Coordinated frequency usage in multi-AP environments

1. A method of a controller for allocating bandwidth of a shared channel having a bandwidth shared by a first access point and a second access point, each of the first access point and the second access point advertising the shared channel in a wireless network, the method comprising:

collecting data comprising at least a current behavior of a first client device coupled to the first access point and a second client device coupled to the second access point and information about at least one other access point that is not a part of the wireless network, wherein the first client device and the second client device use at least a portion of the shared channel, and wherein the collected data comprises information associated with a neighbor report function performed by at least one of the first client device, the second client device or both; and

allocating the bandwidth of the shared channel by using the collected data to predict the future behavior of the first client device and the second client device in a manner that optimizes usage of the shared channel over a predefined future period of time, wherein allocating the bandwidth comprises selecting a primary channel and a Resource Unit for at least one of the first access point and the second access point using the collected data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of allocating the bandwidth of the shared channel distributes at least a portion of the bandwidth of the shared channel to the first access point.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of allocating the bandwidth of the shared channel sets a size of the shared channel.

4. The method of claim 1 performed in an ad hoc network of access points.

5. The method of claim 1 performed by the controller controlling the plurality of access points.

6. An access point for a wireless network, the access point comprising:

a transmitter configured to broadcast a beacon for detection by one or more access points in the wireless network, wherein the beacon indicates a shared channel over which the access point propagates wireless data to at least one client device of the access point;

wherein the shared channel broadcast by the access point has a bandwidth selected based on a selected a primary channel and a Resource Unit for the access point using data received from at least one other access point of the one or more access points in the wireless network to optimize future cooperative use of the channel with a second access point, the received data comprising at least a current behavior predictive of a future behavior of at least one client device of the second access point and information about the at least one other access point not a part of the wireless network.

7. The access point of claim 6 further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive other data about other access points in the wireless network.

8. The access point of claim 7 wherein the access point selects the bandwidth using the received data.

9. The access point of claim 6 , wherein the bandwidth is selected by a controller of the access point and wherein the bandwidth is selected using other data related to a plurality of other access points in the wireless network.

10. The access point of claim 6 , wherein the access point and the second access point cooperatively share use of the shared channel over an entirety of said bandwidth.

11. A controller for a wireless network that communicates with each of a plurality of access points in the wireless network, the controller comprising:

a receiver configured to receive data from the plurality of access points in the wireless network, the received data comprising at least a current behavior of at least one client in communication with at least one of the plurality of access points and information about at least one other access point not a part of the wireless network, wherein the received data is used to predict a future behavior of the at least one client, and wherein the received data comprises information associated with a neighbor report function performed by the at least one client device; and

a transmitter configured to use the prediction of the future behavior to select a bandwidth of a shared channel broadcast by a beacon of a first one of the plurality of access points for detection by one or more access points of the plurality of access points to optimize future cooperative use of the channel with a second one of the plurality of access points, wherein selecting the bandwidth of the shared channel comprises selecting a primary channel and a Resource Unit for at least one of the first access point and the second access point using the received data.

12. The controller of claim 11 wherein the controller selects a primary channel for at least one of the plurality of access points such that pre-802.11ax client devices of that access point are segregated from other client devices.

13. The controller of claim 11 , wherein the controller selects a Resource Unit to be used by the at least one client device.

14. The controller of claim 11 , wherein the first one of the plurality of access points and the second one of the plurality of access points cooperatively share use of the shared channel over an entirety of said bandwidth.

15. The controller of claim 11 , wherein a single transceiver operates as both the transmitter and the receiver.