Dynamic frequency selection in a wireless communication network

• US 7,158,759 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2001
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hansen, Christopher J., Trachewsky, Jason A., Kim, Joonsuk, Fischer, Matthew, Gubbi, Rajugopal
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sams; Matthew C
• Application Number:
  US10/011,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• Field of Search: 455 631- 634, 455 6711- 6716, 455450-459, 455/464, 455/522, 455/575.1, 370300-3957
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/302 due to low signal strength

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dynamic frequency selection in a wireless communication system or network includes processing that begins when an access point determines interference on a wireless channel that is being used by the access point. When the interference exceeds an interference threshold, the access point provides a request packet to affiliated stations being serviced by the access point for channel spectrum information. The processing continues as the affiliated stations generate the channel spectrum information regarding each of the wireless channels in the wireless communication network. The processing proceeds then as the affiliated stations provide the channel spectrum information to the access point via the current wireless channel. The access point interprets the channel spectrum information to determine a desired wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels within the wireless communication network. The access point then provides a selection packet to the affiliated stations via the current wireless channel to indicate that the access point will begin using the desired wireless channel at a particular future time.

Claims

1. A method for dynamic frequency selection in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

determining, by an access point, interference on a current wireless channel of a plurality of wireless channels by;

transmitting a holding packet on the current wireless channel, wherein the holding packet addresses an invalid wireless station; and

measuring the interference on the current wireless channel during a transmit period allocated to the invalid wireless station;

when the interference on the current wireless channel exceeds an interference threshold, providing, by the access point, a request packet that requests channel spectrum information to at least one affiliated wireless station via the current wireless channel;

generating, by the at least one affiliated wireless station, the channel spectrum information of the plurality of wireless channels;

providing, by the at least one affiliated wireless station, the channel spectrum information to the access point via the current wireless channel;

interpreting, by the access point, the channel spectrum information to determine a desired wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels; and

providing, by the access point, a selection packet to the at least one affiliated wireless station via the current wireless channel, wherein the selection packet indicates that the access point will change to the desired wireless channel at a future time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the request packet by the access point further comprises at least one of:

polling the at least one affiliated wireless station;

enabling a periodic generation of the channel spectrum information; and

enabling a spontaneous generation of the channel spectrum infomratioin.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the channel spectrum information by the at least one affiliated wireless station further comprises:

for at least some of the plurality of wireless channels;

tuning to the each of the at least some of the plurality of wireless channels;

measuring interference on the each of the at least some of the plurality of wireless channels to produce channel interference data; and

compiling the channel interference data of each of the at least some of the plurality of wireless channels to produce the channel spectrum information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the interpreting the channel spectrum data by the access point further comprises:

computing an outage received signal strength indication level;

comparing the outage received signal strength indication level with a target outage received signal strength indication level; and

determining that another wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels needs to be selected when the outage received signal strength indication level compares unfavorably with the target outage received signal strength indication level.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprises determining the desired wireless channel by:

selecting another channel within a group of channels of the plurality of channels based on a channel prioritization.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the interpreting the channel spectrum information by the access point further comprises:

selecting the current wireless channel as the desired wireless channel when the current wireless channel has a least amount of interference in comparison to other wireless channels of the plurality off wireless channels.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

generating, by the access point, a basic service set pattern of neighboring access points within the wireless communication network based on the channel spectrum information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the interference exceeds the interference threshold by the access point further comprises:

determining that the interference on the current wireless channel exceeds a first interference threshold;

providing an increase power packet that indicates an increased transmit power level to the at least one affiliated wireless station;

determining that the interference on the current wireless channel with the at least one affiliated wireless station transmitting packets using the increased transmit power level still exceeds the first threshold, and

when the interference on the current wireless channel with the at least one affiliated wireless station transmitting packets using the increased transmit power level still exceeds the first threshold, generating by the access point, the request packet.

9. A method for an access point to dynamically select a frequency within a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

determining interference on a current wireless channel of a plurality of wireless channels by transmitting a holding packet on the current wireless channel, wherein the holding packet addresses an invalid wireless station, and measuring the interference on the current wireless channel during a transmit period allocated to the invalid wireless station;

obtaining channel spectrum information from at least one affiliated wireless station via the current wireless channel of a plurality of wireless channels, wherein the channel spectrum information indicates level interference on at least some of the plurality of wireless channels within the channel spectrum;

interpreting the channel spectrum information to determine a desired wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels; and

providing a packet to the at least one affiliated wireless station via the current wireless channel, wherein the packet indicates that the access point will change to the desired wireless channel at a future time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the interpreting the channel spectrum data further comprises:

computing an outage received signal strength indication level;

comparing the outage received signal strength indication level with a target outage received signal strength indication level; and

determining that another wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels needs to be selected when the outage received signal strength indication level compares unfavorably with the target outage received signal strength indication level.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprises determining the desired wireless channel by:

selecting another channel within a group of channels of the plurality of channels based on a channel prioritization.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the interpreting the channel spectrum information further comprises:

selecting the current wireless channel as the desired wireless channel when the current wireless channel has a least amount of interference in comparison to other wireless channels of the plurality of wireless channels.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprises;

generating a basic service set pattern of neighboring access points within the wireless communication network based on the channel spectrum information.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the interpreting the channel spectrum information further comprises:

determining that interference on the current wireless channel exceeds a first interference threshold;

providing an increase power packet that indicates an increased transmit power level to at least one affiliated wireless station;

determining that the interference on the current wireless channel with the at least one affiliated wireless station transmitting packets using the increased transmit power level still, exceeds the first threshold, and

when the interference on the current wireless channel with the at least one affiliated wireless station transmitting packets using the increased transmit power level still exceeds the first threshold, generating, by the access point, the request packet.

15. A wireless communication network that includes a plurality of basic service sets, wherein each of the plurality of basic service sets comprises:

an access point (AP); and

a plurality of wireless stations, wherein the access point includes an AP processing module and an AP memory, wherein the AP memory further includes operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to;

determine interference on a current wireless channel of a plurality of wireless channels by;

transmitting a holding packet on the current wireless channel, wherein the holding packet addresses an invalid wireless station; and

measuring the interference on the current wireless during a transmit period allocated to the invalid wireless station;

when the interference on the current wireless channel exceeds an interference threshold, provide a request packet that requests channel spectrum information to at least one affiliated wireless station of the plurality of wireless stations via the current wireless channel;

interpret the channel spectrum information to determine a desired wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels;

provide a selection packet to the at least one affiliated wireless station via the current wireless channel, wherein the selection packet indicates that the access point will change to the desired wireless channel at a future time, and

wherein each of the plurality of wireless stations (STA) includes a STA processing module and STA memory, wherein the STA memory includes operational instructions that cause the STA processing module to;

generate, as the at least one affiliated wireless station, the channel spectrum information of at least some of the plurality of wireless channels;

provide, as the at least one affiliated wireless station, the channel spectrum information to the access point via the current wireless channel.

16. The wireless communication network of claim 15, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to provide the request packet by at least one of:

polling the at least one affiliated wireless station;

enabling a periodic generation of the channel spectrum information; and

enabling a spontaneous generation of the channel spectrum information.

17. The wireless communication network of claim 15, wherein the STA memory of the at least one affiliated wireless station further comprises operational instructions that cause the STA processing module of the at least one affiliated wireless station to generate the channel spectrum information by:

for the at least some of the plurality of wireless channels;

tuning to each of the at least some of the plurality of wireless channels;

measuring interference on the each of the at least some of the plurality of wireless channels to produce channel interference data; and

compiling the channel interference data of the each of the at least some of the plurality of wireless channels to produce the channel spectrum information.

18. The wireless communication network of claim 15, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to interpret the channel spectrum data by:

computing an outage received signal strength indication level;

comparing the outage received signal strength indication level with a target outage received signal strength indication level; and

determining that another wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels needs to be selected when the outage received signal strength indication level compares unfavorably with the target outage received signal strength indication level.

19. The wireless communication network of claim 18, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to determine the desired wireless channel by:

selecting another channel within a group of channels of the plurality of channels based on a channel prioritization.

20. The wireless communication network of claim 15, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to interpret the channel spectrum information by:

selecting the current wireless channel as the desired wireless channel when the current wireless channel has a least amount of interference in comparison to other wireless channels of the plurality of wireless channels.

21. The wireless communication network of claim 15, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to:

generate a basic service set pattern of neighboring access points within the wireless communication network based on the channel spectrum information.

22. The wireless communication network of claim 15, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to determine that the interference exceeds the interference threshold by:

determining that the interference on the current wireless channel exceeds a first interference threshold;

providing an increase power packet that indicates an increased transmit power level to the at least one affiliated wireless station;

determining that the interference on the current wireless channel with the at least one affiliated wireless station transmitting packets using the increased transmit power level still exceeds the first threshold, and

when the interference on the current wireless channel with the at least one affiliated wireless station transmitting packets using the increased transmit power level still exceeds the first threshold, generating, by the access point, the request packet.

23. An access point for use in a wireless communication network, the access point comprises:

an AP processing module; and

an AP memory, wherein the AP memory further includes operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to;

determine interference on a current wireless channel of a plurality of wireless channels by transmitting a holding packet on the current wireless channel, wherein the holding packet addresses an invalid wireless station, and measuring the interference on the current wireless channel during a transmit period allocated to the invalid wireless station;

when the interference on the current wireless channel exceeds an interference threshold, provide a request packet that requests channel spectrum information to at least one affiliated wireless station of a plurality of wireless stations via the current wireless channel;

interpret the channel spectrum information to determine a desired wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels; and

provide a selection packet to the at least one affiliated wireless station via the current wireless channel, wherein the selection packet indicates that the access point will change to the desired wireless channel at a particular future time and includes the particular future time.

24. The access point of claim 23, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to provide the request packet by at least one of:

polling the at least one affiliated wireless station;

enabling a periodic generation of the channel spectrum information; and

enabling a spontaneous generation of the channel spectrum information.

25. The access point of claim 23, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to interpret the channel spectrum data by:

computing an outage received signal strength indication level;

comparing the outage received signal strength indication level with a target outage received signal strength indication level; and

determining that another wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels needs to be selected when the outage received signal strength indication level compares unfavorably with the target outage received signal strength indication level.

26. The access point of claim 25, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to determine the desired wireless channel by:

selecting another channel within a group of channels of the plurality of channels based on a channel prioritization.

27. The access point of claim 23, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to interpret the channel spectrum information by:

selecting the current wireless channel as the desired wireless channel when the current wireless channel has a least amount of interference in comparison to other wireless channels of the plurality of wireless channels.

28. The access point of claim 23, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to:

generate a basic service set pattern of neighboring access points within the wireless communication network based on the channel spectrum information.

29. The access point of claim 23, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to determine that the interference exceeds the interference threshold by:

determining that the interference on the current wireless channel exceeds a first interference threshold;

providing an increase power packet that indicates an increased transmit power level to the at least one affiliated station;

determining that the interference on the current wireless channel with the at least one affiliated station transmitting packets using the increased transmit power level still exceeds the first threshold, and

when the interference on the current wireless channel with the at least one affiliated station transmitting packets using the increased transmit power level still exceeds the first threshold, generating, by the access point, the request packet.

30. A wireless station for use in a wireless communication network, the wireless station comprises:

STA processing module; and

STA memory, wherein the STA memory includes operational instructions that cause the STA processing module to;

receive a request packet from an access point via a current wireless channel that requests channel spectrum information, wherein the request packet is transmitted by the access point in response to the access point determining interference on the current wireless channel by transmitting a holding packet on the current wireless channel, wherein the holding packet addresses an invalid wireless station, and measuring the interference on the current wireless channel during a transmit period allocated to the invalid wireless station;

generate, as an affiliated wireless station of an access point of the wireless communication network, the channel spectrum information of at least some of the plurality of wireless channels;

provide, as the affiliated wireless station, the channel spectrum information to the access point via the current wireless channel; and

receive, from the access point, a packet that indicates that the access point will change to the desired wireless channel at a particular future time and includes the particular future time.

31. The station of claim 30, wherein the STA memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the STA processing module to generate the channel spectrum information by:

for each of at least some of the plurality of wireless channels;

tuning to the each of the at least some of the plurality of wireless channels;

measuring interference on the each of the at least some of the plurality of wireless channels to produce channel interference data; and

compiling the channel interference data of the at least noise of the plurality off wireless channels to produce the channel spectrum information.

32. An access point to dynamically select a frequency within a wireless communication network, the access point comprises:

AP processing module; and

AP memory that includes operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to;

determine interference on a current wireless channel of a plurality of wireless channels by transmitting a holding packet on the current wireless channel, wherein the holding packet addresses an invalid wireless station, and measuring the interference on the current wireless channel during a transmit period allocated to the invalid wireless station;

obtain channel spectrum information information from at least one affiliated wireless station via the current wireless channel of a plurality of wireless channels, wherein the channel spectrum information indicates level interference on at least some of the plurality of wireless channels within the channel spectrum;

interpret the channel spectrum information to determine a desired wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels; and

provide a packet to the at least one affiliated wireless station via the current wireless channel, wherein the packet indicates that the access point will change to the desired wireless channel at a future time.

33. The access point of claim 32, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to interpret the channel spectrum data by:

computing an outage received signal strength indication level;

comparing the outage received signal strength indication level with a target outage received signal strength indication level; and

determining that another wireless channel of the plurality of wireless channels needs to be selected when the outage received signal strength indication level compares unfavorably with the target outage received signal strength indication level.

34. The access point of claim 33, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to determine the desired wireless channel by:

selecting another channel within a group of channels of the plurality of channels based on a channel prioritization.

35. The access point of claim 32, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to interpret the channel spectrum information by:

selecting the current wireless channel as the desired wireless channel when the current wireless channel has a least amount of interference in comparison to other wireless channels of the plurality of wireless channels.

36. The access point of claim 32, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to:

generate a basic service set pattern of neighboring access points within the wireless communication network based on the channel spectrum information.

37. The access point of claim 32, wherein the AP memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the AP processing module to interpret the channel spectrum information by:

determining that interference on the current wireless channel exceeds a first interference threshold;

providing an increase power packet that indicates an increased transmit power level to at least one affiliated wireless station;

determining that the interference on the current wireless channel with the at least one affiliated wireless station transmitting packets using the increased transmit power level still exceeds the first threshold, and

when the interference on the current wireless channel with the at least one affiliated wireless station transmitting packets using the increased transmit power level still exceeds the first threshold, generating, by the access point, the request packet.