MULTI-NETWORK WIRELESS COVERAGE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

A wireless network environment includes a communication management resource operative to manage wireless connectivity provided by multiple different wireless networks, each of which supports a different wireless communication protocol to provide wireless access to communication devices in a network environment. The communication management resource monitors a performance of the multiple wireless networks. In response to detecting an inability of a first wireless network of the multiple wireless networks to provide wireless coverage in a geographical region, the configuration management resource adjusts operation of a second wireless network to provide expanded wireless coverage in the geographical region.

Description

Claims

1. A method comprising: monitoring performance of multiple networks, each of which supports a different wireless communication protocol to provide wireless access to communication devices in a network environment;detecting an inability of a first wireless network of the multiple wireless networks to provide wireless coverage in a geographical region; andin response to detecting the inability, adjusting operation of a second wireless network to provide expanded wireless coverage in the geographical region.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the first wireless network provides first wireless connectivity to first communication devices via a first wireless communication protocol; and wherein the second wireless network provides second wireless connectivity to second communication devices via a second wireless communication protocol.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein each of the communication devices support wireless connectivity in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol and the second wireless communication protocol.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein adjusting operation of the second wireless network includes adjusting beamforming settings of a wireless base station in the second wireless network.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein adjusting operation of the second wireless network includes increasing wireless power transmission levels of communications transmitted by the second wireless network.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein adjusting operation of the second wireless network includes selection of an additional wireless carrier frequency of transmitting communications from the second wireless network.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein adjusting operation of the second wireless network includes: i) detecting presence of a wireless access point in the second wireless network, the wireless access point operative to support backup wireless connectivity in the geographical region, the wireless access point set to a standby mode in which the wireless access point does not support backup wireless connectivity with any of the communication devices in the network environment prior to detecting the inability of the first wireless network; andii) switching operation of the wireless access point from the standby mode to an active mode in response to detecting the inability of the first wireless network to provide wireless coverage in the geographical region, the active mode of the wireless access point providing the backup wireless connectivity to the communication devices in the geographical region.

8. The method as in claim 7, wherein the first wireless network supports a first wireless communication protocol; and wherein the wireless access point in the second wireless network supports a second wireless communication protocol.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein adjusting operation of the second wireless network includes expanding an area of wireless coverage of the second wireless network to accommodate the inability of the first wireless network to provide wireless coverage in the geographical region.

10. The method as in claim 9, wherein the first wireless network supports a first wireless communication protocol; and wherein the second wireless network supports a second wireless communication protocol in the expanded area of coverage previously serviced by the first wireless network.

11. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: tracking locations of first mobile communication devices in the geographical region supported by the first wireless network in the geographical region; andwherein adjusting operation of the second wireless network to provide the wireless coverage in the geographical region adjusting the operation of the second wireless network based on the locations of the first mobile communication devices.

12. A system comprising: communication management hardware operative to: monitor performance of multiple networks, each of which supports a different wireless communication protocol to provide wireless access to communication devices in a network environment;detect an inability of a first wireless network of the multiple wireless networks to provide wireless coverage in a geographical region; andin response to detecting the inability, adjust operation of a second wireless network to provide expanded wireless coverage in the geographical region.

13. The system as in claim 12, wherein the first wireless network provides first wireless connectivity via a first wireless communication protocol; and wherein the second wireless network provides second wireless connectivity via a second wireless communication protocol.

14. The system as in claim 13, wherein each of the communication devices support wireless connectivity in accordance with the first wireless communication protocol and the second wireless communication protocol.

15. The system as in claim 12, wherein the communication management hardware is further operative to: adjust beamforming settings of a wireless base station in the second wireless network t provide the expanded wireless coverage.

16. The system as in claim 12, wherein the communication management hardware is further operative to: increase wireless power transmission levels of communications transmitted by the second wireless network to provide the expanded wireless coverage.

17. The system as in claim 12, wherein the communication management hardware is further operative to: change a wireless carrier frequency of transmitting communications from the second wireless network to provide the expanded wireless coverage.

18. The system as in claim 12, wherein the communication management hardware is further operative to: i) detect presence of a wireless access point in the second wireless network, the wireless access point operative to support backup wireless connectivity, the wireless access point set to a standby mode in which the wireless access point does not support backup wireless connectivity with any of the communication devices in the network environment prior to detecting the inability of the first wireless network; andii) switch operation of the wireless access point from the standby mode to an active mode in response to detecting the inability of the first wireless network to provide wireless coverage, the active mode of the wireless access point providing the backup wireless connectivity to at least a portion of the communication devices region.

19. The system as in claim 18, wherein the first wireless network supports a first wireless communication protocol; and wherein the wireless access point in the second wireless network supports a second wireless communication protocol.

20. The system as in claim 12, wherein the communication management hardware is further operative to: provide the expanded wireless coverage of the second wireless network to accommodate the inability of the first wireless network to provide wireless coverage in the geographical region.

21. The system as in claim 20, wherein the first wireless network supports a first wireless communication protocol; and wherein the second wireless network supports a second wireless communication protocol in an expanded area of coverage previously serviced by the first wireless network.

22. The system as in claim 12, wherein the communication management hardware is further operative to: track locations of first mobile communication devices in the geographical region supported by the first wireless network in the geographical region; and adjust operation of the second wireless network based on the locations of the first mobile communication devices.

23. Computer-readable storage hardware having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when carried out by computer processor hardware associated with customer premises equipment in a wireless network, cause the computer processor hardware to: monitor performance of multiple networks, each of which supports a different wireless communication protocol to provide wireless access to communication devices in a network environment;detect an inability of a first wireless network of the multiple wireless networks to provide wireless coverage in a geographical region; andin response to detecting the inability, adjust operation of a second wireless network to provide expanded wireless coverage in the geographical region.