum point, using the methods described herein, for example in Cartiesian x-y co-ordinate form. This offset may then be used to adjust or correct some or all geolocated positions returned by the geolocation system in order to provide reported locations which are defined relative to the desired or originally designed geolocation datum point.

Consider, now, an example of a wall-mounted installed wireless device installation 600 comprising installed wireless device 630, which is deliberately angled downward at an angle γχ 685 to a vertical structure such as a wall 615 in order to provide coverage of a part or all of a floor 620. In this case, it is desirable to determine a centre of coverage, a boresight direction, or a datum point relative to which geolocated user devices can be calculated to be located, on floor 620.

In an analogous manner to installed wireless device 230 described in relation to Figure 2 above, installed wireless device 630 may be arranged to have an optically at least partially reflective covering on at least a surface, or a section of a casing or enclosure, corresponding to a portion of installed wireless device 630 from which electromagnetic radiation in the form of radio waves may emanate or through which electromagnetic radiation in the form of radio waves may pass in order to be received by antenna and receiver circuits contained within installed wireless device 630, in order to provide radio coverage of a part or all of floor 620.

Light source 650 is optionally mounted in housing 640 and emits incident light beam 660 which may radiate toward installed wireless device 630. The purpose of optional housing 640 is to hold light source 650 such that it is held at an appropriate angle 675 relative to floor 220 which may ensure that, as a minimum, incident light beam 660 illuminates a surface of installed wireless device 630 at an approximately central location or at any other suitable point on a surface of installed wireless device 630.

As illustrated in Figure 6, housing 640 and light source 650 are mounted at an angle 675 of γχ to a floor 620. If, as illustrated in Figure 6, wall 615 and floor 620 are approximately perpendicular and light source 650 is placed at a point 670 which represents a centre of coverage, a boresight direction, or a datum point relative to which geolocated user devices can be calculated to be located on floor 620, and is angled at an angle 675 of γχ to a floor 620, then an incident light beam 660 may reflect back from installed wireless device 630 toward a centre of light source 650. Alternatively, light source 650 may be moved around a floor 620, whilst being maintained at angle γχ to a floor 620 until such point as an incident light beam 660 may reflect directly back toward a centre of a light source 650. At such a point a projection of a centre of a light source 650 backward onto a floor 620 will typically result in a point 670 which may then represent a centre of coverage, a boresight direction, or a datum point relative to which geolocated user devices can be calculated to be located on floor 620.

Likewise, in an analogous situation to that illustrated in Figure 4 and Figure 5, it is possible to calculate error distances, in two orthogonal Cartesian directions, for a light source relative to a centre of coverage, a boresight direction, or a datum point relative to which geolocated user devices can be calculated to be located on a floor, based upon a location of a spot created on a floor by a light beam reflected from a surface of an installed wireless device. In such a manner, a centre of coverage, a boresight direction, or a datum point relative to which geolocated user devices can be calculated to be located, may be determined on a floor.

Whilst Figure 6 illustrates a two-dimensional representation of a wall-mounted installed wireless device installation 600, showing a downward angular mounting of installed wireless device 630 at an angle γχ to a wall 615, it is possible to extend the principles outlined above to a comer-mounting installed wireless device installation, in which an installed wireless device could subtend an angle γχ to one of two walls joining at a comer and an angle yy to a second wall joining the first wall at the same comer. A light source angled at an appropriate angle to a floor and moved around that floor until such point that an incident light beam emanating from a light source may reflect directly back toward a centre of the same light source could then indicate for an installed wireless device an approximate location of a centre of coverage, a boresight direction, or a datum point relative to which geolocated user devices can be calculated to be located on a floor.

Likewise, again, in an analogous situation to that illustrated in Figure 4 and Figure 5, it is possible to calculate error distances, in two orthogonal Cartesian directions, for a light source relative to a centre of coverage, a boresight direction, or a datum point relative to which geolocated user devices can be calculated to be located on a floor, based upon a location of a spot created on a floor by a light beam reflected from a surface of an installed wireless device. In such a manner, a centre of coverage, a boresight direction, or a datum point relative to which geolocated user devices can be calculated to be located, may again be determined on a floor in an arrangement where an installed wireless device is mounted in a comer where two walls join.

In a further alternative deployment, an installed wireless device may be attached to a ceiling and may be deliberately angled to provide a different coverage area or location of a centre of coverage to that which it would provide if it were mounted parallel to a ceiling. Such an arrangement may in fact be analogous to that of Figure 6, however installed wireless device 630 could now be attached to a ceiling (not show) instead of to a wall 615, whilst preserving a similar angle to the vertical.

Figure 7 shows a flowchart 700 of a method for determining an approximate location of a centre of coverage, a boresight pointing direction or a geolocation datum point for an installed wireless device. The method begins at step 701 and then moves on to step 710 in which a light source is placed on a surface such as a floor and a minimallydivergent light beam emanating from the light source is directed at an approximate centre of an at least partially reflective surface, casing or covering of an installed wireless device. In step 720, a location of a light spot is observed on a surface such as a floor, the light spot resulting from a reflected beam of light which has been reflected from an at least partially reflective surface, casing or covering of an installed wireless device as a result of an incident beam emanating from a light source.

In step 730, the light source is moved across the surface or floor toward the light spot. As it does so, the location of the light spot will typically also move and, if the direction of movement of the light source is approximately toward a centre of coverage, a boresight direction location or a datum point of a geolocation system for the installed wireless device, then the direction of movement of the light spot will typically be approximately toward the light source, as it is moved.

In step 740, the location of the light spot is tested to ascertain if it is yet coincident with a centre of the light source wherein a centre of a light source is assumed to be a location from which a light beam emanates. If the light spot is not yet coincident with a centre of the light source, then the method returns to step 730 in which the light source is moved further toward the light spot. If, on the other hand, the light spot is now coincident with a centre of the light source, then the method moves on to step 750.

In step 750, a horizontal location of a centre of the light source on a surface or floor is recorded or marked as a location of a centre of coverage, a boresight direction, or a datum point relative to which geolocated user devices can be calculated to be located.

The method ends at step 760.

Figure 8 shows a flowchart 800 of a method for aligning an installed wireless device. The method begins at step 801 and moves on to step 810 in which a light source is placed on a surface such as a floor at a position directly beneath an installed wireless device to be adjusted and a minimally-divergent light beam emanating from the light source is directed at an approximate centre of an at least partially reflective surface, casing or covering of the said installed wireless device. In step 820, a location of a light spot is observed on a surface or floor, the light spot resulting from a reflected beam of light which has been reflected from an at least partially reflective surface, casing or covering of an installed wireless device as a result of an incident beam emanating from a light source.

In step 830 an angle or angles at which an installed wireless device is mounted are adjusted in, typically, orthogonal Cartesian directions. As the mounting angles of the installed wireless device are adjusted, the location of the light spot generated by a reflected light beam will typically also move. Adjustments are made to a mounting angle or angles of an installed wireless device, within step 830, such that the light spot appearing on a surface such as a floor, moves toward a centre of the light source which has been placed on that surface and which is indirectly resulting in the light spot.

In step 840, the location of the light spot is tested to ascertain if it is yet coincident 5 with a centre of the light source wherein a centre of a light source is assumed to be a location from which a light beam emanates. If the light spot is not yet coincident with a centre of the light source, then the method returns to step 830 in which the angle or angles of the installed wireless device are further adjusted. If, on the other hand, the light spot is now coincident with a centre of the light source, then the method moves on to step 850.

In step 850, the wireless device is fixed at the angle or angles at which the light spot is seen to be coincident with a centre of the light source. This may be achieved, for example, by the tightening of fixing screws, bolts or nuts which form a part of a mounting arrangement for an installed wireless device.

In step 860, a horizontal location of a centre of the light source on a surface may optionally be recorded or marked as a location of a centre of coverage, a boresight direction, or a datum point relative to which geolocated user devices can be calculated to be located.

The method ends at step 870.

While the features and functionalities described herein for the physical installation and set-up of a wireless device are primarily discussed with respect to the embodiments above, it should be appreciated that the features and functionalities of one embodiment may be similarly applied to other embodiments.

In the preceding specification, various embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the disclosure as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

At this point it should be noted that the physical installation and set-up of a wireless device in accordance with the present disclosure as described above typically involves the processing of input data and the generation of output data to some extent. This input data processing and output data generation may be implemented in hardware or software. For example, specific electronic components may be employed in a spatial location module or similar or related circuitry for implementing the functions associated with the physical installation and set-up of a wireless device in accordance with embodiments described above. Alternatively, one or more processors operating in accordance with instructions may implement the functions associated with the physical installation and set-up of a wireless device in accordance with embodiments as described above. If such is the case, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that such instructions may be stored on one or more processor readable storage media (e.g., a magnetic or optical disk or other storage medium), or transmitted to one or more processors via one or more signals embodied in one or more carrier waves.

In the above discussion, the term ‘processors’ includes any digital or analogue device which is capable of processing signals or data and includes, but is not limited to, microprocessors, Peripheral Interface Controller (“PIC”) processors, complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and all similar or related devices.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, other various embodiments of and modifications to the present disclosure, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, such other embodiments and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, although the present disclosure has been described herein in the context of a particular implementation in a particular environment for a particular purpose, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present disclosure may be beneficially implemented in any number of environments for any number of purposes. Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view of the full breadth and spirit of the present disclosure as described herein.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous variations and modifications will become apparent. All such variations and modifications which become apparent to persons skilled in the art are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention broadly appearing before described.

Claims

1. A wireless installation kit comprising:

a wireless device configured to be attached to a first surface, the wireless device comprising a housing having an optically reflective area on an outer surface thereof, and an optical source capable of emitting a minimally divergent optical beam.

2. The wireless installation kit according to claim 1 wherein the wireless device is attached to the first surface using a fixed attachment means.

3. The wireless installation kit according to claim 1 wherein the wireless device is attached to the first surface using a repositionable attachment means.

4; The wireless installation kit according to claim 1 wherein the optical source comprises a laser optical source.

5. The wireless installation kit according to claim 1 wherein the optical source comprises, at least in part, a light-emitting diode, an incandescent lamp or a gas discharge lamp.

6. The wireless installation kit according to any preceding claim wherein the optical source additionally comprises one or more lenses in order to focus or narrow an optical beam to form the minimally divergent optical beam.

7. The wireless installation kit according to any preceding claim wherein the optical source additionally comprises a shaped reflector in order to focus or narrow a beam emitted by the optical source.

8. The wireless installation kit according to claim 7 wherein the shaped reflector comprises a parabolic reflector.

9. The wireless installation kit according to any preceding claim wherein the optical source is of a sufficient intensity such that in the prevailing light conditions incident upon the first surface, a reflected spot or area of light resulting from the reflection, of the minimally divergent optical beam emitted by the optical source, from the reflective area, can be observed or detected on a second surface.

10. The wireless installation kit according to claim 9 wherein the optical source is placed on, or is located close to, the second surface.

11. The wireless installation kit according to claim 1 wherein the optically reflective area has a low degree of surface roughness sueh that it minimally scatters incident optical energy.

12. The wireless installation kit according to claim 1 wherein the optically · reflective area is approximately planar or flat to a degree such that an angle of · incidence of an incident optical ray approximately equals an angle of reflection for a reflected optical ray resulting from the incident optical ray, at a majority of points on the optically reflective area.

13. The wireless installation kit according to claim 1 wherein the optically reflective area comprises a transparent portion or layer and a reflective or partially reflective layer.

14. The wireless installation kit according to claim 13 wherein the reflective or partially reflective layer comprises a glossy coating, a glossy paint layer, or a mirrored coating or layer.

15. The wireless installation kit according to claim 13 wherein the transparent portion or layer is formed from glass, polycarbonate or acrylic material.

16. A method of determining a positional or pointing error of a wireless device attached to a first surface, the wireless device having an optically reflective outer portion, the method comprising:

positioning an optical source within an area over which the wireless 5 device is desired to provide wireless coverage, the optical source emitting a minimally divergent optical beam, orienting the optical source so as to direct the minimally-divergent optical beam at the optically reflective outer portion of the wireless device, identifying a location on a second surface on which a portion of the 10 beam reflected by the optically reflective outer portion is incident, and determining the positional or pointing error based upon the location of the optical source and the location of the portion of the beam.

15

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the location of the optical source further comprises a projection of the location of the optical source onto a plane of the second surface.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the portion of the beam reflected by the

20 optically reflective outer portion is a spot.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the spot is defined as an approximately circular area having a diameter of less than 10cm.

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20. The method of claim 16 wherein the optical source is placed approximately at the centre of the area over which the wireless device is desired to provide wireless coverage.

21. The method of claim 16 or 17 further comprising adjusting at least a mounting 30 angle of an wireless device in order to direct the portion of the beam toward or coincident with the centre of the optical source.

22. The method of claim 16 or 17 further comprising adjusting at least a mounting location of a wireless device in order to direct the portion of the beam toward or coincident with the centre of the optical source.

5

23. The method of claim 16 or 17 further comprising placing the optical source at an angle to the second surface to correct for angular or roughness errors in either the first surface or the second surface or to compensate for an intentionally non-horizontal mounting angle for the wireless device.

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24. The method of claim 16 or 17 further comprising calculating a positional or pointing error for the wireless device based upon resolving the vector separation between the portion of the beam and the centre of the optical source into orthogonal Cartesian components.

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25. The method of claim 16 or 17 additionally or alternately comprising adjusting at least one of a position or an angle of the optical source relative to the second surface such that the portion of the beam becomes approximately coincident with the location of the centre of the optical source, wherein this location is then the position of the centre of coverage, indicative of the boresight pointing direction, or the geolocation datum point, for the wireless device.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: Claims searched:

GB1703100.6 1 to 25