System and method for adaptive channel scanning within a wireless network

Abstract

An access point device that is adapted to a wireless network and a wired network is disclosed. The access point includes a transceiver to receive wireless frames from a plurality of wireless devices of the wireless network, respectively, and at least one component to process information extracted from the wireless frames and to control channel scanning based upon at least one of an amount of wireless device traffic and a type of call.

1 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more hardware processors, cause performance of operations comprising:
 monitoring, by a network device, traffic on a particular channel of a plurality of channels, the traffic corresponding to a wireless client device associated with the network device;   scanning, by the network device, wireless data traffic on the plurality of channels at least by periodically changing the channels being scanned;   determining that the traffic, corresponding to the wireless client device, is of a particular type;   responsive at least to determining that the traffic, corresponding to the wireless client device, is of a particular type:   at least temporarily stopping, by the network device, the changing of the channels.   
     
     
         2 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the network device is an access point providing network access to the wireless client device. 
     
     
         3 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein at least temporarily stopping the changing of the channels is responsive to determining that the traffic, corresponding to the wireless client device, corresponds to a voice call. 
     
     
         4 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 responsive at least to determining that the traffic, corresponding to the wireless client device, is of the particular type:   remaining tuned to the particular channel carrying the traffic corresponding to the wireless client device.   
     
     
         5 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein at least temporarily stopping the changing of the channels is further responsive to determining that if the changing of the channels is continued, data may be lost. 
     
     
         6 . A system comprising:
 a network device including at least one hardware processor;   the system being configured to perform operations comprising:   monitoring, by the network device, traffic on a particular channel of a plurality of channels, the traffic corresponding to a wireless client device associated with the network device;   scanning, by the network device, wireless data traffic on the plurality of channels at least by periodically changing the channels being scanned;   determining that the traffic, corresponding to the wireless client device, is of a particular type;   responsive at least to determining that the traffic, corresponding to the wireless client device, is of a particular type:   at least temporarily stopping, by the network device, the changing of the channels.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the network device is an access point providing network access to the wireless client device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein at least temporarily stopping the changing of the channels is responsive to determining that the traffic, corresponding to the wireless client device, corresponds to a voice call. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 responsive at least to determining that the traffic, corresponding to the wireless client device, is of the particular type:   remaining tuned to the particular channel carrying the traffic corresponding to the wireless client device.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein at least temporarily stopping the changing of the channels is further responsive to determining that if the changing of the channels is continued, data may be lost. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 monitoring, by a network device, traffic on a particular channel of a plurality of channels, the traffic corresponding to a wireless client device associated with the network device;   scanning, by the network device, wireless data traffic on the plurality of channels at least by periodically changing the channels being scanned;   determining that the traffic, corresponding to the wireless client device, is of a particular type;   responsive at least to determining that the traffic, corresponding to the wireless client device, is of a particular type:   at least temporarily stopping, by the network device, the changing of the channels;   wherein the network devices comprises a hardware processor.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the network device is an access point providing network access to the wireless client device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least temporarily stopping the changing of the channels is responsive to determining that the traffic, corresponding to the wireless client device, corresponds to a voice call. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 responsive at least to determining that the traffic, corresponding to the wireless client device, is of the particular type:   remaining tuned to the particular channel carrying the traffic corresponding to the wireless client device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least temporarily stopping the changing of the channels is further responsive to determining that if the changing of the channels is continued, data may be lost.