Method and apparatus for providing improved detection of overlapping networks

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product provide improved detection of overlapping wireless networks. In this regard, the method, apparatus and computer program product may utilize a processor, such as a processor on a wireless access point, to determine one or more parameters for a scan of a wireless network to identify overlapping networks. Wireless stations may utilize the parameters to determine the content of a scan report generated from a scan of the wireless network. The wireless stations may further utilize the parameters to determine which values should be monitored and/or recorded during the scan of the network. The wireless stations may respond to the access point with results corresponding to the parameters requested by the access point, and the access point may use the results to determine channel access parameters for other devices on the network, such as the wireless stations.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for operating a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:
 circuitry configured to:
 transmit at least one scan parameter to a plurality of wireless stations; 
 receive scan reports from the plurality of wireless stations, the scan reports being generated based on the at least one scan parameter; and 
 determine channel access parameters based on the received scan reports. 
   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit the determined channel access parameters to the plurality of wireless stations. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one scan parameter is a request for a number of Service Set Identifiers (SSIDs) detected by the plurality of wireless stations. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one scan parameter is a request for a number of Basic Service Set Identifiers (BSSIDs) detected by the plurality of wireless stations. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one scan parameter is a request for locations of the plurality of wireless stations. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one scan parameter is a request for station group identifiers. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one scan parameter is a request for coordinates of the plurality of wireless stations relative to the apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one scan parameter is a request for information relating to a path loss between the plurality of wireless stations and the apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 identify at least two of the plurality of wireless stations as having one or more common characteristics based on the received scan reports.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 associate the identified at least two of the plurality of wireless stations as a group.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the determined channel access parameters are based on the group. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the determined channel access parameters are utilized to mitigate interference with respect to the plurality of wireless stations. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 determine the at least one scan parameter for identifying a presence of an overlapping wireless network.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 identify at least one overlapping wireless network from the received scan reports.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 transmit the at least one scan parameter to a wireless station at a time when the wireless station joins a network provided by the apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the one or more common characteristics are at least one of a common location or a common interference level with a particular overlapping wireless network. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is configured to instruct the plurality of wireless stations to take remedial actions in order to mitigate interference from an overlapping network based on the received scan reports. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of wireless stations communicate via an 802.11ah protocol. 
     
     
         20 . A method for operating a wireless network, the method comprising:
 transmitting, via circuitry, at least one scan parameter to a plurality of wireless stations;   receiving, via the circuitry, scan reports from the plurality of wireless stations, the scan reports being generated based on the at least one scan parameter; and   determining, via the circuitry, channel access parameters based on the received scan reports.   
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program recorded thereon, the computer program configured to perform a method when executed on a computer, the method comprising:
 transmitting at least one scan parameter to a plurality of wireless stations;   receiving scan reports from the plurality of wireless stations, the scan reports being generated based on the at least one scan parameter; and   determining channel access parameters based on the received scan reports.