Patent ID: 7509096

Claim:
A method for operating a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) serviced by a plurality of Wireless Access Points (WAPs), at least some of the plurality of WAPs having directional antennas, the method comprising: performing a plurality of beaconing operations, each of the beaconing operations corresponding to a respective WAP of the plurality of WAPs such that during the beaconing operation the respective WAP transmits a substantially constant power beacon; during each beaconing operation, at least one non-beaconing WAP of the plurality of WAPs that has a directional antenna: listening for the transmitted beacon; directing an approximate maximum gain vector of the directional antenna toward the transmitted beacon; determining a relative angular position of the approximate maximum gain vector; measuring a received strength of the transmitted beacon; and recording the relative angular position of the approximate maximum gain vector and the received strength of the transmitted beacon; processing a plurality of recorded relative angular positions of the approximate maximum gain vectors and a plurality of recorded received strengths of the transmitted beacons to determine relative radio positions of the plurality of WAPs within the WLAN; and based upon the relative radio positions of the plurality of WAPs within the WLAN: determining that wireless coverage within a premises serviced by the plurality of WAPs is deficient in at least one location of the premises; estimating relative geographical locations of the plurality of WAPs based upon the relative radio positions of the plurality of WAPs; and based upon estimates of the relative geographical locations of the plurality of WAPs, determining a geographical relocating of the at least one of the plurality of WAPs that will remedy the deficiency.