Bandwidth allocation

• US 20040114606A1
• Filed: 07/30/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Haddad, Wassim
• Application Number:
  US10/629,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114606A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.41
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/707 using direct sequence modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/713 using frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/04 Traffic adaptive resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

A method is provided of allocating bandwidth in a wireless LAN having a plurality of access points, each using the same wireless technology for data communication with users. The method comprises continuously monitoring bandwidth usage by each of the access points, and re-allocating bandwidth from a low bandwidth usage access point to a high bandwidth usage access point.

Claims

1. A method of allocating bandwidths in a wireless LAN having a plurality of access points each using the same wireless technology for data communication with users, the method comprising the steps of:

—

a) continuously monitoring bandwidth usage by each of the access points; and

b) re-allocating bandwidth from a low bandwidth usage access point to a high bandwidth usage access point.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access points each use the 802.11 wireless technology.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the 802.11 wireless technology uses DSSS.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein step b) is such as to re-allocate a first sub-bandwidth of DSSS associated with the low bandwidth usage access point to complement a second sub-bandwidth of DSSS associated with the high bandwidth usage access point, and the method further comprises the step of expanding the coverage of a third access point using the third sub-bandwidth of DSSS for data communication with the users of the access point previously operating under the first sub-bandwidth of DSSS.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the 802.11 wireless technology operates under FHSS.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein step b) is such as to re-allocate at least one FHSS bandwidth channel from the low bandwidth usage access point to the high bandwidth usage access point.

7. A wireless LAN constituted by a plurality of access points each using the same wireless technology for data communication with users, wherein the LAN is provided with means for continuously monitoring bandwidth usage by each of the access points, and for re-allocating bandwidth from a low bandwidth usage access point to a high bandwidth usage access point.

8. A LAN as claimed in claim 7, wherein the access points each use the 802.11 wireless technology.

9. A LAN as claimed in claim 8, wherein the 802.11 wireless technology uses DSSS.

10. A LAN as claimed in claim 9, wherein the monitoring and re-allocation means is such as to re-allocate a first sub-bandwidth of DSSS associated with the low bandwidth usage access point to complement a second sub-bandwidth of DSSS associated with the high bandwidth usage access point, and said means is such as to expand the coverage of a third access point using the third sub-bandwidth of DSSS for data communication with the users of the access point previously operating under the first sub-bandwidth of DSSS.

11. A LAN as claimed in claim 8, wherein the 802.11 wireless technology operates under FHSS.

12. A LAN as claimed in claim 11, wherein the monitoring and re-allocation means is such as to re-allocate at least one FHSS bandwidth channel from the low bandwidth usage access point to the high bandwidth usage access point.

13. A method of allocating bandwidths in a wireless LAN having a plurality of access points each using the 802.11, DSSS wireless technology for data communication with users, the method comprising the steps of:

—

a) continuously monitoring bandwidth usage by each of the access points; and

b) re-allocating bandwidth from a low bandwidth usage access point to a high bandwidth usage access point;

wherein

step b) is such as to re-allocate a first sub-bandwidth of DSSS associated with the low bandwidth usage access point to complement a second sub-bandwidth of DSSS associated with the high bandwidth usage access point, and the method further comprises the step of expanding the coverage of a third access point using the third sub-bandwidth of DSSS for data communication with the users of the access point previously operating under the first sub-bandwidth of DSSS.

14. A method of allocating bandwidths in a wireless LAN having a plurality of access points each using the 802.11, FSSS wireless technology for data communication with users, the method comprising the steps of:

—

a) continuously monitoring bandwidth usage by each of the access points; and

b) re-allocating bandwidth from a low bandwidth usage access point to a high bandwidth usage access point;

wherein

step b) is such as to re-allocate at least one FHSS bandwidth channel from the low bandwidth usage access point to the high bandwidth usage access point.

15. A wireless LAN constituted by a plurality of access points each using 802.11, DSSS wireless technology for data communication with users, wherein the LAN is provided with means for continuously monitoring bandwidth usage by each of the access points, and for re-allocating bandwidth from a low bandwidth usage access point to a high bandwidth usage access point;

and wherein the monitoring and re-allocation means is such as to re-allocate a first sub-bandwidth of DSSS associated with the low bandwidth usage access point to complement a second sub-bandwidth of DSSS associated with the high bandwidth usage access point, and said means is such as to expand the coverage of a third access point using the third sub-bandwidth of DSSS for data communication with the users of the access point previously operating under the first sub-bandwidth of DSSS.

16. A wireless LAN constituted by a plurality of access points each using 802.11, FSSS wireless technology for data communication with users, wherein the LAN is provided with means for continuously monitoring bandwidth usage by each of the access points, and for re-allocating bandwidth from a low bandwidth usage access point to a high bandwidth usage access point;

and wherein the monitoring and re-allocation means is such as to re-allocate at least one FHSS bandwidth channel from the low bandwidth usage access point to the high bandwidth usage access point.