Patent ID: 7085697

Claim:
A computer implemented method for designing or deploying a communications network, comprising the steps of: providing, using a computer program, a computerized model which represents an indoor and/or outdoor physical environment in which a communications network is or will be installed, said computerized model providing a display of at least a portion of said physical environment; providing, with said computer program, attributes for a plurality of system components which may be used in said physical environment; selecting, using said computer program, specific components from said plurality of system components for use in said computerized model; representing, using said computer program and said computerized model, said selected specific components in said display; and determining, using said computer program and said computerized model, if said attributes of one or more of said system components will prevent the proper installation or operation of a communications network formed from said selected specific components for a specific design for said physical environment, and, if said attributes will prevent the proper installation or operation of said communications network providing an indication of a fault in one or more design parameters of said communications network.