Automatic channel layering in a Wi-Fi communication system

• US 10,313,945 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2017
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fortinet Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fortinet Inc.
• Inventors: Sankaranarayanan, Srivatsan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kassim, Khaled M
• Application Number:
  US15/698,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20180070277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/20 for optimising the interference level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/304 due to measured or perceived resources with higher communication quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Deploying multiple access points on multiple wireless communication channels to optimize coverage area. Additional channels provide additional communication capability which multiple AP'"'"'s, and their associated stations, can collectively use. An additional set of AP'"'"'s can be disposed in the additional communication channel, with multiple communication channels possibly physically intersecting. The system control element collects information from devices in the wireless communication system, and automatically configures which AP is assigned to which communication channel. The system control element determines which AP'"'"'s are servicing which physical locations, in response to feedback from AP'"'"'s and stations in those locations. The system control element assigns, or re-assigns, AP'"'"'s in each physical location, with the effect of optimizing coverage.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method in a controller of a wireless communication network deploying multiple access points on multiple communication channels to optimize a coverage area while minimizing interference, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication that channel capacity is above a limit on the wireless communication network;

collecting RSSI (received signal strength indicator) values for each station heard from each of a plurality of access points managed by the controller;

assigning a first subset of the plurality of access points to a first communication channel including a selection of access points sufficient to provide coverage to as many stations as possible on the first communication channel, wherein the selection comprises determining the highest goodness-index among the plurality of access points as a factor to assigning the first subset, the goodness-index based on a difference between an RSSI value of a best AP and an RSSI value of a next best AP, the goodness-index being indicative of whether an AP is properly assigned;

assigning a second subset of the plurality of access points to a second communication channel including remaining access points of the plurality of access points not in the first subset of the plurality of access points based on the goodness-index;

sending messages to the plurality of access points with channel assignments; and

handing-off a station from a first access point on the first communication channel to a second access point on the second communication channel without requiring reconfiguration to the second access point by the station other than changing channels.

2. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method in a controller of a wireless communication network deploying multiple access points on multiple communication channels to optimize a coverage area while minimizing interference, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication that channel capacity is above a limit on the wireless communication network;

collecting RSSI (received signal strength indicator) values for each station heard from each of a plurality of access points managed by the controller;

assigning a first subset of the plurality of access points to a first communication channel including a selection of access points sufficient to provide coverage to as many stations as possible on the first communication channel, wherein the selection comprises determining the highest goodness-index among the plurality of access points as a factor to assigning the first subset, the goodness-index based on a difference between an RSSI value of a best AP and an RSSI value of a next best AP, the goodness-index being indicative of whether an AP is properly assigned;

assigning a second subset of the plurality of access points to a second communication channel including remaining access points of the plurality of access points not in the first subset of the plurality of access points based on the goodness-index;

sending messages to the plurality of access points with channel assignments; and

handing-off a station from a first access point on the first communication channel to a second access point on the second communication channel without requiring reconfiguration to the second access point by the station other than changing channels.

3. A controller server of a wireless communication network deploying multiple access points on multiple communication channels to optimize a coverage area while minimizing interference, the controller server comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, storing;

a first module to receive an indication that channel capacity is above a limit on the wireless communication network and to collect RSSI (received signal strength indicator) values for each station heard from each of a plurality of access points managed by the controller;

a second module to assign a first subset of the plurality of access points to a first communication channel to including a selection of access points sufficient to provide coverage to as many stations as possible on the first communication channel, wherein the selection comprises determining the highest goodness-index among the plurality of access points as a factor to assigning the first subset, the goodness-index based on a difference between an RSSI value of a best AP and an RSSI value of a next best AP, the goodness-index being indicative of whether an AP is properly assigned;

a third module to assign a second subset of the plurality of access points to a second communication channel including remaining access points of the plurality of access points not in the first subset of the plurality of access points based on the goodness-index;

a fourth module to sent messages to the plurality of access points with channel assignments; and

a fifth module to hand-off a station from a first access point on the first communication channel to a second access point on the second communication channel without requiring reconfiguration to the second access point by the station other than changing channels.