Multi-channel Scheduling for Single Radio WLAN Devices

The patent implements periodic channel coordination windows (CCW) that repeat at defined intervals, allowing devices to switch to a common channel for control frame exchange. This periodic structure provides reliable channel coordination while limiting resource waste to only the necessary coordination intervals rather than continuous beacon period usage.

The patent segments the network into mesh points that independently participate in channel coordination windows. Each mesh point can autonomously switch channels and coordinate with its neighbors, enabling multi-hop communication paths without requiring a centralized beacon structure. This segmentation allows flexible routing across multiple hops while maintaining channel coordination.

The patent establishes channel coordination windows as preliminary intervals where all mesh points switch to a predetermined common channel before data transmission begins. During these CCW intervals, control frames are exchanged to coordinate channel usage, ensuring that when devices switch to data channels, they have prior knowledge of the common channel state and can efficiently return to it when needed.

The patent implements dynamic channel switching in single radio interface devices, where the radio interface dynamically changes frequency channels based on coordinated schedules. Instead of having multiple static radio interfaces, a single interface dynamically adapts between a common control channel and multiple data channels, achieving multi-channel communication efficiency while maintaining hardware simplicity and lower cost.