Channel assessment in an information network
First Claim
1. A method for coordinating alternate channel assessment on a network comprising a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:
- identifying an alternate channel for assessment, an assessment transmission node of the plurality of nodes to participate in the assessment by transmitting a probe message on the alternate channel, and at least one assessment node of the plurality of nodes to participate in the assessment by receiving the probe message on the alternate channel, wherein the assessment transmission node is distinct from the at least one assessment node;
scheduling, over a current channel, the assessment of the alternate channel exclusively by the assessment transmission node and the at least one assessment node;
transmitting, to the at least one assessment node over the current channel and subsequent to the scheduling, a probe report request in relation to the assessment of the alternate channel, wherein the probe report request comprises a first field that identifies the assessment transmission node; and
receiving, from the at least one assessment node over the current channel, at least one probe report that comprises at least one result of the assessment of the alternate channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for assessing channel performance in a network is provided. The network includes a network controller and nodes. The method preferably includes selecting a channel for assessment and allocating a first probe operation for use with the nodes. The method may also include, in response to the allocating, sending a first probe operation report message from each of the nodes to the network controller. The method may further include using the network controller to select a node to be a channel assessment operation node. In addition, the method may include selecting at least a portion of the nodes to participate in a channel assessment operation signal exchange. The method may also include moving the selected nodes to a different channel to perform a channel assessment operation on the different channel and using the channel assessment operation node to allocate a second probe operation on each of the selected nodes.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for coordinating alternate channel assessment on a network comprising a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:
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identifying an alternate channel for assessment, an assessment transmission node of the plurality of nodes to participate in the assessment by transmitting a probe message on the alternate channel, and at least one assessment node of the plurality of nodes to participate in the assessment by receiving the probe message on the alternate channel, wherein the assessment transmission node is distinct from the at least one assessment node; scheduling, over a current channel, the assessment of the alternate channel exclusively by the assessment transmission node and the at least one assessment node; transmitting, to the at least one assessment node over the current channel and subsequent to the scheduling, a probe report request in relation to the assessment of the alternate channel, wherein the probe report request comprises a first field that identifies the assessment transmission node; and receiving, from the at least one assessment node over the current channel, at least one probe report that comprises at least one result of the assessment of the alternate channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A node communicating over a network comprising a plurality of nodes, the node comprising:
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a processor; and a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to; identify an alternate channel for assessment, an assessment transmission node of the plurality of nodes to participate in the assessment by transmitting a probe message on the alternate channel, and at least one assessment node of the plurality of nodes to participate in the assessment by receiving the probe message on the alternate channel, wherein the assessment transmission node is distinct from the at least one assessment node; transmit, to the plurality of nodes over a current channel, a message that comprises first fields that are indicative of the alternate channel, the assessment transmission node, and the at least one assessment node; transmit, to the at least one assessment node over the current channel and subsequent to transmitting the message, a probe report request in relation to the assessment of the alternate channel, wherein the probe report request comprises a second field that identifies the assessment transmission node; and receive, from the at least one assessment node over the current channel, at least one probe report that comprises at least one result of the assessment of the alternate channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product comprising instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the instructions comprising:
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instructions to determine an alternate channel for assessment, an assessment transmission node of a plurality of nodes of a network to participate in the assessment by transmitting a probe message on the alternate channel, and at least one assessment node of the plurality of nodes to participate in the assessment by receiving the probe message on the alternate channel, wherein the assessment transmission node is distinct from the at least one assessment node; instructions to transmit, to the plurality of nodes over a current channel and prior to the assessment of the alternate channel, a message that comprises first fields that identify the determined alternate channel, the determined assessment transmission node, and the determined at least one assessment node; instructions to transmit, to the at least one assessment node over the current channel and subsequent to transmitting the message, a probe report request in relation to the assessment of the alternate channel, wherein the probe report request comprises a second field that identifies the assessment transmission node; and instructions to receive, from the at least one assessment node over the current channel, a probe report that comprises at least one result of the assessment of the alternate channel. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification