Access Point Channel Selection via Interference Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radio access devices operating on IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15.4, and Bluetooth standards face significant interference from adjacent channel emissions, leading to increased noise floors and reduced signal strength, which can result in unacceptably low throughput or complete loss of communication due to high adjacent channel interference.
Innovation Solution
An access point is configured to determine the optimal frequency channel by scanning available channels for interference levels and airtime, creating tables to select the channel with the highest data throughput and lowest noise floor, taking into account connected clients and system parameters like guard interval and antenna number, to maximize data throughput while minimizing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If devices transmit signals with high power to improve signal strength, then signal strength is improved, but adjacent channel interference increases leading to higher noise floor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating frequency parameter by scanning multiple available channels and selecting the optimal channel based on interference levels and noise floor measurements. This allows the system to maintain signal strength while avoiding frequencies with high adjacent channel interference
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the device measures the noise floor and interference levels on each channel, then uses this information to select the optimal channel. The system continuously monitors channel conditions and adjusts channel selection based on measured parameters
2Object-affected harmful factors
If devices use filtering to minimize RF interference from adjacent channels, then adjacent channel interference is reduced, but side lobe energy still falls into the pass band increasing noise floor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful side lobe energy by measuring and identifying channels with high noise floor levels caused by side lobe interference. The system then avoids selecting these channels, effectively removing the impact of side lobe energy from the communication decision process
3Measurement precision
If the access point scans all available frequency channels to find the optimal channel, then channel selection accuracy is improved, but time to establish communication increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs partial scanning by measuring noise floor and interference levels on a subset of available channels rather than exhaustively analyzing all possible channels. The system selects the optimal channel from the scanned subset, achieving good enough accuracy without the full time cost of complete channel analysis
Data Source
AI summary
An access point is configured to determine a frequency channel to operate on. The access point includes a storage element having machine executable code therein that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to determine the frequency channel with a highest data throughput among available frequency channels, which may undergo different levels of interference.