Radio resource management in wireless local area networks

• US 20050153702A1
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marinier, Paul, Roy, Vincent, Cave, Christopher, Cuffaro, Angelo
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/452.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/08 Load shedding arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/20 using error rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/24 using SIR [Signal to Interference Ratio] or other wireless path parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/34 TPC management, i.e. sharing limited amount of power among users or channels or data types, e.g. cell loading

Abstract

A method for radio resource management (RRM) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) having an access point and a station begins by obtaining a first group of parameters from a current traffic channel. Measurements from all available channels are taken for a second group of parameters. The radio resources of the WLAN are autonomously managed by selectively invoking at least one RRM algorithm that uses at least one parameter. A RRM algorithm may be invoked based upon results produced by a previously executed RRM algorithm, whereby RRM algorithms may be continuously invoked such that the radio resources are autonomously managed.

Claims

1. A method for radio resource management (RRM) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) having an access point (AP) and a station, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first group of parameters from a current traffic channel;

taking measurements from all available channels for a second group of parameters; and

managing the radio resources of the WLAN autonomously by selectively invoking at least one RRM algorithm that uses at least one parameter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the taking step includes taking measurements during a silent period when the AP is not transmitting.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the managing step includes invoking a RRM algorithm based upon results produced by a previously executed RRM algorithm, whereby RRM algorithms may be continuously invoked such that the radio resources are autonomously managed.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one RRM algorithm is selected from the group consisting of:

rate control/scheduling, power control, energy detect threshold control, and frequency selection.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

acknowledgement, clear channel assessment, transmission data rate, received signal strength indicator, packet duration, packet error rate, and deferral rate.

6. A self-configuring access point (AP), comprising:

a measuring device for measuring a group of parameters of an environment of the AP;

an automatic power and channel selection device for determining transmission power levels and selecting channels based on the parameters;

a load balancing device for balancing a load between APs based on the group of parameters and not using inter-AP communication;

an interference management device for use in compensating for external and internal interference based on the group of parameters; and

a link controller to monitor downlink quality and to adjust scheduling and data rate.

7. A self-configuring access point (AP), comprising:

measuring means for measuring a group of parameters of an environment of the AP;

automatic power and channel selection means for determining transmission power levels and selecting channels based on the parameters;

load balancing means for balancing a load between APs based on the group of parameters and not using inter-AP communication;

interference management means for use in compensating for external and internal interference based on the group of parameters; and

link control means for monitoring downlink quality and adjusting scheduling and data rate.

8. An integrated circuit for radio resource management (RRM) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) having an access point (AP) and a station, the integrated circuit comprising:

obtaining means for obtaining a first group of parameters from a current traffic channel;

measurement means taking measurements from all available channels for a second group of parameters; and

managing means for managing the radio resources of the WLAN autonomously by selectively invoking at least one RRM algorithm that uses at least one parameter.