Parallel scanning of wireless channels
Methods, systems, and apparatus for parallel scanning of channels in communication networks are described herein. A parallel scanning device performs a scanning operation that includes parallel (i.e., simultaneous) scanning of channels that are in a common frequency band or in different frequency bands. The parallel scanning of channels results in a reduction of scan time, which reduces power consumption. Furthermore, a scanning operation may undesirably interrupt and/or delay normal communication traffic to and from the parallel scanning device, and the comparatively shorter scan time resulting from the parallel scanning operation can reduce such interruption and/or delay.
1. In a parallel scanning device that includes a first transceiver and a second transceiver, a method comprising:
receiving an indication at the first transceiver, which is associated with a first access point that is configured to communicate via a first channel, that the second transceiver is to provide a probe request via a second channel that is adjacent to the first channel, the probe request configured to discover one or more second access points that are available to connect with the parallel scanning device via the second channel; and
turning off the first transceiver in response to receiving the indication.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
turning on the second transceiver to initiate a scanning operation that comprises
providing the probe request via the second channel from the second transceiver, and
monitoring the second channel during a designated period of time to determine whether at least one response is received from at least one second access point of the one or more second access points.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
turning on the first transceiver to receive a beacon from the first access point while the second transceiver is preparing to provide a second probe request via a third channel that is different from the first channel and the second channel;
wherein the second probe request is configured to discover one or more third access points that are available to connect with the parallel scanning device via the third channel.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
facilitating the scanning operation by transmitting designated frames to the first access point before turning off the first transceiver.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein facilitating the scanning operating comprises:
sending a message to the first access point to request that the first access point suspend communication with the parallel scanning device for a period of time.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein facilitating the scanning operation comprises:
initiating a frame exchange with the first access point to change power management modes, the power management modes comprising at least one of an active mode or a power save mode.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the parallel scanning device is awake and is enabled to receive a frame at any time during the active mode.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the parallel scanning device is enabled to receive beacons or to send power-save poll frames to the first access point during the power save mode.
9. A parallel scanning device comprising:
a first transceiver configured to be associated with a first access point via a first channel, the first transceiver further configured to turn off in response to receiving an indication that a second transceiver is to provide a probe request via a second channel that is adjacent to the first channel; and
the second transceiver that is configured to provide a probe request via a second channel that is adjacent to the first channel, the probe request configured to discover one or more access points that are available to connect with the parallel scanning device via the second channel.
10. The parallel scanning device of claim 9 , wherein each of the first transceiver and second transceiver includes an antenna.
11. The parallel scanning device of claim 9 , wherein the indication is provided to the first transceiver by the second transceiver.
12. The parallel scanning device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a driver configured to provide the indication to the first transceiver.
13. The parallel scanning device of claim 9 , wherein the second transceiver is further configured to initiate a scanning operation that comprises providing the probe request via the second channel and monitoring the second channel during a designated period of time to determine whether at least one response is received from at least one second access point of the one or more access points that are available to connect with the parallel scanning device via the second channel.
14. The parallel scanning device of claim 13 , wherein the first transceiver is further configured to facilitate the scanning operation by transmitting designated frames to the first access point before turning off.
15. The parallel scanning device of claim 14 , wherein the first transceiver is configured to facilitate the scanning operation by sending a message to the first access point to request that the first access point suspend communication with the parallel scanning device for a period of time.
16. The parallel scanning device of claim 14 , wherein the first transceiver is configured to facilitate the scanning operation by initiating a frame exchange with the first access point to change power management modes, the power management modes comprising at least one of an active mode or a power save mode.
17. The parallel scanning device of claim 16 , wherein the parallel scanning device is awake and is enabled to receive a frame at any time during the active mode.
18. The parallel scanning device of claim 16 , wherein the parallel scanning device is enabled to receive beacons or to send power-save poll frames to the first access point during the power save mode.
19. The parallel scanning device of claim 9 , wherein the first transceiver is further configured to turn on to receive a beacon from the first access point while the second transceiver is preparing to provide a second probe request via a third channel that is different from the first channel and the second channel, wherein the second probe request is configured to discover one or more third access points that are available to connect with the parallel scanning device via the third channel.
20. A computer-readable memory device comprising computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing device to perform operations, the operations including:
receiving an indication at a first transceiver of a parallel scanning device, which is associated with a first access point that is configured to communicate via a first channel, that a second transceiver of the parallel scanning device is to provide a probe request via a second channel that is adjacent to the first channel, the probe request configured to discover one or more second access points that are available to connect with the parallel scanning device via the second channel; and
turning off the first transceiver in response to receiving the indication.