Antenna beam switching in multi-access point coordination
Optimal determination of wireless network pathway configurations may be provided. A computing device may establish Multi-Access Point (AP) coordination between at least a first AP and a second AP. The first AP can determine an uplink operation is scheduled. When an uplink is scheduled, the first AP can switch its antenna to a narrow beamwidth. The first AP can then receive uplink transmissions from at least a client in the coverage area of the narrow beamwidth. After the uplink transmission, the first AP can then switch the antenna to a larger beamwidth for a next Multi-AP coordination operation.
1. A method comprising:
establishing Multi-Access Point (AP) coordination between at least a first AP and a second AP;
determining an uplink operation is scheduled;
switching a first antenna of the first AP to a first narrow beamwidth;
sending a trigger frame to a first client in a first coverage area to trigger a first uplink transmission wherein the trigger frame is not received by a second client outside the first coverage area;
receiving the first uplink transmission from at least the first client in the first coverage area of the first narrow beamwidth;
switching the first antenna, of the first AP, to a first larger beamwidth for a next Multi-AP coordination operation;
switching a second antenna of the second AP to a second narrow beamwidth;
receiving a second uplink transmission from the second client in a second coverage area of the second narrow beamwidth; and
switching the second antenna of the second AP to a second larger beamwidth for the next Multi-AP coordination operation.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the first client is within physical proximity of the first AP.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second coverage area and the first coverage area do not overlap.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first larger beamwidth and the second larger beamwidth each cover either the first client or the second client.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising conducting a joint downlink transmission to the first client and the second client, in Multi-AP coordination, from the first AP and the second AP with the first larger beamwidth and the second larger beamwidth.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the first client is within the first coverage area.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein determining that the first client is within the first coverage area comprises:
receiving a first Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) from the first client while the first antenna is configured for the first larger beamwidth for Multi-AP coordination;
receiving a second RSSI from the first client while the first antenna is configured for the first narrow beamwidth;
comparing a difference between the first RSSI and the second RSSI to a predetermined threshold; and
when the difference crosses the predetermined threshold, determining that the first client is part of a group of two or more clients with which to conduct uplink operations in the first coverage area.
8. A system comprising:
a memory; and
a processing unit coupled to the memory, wherein the processing unit is operative to:
establish Multi-Access Point (AP) coordination between at least a first AP and a second AP;
determine an uplink operation is scheduled;
switch a first antenna of the first AP to a first narrow beamwidth;
send a trigger frame to a first client in a first coverage area to trigger a first uplink transmission wherein the trigger frame is not received by a second client outside the first coverage area;
receive the first uplink transmission from at least the first client in the first coverage area of the first narrow beamwidth;
switch the first antenna, of the first AP, to a first larger beamwidth for a next Multi-AP coordination operation;
switch a second antenna of the second AP to a second narrow beamwidth;
receive a second uplink transmission from the second client in a second coverage area of the second narrow beamwidth; and
switch the second antenna of the second AP to a second larger beamwidth for the next Multi-AP coordination operation.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processing unit is further operative to determine the first client is within physical proximity of the first AP.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second coverage area and the first coverage area do not overlap.
11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions which when executed perform a method executed by the set of instructions comprising:
establishing Multi-Access Point (AP) coordination between at least a first AP and a second AP;
determining an uplink operation is scheduled;
switching a first antenna of the first AP to a first narrow beamwidth;
sending a trigger frame to a first client in a first coverage area to trigger a first uplink transmission wherein the trigger frame is not received by a second client outside the first coverage area;
receiving the first uplink transmission from at least the first client in the first coverage area of the first narrow beamwidth;
switching the first antenna, of the first AP, to a first larger beamwidth for a next Multi-AP coordination operation;
switching a second antenna of the second AP to a second narrow beamwidth;
receiving a second uplink transmission from the second client in a second coverage area of the second narrow beamwidth; and
switching the second antenna of the second AP to a second larger beamwidth for the next Multi-AP coordination operation.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising determining the first client is within physical proximity of the first AP.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the second coverage area and the first coverage area do not overlap.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the first larger beamwidth and the second larger beamwidth each cover either the first client or the second client.