Network performance framework for wireless local area networks

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for the determination of the channel capacity of access points in a wireless communication network. Methods and systems are also provided for the management of radio resources in a wireless communication network based at least in part on the determined channel capacity of the access points and/or on at least one network performance statistic derived therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a network controller to determine a channel capacity of an access point in a wireless local area network, WLAN, the method comprising:
 retrieving, from the access point, a transmitted data measurement, a received data measurement, a channel idle time measurement, and a channel busy time measurement, the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement being all determined during a predetermined time period; and   determining a channel capacity of the access point, wherein the channel capacity is equal to a data throughput scaled by a channel usage factor, wherein the data throughput is based, at least in part, on a sum of the transmitted data measurement determined during the predetermined time period and the received data measurement determined during the predetermined time period, and wherein the channel usage factor is based, at least in part, on a ratio between the channel idle time measurement determined during the predetermined time period and the channel busy time measurement determined during the predetermined time period.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to retrieving the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement from the access point, determing radio resource management, RRM, configuration parameters for the access point, and transmitting the determined RRM configuration parameters to the access point. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising, after determining the channel capacity of the access point, determining new RRM configuration parameters for the access point, and transmitting the determined new RRM configuration parameters to the access point. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein retrieving the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement from the access point comprises receiving the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement from the access point. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein retrieving the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement from the access point further comprises requesting the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement from the access point prior to receiving the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement from the access point. 
     
     
         6 . A network controller for use in a wireless local area network, WLAN, the network controller being configured to:
 retrieve, from an access point, a transmitted data measurement, a received data measurement, a channel idle time measurement, and a channel busy time measurement, the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement being all determined during a predetermined time period; and   determine a channel capacity of the access point, wherein the channel capacity is equal to a data throughput scaled by a channel usage factor, wherein the data throughput is based, at least in part, on a sum of the transmitted data measurement determined during the predetermined time period and the received data measurement determined during the predetermined time period, and wherein the channel usage factor is based, at least in part, on a ratio between the channel idle time measurement determined during the predetermined time period and the channel busy time measurement determined during the predetermined time period.   
     
     
         7 . The network controller as claimed in  claim 6 , further configured to, prior to retrieving the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement from the access point, determine radio resource management, RRM, configuration parameters for the access point, and transmit the determined RRM configuration parameters to the access point. 
     
     
         8 . The network controller as claimed in  claim 7 , further configured to, after determining the channel capacity of the access point, determine new RRM configuration parameters for the access point, and transmit the determined new RRM configuration parameters to the access point. 
     
     
         9 . The network controller as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein when retrieving the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement from the access point, the network controller is further configured to receive the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement from the access point. 
     
     
         10 . The network controller as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein when retrieving the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement from the access point, the network controller is further configured to request the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement from the access point prior to receiving the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement from the access point. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating an access point in a wireless local area network, WLAN, the method comprising:
 during a predetermined time period, determining a transmitted data measurement, a received data measurement, a channel idle time measurement, and a channel busy time measurement; and   determining a channel capacity of the access point, wherein the channel capacity is equal to a data throughput scaled by a channel usage factor, wherein the data throughput is based, at least in part, on a sum of the transmitted data measurement determined during the predetermined time period and the received data measurement determined during the predetermined time period, and wherein the channel usage factor is based, at least in part, on a ratio between the channel idle time measurement determined during the predetermined time period and the channel busy time measurement determined during the predetermined time period.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising, after determining the channel capacity, transmitting the determined channel capacity of the access point to a network controller. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising, after transmitting the determined channel capacity of the access point to the network controller, receiving radio resource management, RRM, configuration parameters from the network controller. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising, prior to determining the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement, receiving RRM configuration parameters from a network controller. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising, after determining the channel capacity, transmitting the determined channel capacity of the access point to the network controller. 
     
     
         16 . An access point for use in a wireless local area network, WLAN, the access point being configured to:
 during a predetermined time period, determine a transmitted data measurement, a received data measurement, a channel idle time measurement, and a channel busy time measurement; and   determine a channel capacity of the access point, wherein the channel capacity is equal to a data throughput scaled by a channel usage factor, wherein the data throughput is based, at least in part, on a sum of the transmitted data measurement determined during the predetermined time period and the received data measurement determined during the predetermined time period, and wherein the channel usage factor is based, at least in part, on a ratio between the channel idle time measurement determined during the predetermined time period and the channel busy time measurement determined during the predetermined time period.   
     
     
         17 . The access point as claimed in  claim 16 , further configured to, after determining the channel capacity, transmit the determined channel capacity of the access point to a network controller. 
     
     
         18 . The access point as claimed in  claim 17 , further configured to, after transmitting the determined channel capacity of the access point to the network controller, receive radio resource management, RRM, configuration parameters from the network controller. 
     
     
         19 . The access point as claimed in  claim 16 , further configured to, prior to determining the transmitted data measurement, the received data measurement, the channel idle time measurement, and the channel busy time measurement, receive RRM configuration parameters from a network controller. 
     
     
         20 . The access point as claimed in  claim 19 , further configured to, after determining the channel capacity, transmit the determined channel capacity of the access point to the network controller.