Granted Patent B2

US 8,077,662 · App. 12/487,277 · Granted Dec 13, 2011

Abstract

Claims (117)

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for controlling a control device to:

schedule network monitoring and communications modes of operation to be implemented by a plurality of access points, at least a first access point being scheduled to operate in a network monitoring mode of operation during a first period of time during which a second access point is scheduled to operate in a communications mode of operation;

communicate scheduled operational mode information to access points in said plurality of access points; and

control an access point to increase its transmission power when an adjacent access point enters a network monitoring mode of operation and operate with the increased transmission power while said adjacent access point is in said network monitoring mode of operation.

2. A control device comprising:

a processor;

a monitoring and communications scheduling module for scheduling network monitoring and communications modes of operation to be implemented by a plurality of access points, at least a first access point being scheduled by said monitoring and communications module during a first period of time to operate in a network monitoring mode of operation during which a second access point is scheduled to operate in a communications mode of operation;

a communications module for communicating scheduled operational mode information to access points in said plurality of access points; and

a handoff control module for causing an access point about to enter a network monitoring mode of operation to handoff wireless terminals it is serving to an adjacent access point prior to entering said network monitoring mode of operation.

3. A method of operating an access point comprising:

operating during a first period of time in a network monitoring mode of operation, operating in said network monitoring mode including:

measuring signals received from a second access point while refraining from transmitting in the frequency band in which said signals are being received from the second access point, said measuring being performed using a monitoring mode antenna configuration which is either predetermined or specified by a control signal received from a control device; and

operating during a second period of time in a communications mode of operation.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said monitoring mode antenna configuration is different from an antenna configuration used during said communications mode of operation.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

switching between said network monitoring mode of operation and said communications mode of operation in response to a control signal received from the control device.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein said antenna configuration is specified by said control signal, the method further comprising:

receiving said control signal; and

changing the antenna configuration to the configuration specified by said control signal.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

communicating signal measurement information corresponding to said second access point to said control device.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving access point configuration information generated by said control device based on the communicated signal measurement information.

9. A method of operating an access point comprising:

operating during a first period of time in a network monitoring mode of operation, operating during said first period of time in the network monitoring mode of operation including measuring signals received from a second access point while refraining from transmitting in the frequency band in which said signals are being received from the second access point;

communicating signal measurement information corresponding to said second access point to a control device;

switching between said network monitoring mode of operation and a communications mode of operation in response to a control signal received from the control device;

receiving access point configuration information generated by said control device based on the communicated signal measurement information;

automatically adjusting at least an antenna position based on the received configuration information; and

operating during a second period of time in the communications mode of operation.

10. A method of operating an access point comprising:

operating during a first period of time in a network monitoring mode of operation, operating during said first period of time in the network monitoring mode of operation including measuring signals received from a second access point while refraining from transmitting in the frequency band in which said signals are being received from the second access point;

switching between said network monitoring mode of operation and a communications mode of operation in response to a control signal received from a control device;

operating during a second period of time in the communications mode of operation; and

increasing transmission power during said communications mode of operation in response to a control signal from the control device, said increase in transmission power being for a period of time during which an adjacent access point is operating in a network monitoring mode of operation.

11. An access point comprising:

a receiver for receiving signals; and

a mode control module for controlling the access point to switch between a network monitoring mode of operation and a communications mode of operation; and

a configuration control module for increasing transmission power during said communications mode of operation in response to a control signal, said increase in transmission power being for a period of time during which an adjacent access point is operating in a network monitoring mode of operation.

12. The access point of claim 11 , further comprising:

a signal measurement module for measuring signals received from a second access point while refraining from transmitting in the frequency band in which said signals are being received from the second access point.

13. The access point of claim 12 , further comprising:

a transmission control module for controlling said access point to refrain from transmitting in the frequency band in which said signals are being received from the second access point during said network monitoring mode of operation.

14. The access point of claim 13 , further comprising:

an interface for communicating signal measurement information corresponding to said second access point to a control device.

15. The access point of claim 14 , wherein said control device is one of: a peer access point, and a coordinating access point.

16. The access point of claim 14 , wherein said configuration control module is configured to alter an access point antenna configuration based on access point configuration information received from said control device which was generated by said control device based on the communicated signal measurement information.

17. The access point of claim 16 ,

wherein said configuration control module automatically adjusts antenna directivity based on the received configuration information.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions which when executed control an access point to:

operate during a first period of time in a network monitoring mode of operation; and

operate during a second period of time in a communications mode of operation; and

increase transmission power during said communications mode of operation in response to a control signal, said increase in transmission power being for a period of time during which an adjacent access point is operating in a network monitoring mode of operation.

19. An access point comprising:

receiver means for receiving wireless signals; and

mode control means for controlling the access point to switch between a network monitoring mode of operation and a communications mode of operation; and

configuration means for increasing transmission power during said communications mode of operation in response to a control signal, said increase in transmission power being for a period of time during which an adjacent access point is operating in a network monitoring mode of operation.

20. The access point of claim 19 , further comprising:

signal measurement means for measuring signals received from a second access point while refraining from transmitting in the frequency band in which said signals are being received from the second access point.

21. The access point of claim 20 , further comprising:

transmission control means for controlling said access point to refrain from transmitting in the frequency band in which said signals are being received from the second access point during said network monitoring mode of operation.

22. A control device comprising:

a processor;

a monitoring and communications scheduling module for scheduling network monitoring and communications modes of operation to be implemented by a plurality of access points, at least a first access point being scheduled by said monitoring and communications module during a first period of time to operate in a network monitoring mode of operation during which a second access point is scheduled to operate in a communications mode of operation;

a communications module for communicating scheduled operational mode information to access points in said plurality of access points; and

a power control module for controlling access point transmission power, said power control module causing an access point to increase its transmission power when an adjacent access point enters a network monitoring mode of operation.

23. The control device of claim 22 , wherein said control device is one of:

a central controller, a peer access point, and a coordinating access point.

24. The control device of claim 22 , wherein said control device is coupled to said access points by wired links.

25. The control device of claim 22 , wherein said control device is coupled to said access points by wireless links.

26. The control device of claim 22 , further comprising:

a receiver for receiving, from at least some of said access points, signal measurement information measured while said at least some of said access points are operating in a network monitoring mode of operation.

27. The control device of claim 26 , further comprising:

an analysis module for generating access point coverage information report from received signal measurement information indicating the coverage provided by multiple access points.

28. The control device of claim 27 , further comprising:

a configuration control module for determining a set of access point configuration parameters based on the received signal measurement information; and

wherein said communication module is also configured to communicate the set of configuration parameters to an access point for use in automatically configuring said access point.

29. A control device comprising:

a monitoring and communications scheduling module for scheduling network monitoring and communications modes of operation to be implemented by a plurality of access points, at least a first access point being scheduled by said monitoring and communications module during a first period of time to operate in a network monitoring mode of operation during which a second access point is scheduled to operate in a communications mode of operation;

a communications module for communicating scheduled operational mode information to access points in said plurality of access points;

a receiver for receiving from at least some of said access points signal measurement information measured while said at least some of said access points are operating in a network monitoring mode of operation;

a configuration control module for determining a set of access point configuration parameters based on the received signal measurement information, said communication module being configured to communicate the set of configuration parameters to an access point for use in automatically configuring said access point; and

a power control module for controlling access point transmission power, said power control module causing an access point to increase its transmission power when an adjacent access point enters a network monitoring mode of operation.

30. The control device of claim 29 , further comprising:

a handoff control module for causing an access point about to enter a network monitoring mode of operation to handoff wireless terminals it is serving to an adjacent access point prior to entering said network monitoring mode of operation.

31. A method of operating a control device comprising:

scheduling network monitoring and communications modes of operation to be implemented by a plurality of access points, at least a first access point being scheduled to operate in a network monitoring mode of operation during a first period of time during which a second access point is scheduled to operate in a communications mode of operation; and

communicating scheduled operational mode information to access points in said plurality of access points; and

sending a handoff control signal to an access point about to enter a network monitoring mode of operation to control said access point about to enter the network monitoring mode to handoff wireless terminals it is serving to an adjacent access point prior to entering said network monitoring mode of operation.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein said control device is one of:

a central controller, a peer access point, and a coordinating access point.

33. The method of claim 31 , wherein communicating scheduled operational mode information to access points includes:

transmitting the scheduled operation mode information over wired links.

34. The method of claim 31 , wherein communicating scheduled operational mode information to access points includes:

transmitting the scheduled operation mode information over wireless links.

35. The method of claim 31 , further comprising:

receiving from at least some of said access points signal measurement information measured while said at least some of said access points are operating in a network monitoring mode of operation.

36. The method of claim 35 , further comprising:

generating access point coverage information report from received signal measurement information indicating the coverage provided by multiple access points.

37. The method of claim 36 , further comprising:

determining a set of access point configuration parameters based on the received signal measurement information; and

communicating the set of configuration parameters to an access point for use in automatically configuring said access point.

38. A method of operating a control device comprising:

scheduling network monitoring and communications modes of operation to be implemented by a plurality of access points, at least a first access point being scheduled to operate in a network monitoring mode of operation during a first period of time during which a second access point is scheduled to operate in a communications mode of operation; and

communicating scheduled operational mode information to access points in said plurality of access points;

receiving from at least some of said access points signal measurement information measured while said at least some of said access points are operating in a network monitoring mode of operation;

determining a set of access point configuration parameters based on the received signal measurement information;

communicating the set of configuration parameters to an access point for use in automatically configuring said access point; and

controlling access point transmission power, said controlling access point transmission power including sending a control signal to control an access point to increase its transmission power when an adjacent access point enters a network monitoring mode of operation.

39. The method of claim 38 , further comprising:

sending a control signal to an access point about to enter a network monitoring mode of operation to handoff wireless terminals it is serving to an adjacent access point prior to entering said network monitoring mode of operation.

40. A method of operating an access point comprising:

operating during a first period of time in a network monitoring mode of operation, operating in a network monitoring mode including measuring signals received from a second access point while refraining from transmitting in the frequency band in which said signals are being received from the second access point;

switching between a network monitoring mode of operation and a communications mode of operation in response to a control signal received from a control device;

and

operating during a second period of time in the communications mode of operation; and

wherein said control device is one of: a peer access point and a coordinating access point.

Assignments (8)