Method and apparatus for use of simultaneous multiple channels in the dynamic frequency selection band in wireless networks
First Claim
1. A standalone multi-channel Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) master for identifying and indicating simultaneous availability of a plurality of 5 GHz radio channels for networking operations, comprising:
- a beacon generator programmed to generate a channel-specific beacon in each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels;
a radar detector programmed to scan for radar in each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels;
a 5 GHz radio transceiver coupled to the beacon generator and the radar detector and programmed to transmit the channel-specific beacon in each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels and to receive the radar in each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels; and
a switch and an embedded processor coupled to the radar detector, the beacon generator, and the 5 GHz radio transceiver, programmed to perform the following steps on each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels independently of networking operations performed by an access point host or a LTE-U host associated with the DFS master;
(a) switch the 5 GHz radio transceiver to one of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels;
(b) cause the radar detector to scan for the radar in the one of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels;
(c) cause the beacon generator to generate the channel-specific beacon for the one of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels; and
(d) repeat steps (a) through (c) for each other channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels;
wherein steps (a) through (d) are performed during (1) a beacon transmission duty cycle which is a time period between successive beacon transmissions on a specific 5 GHz channel and which is less than or equal to the maximum time period between the successive beacon transmissions allowable for a client device to remain associated with the specific 5 GHz channel and (2) during a radar detection duty cycle which is the time period between successive radar scans on the specific 5 GHz channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to wireless networks and more specifically to systems and methods for selecting available channels free of radar signals from a plurality of 5 GHz radio frequency channels. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a standalone multi-channel DFS master that includes a switch and embedded processor that are programmed to switch a 5 GHz radio transceiver to a first channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels, cause a beacon generator to generate a beacon in the first channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels, cause a radar detector to scan for the radar signal in the first channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channel, and then repeat these steps for each of the other channels of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels during a single beacon transmission duty cycle.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A standalone multi-channel Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) master for identifying and indicating simultaneous availability of a plurality of 5 GHz radio channels for networking operations, comprising:
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a beacon generator programmed to generate a channel-specific beacon in each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels; a radar detector programmed to scan for radar in each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels; a 5 GHz radio transceiver coupled to the beacon generator and the radar detector and programmed to transmit the channel-specific beacon in each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels and to receive the radar in each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels; and a switch and an embedded processor coupled to the radar detector, the beacon generator, and the 5 GHz radio transceiver, programmed to perform the following steps on each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels independently of networking operations performed by an access point host or a LTE-U host associated with the DFS master; (a) switch the 5 GHz radio transceiver to one of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels; (b) cause the radar detector to scan for the radar in the one of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels; (c) cause the beacon generator to generate the channel-specific beacon for the one of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels; and (d) repeat steps (a) through (c) for each other channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels; wherein steps (a) through (d) are performed during (1) a beacon transmission duty cycle which is a time period between successive beacon transmissions on a specific 5 GHz channel and which is less than or equal to the maximum time period between the successive beacon transmissions allowable for a client device to remain associated with the specific 5 GHz channel and (2) during a radar detection duty cycle which is the time period between successive radar scans on the specific 5 GHz channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A standalone multi-channel Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) master for selecting multiple 5 GHz radio channels comprising:
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a memory containing a whitelist of 5 GHz radio channels; a 5 GHz radio transceiver; a switch and an embedded processor coupled to the 5 GHz radio transceiver and the memory; wherein the switch and the embedded processor are programmed to; cause the 5 GHz radio transceiver to sequentially scan for radar in each channel in the whitelist, and to cause the 5 GHz radio transceiver to transmit successive beacons for each channel determined not to contain radar, wherein the sequential scan for radar in each channel in the whitelist and the successive beacon transmission for each channel determined not to contain radar are performed within a beacon transmission duty cycle which is a time period between successive beacon transmissions on a specific channel and is less than or equal to the maximum time period between the successive beacon transmissions allowable for a client device to remain associated with the channel. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method of selecting and simultaneously using 5 GHz radio channels that are available for networking operations comprising:
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providing a beacon generator to generate successive beacons in each of a plurality of 5 GHz radio channels, providing a radar detector to continuously scan for radar in each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels, providing a 5 GHz radio transceiver to transmit the beacons in each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels and to receive the radar in each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels, and providing a switch and embedded processor coupled to the radar detector, the beacon generator, and the 5 GHz radio transceiver; with the switch and the embedded processor performing the following steps on each of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels sequentially, and simultaneously with and independently of networking operations performed by an access point host or a LTE-U host associated with the DFS channels; (a) switching the 5 GHz radio transceiver to a first channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels; (b) next, determining if the channel is occupied by radar and identifying the channel as one of available for networking operations or unavailable for networking operations in response to the determination; and (c) causing the beacon generator to generate a beacon and the transceiver to broadcast the beacon in the channel, wherein the beacon indicates that the channel is available for networking operations; and (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) for each other channel of the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels; wherein steps (a) through (d) are performed during (1) a beacon transmission duty cycle which is a time period between successive beacon transmissions on a specific channel and is less than or equal to the maximum time period between the successive beacon transmissions allowable for a client device to remain associated with the channel and (2) during a radar detection duty cycle which is the time period between successive radar scans on the specific channel. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for continuously monitoring and simultaneously using 5 GHz radio channels for networking operations comprising:
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providing a memory containing a whitelist of a plurality of 5 GHz radio channels, providing a 5 GHz radio transceiver, providing a switch and an embedded processor coupled to the 5 GHz radio transceiver and the memory; the switch and the embedded processor; continuously and sequentially scanning for radar in each channel in the whitelist, and causing the 5 GHz radio transceiver to transmit successive beacons for each channel determined not to contain radar, wherein the continuous and sequential scan for radar in each channel in the whitelist and the successive beacon transmission for each channel determined not to contain radar are performed within a beacon transmission duty cycle which is a time period between successive beacon transmissions on a specific channel and is less than or equal to the maximum time period between the successive beacon transmissions allowable for a client device to remain associated with the channel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification