Method and apparatus for sector channelization and polarization for reduced interference in wireless networks

Abstract

The present invention provides in one embodiment channel allocation and polarization techniques for reducing cross sector communications interference in a multiple access wireless communications environment. In one embodiment, channel allocation and/or polarization techniques may be applied in multiple-access wireless communications architectures to provide selective, simultaneous communications with wireless devices using a plurality of transmitters. In some embodiments, a transmitter is coupled to an antenna configured to provide simultaneous communications with wireless devices located in different spatial areas or sectors. In some embodiments, communications between wireless devices within a single sector, between wireless devices in different sectors and between wireless devices and a wired network or wireless backhaul network may be provided.

1 . A wireless access point for providing wireless access to a wired network within a building, the wireless access point comprising:
 a first antenna arrangement configured to communicate with wireless devices within a first section of a spatial area around the wireless access point, wherein the first antenna arrangement is further configured to determine whether a first communications channel assigned to the first section of the spatial area is currently being used to carry communication signals before transmitting any communication signals onto the first communications channel;   a second antenna arrangement configured to communicate with wireless devices within a second section of a spatial area around the wireless access point, wherein the second antenna arrangement is further configured to determine whether a second communications channel assigned to the second section of the spatial area is currently being used to carry communication signals before transmitting any communication signals onto the second communications channel; and   a management mechanism configured to manage the operation of the first and second antenna arrangements and to assign channels to the first spatial area and the second spatial area according to a particular wireless communications channel assignment selected from a plurality of wireless communications channel assignments, wherein the particular wireless communications channel assignment provides less interference relative to other wireless communications channel assignments in the plurality of wireless communications channel assignments.   
   
   
       2 . A wireless access point, comprising:
 an antenna configured to send and receive communications signals on a first communications channel within a first section of a spatial area on a first frequency and to send and receive communications signals on a second communications channel within a second section of the spatial area on a second frequency; and   a management mechanism configured to assign the first and second frequencies to the first and second spatial areas in accordance with a channel sector assignment determined from a set of potential channel to sector assignments for available channels by selecting one of the channel to sector assignments having a lower overall interference relative to other channel to sector assignments.   
   
   
       3 . The wireless access point as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the management mechanism is further configured to assign varying polarization to each of the first and second sectors, thereby enabling reduced interference between the first sector and the second sector. 
   
   
       4 . A wireless communications system comprising:
 a first antenna arrangement having a first transceiver configured to transmit and receive communications signals on a communications channel within a first section of a spatial area around the wireless communications apparatus;   a second antenna arrangement having a second transceiver configured to transmit and receive communications signals on the communications channel within a second section of the spatial area around the wireless communications apparatus; and   wherein frequencies are allocated to each of the plurality of sections in accordance with a channel to sector assignment determined from a set of potential channel to sector assignments for available channels by selecting one of the channel to sector assignments having a lower overall interference relative to other channel to sector assignments.