Cloud-Based Wireless Channel Scanning With Pruned Channel Lists
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless channel scanning in networks with varying wireless channel conditions and interference is difficult to implement efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A cloud server optimizes the list of channels for off-channel scanning by pruning based on preferred scanning channel (PSC) information, historical channel utilization, and active basic service set (BSS) data, and performs spectral scans to detect non-WiFi interference, using multiple wireless RF frontends across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wireless channel scanning is performed on all channels to ensure complete coverage and detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to network outage during scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wireless network into multiple AP groups that scan different channel subsets simultaneously. Each AP group is assigned a specific portion of channels to scan, allowing parallel execution of scanning operations across the network, thereby reducing total scanning time while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs scanning on a subset of channels rather than all channels at once. By selecting representative channels and using pruning algorithms to identify essential channels based on historical data and current network conditions, the system achieves sufficient detection accuracy with reduced scanning duration.
2Measurement precision
If cloud server processes all channel scanning data centrally to improve detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud server as an intermediary that receives scanning data from multiple APs, performs centralized analysis using machine learning algorithms, and returns optimized scanning configurations. This intermediary handles the complex processing tasks, keeping individual APs simple while achieving high detection accuracy through centralized intelligence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where the cloud server analyzes scanning results, identifies patterns and interference sources, and sends back optimized channel assignments and scanning parameters to APs. This feedback mechanism enables continuous improvement of detection accuracy while maintaining manageable system complexity through iterative optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for wireless channel scanning involves at a cloud server, building a set of channels for off-channel scanning to be performed by a selected group of wireless access points (APs), at the cloud server, determining whether the set of channels for off-channel scanning can be further pruned to generate a final optimized list of channels for off-channel scanning, and at the cloud server, sending the final optimized list of channels for off-channel scanning to the selected group of wireless APs.