Method and corresponding system for spectrum management

Abstract

Methods and corresponding systems for spectrum management featuring advanced frequency-allocation planning and advanced interference avoidance. The invention discloses access points that transmit directionally and assigning a predefined channel in a predefined direction, in order to reduce interference between closely located access-points.

1 . A method for spectrum-management of wireless access points, said method comprising:
 (a) using a network management system (NMS) to determine an overlapping area of wireless coverage of two or more access-points by receiving an indication of interference from one or more wireless stations communicating with at least one of the two or more access-points, wherein the indication comprises at least one retransmit request; and   (b) using a smart antenna to place a dynamic null in the direction of said overlapping area.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said using a NMS to determine an overlapping area includes receiving, by the NMS, probes, sent by the one or more wireless stations, from one or more of the two or more access-points. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said using a NMS to determine an overlapping area further includes receiving, by the NMS, a Direction of Arrival of the probes, from the one or more of the two or more access-points. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said using a NMS to determine an overlapping area includes receiving, by the NMS, probes, sent by the one or more wireless stations, from two or more of the two or more access-points. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said using a NMS to determine an overlapping area further includes receiving, by the NMS, a Direction of Arrival of the probes, from the one or more of the two or more access-points. 
     
     
         6 . A device for spectrum-management of wireless access points, said device comprising:
 a network management system (NMS) including processing circuitry adapted to:   (i) be functionally associated with two or more wireless access points;   (ii) determine an overlapping area of wireless coverage of the two or more access-points by receiving an indication of interference from one or more wireless stations communicating with at least one of the two or more access-points; and   (iii) instruct one or more of the two or more access-points to place a dynamic null in the direction of said overlapping area.   
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the indication of interference comprises at least one retransmit request. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said NMS is further adapted to determine an overlapping area of wireless coverage of the two or more access-points at least partially based on probes sent by the one or more wireless stations and received by said NMS from one or more of the two or more access-points. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein said NMS is further adapted to determine an overlapping area of wireless coverage of the two or more access-points at least partially based on a Direction of Arrival of one or more of the probes. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said NMS is further adapted to determine an overlapping area of wireless coverage of the two or more access-points at least partially based on probes sent by the one or more wireless stations and received by said NMS from two or more of the two or more access-points. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said NMS is further adapted to determine an overlapping area of wireless coverage of the two or more access-points at least partially based on a Direction of Arrival of one or more of the probes. 
     
     
         12 . A wireless access system of wireless access points, said system comprising:
 two or more wireless access points;   a network management system (NMS) functionally associated with said two or more access points and comprising processing circuitry adapted to:   (i) determine an overlapping area of wireless coverage of said two or more access-points by receiving an indication of interference from one or more wireless stations communicating with at least one of said two or more access-points; and   (ii) instruct one or more of said two or more access-points to place a dynamic null in the direction of said overlapping area.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the indication of interference comprises at least one retransmit request. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said NMS is further adapted to determine an overlapping area of wireless coverage of said two or more access-points at least partially based on probes sent by the one or more wireless stations and received by the NMS from one or more of said two or more access-points. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein said NMS is further adapted to determine an overlapping area of wireless coverage of said two or more access-points at least partially based on a Direction of Arrival of one or more of the probes. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said NMS is further adapted to determine an overlapping area of wireless coverage of said two or more access-points at least partially based on probes sent by the one or more wireless stations, each received by the NMS from two or more of said two or more access-points. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein said NMS is further adapted to determine an overlapping area of wireless coverage of said two or more access-points at least partially based on a Direction of Arrival of one or more of the probes. 
     
     
         18 . A method of spectrum management in a wireless network, said method comprising:
 mapping a set of multiple wireless stations communicating with a set of multiple wireless access points, which wireless access points have a set of wireless communication channels, including mapping levels of interference experienced by each of the multiple wireless stations and the directions of the interferences; and   dynamically assigning channels of the multiple wireless access points, to the set of multiple wireless stations, according to a direct correlation of interference levels between the stations to the channels, including:
 assigning wireless stations experiencing a relatively high level of interference in relation to the set of multiple wireless stations to wireless channels experiencing a relatively high level of interference in relation to the set of wireless communication channels; and 
 assigning wireless stations experiencing a relatively low level of interference in relation to the set of multiple wireless stations to wireless channels experiencing a relatively low level of interference in relation to the set of wireless communication channels. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the interference is indicated by receiving at least one retransmit request. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising dynamically assigning channels of the multiple wireless access points, to the set of multiple wireless stations, according to locations of the multiple wireless stations determined in said mapping. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising dynamically assigning channels of the multiple wireless access points, to the set of multiple wireless stations, according to directions of interference determined in said mapping. 
     
     
         22 . A wireless access system of wireless access points, said system comprising:
 two or more wireless access points having a set of wireless communication channels;   a network management system (NMS) functionally associated with said two or more access points and comprising processing circuitry adapted to:   (i) map a set of multiple wireless stations communicating with said two or more wireless access points, including mapping levels of interference experienced by each of the multiple wireless stations and the directions of the interferences; and   (ii) dynamically assign the wireless communication channels of said two or more wireless access points, to the set of multiple wireless stations, according to a direct correlation of interference levels between the stations to the channels, including:
 assigning wireless stations experiencing a relatively high level of interference in relation to the set of multiple wireless stations to wireless channels experiencing a relatively high level of interference in relation to said wireless communication channels; and 
 assigning wireless stations experiencing a relatively low level of interference in relation to the set of multiple wireless stations to wireless channels experiencing a relatively low level of interference in relation said wireless communication channels. 
   
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein said processing circuitry is further adapted to dynamically assign channels of the multiple wireless access points, to the set of multiple wireless stations, according to locations of the multiple wireless stations determined in said mapping. 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein said processing circuitry is further adapted to dynamically assign channels of the multiple wireless access points, to the set of multiple wireless stations, according to directions of interference determined in said mapping.