Autonomously selecting a communication channel having a co-channel operation constraint

Abstract

Provided are methods and apparatus for selecting a communication channel. The methods and apparatus select a channel having the least interference and minimize a number of different channels in use. For example, a method for selecting a communication channel includes measuring a transmission characteristic for each channel in a plurality of channels to create a transmission characteristic measurement for each channel. The method also includes receiving, from at least one neighboring access point, data indicating the neighboring access point uses a channel in the plurality of channels. A utility value for each channel in the plurality of channels is calculated by weighting, based on the number of the neighboring access points using each channel in the plurality of channels, the transmission characteristic measurement for each channel in the plurality of channels. Further, the channel having the highest or the lowest utility value is chosen as the communication channel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application for patent claims priority to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 877,164 entitled “AUTONOMOUS CELL CHANNEL SELECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS WITH CO-CHANNEL OPERATION CONSTRAINT” filed Sep. 12, 2013; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 918,741 entitled “AUTONOMOUS CELL CHANNEL SELECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS WITH CO-CHANNEL OPERATION CONSTRAINT” filed Dec. 20, 2013; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 933,680 entitled “USER EQUIPMENT-ASSISTED CHANNEL SELECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS WITH CO-CHANNEL OPERATION CONSTRAINT” filed Jan. 30, 2014, each of which is assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS FOR PATENT[0002]The present application for patent is also related to the following co-pending U.S. patent application: “SELECTING A COMMUNICATION CHANNEL BASED ON A NEIGHBORING CELL CONSTRAINT,” having Attorney ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text is discussing the need for a dynamic channel selection method and apparatus for small coverage access points in cellular networks. This method and apparatus should select the channel with the least interference and ensure that as many access points operate on the same channel as possible to improve coverage and capacity. This would also minimize the percentage of access points that operate on channels that are different than the majority, which would reduce mobility management costs.

Problems solved by technology

Even such careful planning, however, cannot fully accommodate channel characteristics such as fading, multipath, shadowing, etc., especially in indoor environments.

Indoor users therefore often face coverage issues (e.g., call outages and quality degradation) resulting in a poor experience by the users.

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