Methods and devices for channel selection and access coordination

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a method for primary channel selection by a first access point type communication device (AP) of a group of APs, the method comprising: detecting, by the first AP, a central frequency location and a bandwidth of a primary channel selected by at least one second AP of the group of APs; selecting, by the first AP, a central frequency location and a bandwidth of a primary channel for the first AP, wherein the selection of the central frequency location and bandwidth of the primary channel for the first AP is based on the detected central frequency location and bandwidth of the primary channel for the at least one second AP.

1 . A method for primary channel selection by a first access point (AP) of a group of APs, comprising:
 measuring, by the first AP, a frequency location and a bandwidth of a primary channel selected by at least one second AP of the group of APs; and   switching, by the first AP, to a frequency location and a bandwidth of a primary channel for the first AP based on the measured frequency location and bandwidth of the primary channel for the at least one second AP,   wherein the primary channel selected for the first AP is non-contiguous in terms of frequency from the primary channel selected for the at least one second AP.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the group of APs are associated with at least one of (i) multiple virtual APs (multi VAPs), and (ii) multiple basic service set identifiers (BSSIDs) according to the IEEE 802.11 WiFi standard. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 selecting the frequency location and bandwidth of the primary channel for the first AP from a section of a transmission medium not occupied by the primary channel of the at least one second AP.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 selecting the frequency location and bandwidth of the primary channel for the first AP so as to not overlap with the primary channel selected by the at least one second AP.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 selecting the frequency location and bandwidth of the primary channel for the first AP based on an evaluation of previously used primary channels and bandwidths.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein switching to the frequency location and the bandwidth of the primary channel for the first AP comprises switching to the primary channel having a different channel bandwidth than the primary channel selected for the at least one second AP. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the frequency and bandwidth of the primary channel for the first AP is assigned from a section of a transmission medium not occupied by the primary channel of the at least one second AP. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-contiguous primary channel selected for the first AP is non-adjacent in terms of frequency from the primary channel selected for the at least one second AP. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein switching to the frequency location and the bandwidth of the primary channel for the first AP is performed in accordance with a dynamic bandwidth channel access operation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary channel selected for the first AP and the primary channel selected for the at least one second AP are each channels as defined by the IEEE 802.11 WiFi standard. 
     
     
         11 . A device to cause primary channel selection by a first access point (AP) of a group of APs, comprising:
 detector circuitry configured to measure a frequency location and a bandwidth of a primary channel selected by at least one second AP of the group of APs;   controller circuitry configured to cause the first AP to switch to a frequency and a bandwidth of a primary channel based on the measured frequency location and bandwidth of the primary channel for the at least one second AP,   wherein the primary channel selected for the first AP is non-contiguous in terms of frequency from the primary channel selected for the at least one second AP.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the group of APs are associated with at least one of (i) multiple virtual APs (multi VAPs), and (ii) multiple basic service set identifiers (BSSIDs) according to the IEEE 802.11 WiFi standard. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to cause the first AP to select the frequency location and bandwidth of the primary channel for the first AP from a section of a transmission medium not occupied by the primary channel of the at least one second AP. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to cause the first AP to select the frequency location and bandwidth of the primary channel for the first AP so as to not overlap with the primary channel selected by the at least one second AP. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to cause the first AP to select the frequency location and bandwidth of the primary channel for the first AP based on an evaluation of previously used primary channels and bandwidths. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to cause the first AP to switch to the frequency location and the bandwidth of the primary channel for the first AP by switching to the primary channel having a different channel bandwidth than the primary channel selected for the at least one second AP. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to cause the first AP to switch to the frequency location and bandwidth of the primary channel for the first AP that is assigned from a section of a transmission medium not occupied by the primary channel of the at least one second AP. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the non-contiguous primary channel selected for the first AP is non-adjacent in terms of frequency from the primary channel selected for the at least one second AP. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to cause the first AP to switch to the frequency location and the bandwidth of the primary channel for the first AP in accordance with a dynamic bandwidth channel access operation. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the primary channel selected for the first AP and the primary channel selected for the at least one second AP are each channels as defined by the IEEE 802.11 WiFi standard.