Method for reducing radio interference between wireless access points

• US 20070178939A1
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Raftelis, Michael, Hurst, William, Wollmershauser, Steven
• Application Number:
  US11/343,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20070178939A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/560
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for reducing radio interference between wireless access points. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) (102) having a controller (103) that manages operations of a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs) (108) by way of a communication system (100) coupled thereto. The plurality of WAPs can conform to one among IEEE'"'"'s 802.11 a, b, g and n protocols. The controller can be programmed to determine (302) a mode of operations for each of the plurality of WAPs, and selectively reconfigure (308) operations of at least one of the plurality of WAPs to reduce radio interference therebetween. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A network management system (NMS), comprising:

a controller that manages operations of a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs) by way of a communication system coupled thereto, wherein the plurality of WAPs conform to one among EEEE'"'"'s 802.11 protocols, and wherein the controller is programmed to;

determine a mode of operations for each of the plurality of WAPs; and

selectively reconfigure operations of at least one of the plurality of WAPs to reduce radio interference therebetween.

2. The NMS of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to select one among channels 1, 6 and 11 to reduce radio interference of the at least one of the plurality of WAPs.

3. The NMS of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to selectively reconfigure operations of the at least one of the plurality of WAPs according to at least one among a physical location of each of the plurality of WAPs, relative positions of the plurality of the WAPs, and operating parameters of the plurality of WAPS.

4. The NMS of claim 3, wherein the operating parameters comprise at least one among a transmission power level and a channel of operation for each of the WAPs.

5. The NMS of claim 1, wherein the NMS is remotely located from the plurality of WAPs.

6. The NMS of claim 1, wherein portions of the plurality of WAPs are located within one among a residence, and a commercial building.

7. The NMS of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to:

receive location readings from a portion of the plurality of WAPs; and

reconfigure the at least one of the plurality of WAPs according to the location readings.

8. The NMS of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to:

determine a location for each of the plurality of WAPs according to a Service Set Identifier (SSID) of each of the WAPs; and

reconfigure the at least one of the plurality of WAPs according to its location.

9. The NMS of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to:

monitor at least one operating parameter of a portion of the plurality of WAPs; and

if radio interference between the WAPs can be improved, reconfigure operations of a portion of the plurality of WAPs while monitoring for an improvement in the at least one operating parameter of the portion of the plurality of WAPs.

10. The NMS of claim 9, wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises at least one among a data error rate, a signal to noise ratio, and a maximum data rate of a select WAP.

11. A computer-readable storage medium in a network management system (NMS), comprising computer instructions for selectively reconfiguring operations of at least one of a plurality of WAPs to reduce radio interference between the plurality of WAPs.

12. The storage medium of claim 11, comprising computer instructions for selecting one among channels 1, 6 and 11 to reduce radio interference of the at least one of the plurality of WAPs.

13. The storage medium of claim 11, comprising computer instructions for selectively reconfiguring operations of the at least one of the plurality of WAPs according to at least one among a physical location of each of the plurality of WAPs, relative positions of the plurality of the WAPs, and operating parameters of the plurality of WAPS.

14. The storage medium of claim 13, wherein the operating parameters comprise at least one among a transmission power level and a channel of operation for each of the WAPs.

15. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein the NMS is remotely located from the plurality of WAPs, and wherein the plurality of WAPs are located within one among a residence, and a commercial building.

16. The storage medium of claim 11, comprising computer instructions for reconfiguring the at least one of the plurality of WAPs according to location readings received from a portion of the plurality of WAPs.

17. The storage medium of claim 11, comprising computer instructions for reconfiguring the at least one of the plurality of WAPs according to its location relative to the other WAPs.

18. The storage medium of claim 11, comprising computer instructions for

monitoring at least one operating parameter of a portion of the plurality of WAPs, wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises at least one among a data error rate, a signal to noise ratio, and a maximum data rate of a select WAP;

and

if radio interference between the WAPs can be improved, reconfiguring operations of a portion of the plurality of WAPs according to the at least one operating parameter monitored.

19. A wireless access point (WAP), comprising a controller that manages operations of a transceiver for communicating with at least one communication device, and a GPS receiver for locating the WAP, wherein the controller is programmed to transmit to a network management system (NMS) one among a location of the WAP, and a mode of operations for reconfiguring the WAP to reduce radio interference with other WAPs.

20. The WAP of claim 19, wherein the controller is programmed to receive reconfiguration information from the NMS for reducing radio interference with other WAPs.

21. A method for configuring a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs), comprising:

surveying operations of the plurality of WAPs; and

reconfiguring a portion of the plurality of WAPs to reduce radio interference therebetween.