Wireless Access Point Region Detection for Interference Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless access points (APs) in wireless local area networks (WLANs) face issues such as high channel utilization and noise floors due to interference, which can lead to reduced network performance and inefficient traffic handling, especially when APs are neighbors and experience similar problem conditions, affecting overall network functionality.
Innovation Solution
A method to identify and categorize affected regions within a network by determining which APs are neighbors and experiencing the same problem conditions, allowing for targeted corrective actions to mitigate interference and optimize channel usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If APs operate in wireless networks with multiple neighbors, then network coverage and connectivity are improved, but interference and channel utilization increase leading to degraded performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless network into distinct affected regions based on problem conditions. APs experiencing similar issues (high channel utilization, noise floor problems) are grouped together into specific regions, allowing targeted analysis and corrective actions for each region rather than treating the entire network uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by identifying that different regions of the network have different problem characteristics. Instead of applying uniform corrective actions across the network, the system tailors interventions to specific affected regions based on their unique problem conditions, such as adjusting power levels or channel assignments locally rather than globally.
2Productivity
If corrective actions are applied to all APs in the network, then overall network performance may improve, but unnecessary changes are made to APs not experiencing problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the network management task into segments by identifying distinct affected regions. Only APs within identified affected regions are subjected to corrective actions, while APs in unaffected regions continue operating without changes. This segmentation reduces the scope of management activities and avoids unnecessary interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by implementing corrective measures only where needed - specifically in identified affected regions - rather than applying actions across the entire network. This partial approach focuses resources on problem areas while leaving unaffected areas undisturbed, reducing overall management complexity.
3Measurement precision
If APs are monitored individually for problems, then detection accuracy is improved, but the complexity of network monitoring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges individual AP monitoring data to identify common problem conditions across multiple APs. By combining information about channel utilization, noise floors, and other metrics from multiple APs, the system detects affected regions and problem patterns more accurately than individual monitoring alone, while the merging process itself manages the complexity through systematic aggregation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the monitoring task by first identifying affected regions through pattern recognition, then focusing detailed analysis only on APs within those regions. This segmentation approach maintains high detection accuracy by concentrating monitoring resources on problem areas while reducing overall complexity by excluding unaffected APs from intensive monitoring.
Data Source
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AI summary
Example implementations relate to neighboring network devices. For example, a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a processing resource can cause a computer to determine a characteristic affecting a subset of a plurality of network devices. The instructions can cause the processing resource to determine that at least two of the subset of the plurality of network devices that are affected by the characteristic are neighbors. The instructions can cause the processing resource to indicate a region to be associated with each network device of the subset based on the determination that at least two of the subset of the plurality of network devices are neighbors.