Method and apparatus for increasing spectrum use efficiency in a mesh network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of dynamically scheduling access point communication between wireless access points comprising:
- determining an interference condition on an available channel at a first access point;
comparing at the first access point the interference condition between at least two of a plurality of antenna elements;
canceling interference associated with the interference condition at the first access point based upon the comparison;
selecting at least one antenna element from the plurality of antenna elements at the first access point; and
scheduling the first access point to transmit to a second access point using the selected at least one antenna element from the plurality of antenna elements.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Mesh Network Access Points (APs) points, including gateways and routers, are deployed over a geographic area. The APs monitor the communication channel for other carriers and transmit accordingly. The APs selectively co-transmit when other carriers are sensed, if the efficiency of the mesh network will improve. APs select a transmission rate based on observed carrier-to-interference ratios. APs use directional antennas to increase carrier-to-interference ratios and spectral efficiency. AP transmit schedules are adaptable and adjusted according to observed carrier-to-interference measurements.
60 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method of dynamically scheduling access point communication between wireless access points comprising:
-
determining an interference condition on an available channel at a first access point; comparing at the first access point the interference condition between at least two of a plurality of antenna elements; canceling interference associated with the interference condition at the first access point based upon the comparison; selecting at least one antenna element from the plurality of antenna elements at the first access point; and scheduling the first access point to transmit to a second access point using the selected at least one antenna element from the plurality of antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions that upon execution cause a machine to:
-
determine an interference condition on an available channel at a first access point; compare at the first access point the interference condition between at least two of a plurality of antenna elements; cancel interference associated with the interference condition at the first access point based upon the comparison; select at least one antenna element from the plurality of antenna elements at the first access point; and schedule the first access point to transmit to a second access point using the selected at least one antenna element from the plurality of antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An apparatus for managing a communications resource in a mesh network, comprising:
a gateway configured to determine an interference condition on an available channel, configured to compare the interference condition between at least two of a plurality of antenna elements, configured to cancel interference associated with the interference condition based upon the comparison, configured to select at least one antenna element from the plurality of antenna elements, and configured to schedule transmissions to a router using the selected at least one antenna element from the plurality of antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
19. An apparatus for managing a communications resource in a mesh network, comprising:
-
means for determining an interference condition on an available channel at a first access point; means for comparing at the first access point the interference condition between at least two antenna elements of a plurality of antenna elements; means for canceling interference associated with the interference condition at the first access point based upon the comparison; means for selecting at least one antenna element from the plurality of antenna elements at the first access point; and means for scheduling the first access point to transmit to a second access point using the selected at least one antenna element from the plurality of antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification