Determining redundant radios

Abstract

An algorithm for determining redundant radios in APs is disclosed. The algorithm first performs a coverage peak flattening algorithm to predict an impact to the total coverage area if a radio in a selected AP does not transmit signals in a frequency band. If the impact to the total coverage area is acceptable, the algorithm then performs a multi-point check algorithm to determine whether the radio in the selected AP is redundant in the frequency band. After determining that the radio in the selected AP is redundant in the frequency band, the algorithm transforms the redundant radio into various services based on the network deployment and user preference.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device, comprising:
 a processor; 
 a memory containing a program that, when executed on the processor, performs an operation, the operation comprising:
 simulating, at a network controller, a coverage area model for an area covered by a plurality of access points controlled by the network controller and operating in a frequency band: 
 when a radio in a first access point of the plurality of access points does not operate in the frequency band, determining, using the coverage area model, whether the area covered by at least one other radio in the plurality of access points satisfies a predetermined coverage threshold for the area covered by the plurality of access points; 
 upon determining that the area covered by at least one other radio in the plurality of access points satisfies the predetermined coverage threshold, determining, at the network controller, that the radio in the first access point is redundant; and 
 upon determining that the radio in the first access point is redundant, prohibiting, via the network controller, the radio in the first access point from operating in the frequency band. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the radio in the first access point is redundant comprises:
 selecting a set of points distributed within a coverage area of the radio in the first access point; 
 calculating distances between each of a plurality of neighboring access points of the first access point and each of the set of points, wherein the plurality of neighboring access points are in direct communication with the radio in the first access point; and 
 determining that a pre-defined number of the set of points are inside the coverage area of at least one of the plurality of neighboring access points based on the calculated distances. 
 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein determining that the radio in the first access point is redundant comprises:
 determining that the radio in the first access point is not contributing to coverage areas of one or more radios in the plurality of neighboring access points that are already determined as redundant. 
 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 2 , wherein determining that the radio in the first access point is redundant comprises:
 identifying one or more radios in the plurality of neighboring access points that contribute coverage to the coverage area of the radio in the first access point. 
 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the radio in the first access point comprises a XOR radio configured to dynamically switch between the frequency band and a different frequency band. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined coverage threshold comprises a percentage of a size of the area. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operation further comprises:
 when a radio in a second access point of the plurality of access points does not operate in the frequency band, simulating whether the area covered by at least one other radio in the plurality of access points satisfies the predetermined coverage threshold; and 
 upon simulating that the area covered by at least one other radio in the plurality of access points does not satisfy the predetermined coverage threshold, determining that the radio in the second access point is not redundant. 
 
     
     
       8. A computer program product, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable program code is configured to:
 simulate, at a network controller, a coverage area model for an area covered by a plurality of access points operating in a frequency band:
 when a radio in a first access point of the plurality of access points does not operate in the frequency band, determining, using the coverage area model, whether the area covered by at least one other radio in the plurality of access points satisfies a predetermined coverage threshold for the area covered by the plurality of access points; 
 upon determining that the area covered by at least one other radio in the plurality of access points satisfies the predetermined coverage threshold, determine, at the network controller, that the radio in the first access point is redundant; and 
 upon determining that the radio in the first access point is redundant, prohibit, via the network controller, the radio in the first access point from operating in the frequency band. 
 
 
 
     
     
       9. The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the computer readable program code is further configured to:
 select a set of points distributed within a coverage area of the radio in the first access point; 
 calculate distances between each of a plurality of neighboring access points of the first access point and each of the set of points, wherein the plurality of neighboring access points are in direct communication with the first access point; and 
 determine that a pre-defined number of the set of points are inside the coverage area of at least one of the plurality of neighboring access points based on the calculated distances. 
 
     
     
       10. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the computer readable program code is further configured to:
 determine that the radio in the first access point is not contributing to coverage areas of one or more radios in the plurality of neighboring access points that are already determined as redundant. 
 
     
     
       11. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the computer readable program code is further configured to:
 identify one or more radios in the plurality of neighboring access points that contribute coverage to the coverage area of the radio in the first access point. 
 
     
     
       12. The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the radio in the first access point comprises a XOR radio configured to dynamically switch between the frequency band and a different frequency band. 
     
     
       13. The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined coverage threshold comprises a percentage of a size of the area. 
     
     
       14. The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the computer readable program code is further configured to:
 when a radio in a second access point of the plurality of access points does not operate in the frequency band, simulate whether the area covered by at least one other radio in the plurality of access points satisfies the predetermined coverage threshold; and 
 upon simulating that the area covered by at least one other radio in the plurality of access points does not satisfy the predetermined coverage threshold, determine that the radio in the second access point is not redundant. 
 
     
     
       15. A method, comprising:
 simulating, at a network controller, a coverage area model for an area covered by a plurality of access points controlled by the network controller and operating in a frequency band:
 when a radio in a first access point of the plurality of access points does not operate in the frequency band, simulating whether the area covered by at least one other radio in the plurality of access points satisfies a predetermined coverage threshold; 
 upon simulating that the area covered by at least one other radio in the plurality of access points satisfies the predetermined coverage threshold, determining that the radio in the first access point is redundant; and 
 upon determining that the radio in the first access point is redundant, prohibiting the radio in the first access point from operating in the frequency band. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein determining that the radio in the first access point is redundant comprises:
 selecting a set of points distributed within a coverage area of the radio in the first access point; 
 calculating distances between each of a plurality of neighboring access points of the first access point and each of the set of points, wherein the plurality of neighboring access points are in direct communication with the first access point; and 
 determining that a pre-defined number of the set of points are inside the coverage area of at least one of the plurality of neighboring access points based on the calculated distances. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining that the radio in the first access point is redundant comprises:
 determining that the radio in the first access point is not contributing to coverage areas of one or more radios in the plurality of neighboring access points that are already determined as redundant. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining that the radio in the first access point is redundant comprises:
 identifying one or more radios in the plurality of neighboring access points that contribute coverage to the coverage area of the radio in the first access point. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the radio in the first access point comprises a XOR radio configured to dynamically switch between the frequency band and a different frequency band. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined coverage threshold comprises a percentage of a size of the area. 
     
     
       21. A method for reducing co-channel interference in a wireless network, the method comprising:
 accessing inter-radio measurement data collected by a plurality of wireless access points, wherein the inter-radio measurement data relates to observations of radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted between radios of the plurality of access points,   wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless access points comprises a first radio operative to transmit wireless signals in a first frequency band and a second radio operative to transmit wireless signals in a second frequency band;   determining from the inter-radio measurement data whether a first wireless access point of the wireless access points is redundant in relation to the second frequency band based on RF coverage provided by one or more neighboring access points;   if the first wireless access point is determined to be redundant, selecting for the second radio of the first wireless access point an operation mode from a plurality of operation modes; and   transmitting a command to the first wireless access point to configure the second radio of the first wireless access point to operate in the selected operation mode.    
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the selected operation mode of the plurality of operation modes is a non-client serving role.  
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the non-client serving role comprises a monitoring function.  
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 21 , wherein determining whether the first wireless access point of the wireless access points is redundant comprises:
 selecting a set of points distributed within a coverage area of the second radio in the first access point;   calculating, based on the inter-radio measurement data, distances between each of a plurality of neighboring access points of the first access point and each of the set of points, wherein the plurality of neighboring access points are in direct communication with the second radio of the first access point; and   determining that a pre-defined number of the set of points are inside the coverage area of at least one of the plurality of neighboring access points based on the calculated distances.    
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 21 , wherein determining whether the first wireless access point of the wireless access points is redundant comprises:
 identifying a change to a total coverage area provided by the plurality of access points, if the second radio is prohibited from transmitting signals in the second frequency band; and   determining that the first wireless access point is redundant if the change is below a threshold value.    
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 21 , wherein determining whether the first wireless access point of the wireless access points is redundant comprises:
 calculating respective locations of neighboring wireless access points of the first access point; and   determining, based on the locations, that a coverage area of the second radio in the second frequency band is covered by at least one of the respective neighboring access points of the selected access point.    
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second radio of the first wireless access point comprises a XOR radio configured to dynamically switch between the first frequency band and the second frequency band.  
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first frequency band comprises a 5 GHz Wi-Fi frequency band and the second frequency band comprises a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi frequency band.  
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 21 , wherein selection of the operation mode is based on evaluation of one or more of RF conditions, available channel sets and client density in the network.  
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the selected operation mode comprises operating the second radio as an access point in the first frequency band.  
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 including the second radio of the first wireless access point in a Dynamic Channel Assignment process for the first frequency band with the plurality of wireless access points.    
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the selected operation mode comprises operating in a monitor mode in either or both of the first and second frequency bands.  
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the selected operation mode prevents the second radio from transmitting RF signals in the second frequency band.  
     
     
       34. An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory, the memory comprising a radio resource management component operative when executed by the processor to:
 access inter-radio measurement data collected by a plurality of wireless access points, wherein the inter-radio measurement data relates to observations of radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted between radios of the plurality of access points, 
 wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless access points comprises a first radio operative to transmit wireless signals in a first frequency band and a second radio operative to transmit wireless signals in a second frequency band; 
 determine from the inter-radio measurement data whether a first wireless access point of the wireless access points is redundant in relation to the second frequency band based on RF coverage provided by one or more neighboring access points; 
 if the first wireless access point is determined to be redundant, select for the second radio an operation mode from a plurality of operation modes; and 
 transmit a command to the first wireless access point to configure the second radio of the first wireless access point to operate in the selected operation mode.  
   
     
     
       35. The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the selected operation mode of the plurality of operation modes is a non-client serving role.  
     
     
       36. The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the non-client serving role comprises a monitoring function.  
     
     
       37. The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein determining whether the first wireless access point of the wireless access points is redundant comprises:
 selecting a set of points distributed within a coverage area of the second radio in the first access point;   calculating, based on the inter-radio measurement data, distances between each of a plurality of neighboring access points of the first access point and each of the set of points, wherein the plurality of neighboring access points are in direct communication with the second radio of the first access point; and   determining that a pre-defined number of the set of points are inside the coverage area of at least one of the plurality of neighboring access points based on the calculated distances.    
     
     
       38. The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein determining whether the first wireless access point of the wireless access points is redundant comprises:
 identifying a change to a total coverage area provided by the plurality of access points, if the second radio is prohibited from transmitting signals in the second frequency band; and   determining that the first wireless access point is redundant if the change is below a threshold value.    
     
     
       39. The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein determining whether the first wireless access point of the wireless access points is redundant comprises:
 calculating respective locations of neighboring wireless access points of the first access point; and   determining, based on the locations, that a coverage area of the second radio in the second frequency band is covered by at least one of the respective neighboring access points of the selected access point.    
     
     
       40. The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the second radio of the first wireless access point comprises a XOR radio configured to dynamically switch between the first frequency band and the second frequency band.  
     
     
       41. The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the first frequency band comprises a 5 GHz Wi-Fi frequency band and the second frequency band comprises a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi frequency band.  
     
     
       42. The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein selection of the operation mode is based on evaluation of one or more of RF conditions, available channel sets and client density in the network.  
     
     
       43. The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the selected operation mode comprises operating the second radio as an access point in the first frequency band.  
     
     
       44. The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the radio resource management component is further operative to include the second radio of the first wireless access point in a Dynamic Channel Assignment process for the first frequency band with the plurality of wireless access points.  
     
     
       45. The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the selected operation mode comprises operating in a monitor mode in either or both of the first and second frequency bands.  
     
     
       46. The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the selected operation mode prevents the second radio from transmitting RF signals in the second frequency band.  
     
     
       47. A computer program product, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable program code is configured, when executed by a processor, to:
 access inter-radio measurement data collected by a plurality of wireless access points, wherein the inter-radio measurement data relates to observations of radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted between radios of the plurality of access points, 
 wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless access points comprises a first radio operative to transmit wireless signals in a first frequency band and a second radio operative to transmit wireless signals in a second frequency band; 
 determine from the inter-radio measurement data whether a first wireless access point of the wireless access points is redundant in relation to the second frequency band based on RF coverage provided by one or more neighboring access points; 
 if the first wireless access point is determined to be redundant, select for the second radio an operation mode from a plurality of operation modes; and 
 transmit a command to the first wireless access point to configure the second radio of the first wireless access point to operate in the selected operation mode.  
   
     
     
       48. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein the selected operation mode of the plurality of operation modes is a non-client serving role.  
     
     
       49. The computer program product of  claim 48 , wherein the non-client serving role comprises a monitoring function.  
     
     
       50. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein determining whether the first wireless access point of the wireless access points is redundant comprises:
 selecting a set of points distributed within a coverage area of the second radio in the first access point;   calculating, based on the inter-radio measurement data, distances between each of a plurality of neighboring access points of the first access point and each of the set of points, wherein the plurality of neighboring access points are in direct communication with the second radio of the first access point; and   determining that a pre-defined number of the set of points are inside the coverage area of at least one of the plurality of neighboring access points based on the calculated distances.    
     
     
       51. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein determining whether the first wireless access point of the wireless access points is redundant comprises:
 identifying a change to a total coverage area provided by the plurality of access points, if the second radio is prohibited from transmitting signals in the second frequency band; and   determining that the first wireless access point is redundant if the change is below a threshold value.    
     
     
       52. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein determining whether the first wireless access point of the wireless access points is redundant comprises:
 calculating respective locations of neighboring wireless access points of the first access point; and   determining, based on the locations, that a coverage area of the second radio in the second frequency band is covered by at least one of the respective neighboring access points of the selected access point.    
     
     
       53. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein the second radio of the first wireless access point comprises a XOR radio configured to dynamically switch between the first frequency band and the second frequency band.  
     
     
       54. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein the first frequency band comprises a 5 GHz Wi-Fi frequency band and the second frequency band comprises a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi frequency band.  
     
     
       55. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein selection of the operation mode is based on evaluation of one or more of RF conditions, available channel sets and client density in the network.  
     
     
       56. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein the selected operation mode comprises operating the second radio as an access point in the first frequency band.  
     
     
       57. The computer program product of  claim 56 , wherein the second radio of the first wireless access point is included in a Dynamic Channel Assignment process for the first frequency band with the plurality of wireless access points.  
     
     
       58. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein the selected operation mode comprises operating in a monitor mode in either or both of the first and second frequency bands.  
     
     
       59. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein the selected operation mode prevents the second radio from transmitting RF signals in the second frequency band.