Wlan operating on multiple adjacent bands

• US 20070037595A1
• Filed: 08/11/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allied Telesis Israel Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Extricom Limited (Allied Telesis Holdings KK)
• Inventors: Shpak, Eran
• Granted Patent: US 7,813,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/509
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters

Abstract

A method for communication includes deploying a plurality of access points, which have respective coverage areas and are configured to operate on a common frequency channel, in a service region of a wireless local area network (WLAN), so that the coverage areas of the access points overlap. A first access point is selected to transmit downlink signals to a station in the service region of the WLAN at a certain downlink data rate. The station is instructed to transmit uplink signals at an uplink data rate that is less than the downlink data rate, so that the uplink signals can be received and decoded by both the first and second access points.

Claims

1. A method for communication, comprising:

deploying a plurality of access points, comprising at least first and second access points, which have respective coverage areas and are configured to operate on a common frequency channel, in a service region of a wireless local area network (WLAN), so that the coverage areas of the access points overlap;

selecting the first access point to transmit downlink signals to a station in the service region of the WLAN;

setting a downlink data rate for transmission of the downlink signals from the first access point to the station; and

instructing the station to transmit uplink signals at an uplink data rate that is less than the downlink data rate, so that the uplink signals can be received and decoded by both the first and second access points.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the access points comprise at least first and second radio transceivers, which are collocated at a location of the first access point, and which are configured to operate on at least first and second respective, adjacent frequency channels, and

wherein instructing the station to transmit the uplink signals at the uplink data rate enables the second access point to receive and decode the uplink signals on the first frequency channel while the second radio transceiver transmits downlink signals on the second frequency channel.

3. The method according to claim 2, and comprising, while the first radio transceiver at the first access point is receiving the uplink signals on the first frequency channel, instructing the first access point to delay transmission of the downlink signals on the second frequency channel.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein deploying the access points comprises linking the access points to communicate over a communication medium, and wherein selecting the first access point comprises appointing the first access point to transmit the downlink signals by sending messages to and from the access points over the communication medium.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein sending the messages comprises receiving an initial uplink signal from the station at both the first and second access points, reporting receipt of the initial uplink signal by sending first and second messages from the first and second access points over the communication medium, and choosing the first access point to respond to the initial uplink signal responsively to the first and second messages.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein appointing the first access point comprises receiving the first and second messages over the communication medium at an access manager, and sending at least a third message from the access manager to the first access point, so as to instruct the first access point to transmit the downlink signals and to inform the first access point of the downlink and uplink data rates.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein setting the downlink data rate comprises choosing a first rate from a list of available data rates in the WLAN, and wherein instructing the station comprises choosing a second rate from the list.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the data rates in the list are spaced by predetermined increments, and wherein the second rate is lower than the first rate by one increment.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein choosing the first rate comprises assessing channel conditions in the WLAN, and selecting a maximal rate from the list that is compatible with the channel conditions.

10. Apparatus for communication, comprising:

a plurality of access points, comprising at least first and second access points, which have respective coverage areas and are configured to operate on a common frequency channel, and which are arranged for deployment in a service region of a wireless local area network (WLAN) so that the coverage areas of the access points overlap; and

an access manager, which is configured to communicate with the access points, so as to select the first access point to transmit downlink signals to a station in the service region of the WLAN, to set a downlink data rate for transmission of the downlink signals from the first access point to the station, and to cause at least one of the access points to instruct the station to transmit uplink signals at an uplink data rate that is less than the downlink data rate, so that the uplink signals can be received and decoded by both the first and second access points.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the access points comprise at least first and second radio transceivers, which are collocated at a location of the first access point, and which are configured to operate on at least first and second respective, adjacent frequency channels, and

wherein instructing the station to transmit the uplink signals at the uplink data rate enables the second access point to receive and decode the uplink signals on the first frequency channel while the second radio transceiver transmits downlink signals on the first frequency channel.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the access manager is operative, while the first radio transceiver at the first access point is receiving the uplink signals on the first frequency channel, to instruct the first access point to delay transmission of the downlink signals on the second frequency channel.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, and comprising a communication medium linking the access points and the access manager, wherein the access point is adapted to appoint the first access point to transmit the downlink signals by sending messages to and from the access points over the communication medium.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first and second access points are adapted to receive and decode an initial uplink signal from the station and to report receipt of the initial uplink signal to the access manager by sending respective first and second messages over the communication medium, and wherein the access manager is adapted to appoint the first access point to respond to the initial uplink signal responsively to the first and second messages by sending at least a third message from the access manager to the first access point.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the access manager is adapted to choose the downlink and uplink data rate from a list of available data rates in the WLAN.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the data rates in the list are spaced by predetermined increments, and wherein the uplink data rate is lower than the downlink data rate by one increment.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the access manager is adapted to assess channel conditions in the WLAN, and to select a maximal rate from the list that is compatible with the channel conditions for use as the downlink data rate.