Channel assignment for wireless access networks
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- computing a neighbor impact metric corresponding to a particular access point in a wireless network of access points;
assigning channels to the access points based at least in part on results of the computing;
operating at least the particular access point in accordance with the assigned channels;
wherein the neighbor impact metric is in accordance with a quantity of one-hop neighbors of the particular access point, a quantity of two-hop neighbors of the particular access point, and a quantity of neighbors not part of the wireless network; and
wherein the neighbor impact metric is in accordance with traffic load on the access points.
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Abstract
Channel assignment for wireless access networks is directed toward improved overall communication capability of the networks. A network is formed of wireless access points (APs) coupled via wired (and/or wireless) links and enabled to communicate with clients via radio channels of each of the APs. Local information is collected at each of the APs and processed to determine channel assignments according to a Neighbor Impact Metric (NIM) that accounts for one-hop and two-hop neighbors as well as neighbors not part of the network. Optionally, the NIM accounts for traffic load on the APs. The channel assignments are determined either on a centralized resource (such as a server or one of the APs) or via a distributed scheme across the APs. The local information includes how busy a channel is and local operating conditions such as error rate and interference levels.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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computing a neighbor impact metric corresponding to a particular access point in a wireless network of access points; assigning channels to the access points based at least in part on results of the computing; operating at least the particular access point in accordance with the assigned channels; wherein the neighbor impact metric is in accordance with a quantity of one-hop neighbors of the particular access point, a quantity of two-hop neighbors of the particular access point, and a quantity of neighbors not part of the wireless network; and wherein the neighbor impact metric is in accordance with traffic load on the access points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having a set of instructions stored therein that when executed by a processing element cause the processing element to perform functions comprising:
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computing a neighbor impact metric corresponding to a particular access point in a wireless network of access points; assigning channels to the access points based at least in part on results of the computing; operating at least the particular access point in accordance with the assigned channels; wherein the neighbor impact metric is in accordance with a quantity of one-hop neighbors of the particular access point, a quantity of two-hop neighbors of the particular access point, and a quantity of neighbors not part of the wireless network; and wherein the neighbor impact metric is in accordance with traffic load on the access points. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; a memory readable by the processor; a wireless interface; wherein the memory is enabled to store instructions that when executed by the processor enable the processor to perform functions comprising; computing a neighbor impact metric corresponding to a particular access point in a wireless network of access points, assigning channels to the access points based at least in part on results of the computing, and operating the wireless interface in accordance with the assigned channels; wherein the neighbor impact metric is in accordance with a quantity of one-hop neighbors of the particular access point, a quantity of two-hop neighbors of the particular access point, and a quantity of neighbors not part of the wireless network; and wherein the neighbor impact metric is in accordance with traffic load on the access points. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification