MULTIPLE DETECTOR COORDINATION FOR MONITORING OF MULTIPLE CHANNELS IN THE DYNAMIC FREQUENCY SELECTION BAND

1 . A method of multiple detector coordination for in-service monitoring of available dynamic frequency selection channels free of radar signals selected from a plurality of 5 GHz radio frequency channels comprising:

providing a beacon generator to generate a first beacon in a first 5 GHz radio channel selected from the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels, providing a radar detector to scan for a first radar signal in the first 5 GHz radio channel, providing a 5 GHz radio transceiver to transmit the first beacon in the first 5 GHz radio channel and to receive the first radar signal in the first 5 GHz radio channel, 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:

communicating to an access point device servicing a client that the first 5 GHz radio channel is available for use based on a first determination that the first 5 GHz radio channel does not comprise the first radar signal; and

performing a soft handover of dynamic frequency selection functionalities to the access point device, wherein the dynamic frequency selection functionalities comprise continuous in-service monitoring of the first 5 GHz radio channel, wherein the radar detector, the beacon generator, and the 5 GHz radio transceiver discontinue the continuous in-service monitoring of the first 5 GHz radio channel.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a memory and storing in the memory a whitelist that comprises data related to the first 5 GHz radio channel based on a determination that the first 5 GHz radio channel does not contain the first radar signal.

3 . The method of claim 2 comprising the switch and the embedded processor, the method further comprising providing the access point device with information related to the whitelist.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a memory and storing in the memory a blacklist that includes the first 5 GHz radio channel based on a determination that the first 5 GHz radio channel contains the first radar signal.

5 . The method of claim 4 comprising the switch and the embedded processor, the method further comprising providing the access point device with information related to the blacklist.

6 . The method of claim 1 , comprising the switch and the embedded processor, the method further comprising:

receiving from the access point device a confirmation that the access point device has assumed in-service monitoring of the first 5 GHz radio channel prior to the radar detector, the beacon generator, and the 5 GHz radio transceiver discontinuing the continuous in-service monitoring of the first 5 GHz radio channel.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

generating, by the beacon generator, a second beacon in a second 5 GHz radio channel selected from the plurality of 5 GHz radio channels;

scanning, by the radar detector, a second radar signal in the second 5 GHz radio channel;

transmitting, by the 5 GHz radio transceiver, the second beacon in the second 5 GHz radio channel;

receiving, by the 5 GHz radio transceiver, the second radar signal in the second 5 GHz radio channel; and

communicating, with the switch and the embedded processor, to another access point device that the second 5 GHz radio channel is available for use based on a second determination that the second 5 GHz radio channel does not comprise the second radar signal.

8 . The method of claim 1 comprising the switch and the embedded processor, the method further comprising:

resuming the continuous in-service monitoring of the first 5 GHz radio channel based on a determination that the access point device is going out of service.

9 . The method of claim 8 , comprising the switch and the embedded processor, the method further comprising:

returning control of the continuous in-service monitoring of the first 5 GHz radio channel to the access point device based on a notification that the access point device has returned to service.

10 . The method of claim 1 comprising the switch and the embedded processor, the method further comprising:

assigning a second 5 GHz radio channel to the access point device based on receipt of an indication from the access point device that radar is detected on the first 5 GHz radio channel; and

providing a memory and storing in the memory a blacklist that includes the first 5 GHz radio channel based on the indication from the access point device.

11 . A standalone multi-channel dynamic frequency selection master, comprising:

a beacon generator programmed to generate a first beacon in a first 5 GHz radio channel selected from a set of 5 GHz radio channels;

a radar detector programmed to scan for a first radar signal in the first 5 GHz radio channel;

a 5 GHz radio transceiver programmed to transmit the first beacon in the first 5 GHz radio channel and to receive the first radar signal in the first 5 GHz radio channel; and

a switch and embedded processor coupled to the radar detector, the beacon generator, and the 5 GHz radio transceiver, the switch and the embedded processor programmed to:

communicate to an access point device servicing a client that the first 5 GHz radio channel is available for use based on a first determination that the first 5 GHz radio channel does not comprise the first radar signal; and

perform a soft handover of dynamic frequency selection functionalities to the access point device, wherein the dynamic frequency selection functionalities comprise continuous in-service monitoring of the first 5 GHz radio channel, wherein the radar detector, the beacon generator, and the 5 GHz radio transceiver discontinue the continuous in-service monitoring of the first 5 GHz radio channel.

12 . The standalone multi-channel dynamic frequency selection master of claim 11 , further comprising a memory that stores a whitelist that comprises data related to the first 5 GHz radio channel based on a determination that the first 5 GHz radio channel does not contain the first radar signal.

13 . The standalone multi-channel dynamic frequency selection master of claim 11 , further comprising a memory that stores a blacklist that includes the first 5 GHz radio channel based on a determination that the first 5 GHz radio channel contains the first radar signal.

14 . The standalone multi-channel dynamic frequency selection master of claim 11 , wherein the transceiver receives from the access point device a confirmation that the access point device has assumed in-service monitoring of the first 5 GHz radio channel prior to the radar detector, the beacon generator, and the 5 GHz radio transceiver discontinuing the continuous in-service monitoring of the first 5 GHz radio channel.

15 . The standalone multi-channel dynamic frequency selection master of claim 11 , wherein the switch is further configured to resume the continuous in-service monitoring of the first 5 GHz radio channel based on a determination that the access point device is out of service.

16 . The standalone multi-channel dynamic frequency selection master of claim 15 , wherein the switch is further configured to return control of the continuous in-service monitoring of the first 5 GHz radio channel to the access point device based on a notification that the access point device has returned to service.

17 . A method, comprising:

determining, by a device comprising a processor, whether radar is detected on a first dynamic frequency selection radio channel;

sending to a first access point, by the device, an indication that the first dynamic frequency selection radio channel is available for use by the first access point;

relinquishing control, by the device, an in-service monitoring of the first dynamic frequency selection radio channel based on receipt of another indication that the first access point has commenced the in-service monitoring of the first dynamic frequency selection radio channel;

determining, by the device, whether radar is detected on a second dynamic frequency selection radio channel; and

performing, by the device, in-service monitoring of the second dynamic frequency selection radio channel.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

sending to a second access point, by the device, an indication that the second dynamic frequency selection radio channel is available for use by the second access point;

relinquishing control, by the device, in-service monitoring of the second dynamic frequency selection radio channel based on receipt of an indication that the second access point has commenced the in-service monitoring of the second dynamic frequency selection radio channel;

determining, by the device, whether radar is detected on a third dynamic frequency selection radio channel; and

performing, by the device, in-service monitoring of the third dynamic frequency selection radio channel.

19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

receiving, by the device, a notification from the first access point, the notification informs the device that radar is detected on the first dynamic frequency selection radio channel;

notifying the first access point, by the device, that the second dynamic frequency selection radio channel is available for use; and

relinquishing control, by the device, in-service monitoring of the second dynamic frequency selection radio channel based on receipt of an indication that the first access point has commenced the in-service monitoring of the second dynamic frequency selection radio channel.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

performing, by the device, a channel availability check on the first dynamic frequency selection radio channel;

performing, by the device, in-service monitoring of the first dynamic frequency selection radio channel based on a determination that radar is no longer present on the first dynamic frequency selection radio channel; and

placing, by the device, data related to the first dynamic frequency selection radio channel on a whitelist of available radio channels.