Adaptive antenna for channel selection management in communications systems
The disclosure concerns a communication system where adaptive antenna systems with algorithm are used to provide improved channel selection management in Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and other multi-node communication systems. The adaptive antenna systems can be integrated into multiple nodes of a communication network, such as access points used in WLAN, and multiple radiation modes generated and tracked to determine optimal mode for access point to client communication links to assist in channel selection across the nodes in the network. Adaptive antenna system modes are selected and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) is measured across available frequency channels to determine channels to assign per access point along with radiation modes to be implemented that results in improved SNR for the communication links established in the network.
1. A method of configuring access points within a communication network, the method comprising:
configuring, by one or more processors, each of a plurality of access points within the communication network to communicate on each of a plurality of channels with each of a plurality of client devices, the plurality of client devices being connected to the communication network;
while in communication with each of the plurality of client devices, configuring, by the one or more processors, an adaptive antenna onboard each of the plurality of access points in each of a plurality of antenna modes while a corresponding access point of the plurality of access points is configured to communicate on each of the plurality of channels, each of the plurality of antenna modes having a distinct radiation pattern;
obtaining, by the one or more processors, data indicative of a channel quality indicator for each of the plurality of antenna modes for each of the plurality of channels for each of the plurality of client devices;
determining, by the one or more processors, one of the plurality of channels as a selected channel for each of the plurality of access points based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator;
determining, by the one or more processors, one of the plurality of antenna modes as a selected antenna mode for the adaptive antenna based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator;
determining, by the one or more processors, one or more priority client devices of the plurality of client devices based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator;
configuring, by the one or more processors, each of the plurality of access points to communicate with the one or more priority client devices on the selected channel; and
configuring, by the one or more processors, the adaptive antenna onboard each of the plurality of access points to operate in the selected antenna mode.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining one of the plurality of channels as a selected channel for each of the plurality of access points comprises:
determining, by the one or more processors, a first channel of the plurality of channels as the selected channel for a first access point of the plurality of access points based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator; and
determining, by the one or more processors, a second channel of the plurality of channels as the selected channel for a second access point of the plurality of access points based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining one of the plurality of antenna modes as a selected antenna mode for the adaptive antenna comprises:
determining, by the one or more processors, a first antenna mode of the plurality of antenna modes as the selected antenna mode for the adaptive antenna onboard a first access point based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator; and
determining, by the one or more processors, a second antenna mode of the plurality of antenna modes as the selected antenna mode for the adaptive antenna onboard a second access point based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the adaptive antenna onboard a first access point of the plurality of access points is configured in the selected antenna mode, a total number of client devices in communication with the first access point is less than a total number of client devices in communication with a second access point of the plurality of access points.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the adaptive antenna onboard a first access point of the plurality of access points is configured in the selected antenna mode, a null associated with a radiation pattern of the adaptive antenna onboard the first access point is steered towards one or more client devices in communication with a second access point of the plurality of access points.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication network comprises a wireless local area network.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel quality indicator comprises a signal to interference noise ratio (SINR).
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel quality indicator comprises a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI).
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel quality indicator comprises a modulating coding scheme.
10. A system for configuring access points within a communication network, the system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more memory devices storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:
configuring each of a plurality of access points within the communication network to communicate on each of a plurality of channels with each of a plurality of client devices, the plurality of client devices being connected to the communication network;
while in communication with each of the plurality of client devices, configuring an adaptive antenna onboard each of the plurality of access points in each of a plurality of antenna modes while a corresponding access point of the plurality of access points is configured to communicate on each of the plurality of channels, each of the plurality of antenna modes having a distinct radiation pattern;
obtaining data indicative of a channel quality indicator for each of the plurality of antenna modes for each of the plurality of channels for each of the plurality of client devices;
determining one of the plurality of channels as a selected channel for each of the plurality of access points based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator;
determining one of the plurality of antenna modes as a selected antenna mode for the adaptive antenna based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator;
determining one or more priority client devices of the plurality of client devices based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator;
configuring each of the plurality of access points to communicate with the one or more priority client devices on the selected channel; and
configuring the adaptive antenna onboard each of the plurality of access points to operate in the selected antenna mode.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining one of the plurality of channels as a selected channel for each of the plurality of access points comprises:
determining, by the one or more processors, a first channel of the plurality of channels as the selected channel for a first access point of the plurality of access points based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator; and
determining, by the one or more processors, a second channel of the plurality of channels as the selected channel for a second access point of the plurality of access points based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining one of the plurality of antenna modes as a selected antenna mode for the adaptive antenna comprises:
determining, by the one or more processors, a first antenna mode of the plurality of antenna modes as the selected antenna mode for the adaptive antenna onboard a first access point based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator; and
determining, by the one or more processors, a second antenna mode of the plurality of antenna modes as the selected antenna mode for the adaptive antenna onboard a second access point based, at least in part, on the data indicative of the channel quality indicator.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the adaptive antenna comprises a radiating element, one or more parasitic elements, and one or more active tuning components, the one or more active tuning components configured to control operation of the one or more parasitic elements.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more active tuning components comprise a switch, a tunable capacitor, a tunable inductor, a tunable phase shifter, or a diode.