Wireless communication method and apparatus for implementing access point startup and initial channel selection processes

Abstract

A startup process of an access point (AP) includes a discovery phase and an announcement phase. During the discovery phase, the AP detects neighboring APs from its own extended service set (ESS), neighboring APs from different ESSs, and external sources of interference. During the announcement phase, the AP transmits its beacon signals at maximum power in order to accelerate recognition by neighboring APs running the discovery phase. An automatic initialization channel selection process of an AP scans channels the AP will use to communicate. Information of each scanned channel is recorded and a best performance channel is determined for use by the AP.

1 . A method of optimizing the selection of channels used by an access point (AP), the method comprising:
 the AP determining a plurality of candidate channels, wherein the candidate channels are chosen from an allowable channel set (ACS) on a condition that a detected interference of each candidate channel does not exceed an established maximum allowed interference;   determining a number of beacons detected on each of the candidate channels; and   selecting at least one of the candidate channels on which a smallest number of beacons was detected and on a condition that there are at least two candidate channels which have an interference level that does not exceed a predetermined minimum interference level.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein on a condition that more than one candidate channel is selected, the method further comprising:
 measuring an interference level on each of the selected candidate channels; and   selecting at least one of the selected candidate channels having an interference level that does not exceed the predetermined minimum interference level.   
   
   
       3 . An access point (AP) comprising:
 the AP configured to:
 determine a plurality of candidate channels; 
 determine a number of beacons detected on each of the candidate channels; and 
   a channel selector configured to:
 select at least one of the candidate channels on which a smallest number of beacons was detected; and 
 select at least one of the candidate channels randomly on a condition that there are at least two candidate channels which have an interference level that does not exceed a predetermined minimum interference level. 
   
   
   
       4 . The AP of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a measuring unit configured to measure an interference level on each of the candidate channels selected by the channel selector on a condition that more than one candidate channel is selected; and   the channel selector is further configured to select at least one of the candidate channels having a measured interference level that does not exceed the predetermined minimum interference level.