Channel Allocation for Occluded Wireless Access Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless local area networks, occluded access points (APs) often receive incorrect distance calculations due to occluders like beams or walls, leading to co-channel signal interference and reduced communication quality, as current channel allocation methods fail to differentiate between occluded and non-occluded APs.
Innovation Solution
A channel allocation method that considers the occlusion relationship between APs, allocating different channels to APs with occlusion relationships to minimize co-channel interference, using signal interference distribution and occlusion data to select optimal channel combinations and group APs for efficient channel allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If channel allocation is based solely on signal interference distribution, then channels are allocated to APs with strong interference to avoid co-channel interference, but APs with occlusion relationships (hidden nodes) are incorrectly assigned the same channel due to large path loss values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the channel allocation process into two independent phases: first identifying occlusion relationships between APs, then performing channel allocation based on both occlusion information and signal interference distribution. This segmentation allows the system to separately handle the occlusion problem and the interference problem, ensuring that occluded AP pairs are identified and assigned different channels before the actual channel allocation occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification of occlusion relationships between APs before conducting channel allocation. By pre-determining which AP pairs have occlusion relationships (using path loss values, received signal strength indicators, or packet loss rates), the system can then use this information to constrain the channel allocation process, ensuring that occluded APs are assigned different channels from the outset.
2Measurement precision
If path loss value is used to determine AP distance, then APs with large path loss are considered far away, but occluded APs are mistakenly classified as distant APs despite being physically adjacent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces occlusion relationship identification as an intermediary step between physical distance measurement and channel allocation. Instead of directly using path loss values to determine AP distance and assign channels, the system first identifies occlusion relationships using path loss, received signal strength indicators, or packet loss rates. This intermediary identification process allows the system to distinguish between truly distant APs and occluded adjacent APs, preventing misclassification.
3Productivity
If same channel is allocated to occluded AP pairs, then channel utilization is improved, but hidden node interference severely degrades terminal communication quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different channel allocation strategies to different AP pairs based on their occlusion relationships. For AP pairs with occlusion relationships, the system assigns different channels to eliminate hidden node interference. For AP pairs without occlusion relationships, the system can allocate the same channel to maximize channel utilization. This localized differentiation of allocation strategies allows the system to simultaneously improve channel utilization where safe and prevent interference where necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
A dynamic channel allocation system and a network device are disclosed. The method includes: After obtaining signal interference distribution between a plurality of APs and an occlusion relationship between the plurality of APs, a radio controller allocates channels to the plurality of APs based on the signal interference distribution and the occlusion relationship, where channels allocated to APs that have an occlusion relationship are different. In this application, after obtaining the occlusion relationship between the plurality of APs, the radio controller allocates, during channel allocation to the plurality of APs, different channels to APs that have an occlusion relationship, so that co-channel interference caused by the case in which a same channel is allocated to an occluded AP pair is avoided, and communication quality of a wireless network is improved.