System and method for enabling the use of spatially distributed multichannel wireless access points/base stations

• US 20030220112A1
• Filed: 01/09/2003
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Engim, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Engim, Inc.
• Inventors: Bugeja, Alex
• Application Number:
  US10/339,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220112A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/446
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/06 Hybrid resource partitioning, e.g. channel borrowing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/26 using transmission rate or quality of service QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A system and method are provided for enabling the use of spatially distributed multichannel wireless access points or base stations. There is enabled a setup which allows frequency reuse whilst still giving many clients around the access points access to the multiple channel capability of each access point. This allows larger overall communication bandwidths to be obtained on average, even within the constraints of frequency reuse.

Claims

1. A wireless access system comprising:

multiple cells, each having one or more primary channels with adjacent cells having different primary channels; and

within a cell, an access point transmitting on the one or more primary channels and at lesser power on a secondary channel exclusive of the primary channel, the access point assigning channels to wireless clients.

2. The wireless access system of claim 1 wherein the access point senses relative distance of clients and assigns secondary channels to closer clients.

3. The wireless access system of claim 2 wherein the access point senses power to sense relative distance.

4. The wireless access system of claim 1 wherein clocks in each access point are synchronized.

5. The wireless access system of claim 4 wherein the access point expands the secondary channels to fill the cell for a limited time agreed upon with other access points.

6. The wireless access system of claim 5 wherein the access point retransmits, upon detecting a collision of its transmission with transmissions from the client or another access point.

7. The wireless access system of claim 5 wherein the client retransmits, upon detecting a collision of its transmission with transmissions from another client or the access point.

8. The wireless access system of claim 7 wherein collisions are reduced by limiting transmission by the client to a pre-determined time slot.

9. The wireless access system of claim 1 wherein a multichannel client is restricted to primary channels in an outer region of the cell.

10. The wireless access system of claim 9 wherein the multi channel client transmits over all available channels simultaneously.

11. A method for increasing bandwidth in a wireless access system comprising the steps of:

assigning different primary channels to adjacent cells;

within a cell, transmitting from the primary channel and at lesser power on a secondary channel exclusive of the primary channel; and

assigning channels to wireless clients.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of assigning further comprises:

sensing relative distance of clients; and

assigning secondary channels to closer clients.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of sensing further comprises:

sensing power to sense relative distance.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein clocks in each access point are synchronized.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

expanding the secondary channels to fill the cell for a limited time agreed with other access points.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

re-transmitting by the access point, upon detecting a collision of its transmission with transmission from another access point or the client.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

re-transmitting by the client, upon detecting a collision of its transmission with transmission from another client or the access point.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

limiting transmission by the client to predetermined time slots to reduce collisions.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein a multichannel client is restricted to primary channels in an outer region of the cell.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the multi channel client transmits over all available channels simultaneously.