AFC Interference Mitigation for FS Channel Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional AFC systems struggle to identify which WiFi Access Points (APs) are causing interference with Fixed Services (FS) channels, leading to potential network disruptions and unnecessary shutdowns of unlicensed services.
Innovation Solution
A method involving channel usage reporting, path loss estimation, and unsupervised clustering to identify the APs causing interference, allowing for targeted actions to mitigate interference by switching to low power indoor mode or changing channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional AFC systems monitor all APs to ensure FS channel protection, then interference detection capability is improved, but system complexity and false identification rate increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring process by dividing APs into different groups based on their operational characteristics and interference potential. This segmentation allows the system to focus monitoring resources on high-risk APs while reducing overall system complexity and false identification rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different monitoring strategies for different APs based on their specific characteristics. High-power outdoor APs receive more intensive monitoring while low-power indoor APs receive less intensive monitoring, optimizing the balance between detection capability and system complexity.
2Reliability
If conventional AFC systems shut down unlicensed services to protect FS channels, then FS channel protection is improved, but network productivity and service availability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification of interfering APs using multiple criteria (power level, location, channel usage patterns) before taking shutdown actions. This preliminary action ensures that only confirmed interfering APs are targeted, preventing unnecessary shutdowns and maintaining network productivity while still protecting FS channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the AFC system continuously monitors the effects of mitigation actions and adjusts its behavior accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that FS channel protection is maintained while minimizing unnecessary service disruptions and maintaining optimal network productivity.
3Measurement precision
If conventional AFC systems monitor detailed channel usage to identify interfering APs, then identification accuracy is improved, but information processing requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the most relevant information from APs for interference identification, such as transmit power levels, location data, and channel usage patterns. By taking out only the essential information needed for identification rather than processing all possible data, the system achieves high identification accuracy while reducing information processing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Successive interference mitigation in Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) may be provided. A plurality of messages may be received from a respective plurality of Access Points (APs). Each of the plurality of messages may indicate a respective channel used by a respective one of the plurality of APs associated with the message. An indication may be received that an Interference to Noise (I/N) ratio is above a predetermined threshold in a Fixed Service (FS) channel associated with an FS. At least one of the plurality of APs may be identified as a cause of the I/N ratio being above the predetermined threshold in the FS channel based on a channel used by the identified at least one of the plurality of APs and the FS channel. An action may be taken against the identified at least one of the plurality of APs to lower the I/N ratio.