Wireless Access Point Channel Selection Using Utilization History

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing density of wireless access points (WAPs) in residential, commercial, and public areas leads to interference due to the reuse of limited unlicensed frequency channels, affecting the quality of wireless communication services.

Innovation Solution

WAPs continuously measure utilization metrics and adjust their operating parameters, such as channel selection, transmit power, and networking standards, based on historical data and information from neighboring WAPs and external systems to minimize interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple WAPs are deployed in a particular area to increase wireless coverage, then wireless service availability is improved, but interference increases due to channel reuse

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless service availabilityVSAvoidinterference

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The WAP dynamically adjusts its operating parameters (channel, transmit power) based on real-time utilization metrics and historical data, transforming from a static configuration to an adaptive system that responds to changing environmental conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where WAPs continuously measure utilization metrics, analyze historical data, and adjust their parameters accordingly. The centralized server aggregates data from multiple WAPs and provides coordinated parameter adjustments to minimize interference while maintaining coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If WAPs operate on the same channel to maximize resource utilization, then channel efficiency is improved, but interference from concurrent transmissions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel efficiencyVSAvoidinterference

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of historical utilization metrics to predict future channel conditions and proactively adjusts parameters before interference occurs. The centralized server analyzes aggregated data from multiple WAPs and pre-coordinates channel assignments to prevent conflicts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The WAP changes its operating parameters (channel frequency, transmit power level) based on analyzed utilization metrics and historical patterns, allowing the system to adapt channel usage dynamically rather than maintaining fixed assignments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If WAPs continuously adjust operating parameters to minimize interference, then service quality is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A centralized server acts as an intermediary that aggregates utilization metrics from multiple WAPs, performs complex analysis of historical data, and coordinates parameter adjustments. This centralizes the computational complexity while keeping individual WAPs relatively simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Area of stationary object

If WAPs use higher transmit power to extend coverage, then service area is improved, but interference to other WAPs increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice areaVSAvoidinterference

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts transmit power as a variable parameter based on real-time utilization metrics and historical analysis, allowing power levels to be optimized for current conditions rather than maintaining fixed high power settings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20220141689A1Providing Utilization Information for Intelligent Selection of Operating Parameters of a Wireless Access Point

Publication Date: 2022.05.05 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC

AI summary

Aspects of the disclosure are directed toward intelligently selecting the operating parameters of wireless access points (WAPs) deployed in a wireless environment so as to minimize or at least reduce interference in that wireless environment. A WAP continually measures the characteristics of the wireless channels used in the wireless environment and obtains measurements of channel metrics for those channels. The WAP stores the channel metric measurements as a channel metric history and analyzes the channel metric history to determine correlations between the channel metric measurements and various timeframes. The WAP selects one or more of its operating parameters based on the channel metric history and the correlations identified. Operating parameters include the radio frequency band and channel to transmit on. A centralized control server may also receive, store, and analyze channel metric histories from multiple WAPs and issue instructions to those WAPs identifying values for their respective operating parameters.