DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Directed wireless communication is described in which a multi-beam directed signal system is implemented to communicate over a wireless communication link via an antenna assembly with client devices implemented for wireless communication within the wireless system. The directed wireless communication system can be implemented to communicate with multiple devices, such as portable computers, computing devices, and any other type of electronic and/or communication device that can be configured for wireless communication. Further, the multiple electronic and/or computing devices can be configured to communicate with one another within the wireless communication system. Additionally, a directed wireless communication system can be implemented as a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless wide area network (WAN), a wireless metropolitan area network (MAN), or as any number of other similar wireless network configurations.

[0030] The following description identifies various systems and methods that may be included in such directed wireless communication systems and networks. It should be noted, however, that these are merely exemplary and that not all of the techniques described herein need be implemented in a given wireless system or network. Furthermore, many of the exemplary systems and methods described herein are also applicable and/or adaptable for use in other communication systems and networks.

[0031] Directed wireless communication provides improved performance over conventional wireless network arrangements by utilizing multi-beam receiving and/or transmitting adaptive antennas, when practical. In an implementation, simultaneous transmission and reception may occur at a wireless routing device by applying multi-channel techniques. In a described implementation, a multi-beam directed signal system (e.g., also referred to as an access point or Wi-Fi switch) is a long-range packet switch designed to support 802.11b clients in accordance with an 802.11 standard. An increase in communication range is achieved by beam-forming directed communication beams which simultaneously transmit directed signals and receive communication signals from different directions via receive and transmit beam-forming networks.

[0032] The multi-beam directed signal system establishes multiple point-to-point links (e.g., directed communication beams) by which data packets can be communicated. The point-to-point links have a communication range that covers a much larger area than conventional access points, eliminating the need for multiple communication access points and significantly reducing the complexity and cost of a wireless LAN (WLAN) network. Further, a client device can use a conventional wireless card to communicate with the multi-beam directed signal system over long distances with no modification of the client device. Accordingly, directed wireless communication as described herein represents a significant improvement over conventional wireless networks that use switched beam and/or omni-directional antennas.

[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless communications environment 100 that is generally representative of any number of different types of wireless communications environments, including but not limited to those pertaining to wireless local area networks (LANs) or wide area networks (WANs) (e.g., Wi-Fi compatible) technology, cellular technology, trunking technology, and the like. In wireless communications environment 100 , an access station 102 communicates with remote client devices 104 ( 1 ), 104 ( 2 ), . . . , 104 (N) via wireless communication or communication links 106 ( 1 ), 106 ( 2 ), . . . , 106 (N), respectively. Although not required, access station 102 is typically fixed, and remote client devices 104 may be fixed or mobile. Although only three remote client devices 104 are shown, access station 102 can wirelessly communicate with any number of different client devices 104 .

[0034] A directed wireless communication system, Wi-Fi communication system, access station 102 , and/or remote client devices 104 may operate in accordance with any IEEE 802.11 or similar standard. With respect to a cellular system, for example, access station 102 and/or remote client devices 104 may operate in accordance with any analog or digital standard, including but not limited to those using time division/demand multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), spread spectrum, some combination thereof, or any other such technology.

[0035] Access station 102 can be implemented as a nexus point, a trunking radio, a base station, a Wi-Fi switch, an access point, some combination and/or derivative thereof, and so forth. Remote client devices 104 may be, for example, a hand-held device, a desktop or laptop computer, an expansion card or similar that is coupled to a desktop or laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a vehicle having a wireless communication device, a tablet or hand/palm-sized computer, a portable inventory-related scanning device, any device capable of processing generally, some combination thereof, and the like. Further, a client device 104 may be any device implemented to receive and/or transmit information (e.g., in the form of data packets) via the applicable wireless communication links 106 . Remote client devices 104 may also operate in accordance with any standardized and/or specialized technology that is compatible with the operation of access station 102 .

[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary directed wireless communication system 200 that can be implemented in any form of a wireless communications environment 100 as described with reference to FIG. 1 . The directed wireless communication system 200 includes an access station 102 and remote client devices 202 and 204 . The access station 102 includes a multi-beam directed signal system 206 coupled to an antenna assembly 208 via a communication link 210 . In this example implementation, access station 102 is coupled to an Ethernet backbone 212 .

[0037] The antenna assembly 208 can be implemented as two or more antennas, and optionally as a phased array of antenna elements, to emanate multiple directed communication beams 214 ( 1 ), 214 ( 2 ), . . . , 214 (N). The antenna assembly 208 is an unobtrusive indoor or outdoor Wi-Fi antenna panel that can include various operability components such as RF devices and components, a central processing unit, a power supply, and other logic components. The antenna assembly can be implemented as a lightweight and thin structure that can be mounted on a wall or in a corner of a room to provide wireless communication over a broad coverage area, such as throughout a building and surrounding area, or over an expanded region, such as a college campus or an entire corporate or manufacturing complex. While the antenna assembly may be applicable or adaptable for use in many other communication systems, the antenna assembly is described in the context of an exemplary wireless communications environment 100 ( FIG. 1 ).

[0038] The multi-beam directed signal system 206 can transmit and/or receive (i.e., transceive) information (e.g., in the form of data packets) by way of one or more directed communication beams 214 as a wireless communication via the antenna assembly 208 . Additionally, wireless communication(s) are transmitted and/or received from (i.e., transceived with respect to) a remote client device, such as client devices 202 and 204 . The wireless communications may be transceived directionally with respect to one or more particular communication beams 214 . The multi-beam directed signal system 206 can be implemented for multi-channel directed wireless communication. For example, client device 202 can communicate via directed communication beam 214 ( 1 ) with a first channel of the multi-beam directed signal system 206 , and client device 204 can communicate via directed communication beam 214 (N) with a second channel of the multi-beam directed signal system 206 .

[0039] In the exemplary directed wireless communication system 200 , signals may be sent from a transmitter to a receiver using electromagnetic waves that emanate from one or more antenna elements of the antenna assembly 208 which are focused in one or more desired directions. For example, the multi-beam directed signal system generates a directed wireless communication for transmission to wireless client device 202 via directed communication beam 214 ( 1 ). This is in contrast to conventional omni-directional transmission systems that transmit a communication in all directions from an omni-directional antenna (e.g., example omni-directional transmission area 216 emanating from a central transmission point with reference to antenna assembly 208 and shown only for comparison). Although not to scale, the illustration depicts that the power to transmit over the omni-directional transmission area 216 can be directed as one or more communication beams over a farther distance 218 from a point of transmission (e.g., antenna assembly 208 ).

[0040] When the electromagnetic waves are focused in a desired direction, the pattern formed by the electromagnetic wave is termed a “beam” or “beam pattern”, such as a directed communication beam 214 . The production and/or application of such electromagnetic beams 214 is typically referred to as “beam-forming.” Beam-forming provides a number of benefits such as greater range and/or coverage per unit of transmitted power, improved resistance to interference, increased immunity to the deleterious effects of multi-path transmission signals, and so forth. For example, a single communication beam 214 ( 1 ) can be directed for communication with a specific wireless-configured client device 202 and can be transmitted over a much greater distance 218 than would be covered by a conventional omni-directional antenna (e.g., example omni-directional transmission area 216 shown only for comparison).

[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary communication beam array 300 of directed communication beams 214 ( 1 ), 214 ( 2 ), . . . , 214 (N) that emanate from an antenna array 302 which is part of the antenna assembly 208 . Antenna assembly 208 is also referred to herein as an “adaptive antenna” which describes an arrangement that includes the antenna array 302 having a plurality of antenna elements, and operatively supporting mechanisms and/or components (e.g., circuits, logic, etc.) that are part of a wireless routing device and configured to produce a transmission pattern that selectively places transmission nulls and/or peaks in certain directions within an applicable coverage area.

[0042] A transmission peak of a directed communication beam 214 occurs in the transmission pattern 300 when a generated and particular amount of energy is directed in a particular direction. Transmission peaks are, therefore, associated with the signal path and/or communication beam to a desired receiving node, such as another wireless routing device or a wireless client device. In some cases, sidelobes to a communication beam may also be considered to represent transmission peak(s).

[0043] Conversely, a transmission null (e.g., not a communication beam) occurs in the transmission pattern when no transmission of energy occurs in a particular direction, or a relatively insignificant amount of energy is transmitted in a particular direction. Thus, a transmission null is associated with a signal path or lack of a communication beam towards an undesired, possibly interfering, device and/or object. Transmission nulls may also be associated with the intent to maximize power in another direction (i.e., associated with a transmission peak), to increase data integrity or data security, and/or to save power, for example. A determination to direct a transmission null and/or a transmission peak (e.g., a communication beam 214 ) in a particular direction can be made based on collected or otherwise provided routing information which may include a variety of data associated with the operation of the multi-beam directed signal system 206 , wireless routing device, and other devices at other locations or nodes within the wireless network.

[0044] One or more of the communication beams 214 ( 1 ), 214 ( 2 ), . . . , 214 (N) are directed out symmetrically from antenna array 302 to communicate information (e.g., in the form of data packets) with one or more wireless client devices. The communication beam array 300 shown in FIG. 3 is merely exemplary and other communication beam arrays, or patterns, may differ in width, shape, number, angular coverage, azimuth, and so forth. Further, although all of the directed communication beams 214 are shown emanating from antenna array 302 at what would appear as a same time, transmission and reception via one or more communication beams 214 is controlled and coordinated with signal control and coordination logic 304 of the multi-beam directed signal system 206 .

[0045] The signal control and coordination logic 304 can monitor each of the directed communication beams 214 as an individual access point. Further, the signal control and coordination logic 304 can control a directed wireless transmission to a first client device and a directed wireless transmission from a second client device such that the directed wireless transmission does not interfere with the directed wireless reception. Optionally, a directed wireless transmission and a directed wireless reception can be simultaneous.

[0046] As used herein, the term “logic” (e.g., signal control and coordination logic 304 ) refers to hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof that may be implemented to perform the logical operations associated with a given task. Such, logic can also include any supporting circuitry that may be required to complete a given task including supportive non-logical operations. For example, “logic” may also include analog circuitry, memory, input/output (I/O) circuitry, interface circuitry, power providing/regulating circuitry, etc.

[0047] The directed communication beams 214 of antenna array 302 can be directionally controllable, such as steerable in an analog implementation or stepable in a digital implementation. For example, a directed communication beam 214 can be directionally stepable by the width (e.g., degrees) of the communication beam to “steer” or “aim” addressable data packets when communicating with a client device. Further, a communication beam 214 can be directionally controllable such that only an intended client device will receive a directed wireless communication via the communication beam 214 , and such that an unintended recipient will not be able to receive the directed wireless communication.

[0048] Although data signals (e.g., information as data packets) can be directed to and from a particular client device (e.g., client devices 202 and 204 ) via one or more directed communication beams 214 , interference between communications beams 214 can occur. For example, a downlink signal transmission from antenna assembly 208 via communication beam 214 ( 2 ) can corrupt an uplink signal reception at antenna assembly 208 via communication beam 214 ( 3 ). The signal control and coordination logic 304 coordinates uplink and downlink signal transmissions across (e.g., between and/or among) the different communication beams 214 so as to avoid, or at least reduce, the frequency at which downlink directed signals are transmitted via a first communication beam (e.g., communication beam 214 ( 2 )) while uplink directed signals are being received via a second communication beam (e.g., communication beam 214 ( 3 )).

[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary antenna array 302 (also referred to herein as an adaptive antenna) that is formed with an array of antenna elements 400 . Each antenna element 400 has multiple communication signal transfer slots 402 (e.g., transfer slots 402 ( 1 ) and 402 ( 2 )) that are formed into a front surface 404 of an antenna element 400 . The antenna array 302 transmits and receives data as electromagnetic communication signals via the transfer slots 402 in each antenna element 400 .

[0050] In an exemplary implementation, the communication signal transfer slots 402 in an antenna element 400 are formed into two parallel slot rows 406 ( 1 ) and 406 ( 2 ) in which the transfer slots 402 ( 1 ) in slot row 406 ( 1 ) are staggered, or otherwise offset, in relation to the transfer slots 402 ( 2 ) in slot row 406 ( 2 ). Each transfer slot 402 ( 1 ) in slot row 406 ( 1 ) is offset from each transfer slot 402 ( 2 ) in slot row 406 ( 2 ) in a direction 408 and a distance 410 . For example, transfer slot 402 ( 1 ) in slot row 406 ( 1 ) is offset from transfer slot 402 ( 2 ) in slot row 408 ( 2 ) in a direction that is parallel to the slot rows 406 (e.g., the direction 408 ) over a distance that is approximately the length of one rectangular transfer slot 402 (e.g., the distance 410 ). The distance 410 between transfer slots 402 in a slot row 406 is approximately the antenna element wavelength λ _g /2 apart.

[0051] The gain of an adaptive antenna (e.g., antenna array 302 ) is dependent on the implementation of the multi-beam directed signal system 206 . However, for a uniformly illuminated antenna array, the antenna gain is related to its effective aperture by an equation: 1 $G_R=\frac{4\pi ·A_{\mathrm{eff}}}{{\lambda }^2}$

[0052] Assuming A _eff is equal to a cross-sectional area of the antenna array: 2 $G_R=\frac{4\pi ·w·h}{{\lambda }^2}$

[0053] where w is the width of the antenna, h is the height of the antenna, and λ is the wavelength. For an example indoor implementation of an antenna array where w=8λ and h=4λ, the antenna gain is determined by the equation: 3 $G_R=\frac{4\pi ·8\lambda ·4\lambda }{{\lambda }^2}=128\pi =26\mathrm{dB}i$

[0054] For an example outdoor implementation of an antenna array where w=8λ and h=8λ, the antenna gain is determined by the equation: 4 $G_R=\frac{4\pi ·8\lambda ·8\lambda }{{\lambda }^2}=256\pi =29.1\mathrm{dB}i$

[0055] When dissipation losses are zero, the antenna gain is equivalent to directivity. The effective aperture may include the effect of losses, and therefore the formulas may be used to calculate the gain. When the actual dimensions of the antenna array 302 are used as the “effective area”, the losses are assumed to be zero (e.g., for an ideal implementation).

[0056] In this example illustration, the antenna array 302 is shown configured for indoor use with sixteen antenna elements (e.g., sixteen of antenna elements 400 formed or otherwise positioned together) each having two parallel rows of four communication signal transfer slots each (e.g., slot rows 406 ( 1 ) and 406 ( 2 )). The antenna array 302 can be configured for outdoor use with thirty-two antenna elements (e.g., multiple antenna elements 400 ) each having two parallel rows of eight communication signal transfer slots each, or can be configured as a larger antenna array or antenna panel with more antenna elements having more communication signal transfer slots per slot row. The antenna array 302 can be configured with as many antenna elements 400 having any number of transfer slots 402 per slot row 406 as needed to provide communication signal transfer (e.g., wireless communication) over a region or desired coverage area.

[0057] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary implementation 500 of a directed wireless communication system (e.g., directed wireless communication system 200 shown in FIG. 2 ) that includes antenna assembly 208 and antenna array 302 as shown in FIG. 4 . In this example, antenna array 302 is positioned outside of a building 502 and mounted on an adjacent building 504 to provide wireless communication throughout building 502 and throughout a region 506 outside of building 502 . The antenna array 302 is coupled to the multi-beam directed signal system 206 ( FIG. 2 ) which can be communicatively coupled via a LAN connection, for example, to a server computing device positioned in building 504 . The server computing device can be implemented to administrate and control the associated functions and operations of the directed wireless communication system 200 . Alternatively, antenna array 302 can be mounted within building 502 to provide wireless communication throughout building 502 and throughout the region 506 outside of building 502 . For example, antenna array 302 can be mounted in a corner between two interior perpendicular walls to provide wireless communication coverage throughout the coverage area (e.g., building 502 and region 506 outside of the building).

[0058] The directed wireless communication system 200 (e.g., shown in implementation 500 ) provides wireless communication of information (e.g., in the form of data packets) via directed communication beams 508 ( 1 ), 508 ( 2 ), . . . , 508 (N) to any number of electronic and/or computing client devices that are configured to recognize and receive transmission signals from the antenna array 302 . Any one or more of the electronic and computing client devices may also transmit information via the directed communication beams 508 . Such electronic and computing devices can include printing devices, desktop and portable computing devices such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular phone, and similar mobile communication devices, and any other type of electronic devices configured for wireless communication connectivity throughout building 502 , as well as portable devices outside of building 502 , such as computing device 510 within region 506 . One or more of the electronic and computing client devices may also be connected together via a wired network and/or communication link.

[0059] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary set or array of communication beams 600 that emanate from an antenna array 302 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . In a described implementation, antenna array 302 can include sixteen antenna elements 400 ( 0 , 1 , . . . , 14 , and 15 ) (not explicitly shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 ). From the sixteen antenna elements 400 ( 0 - 15 ), sixteen different communication beams 602 ( 0 ), 602 ( 1 ), . . . , 602 ( 15 ) are formed as the wireless communication signals emanating from antenna elements 400 ( 0 - 15 ) which may add and/or subtract from each other during electromagnetic propagation.

[0060] Communication beams 602 ( 1 ), . . . , 602 ( 15 ) spread out, or are directed out, symmetrically from a central communication beam 602 ( 0 ). The narrowest beam is the central beam 602 ( 0 ), and the beams become wider as they spread outward from the central beam. For example, beam 602 ( 15 ) adjacent beam 602 ( 0 ) is slightly wider than beam 602 ( 0 ), and beam 602 ( 5 ) is wider than beam 602 ( 15 ). Also, beam 602 ( 10 ) is wider still than beam 602 ( 5 ). The communication beam pattern of the set of communication beams 600 illustrated in FIG. 6 are exemplary only and other communication beam pattern sets may differ in width, shape, number, angular coverage, azimuth, and so forth.

[0061] Due to implementation effects of the interactions between and among the wireless signals as they emanate from antenna array 302 (e.g., assuming a linear antenna array in a described implementation), communication beam 602 ( 8 ) is degenerate such that its beam pattern is formed on both sides of antenna array 302 . These implementation effects also account for the increasing widths of the other beams 602 ( 1 - 7 ) and 602 ( 15 - 9 ) as they spread outward from the central communication beam 602 ( 0 ). In addition to the implementation effects of the interactions between and among the wireless signals, an obliquity effect explains that an azimuth beamwidth is related to the projected horizontal dimension of the array, as viewed from an oblique angle. Accordingly, the array appears narrower when viewed from an oblique angle, and therefore has a wider beamwidth as compared to a beamwidth viewed from a perpendicular angle. Beamwidth and directivity are inversely proportional and an obliquity factor (i.e., cos(azimuth angle)) defines a reduction in antenna array directivity at oblique angles and thus an increase in beamwidth. In a further implementation, communication beams 602 ( 7 ) and 602 ( 9 ) may be too wide for efficient and productive use. Hence, communication beams 602 ( 7 ), 602 ( 8 ), and 602 ( 9 ) are not used and the implementation utilizes the remaining thirteen communication beams 602 (e.g., communication beams 602 ( 0 - 6 ) and beams 602 ( 10 - 15 )).

[0062] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary implementation 700 of the multi-beam directed signal system 206 which establishes multiple access points 702 ( 1 ), 702 ( 2 ), . . . , 702 (N). The multi-beam directed signal system 206 establishes any number access points 702 which can each correspond to, for example, an individual access point in accordance with an IEEE 802.11-based standard. Additionally, a wireless coverage area or region for each respective access point 702 may correspond to, for example, a respective directed communication beam 214 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , or a respective communication beam 602 as shown in FIG. 6 .

[0063] Although communication signals directed into (or obtained from) different access points 702 may be directed at particular or specific coverage areas, interference between access points 702 can occur. For example, a downlink signal transmission for access point 702 ( 2 ) can destroy an uplink signal reception for access point 702 ( 1 ). Generally, signal control and coordination logic 304 coordinates uplink signal receptions and downlink signal transmissions across (e.g., between and/or among) different access points 702 so as to avoid, or at least reduce, the frequency at which downlink signals are transmitted at a first access point while uplink signals are being received at a second access point.

[0064] Specifically, signal control and coordination logic 304 is adapted to monitor the multiple access points 702 ( 1 ), 702 ( 2 ), . . . , 702 (N) to ascertain when a signal, or communication of information, is being received. When an access point 702 is ascertained to be receiving a signal, the signal control and coordination logic 304 limits (e.g., prevents, delays, etc.) the transmission of signals on the other access points 702 such that signal transmission does not interfere with signal reception. The monitoring, ascertaining, and restraining of signals can be based on and/or responsive to many factors. For example, the signals can be coordinated (e.g., analyzed and controlled) based on a per-channel basis.

[0065] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate various components of the multi-beam directed signal system 206 and the antenna assembly 208 both shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 . FIG. 8A illustrates antenna array 302 which includes the sixteen antenna elements 400 ( 0 , 1 , . . . , 15 ) as described with reference to FIG. 6 . The antenna assembly 208 includes RF (radio frequency) components which are shown as a left transmit antenna board 800 , a right transmit antenna board 802 , a left receive antenna board 804 , and a right receive antenna board 806 . The multi-beam directed signal system 206 includes a transmit beam-forming network 808 and a receive beam-forming network 810 .

[0066] The left transmit antenna board 800 includes transmission logic 812 ( 0 , 1 , . . . , 7 ) and the right transmit antenna board 802 includes transmission logic 812 ( 8 , 9 , . . . , 15 ). Each transmission logic 812 (e.g., circuit, component, etc.) corresponds to an antenna element 400 ( 0 - 15 ) of the antenna array 302 and corresponds to a signal connection (e.g., node, port, channel, etc.) of the transmit beam-forming network 808 ( 0 - 15 ). Similarly, the left receive antenna board 804 includes reception logic 814 ( 0 , 1 , . . . , 7 ) and the right receive antenna board 806 includes reception logic 814 ( 8 , 9 , . . . , 15 ). Each reception logic 814 (e.g., circuit, component, etc.) corresponds to an antenna element 400 ( 0 - 15 ) of the antenna array 302 and corresponds to a signal connection (e.g., node, port, channel, etc.) of the receive beam-forming network 810 ( 0 - 15 ).

[0067] Generally, a beam-forming network 808 and 810 may include multiple ports for connecting to antenna array 302 and multiple ports for connecting to the multiple RF components, such as the transmit and receive antenna boards 800 - 806 . One or more active components (e.g., a power amplifier (PA), a low-noise amplifier (LNA), etc.) may also be coupled to the multiple ports on the antenna array side of a beam-forming network. Thus, antenna array 302 may be directly or indirectly coupled to a beam-forming network 808 and 810 .

[0068] Specifically, a beam-forming network 808 and 810 may include at least “N” ports for each of the multiple RF transmission and receive logic components 812 and 814 , respectively. For example, each directed communication beam 214 ( FIG. 2 ) or 602 ( FIG. 6 ) emanating from antenna array 302 corresponds to an RF logic component 812 and/or 814 . Each RF logic component 812 and 814 can be implemented as, for example, a transmit and/or receive signal processor operating at one or more radio frequencies, with each frequency corresponding to a different channel. It should be noted that channels may be defined alternatively (and/or additionally) using a mechanism other than frequency, such as a code, a time slot, some combination thereof, and so forth.

[0069] FIG. 8B further illustrates various components of the multi-beam directed signal system 206 which includes the signal control and coordination logic 304 , a multi-beam controller 816 , one or more memory components 818 , communication interface(s) 820 , a scanning receiver 822 , and receiver/transmitters (Rx/Tx) 824 ( 0 , 1 , . . . , 15 ). The multi-beam controller 816 (e.g., any of a processor, controller, logic, circuitry, etc.) can be implemented to control channel assignments for communication signals and data communication coordinated by the signal control and coordination logic 304 .

[0070] The channel assignments coordinated by the signal control and coordination logic 304 provides the best channel assignment for a signal based on given measurement information. Parameters of a channel assignment algorithm include:

[0071] ChannelAssignmentCycle which identifies a duration between changes in the channel assignment;

[0072] HeavyInterference which identifies an interference activity threshold. If, for example, interference activity is determined to be above this value, a particular channel may be considered deficient for the duration of time that the interference can be detected;

[0073] BadChannelThreshold which identifies a number of measurement periods (e.g., a MeasurementDuration) that a channel has interference activity above the HeavyInterference threshold; and

[0074] JamInterference which identifies an interference activity threshold above the HeavyInterference parameter.

[0075] Further, channel assignment internal parameters can include:

[0076] MeasurementCycle which identifies a time duration (e.g., twenty-four hours) in which a measurement is completed;

[0077] MeasurementDuration which identifies a time duration (e.g., thirty minutes) between two measurement points;

[0078] PeakLoadLimit which identifies a maximum load allowed on one channel; and

[0079] ChannelSixBiasFactor which is a bias factor to compensate for transmission on channel six to reduce inter-modulation.

[0080] The scanning receiver 822 and the receiver/transmitters (Rx/Tx) 824 measure metrics of channel activity every specified MeasurementDuration during a cycle of MeasurementCycle. The metrics can include a number of associated client devices, throughput and packet error rates (PER) of each receiver/transmitter 824 , interference and channel utilization of each communication beam (e.g., frequency, or channel), and/or any number of other metrics. The channel activity metrics include:

[0081] N _i (t) which is a number of associated clients of the ith Rx/Tx 824 and which is averaged over the MeasurementDuration period;

[0082] S _i (t) which is the throughput of the ith Rx/Tx 824 measured in packets/second or bytes/second, and which is averaged over the MeasurementDuration period;

[0083] P _i (t) which is a packet error rate (PER) of the ith Rx/Tx 824 and which is averaged over the MeasurementDuration period;

[0084] D _i (t) which is a delay of the ith Rx/Tx 824 and which is averaged over the MeasurementDuration period;

[0085] ρ _ij (t) which is channel utilization of the ith beam on the jth channel and which is measured by both the Rx/Tx 824 and scanning receiver 822 and averaged over the MeasurementDuration period. This is also refered to as a Channel Utilization Factor (CUF);

[0086] Ns _j (t) which is a number of downlink data packets transmitted on the jth channel and which is averaged over the MeasurementDuration period;

[0087] Nr _ij (t) which is a number of correctly received uplink data packets transmitted by client devices associated with the ith beam on the jth channel, and which is averaged over the MeasurementDuration period;

[0088] Nn _ij (t) which is a number of uplink data packets transmitted by client devices associated with other communication beams, and which are correctly received by the ith beam on the jth channel. This is measured by the scanning receiver 822 and is averaged over the MeasurementDuration period. This is also referred to as the Self Interference Metric (SIM);

[0089] No _ij (t) which is a number of uplink data packets transmitted by the client devices from overlapping subnets and which are correctly received by the ith beam on the jth channel. This is measured by the scanning receiver 822 and is averaged over the MeasurementDuration period. This is also referred to as the Overlapping Subnet Interference (OSI);

[0090] Ne _ij (t) which is a number of uplink data packets with PLCP or data CRC errors in the ith beam on the jth channel and which is measured by the scanning receiver 822 and averaged over the MeasurementDuration period. This is also referred to as the Unidentified Interference Metric (UIM); and

[0091] I _ij (t) which is the interference of the ith beam on the jth channel and which is measured by the scanning receiver 822 .

[0092] These and other metrics can be maintained with a memory component 818 in a data table (or similar data construct) within the MeasurementCycle. When the cycle restarts, the data table can either be cleared or updated with some aging factor to identify past metrics.

[0093] The metric I _ij (t) can be derived from other measurements when the receiver/transmitters 824 are on the same channel. In such cases, I _ij (t) can be estimated by first estimating a total number of packets from any overlapping subnets by an equation: 5 ${\mathrm{NI}}_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)={\mathrm{No}}_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)+{\mathrm{Ne}}_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)·\frac{{\mathrm{No}}_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)}{{\mathrm{Nr}}_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)+{\mathrm{Nn}}_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)+{\mathrm{No}}_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)}$

[0094] Further, I _ij (t) may be estimated by: 6 $I_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)=\frac{{\mathrm{NI}}_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)}{{\mathrm{NS}}_i\left(t\right)+{\mathrm{Nr}}_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)+{\mathrm{Nn}}_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)+{\mathrm{No}}_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)+{\mathrm{Ne}}_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)}·{\rho }_{\mathrm{ij}}$

[0095] For channel assignment pre-processing, a channel that has interference activity which exceeds HeavyInterference for a BadChannelThreshold is not used. The interference activity is averaged over intervals of the MeasurementDuration period. In an implementation, a MeasurementCycle can include forty-eight measurement intervals. A channel can be eliminated if the interference activity HeavyInterference exceeds the BadChannelThreshold for a specified number of periods.

[0096] The total number of active users (e.g., client devices) associated with any one directed communication beam 214 ( FIG. 2 ) or 602 ( FIG. 6 ) can be estimated by dividing the number of associated users of that communication beam by the percentage of time available to those users. The total number of users on beam i and channel j may therefore be described by: 7 $N_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)=\frac{N_i\left(t\right)}{1{-}^{\sim }I_{\mathrm{ij}}\left(t\right)}$

[0097] where {tilde over ()}I _ij (t)=min{I _ij (t), HeavyInterference} which is the interference activity limited to a maximum allowable interference on a given communication beam. This ensures that the estimate does not provide large peaks due to an unusual period of high interference.

[0098] A block-based channel assignment algorithm assigns adjacent communication beams to the same frequency channel which minimizes the hidden beam problem as described further with reference to FIG. 14 . The algorithm allocates the thirteen communication beams into a maximum of three blocks, with each block assigned to one frequency channel (e.g., channels 1 , 6 , or 11 ) so that the peak load on each channel is minimized. To determine an optimal solution, the boundaries between the assignment blocks (i.e. the number of communication beams in each block) and the frequency channel of each block is determined.

[0099] There are sixty-six possible combinations that divide thirteen communication beams into three blocks. For each of these possible combinations, the three blocks would be assigned to the three different channels. The number of channel permutations is six and the best channel-beam combination from three hundred, ninety-six (66×6=396) possible combinations can be determined. A factor L _j (t) is denoted as the total load on the jth frequency channel at time (t) such that L _j *=max{L _j (t)} where t is set [ 0 , T] which is the the peak load on the jth channel in the last measurement period, and where T is the measurement cycle (i.e., MeasurementCycle). A combination can be determined that minimizes the peak load on all of the channels which can be described as min{max{L _j *}} where j is of the set [f ₁ ,f ₆ ,f ₁₁ ].

[0100] In an event that the overall network communication load, or traffic, is minimal, fewer than the three frequency channels may be used. A parameter PeakLoadLimit identifies a communication load limit below which only two of the frequency channels (e.g., channel 1 and channel 11 , for example) are used. If the peak communication load on either of the two channels exceeds the PeakLoadLimit, then the three frequency channels can be utilized.

[0101] The block-based channel assignment algorithm can be implemented to utilize two or three frequency channels. Initially, the thirteen communication beams are divided into two blocks of which there are twelve possible combinations. For each combination, the channel selections can be f ₁ f ₆ , f ₁ f ₁₁ , f ₆ f ₁ , f ₆ f ₁₁ , f ₁₁ f ₁ , or f ₁₁ f ₆ such that there are a total of seventy-two block and channel combinations. Assuming that the kth block-channel combination has a configuration as follows:

[0102] Block 1 : communication beams 0 to b _k ( 0 to N−2) are assigned to channel C ₁ ; and

[0103] Block 2 : communication beams b _k +1 to N−1 ( 1 to N−1) are assigned to channel C ₂

[0104] Then the communication traffic load of channels C ₁ and C ₂ are: 8 $L_{\mathrm{C1}}^k\left(t\right)=\stackrel{b_k}{\sum _{i=0}}N_{\mathrm{iC1}}\left(t\right)$ $L_{\mathrm{C2}}^k\left(t\right)=\stackrel{N-1}{\sum _{i=b_k+1}}N_{\mathrm{iC2}}\left(t\right)$

[0105] The peak communication load on the first block for combination k is denoted by: PL ₁ (k)={L ^k _C1 (t)} where t is of the set [ 0 , T]

PL ₂ ( k )=max{ L ^k _C2 ( t )} where t is of the set [ 0 , T],

[0106] and the peak communication load for the busiest block (e.g., channel) is:

PL _max ( k )=max{ PL ₁ ( k ), PL ₂ ( k )}

[0107] A combination index R with the least peak communication load is then selected such that PL _max (R)=min{PL _max (k)} where (0≦k≦71) which is the combination of channels and beams that minimize the peak load on any channel. If the peak load on a channel is not less than the PeakLoadLimit, then a three channel assignment can be implemented. Initially, the thirteen communication beams are divide into three blocks of which there are sixty-six possible combinations. For each combination, the channel selections can be f ₁ f ₆ f ₁₁ , f ₁ f ₁₁ f ₆ , f ₆ f ₁ f ₁₁ , f ₆ f ₁₁ f ₁ , f ₆ , or f ₁₁ f ₆ f ₁ such that there are a total of three-hundred, ninety-six block and channel combinations. Assuming that the kth block-channel combination has a configuration as follows:

[0108] Block 1 : communication beams 0 to b _k ( 0 to N−3) are assigned to channel C ₁ ; and

[0109] Block 2 : communication beams b _k +1 to p _k ( 1 to N−2) are assigned to channel C ₂ ; and

[0110] Block 3 : communication beams p _k +1 to N−1 ( 2 to N−1) are assigned to channel C ₃ ;

[0111] Then the communication traffic load of channels C ₁ , C ₂ , and C ₃ are: 9 $L_{\mathrm{C1}}^k\left(t\right)=\stackrel{b_k}{\sum _{i=0}}N_{\mathrm{iC1}}\left(t\right)$ $L_{\mathrm{C2}}^k\left(t\right)=\stackrel{p_k}{\sum _{i=b_k+1}}N_{\mathrm{iC2}}\left(t\right)$ $L_{\mathrm{C3}}^k\left(t\right)=\stackrel{N-1}{\sum _{i=p_k+1}}N_{\mathrm{iC3}}\left(t\right)$

[0112] The peak communication load on the first block for combination k is denoted by: PL ₁ (k)=max{L ^k _C1 (t)} where t is of the set [ 0 , T]

PL ₂ ( k )=max{ L ^k _C2 ( t )} where t is of the set [ 0 , T],

PL ₃ ( k )=max{ L ^k _C3 ( t )} where t is of the set [ 0 , T],

[0113] and the peak communication load for the busiest block (e.g., channel) is:

PL _max ( k )=max{ PL ₁ ( k ), PL ₂ ( k ), PL ₂ ( k )}

[0114] A combination index R with the least peak communication load is then selected such that PL _max (R)=min{PL _max (k)} where (0≦k≦395) which is the combination of channels and beams that minimize the peak load on any channel.

[0115] When taking into account intermodulation such that channel combinations f ₁ f ₆ and f ₆ f ₁₁ are to be avoided, then f ₆ is avoided. Initially, the thirteen communication beams are divide