Closed-loop automatic channel selection

Abstract

A system and method for improving radio performance through automatic channel selection utilizing a closed-channel model is disclosed. A measurement engine records maximum user throughput on a per station basis during normal traffic operation. The measurement engine further records throughput metrics based on test traffic sent to all associated stations during idle operation. A policy logic engine utilizes the measurements to determine an optimal transmission channel for transmission and receipt of data.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for an access point to select a transmission channel, the method comprising:
 measuring a maximum throughput associated with a current transmission channel;   determining a throughput of an available transmission channel that is different from the current transmission channel; and   determining whether the available transmission channel has a better quality than the current transmission channel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the throughput of the available transmission channel comprises using at least one throughput estimation technique to determine the throughput of the available transmission channel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the throughput of the available transmission channel comprises transmitting test traffic on the available transmission channel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the test traffic is transmitted during idle periods. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining the throughput of the available transmission channel further comprises using at least one throughput estimation technique to determine the throughput of the available transmission channel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising switching from the current transmission channel to the available transmission channel in response to determining that the available transmission channel has a better quality than the current transmission channel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein channel probing is used to determine the throughput of the available transmission channel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein measuring the throughput of the current transmission channel and determining the throughput of the available transmission channel are performed serially. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the available transmission channel has a better quality than the current transmission channel comprises determining which of the available transmission channel and the current transmission channel maximizes a throughput criteria. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the throughput of the available transmission channel comprises using modeling to determine the throughput of the available transmission channel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the maximum throughput associated with the current transmission channel is measured during normal network traffic patterns. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the maximum throughput associated with the current transmission channel is a maximum throughput between the access point and another station. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising storing the measured maximum throughput associated with the current transmission channel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , the method further comprising storing the determined throughput of the available transmission channel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 determining respective throughputs of a plurality of additional available transmission channels that are different from the current transmission channel; and   determining whether any of the plurality of additional available transmission channels has a better quality than the current transmission channel.