Interference counter-measures for wireless LANs

1 . In a wireless network having a first device and a second device, a method for coping with interference from a third device that adversely effects communications between the first device and the second device comprising the steps of:

recognizing the existence of interference;

obtaining a sample of the interference;

determining whether the interference originates from a known type of device; and

selecting a remedial action based at least in-part on whether the interference originates from a known type of device.

2 . The method of claim 1 further including the steps of determining if the interference originates from an unknown type of device, and selecting a remedial action based on the obtained sample of the interference if the interference is determined to originate from an unknown type of device.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step includes the further step of attempting to identify a match between the sample and a plurality of stored interference patterns.

4 . The method of claim 1 further including the step of changing to an alternate operating channel if the interference does not originate from a known type of device.

5 . The method of claim 1 including the further step of changing transmission signal characteristics if the interference originates from a known type of device.

6 . The method of claim 1 including the further step of sequentially implementing multiple remedial actions until an acceptable result is obtained.

7 . Apparatus for use in a wireless network for coping with interference from another device comprising:

processing logic operable to recognize the existence of interference;

sampling logic operable to obtain a sample of the interference;

search logic operable to determine whether the interference originates from a known type of device; and

selection logic operable to select a remedial action based at least in-part on whether the interference originates from a known type of device.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the search logic is further operable to determine if the interference originates from an unknown type of device, and wherein the selection logic is further operable to select a remedial action based on the obtained sample of the interference if the interference is determined to originate from an unknown type of device.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the search logic is further operable to attempt to identify a match between the sample and a plurality of stored interference patterns.

10 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the selection logic is operable to change to an alternate operating channel if the interference does not originate from a known type of device.

11 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the selection logic is operable to change transmission signal characteristics if the interference originates from a known type of device.

12 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the selection logic is operable to sequentially implementing multiple remedial actions until an acceptable result is obtained.

13 . A wireless device for use in a wireless local area network comprising:

a memory having stored therein:

a plurality of interference signal patterns, each interference signal pattern being indicative of a source of interference; and

a plurality of counter measure plans, each specifying at least one remedial action for the associated source of interference, and each interference signal pattern being associated with a counter measure plan;

signal processing logic operable to obtain a signal sample; and

interference counter-measure logic operable to identify an interference source by matching at least some characteristics of the signal sample with at least some characteristics of a stored interference signal pattern, and to implement the at least one remedial action specified in the counter measure plan associated with the matching interference signal pattern.