Method and system for dynamically assigning channels across multiple radios in a wireless LAN
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- monitoring, at one or more wireless network access elements, signal strength of signals transmitted by respective neighboring wireless network access elements;
collecting information from said wireless network access elements and converting said information into reportable data about signal strength observed during the monitoring the signal strength of signals by the one or more wireless network access elements and about access element load, wherein the reportable data about access element load includes data regarding wireless network traffic load corresponding to each of said wireless network access elements over a period of time; and
identifying a combination of channel assignments for the one or more wireless network access elements from a plurality of possible combinations of channel assignments and assigning radio frequency (RF) channels for concurrent, respective use by said wireless network access elements based on the identified combination of channel assignments, wherein the identified combination of channel assignments is selected based on assessment of a performance metric function that includes as factors the signal strength observed by the one or more wireless network access elements, the access element load, and, for each combination of channel assignments, interference associated with concurrent signal transmissions of the wireless network access elements based on such combination of channel assignments for the wireless network access elements and at least one of the RF channels adjacent to the RF channels assigned in the possible combination of channel assignments.
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Abstract
In a fixed channel wireless network system with a limited number of channels, assignment of the fixed channels between remote client elements and access elements is made systematically according to a set of criteria accounting for network loading and interference, then channel assignments are dynamically updated according to a priority to maintain optimal network performance with changing conditions of load and interference. The channel utilization problem is address at a system level rather than at a local level by treating the system as a three dimensional color mapping problem. All noise is treated as having a source in virtual access elements with an appropriate performance metric. The performance metric is used to select a channel set that minimize chances of interference and maximize user performance. Specifically, there are several parameter matrices which are managed and updated by a central resource management element, namely signal strength between elements, interference, and load. These matrices are used to find the optimal channel assignments for a predetermined limited set of assignable channels. In one implementation, the channel assignment methodology takes into account the interference associated with access elements operating on a selected channel, as well as the interference or energy that spills over (or is otherwise observable) on physical channels adjacent to the selected channel.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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monitoring, at one or more wireless network access elements, signal strength of signals transmitted by respective neighboring wireless network access elements; collecting information from said wireless network access elements and converting said information into reportable data about signal strength observed during the monitoring the signal strength of signals by the one or more wireless network access elements and about access element load, wherein the reportable data about access element load includes data regarding wireless network traffic load corresponding to each of said wireless network access elements over a period of time; and identifying a combination of channel assignments for the one or more wireless network access elements from a plurality of possible combinations of channel assignments and assigning radio frequency (RF) channels for concurrent, respective use by said wireless network access elements based on the identified combination of channel assignments, wherein the identified combination of channel assignments is selected based on assessment of a performance metric function that includes as factors the signal strength observed by the one or more wireless network access elements, the access element load, and, for each combination of channel assignments, interference associated with concurrent signal transmissions of the wireless network access elements based on such combination of channel assignments for the wireless network access elements and at least one of the RF channels adjacent to the RF channels assigned in the possible combination of channel assignments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for dynamically assigning said physical channels to a set of wireless network access elements, comprising:
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a first resource management module associated with each access element for collecting physical layer information from said wireless network access elements and converting said physical layer information into reportable data about signal strength observed during the monitoring the signal strength of signals by the one or more wireless network access elements and about access element load, wherein the reportable data about access element load includes data regarding wireless network traffic load corresponding to each of said wireless network access elements over a period of time; and a second resource management module associated with said central control element, said second resource management module in communication via a packetized communication path with said first resource management module, for processing said reportable data to identify a combination of channel assignments for the one or more wireless network access elements from a plurality of possible combinations of channel assignments and assign radio frequency (RF) channels for concurrent, respective use by said wireless network access elements based on the identified combination of channel assignments;
said second resource management module being operative to cause one or more access elements to monitor signal strength of signals transmitted by respective neighboring wireless network access elements; and
select the identified combination of channel assignments based on assessment of a performance metric function that includes as factors the signal strength observed by the one or more wireless network access elements, the access element load, and, for each combination of channel assignments, interference associated with concurrent signal transmissions of the wireless network access elements based on such combination of channel assignments for the wireless network access elements and at least one of the RF channels adjacent to the RF channels assigned in the possible combination of channel assignments. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for monitoring, at one or more wireless network access elements, signal strength of signals transmitted by respective neighboring wireless network access elements; means for collecting physical layer information from said wireless network access elements and converting said physical layer information into reportable data about signal strength observed during the monitoring the signal strength of signals by the one or more wireless network access elements and about access element load, wherein the reportable data about access element load includes data regarding wireless network traffic load corresponding to each of said wireless network access elements over a period of time; and means for identifying a combination of channel assignments for the one or more wireless network access elements from a plurality of possible combinations of channel assignments and assigning radio frequency (RF) channels for concurrent, respective use by said wireless network access elements based on the identified combination of channel assignments, wherein the identified combination of channel assignments is selected based on assessment of a performance metric function that includes as factors the signal strength observed by the one or more wireless network access elements, the access element load, and, for each combination of channel assignments, interference associated with concurrent signal transmissions of the wireless network access elements based on such combination of channel assignments for the wireless network access elements and at least one of the RF channels adjacent to the RF channels assigned in the possible combination of channel assignments.
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Specification