Facilitating wireless spectrum migration
First Claim
1. A method for migrating from a first spectrum allocation to a second spectrum allocation in a wireless network having a plurality of devices configured to support the first spectrum allocation and not configured to support the second spectrum allocation, comprising the steps of:
- adding to the wireless network a plurality of devices configured to support the second spectrum allocation; and
at a selected time, activating the devices configured to support the second spectrum allocation.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Migrating from a legacy spectrum allocation to a target spectrum allocation can be accomplished by adding new access points and, at a selected time, activating the new access points and deactivating the legacy access points with a remote network manager. Alternatively, the new access points can initially support legacy channels and at a selected time be reconfigured to support only the target channels. Alternatively, the new access points are initially activated in a mode which supports only a subset of the target channels and at a selected time reconfigured to support only the target channels. A remote network manager may be employed to remotely monitor, reconfigure, and trigger activation and deactivation of access points in support of the technique. New access points adapted to respond to inputs from the remote network manager further facilitate the invention. For example, the new access points may be remotely configurable to activate, deactivate, support a legacy spectrum or portions thereof, support a target spectrum or portions thereof, and provide traffic load and other data to the remote network manager.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for migrating from a first spectrum allocation to a second spectrum allocation in a wireless network having a plurality of devices configured to support the first spectrum allocation and not configured to support the second spectrum allocation, comprising the steps of:
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adding to the wireless network a plurality of devices configured to support the second spectrum allocation; and
at a selected time, activating the devices configured to support the second spectrum allocation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for migrating from a first spectrum allocation to a second spectrum allocation in a wireless network having a plurality of devices configured to support the first spectrum allocation and not configured to support the second spectrum allocation, comprising the steps of:
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adding to the wireless network a plurality of devices configured to selectably support either the first spectrum allocation or the second spectrum allocation;
activating the added devices in a mode which supports the first spectrum allocation; and
at a selected time, reconfiguring the added devices to support the second spectrum allocation. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A method for migrating from a first spectrum allocation to a second spectrum allocation in a wireless network having a plurality of devices configured to support the first spectrum allocation and not configured to support the second spectrum allocation, comprising the steps of:
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adding to the wireless network a plurality of devices configured to selectably support a portion of the second spectrum allocation;
activating the added devices in a mode which supports only a portion of the second spectrum allocation; and
at a selected time, reconfiguring the added devices to support the entire second spectrum allocation. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for migrating from a first spectrum allocation to a second spectrum allocation in a wireless network having a plurality of access points configured to support the first spectrum allocation and not configured to support the second spectrum allocation, comprising:
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a plurality of wireless access points configured to be added to the network to support the second spectrum allocation, and operable in response to a remote input; and
at least one device operable, at a selected time, to activate the access points configured to support the second spectrum allocation. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. Apparatus for migrating from a first spectrum allocation to a second spectrum allocation in a wireless network having a plurality of access points configured to support the first spectrum allocation and not configured to support the second spectrum allocation, comprising the steps of:
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a plurality of wireless access points configured to be added to the wireless network, and to selectably support either the first spectrum allocation or the second spectrum allocation, the access points being initially operative in a mode which supports the first spectrum allocation; and
at least one device operable to reconfigure the added access points to support the second spectrum allocation. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. Apparatus for migrating from a first spectrum allocation to a second spectrum allocation in a wireless network having a plurality of access points configured to support the first spectrum allocation and not configured to support the second spectrum allocation, comprising the steps of:
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a plurality of wireless access points configured to be added to the network and to selectably support a portion of the second spectrum allocation, and being operable initially in a mode which supports only a portion of the second spectrum allocation; and
at least one device operable to reconfigure the added access points to support the entire second spectrum allocation. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for migrating from a first communications framework to a second communications framework in a network having a plurality of devices configured to support the first communications framework and not configured to support the second communications framework, comprising the steps of:
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adding a plurality of devices configured to support the second communications framework to the network; and
at a selected time, activating the devices configured to support the second communications framework. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification