Program for distributed channel selection, power adjustment and load balancing decisions in a wireless network

• US 8,781,487 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2007
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Piccata Fund Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Backes, Floyd, Vacon, Gary, Callahan, Paul, Hawe, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajibade Akonai, Olumide T
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLLIDAY, JAIME MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US11/676,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20070195721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,702 Days
• Field of Search: 455/434, 4554351-4353, 455/436, 455450-453
• US Class Current: 455/452.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/04 Traffic adaptive resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/06 Hybrid resource partitioning, e.g. channel borrowing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/08 Load balancing or load distribution transferring a connection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0862 of same hierarchy level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0983 for optimizing bandwidth or throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 : for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/20 : for optimising the interference level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 : by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/08 : based on transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/18 : based on predicted events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/36 : due to handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 : based on traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 : Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/17 : Selecting a data network PoA [Point of Attachment]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 : using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/10 : Open loop power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/18 : TPC being performed according to specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/225 : Calculation of statistics, e.g. average, variance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/226 : using past references to control power, e.g. look-up-table
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/228 : using past power values or information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/24 : using SIR [Signal to Interference Ratio] or other wireless path parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/245 : taking into account received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/246 : where the output power of a terminal is based on a path parameter calculated in said terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/247 : where the output power of a terminal is based on a path parameter sent by another terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 : Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/285 : taking into account the mobility of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/286 : during data packet transmission, e.g. high speed packet access [HSPA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/287 : when the channel is in stand-by
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/288 : taking into account the usage mode, e.g. hands-free, data transmission, telephone
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/343 : taking into account loading or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 : Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 : at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 : Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 : with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 : Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 : based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 : based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 : Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 : Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 : Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 : with access to wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 : between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 : between access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The performance and ease of management of wireless communications environments is improved by a mechanism that enables access points (APs) to perform automatic channel selection. A wireless network can therefore include multiple APs, each of which will automatically choose a channel such that channel usage is optimized. Furthermore, APs can perform automatic power adjustment so that multiple APs can operate on the same channel while minimizing interference with each other. Wireless stations are load balanced across APs so that user bandwidth is optimized. A movement detection scheme provides seamless roaming of stations between APs.

Claims

1. A computer program product for use in a wireless local area network communications environment including a plurality of access points and a plurality of mobile stations, the computer program product stored on non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

code configured to, in response to restart, before transmitting regular beacons, cause a first access point to;

select a wireless channel front a plurality of available channels;

transmit, on the selected wireless channel, and before utilizing the channel for transmission of non-management data to a mobile station, a claim message indicative of an intent to utilize the selected channel for transmission of non-management data to a mobile station;

code configured to select, in response to receipt of a claim message from at least one second access point indicative of utilization of or an intent to utilize the selected wireless channel, which of the first and at least one second access points will utilize the selected channel; and

wherein when first access point is selected to utilize the selected channel, the first access point utilizes the selected channel,

wherein when first access point is not selected to utilize the selected channel, the first access point will utilize another channel from the plurality of available channels, the another channel being different from the selected channel, and

wherein the code configured to select is configured to make a non-random selection.

2. The program product of claim 1 further including causing the first access point to transmit announce messages to indicate presence and protocol capability.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the code configured to select is configured to give priority in the selection process to whichever of the first and at least one second access points is closer to the center of a network.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the claim message from the at least one second access point includes the number of access points that the corresponding at least one second access point has heard from, and the code configured to select includes code configured to:

first compare (a) a number of access points that the first access point has heard from with (b) a number of access points identified in the claim message from the at least one second access point;

assign priority in selection based on the comparing.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the code configured to assign comprises code configured to maintain a claim on the selected channel by the first access point when the number of access points that the first access point has heard from is greater than the number of access points identified in the claim message from the at least one second access point.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising, code configured to second compare, where the first code configured to compare results in a tie, (a) power level based data of access points that the first access point has heard from with (b) power level based data identified in the claim message from the at least one second access point.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, second comparing, when the first comparing results in a tie, (a) power level based data of access points that the first access point has heard from with (b) power level based data identified in the claim message from the at least one second access point.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a higher number indicates that the particular access point is closer to the center of the network.

9. A method for managing channel use a wireless local area network communications environment including a plural of access points and a plurality of mobile stations, the method comprising:

causing, in response to restart and before transmitting regular beacons, a first access point to;

select a wireless channel from a plurality of available channels;

transmit, on the selected wireless channel, and before utilizing the channel for transmission of non-management data to a mobile station, a claim message indicative of an intent to utilize the selected channel for transmission of non-management data to a mobile station;

selecting, in response to receipt of a claim message from at least one second access point indicative of utilization of or an intent to utilize the selected wireless channel, which of the first and at least one second access points will utilize the selected channel; and

wherein when first access point is selected to utilize the selected channel, the first access point utilizes the selected channel,

wherein when first access point is not selected to utilize the selected channel, the first access point cannot use the selected channel and will instead utilize another channel from the plurality of available channels, and

wherein the selecting comprises a non-random selection.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the selecting gives priority to whichever of the first and at least one second access points is closer to a center of a network.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the claim message from the at least one second access point includes the number of access points that the corresponding at least one second access point has heard from, and the selecting further comprises:

first comparing (a) a number of access points that the first access point has heard from with (b) a number of access points identified in the claim message from the at least one second access point;

assigning priority in selection based on the comparing.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein assigning comprises maintaining a claim on the selected channel by the first access point when the number of access points that the first access point has heard from is greater than the number of access points identified in the claim message from the at least one second access point.

13. A method for managing a plurality of access points in a WLAN, the network having a center and a periphery, at an access point in response to restart and before transmitting regular beacons:

selecting a wireless channel from a plurality of available channels;

transmitting, on the selected wireless channel and before utilizing the channel for transmission of non-management data to a mobile station, a transmitted claim message indicative of an intent to utilize the selected channel for transmission of non-management data to a mobile station;

identifying, for the selected wireless channel, any conflicting use or intent to use of the selected wireless channel from competing access points within the plurality of access points;

utilizing the selected wireless channel when the identifying fails to identify any conflict;

resolving the conflict when identified, comprising;

maintaining a claim to the selected channel when parameters indicate that the access point is likely closer to the center than competing access points; and

surrendering the claim to the selected channel when parameters indicate that the access point is likely farther from the center than at least one of the competing access points;

selecting a wireless channel from the plurality of available channels; and

repeating the transmitting, identifying and resolving for the Previously Presented selected wireless channel.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the parameters include a number of access points that a particular access point has heard from.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the parameters include a power level based data of access points that the particular access point has heard from, and reliance is made on the power level data when the higher number results in a tie.

16. A method for managing channel use in a wireless local area network communications environment including a plurality of access points and a plurality of mobile stations, the method comprising at a first access point:

first selecting, in response to restart, a wireless channel from a plurality of available channels;

determining, in response to a competing claim for the selected wireless channel by at least one other second access point, whether the first access point will utilize the selected channel; and

second selecting, when first access point is not determined to utilize the selected wireless channel, another channel from the plurality of available channels, and wherein the second selecting comprises;

selecting a new wireless channel from the plurality of available channels; and

repeating the determining for the new selected wireless channel; and

repeating, when the repeated determining determines that the first access point will not utilize the new selected wireless channel, the second selecting.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising utilizing the selected wireless channel when the determining fails to identify any competing claim.

18. A method for managing channel use in a wireless local area network communications environment including a plurality of access points and a plurality of mobile stations, the method comprising at a first access point:

first selecting, in response to restart, a wireless channel from a plurality of available channels;

determining, in response to a competing claim for the selected wireless channel by at least one other second access point, whether the first access point will utilize the selected channel, comprising;

maintaining a claim to the selected channel when parameters indicate that the access point is likely closer to the center than any competing access points; and

surrendering the claim to the selected channel when parameters indicate that the access point is likely farther from the center than at least one of the competing access points;

second selecting, when first access point is not determined to utilize the selected wireless channel, another channel from the plurality of available channels.

19. A computer program product for use in a wireless local area network communications environment including a plurality of access points and a plurality of mobile stations, the computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

code configured to, in response to restart, cause a first access point to;

select a wireless channel from a plurality of available channels;

determine, in response to a competing claim for the selected wireless channel by at least one other second access point, whether the first access point will utilize the selected channel; and

second select, when first access point is not determined to utilize the selected wireless channel, another channel from the plurality of available channels;

wherein the second select comprises;

select a new wireless channel from the plurality of available channels; and

repeat the execution of the code configured to determine for the new selected wireless channel; and

repeat, when the repeat the execution of the code configured to determine determines that the first access point will not utilize the new selected wireless channel, execution of the code configured to cause the first access point to second select.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising code configured to utilize the selected wireless channel when the code configured to determine fails to identify any competing claim.

21. A computer program product for use in a wireless local area network communications environment including a plurality of access points and a plurality of mobile stations, the computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

code configured to, in response to restart, cause a first access point to;

select a wireless channel from a plurality of available channels;

determine, in response to a competing claim for the selected wireless channel by at least one other second access point, whether the first access point will utilize the selected channel comprising;

maintain a claim to the selected channel when parameters indicate that the access point is likely closer to the center than any competing access points; and

surrender the claim to the selected channel when parameters indicate that the access point is likely farther from the center than at least one of the competing access points;

second select, when first access point is not determined to utilize the selected wireless channel, another channel from the plurality of available channels.

22. An access point configured to managing channel use in a wireless local area network communications environment with other access points and a plurality of mobile stations, the access comprising:

a memory;

a processor cooperating with the memory and being configured to;

select a wireless channel from a plurality of available channels;

determine, in response to a competing claim for the selected wireless channel by at least one other second access point, whether the first access point will utilize the selected channel; and

second select, when first access point is not determined to utilize the selected wireless channel, another channel from the plurality of available channels;

wherein the second select comprises;

select a new wireless channel from the plurality of available channels; and

repeat the determine for the new selected wireless channel; and

repeat, when the repeated determine determines that the first access point will not utilize the new selected wireless channel, the second selecting.

23. The access point of claim 22 wherein the processor is configured to utilize the selected wireless channel when the determine fails to identify any competing claim.

24. An access point configured to managing channel use in a wireless local area network communications environment with other access points and a plurality of mobile stations, the access comprising:

a memory;

a processor cooperating with the memory and being configured to;

select a wireless channel from a plurality of available channels;

determine, in response to a competing claim for the selected wireless channel by at least one other second access point, whether the first access point will utilize the selected channel, comprising;

maintain a claim to the selected channel when parameters indicate that the access point is likely closer to the center than any competing access points; and

surrender the claim to the selected channel when parameters indicate that the access point is likely farther from the center than at least one of the competing access points;

second select, when first access point is not determined to utilize the selected wireless channel, another channel from the plurality, of available channels.

25. A system for managing channel use in a wireless local area network communications environment including a plurality of access points and a plurality of mobile stations, the system comprising at a first access point:

means for first selecting, in response to restart, a wireless channel from a plurality of available channels;

means for determining, in response to a competing claim for the selected wireless channel by at least One other second access point, whether the first access point will utilize the selected channel; and

means for second selecting, when first access point is not determined to utilize the selected wireless channel, another channel from the plurality of available channels, and wherein the means for second selecting comprises;

means for selecting a new wireless channel from the plurality of available channels; and

means for repeating the determining for the new selected wireless channel; and

means for repeating, when the repeated determining determines that the first access point will not utilize the new selected wireless channel, the second selecting.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprising means for utilizing the selected wireless channel when the means for determining fails to identify any competing claim.

27. A system for managing channel use in a wireless local area network communications environment including a plurality of access points and a plurality of mobile stations, the system comprising at a first access point:

means for first selecting, in response to restart, a wireless channel from a plurality of available channels;

means for determining, in response to a competing claim for the selected wireless channel by at least one other second access point, whether the first access point will utilize the selected channel, comprising;

means for maintaining a claim to the selected channel when parameters indicate that the access point is likely closer to the center than any competing access points; and

means for surrendering the claim to the selected channel when parameters indicate that the access point is likely farther from the center than at least one of the competing access points;

means for second selecting, when first access point is not determined to utilize the selected wireless channel, another channel from the plurality of available channels.