6 GHz Access Point Channel Allocation Across Mixed Power Modes

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Solution Overview

Problem

The deployment of collocated standard power (SP) and low power indoor (LPI) access points in the 6 GHz band results in interference due to heterogeneous power modes, leading to underutilization of the 6 GHz band capacity in IoT deployments.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to detect overlapping coverage among access points, identify permissible channels based on power characteristics, determine modal commonality, and assign channels to minimize interference by leveraging an AFC system for optimized channel assignments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If both SP access points and LPI access points are collocated to utilize the 6 GHz band capacity, then spectrum utilization is improved, but interference among access points increases due to heterogeneous power modes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectrum utilizationVSAvoidinterference

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different channel sets to access points based on their specific power mode characteristics. SP access points are assigned channels from the first set while LPI access points are assigned channels from the second set, allowing each access point to operate with optimized local channel selection that reduces interference while maintaining overall spectrum utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the channel assignment parameter based on power mode characteristics. By identifying the power mode of each access point and assigning channels from different sets accordingly, the system dynamically adjusts channel parameters to minimize interference between SP and LPI access points while maximizing spectrum usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If channel assignments are optimized to reduce interference, then signal quality is improved, but channel update frequency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidchannel update frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining two distinct channel sets before deployment. The first channel set is designated for SP access points and the second channel set for LPI access points. This preliminary classification and assignment strategy reduces the need for frequent channel updates by establishing appropriate channel assignments upfront based on power mode characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12520161B2Power-based channel assignments for overlapping access points

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, an example process herein may comprise: detecting overlapping coverage among a set of access points; identifying a permissible set of channels for each access point of the set of access points based at least in part on power characteristics associated with each access point of the set of access points; determining a level of modal commonality with neighboring access points for each access point of the set of access points; and assigning a channel to each access point of the set of access points based on the permissible set of channels and the level of modal commonality with neighboring access points for that access point.