(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0017793 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jan. 29, 2004
`Thermond et al.
`
`US 2004.0017793A1
`
`(54) WIRELESS ACCESS POINT SERVICE
`COVERAGE AREA MANAGEMENT
`(76) Inventors: Jeffrey L. Thermond, Saratoga, CA
`(US); Richard G. Martin, Morgan
`Hill, CA (US); Jeff Abramowitz,
`Menlo Park, CA (US); Stephen Palm,
`Irvine, CA (US)
`Correspondence Address:
`GARLICK HARRISON & MARKSON LLP
`P.O. BOX 160727
`AUSTIN, TX 78716-0727 (US)
`(21) Appl. No.:
`10/357,795
`(22) Filed:
`Feb. 4, 2003
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/398,744, filed on Jul.
`26, 2002.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl. .................................................... H04Q 7/24
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. .............................................................. 370/338
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) infrastructure
`includes a wired backbone network, an air controller, and a
`plurality of wireless access points (WAPs). Each WAP
`includes a processor, a wired backbone interface, a first
`radio, a directional antenna, a Second radio, and an antenna.
`The first radio and directional antenna Service wireleSS
`terminals. The Second radio and the antenna collect non
`participatory WAP data. The first radio and directional
`antenna optionally collect participatory WAP data. Based
`upon the non-participatory WAP data (and optionally the
`participatory WAP data), the processor creates WAP opera
`tional reports and provides the WAPs operational reports to
`the air controller. The air controller creates directions based
`thereon and directs one or more of the WAPs to alter the gain
`pattern(s) of the directional antenna(s), alter the transmit
`power(s) of the first radio(s), and/or to alter the channel
`usage of the first radio(s). In another embodiment, the first
`radio collects non-participatory WAP data when not servic
`ing communications with wireleSS units.
`
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`328
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`
`
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 1 of 12
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`US 2004/0017793 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 2 of 12
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`US 2004/0017793 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 3 of 12
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`Patent Application Publication
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`US 2004/0017793 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 5 of 12
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 6 of 12
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 7 of 12
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 8 of 12
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 9 of 12
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`US 2004/0017793 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 12 of 12
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`US 2004/0017793 A1
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`US 2004/0017793 A1
`
`Jan. 29, 2004
`
`WIRELESS ACCESS POINT SERVICE COVERAGE
`AREA MANAGEMENT
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`0001. This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
`Patent Application Serial No. 60/398,744, filed Jul. 26,
`2002, which is incorporated herein by reference in its
`entirety for all purposes.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`0002 This invention relates generally to wireless local
`area networks, and more particularly to the management of
`wireless access points within Such wireleSS local area net
`WorkS.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0.003 Communication technologies that link electronic
`devices in a networked fashion are well known. Examples of
`communication networks include wired packet data net
`Works, wireleSS packet data networks, wired telephone net
`Works, wireleSS telephone networks, and Satellite commu
`nication networks, among other networks. These
`communication networks typically include a network infra
`Structure that Services a plurality of client devices. The
`Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is probably the
`best-known communication network that has been in exist
`ence for many years. The Internet is another well-known
`example of a communication network that has also been in
`existence for a number of years. These communication
`networks enable client devices to communicate with each
`other on a global basis. Wired Local Area Networks (LANs),
`e.g., Ethernets, are also quite common and Support commu
`nications between networked computers and other devices
`within a serviced area. LANs also often link serviced
`devices to Wide Area Networks and the Internet. Each of
`these networks is generally considered a "wired” network,
`even though some of these networks, e.g., the PSTN, may
`include Some transmission paths that are Serviced by wire
`leSS linkS.
`0004 Wireless networks have been in existence for a
`relatively shorter period. Cellular telephone networks, wire
`less LANs (WLANs), and satellite communication net
`Works, among others, are examples of wireleSS networkS.
`Relatively common forms of WLANs are IEEE 802.11(a)
`networks, IEEE 802.11(b) networks, and IEEE 802.11(g)
`networks, referred to jointly as “IEEE 802.11 networks.” In
`a typical IEEE 802.11 network, a wired backbone network
`couples to a plurality of Wireless Access Points (WAPs),
`each of which Supports wireleSS communications with com
`puters and other wireless terminals that include compatible
`wireleSS interfaces within a Serviced area. The wired back
`bone network couples the WAPs of the IEEE 802.11 network
`to other networks, both wired and wireless, and allows
`Serviced wireleSS terminals to communicate with devices
`external to the IEEE 802.11 network.
`0005 WLANs provide significant advantages when ser
`vicing portable devices Such as portable computers, portable
`data terminals, and other devices that are not typically
`Stationary and able to access a wired LAN connection.
`However, WLANs provide relatively low data rate service as
`compared to wired LANs, e.g., IEEE 802.3 networks. Cur
`
`rently deployed wired networks provide up to one Gigabit/
`second bandwidth and relatively soon, wired networks will
`provide up to 10 Gigabit/second bandwidths. However,
`because of their advantages in Servicing portable devices,
`WLANs are often deployed so that they support wireless
`communications in a Service area that overlays with the
`Service area of a wired network. In Such installations,
`devices that are primarily Stationary, e.g., desktop comput
`ers, couple to the wired LAN while devices that are prima
`rily mobile, e.g., laptop computers, couple to the WLAN.
`The laptop computer, however, may also have a wired LAN
`connection that it uses when docked to obtain relatively
`higher bandwidth service.
`0006 When a decision is initially made to install a
`WLAN in a premises, the WLAN must first be engineered.
`In Such engineering, the lay out of the premises, e.g.,
`warehouse, office Space, campus environment, etc. is first
`considered. In most installations, wireleSS coverage is
`desired acroSS all areas of the premises. The deployment of
`the WAPs within the premises is the most critical step in the
`WLAN engineering. Because the conductance of Radio
`Frequency (RF) transmissions through building walls and
`other obstacles in the premises is dependent upon respective
`Structure, the Structural aspects of the premises must be
`carefully considered when determining WAP placement.
`However, most WAP placement decisions are subjectively
`made, based upon the care and experience level of the
`installer.
`0007. During the initial WLAN installation, the WAP
`placement is fixed. Thus, the WAP placement cannot address
`changes in the topology and structure of the premises. Such
`changes in the topology and Structure may include the
`addition of walls, the additions of partitions, the addition of
`wiring that will affect propagation of RF transmissions, and
`other characteristics. Problems that typically result due to
`poor WAP placement include poor channel utilization, inter
`ference between WAPs, WAP capacity shortages, and other
`Shortcomings. These operational problems, however, will
`typically only be seen as poor WLAN performance. The
`WLAN network installer/administrator, however, has no
`way of determining whether these problems are caused by
`equipment deficiencies, the nature of the premises, WAP
`placement, or lack of capacity in the WAPs.
`0008 Thus, there is a need in the art for improvements in
`the management of WAPs servicing a WLAN within a
`premises.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0009 Thus to overcome the shortcomings of the prior
`devices among other shortcomings, a wireleSS local area
`network (WLAN) infrastructure constructed according to
`the present invention better Services a plurality of wireleSS
`terminals through improved management and control of the
`WAPs and their characteristics. The WLAN infrastructure
`includes a wired backbone network, an air controller com
`municatively coupled to the wired backbone network, and a
`plurality of wireless access points (WAPs). The WAPs also
`communicatively couple to the wired backbone network.
`Each of the WAPs includes a processor, a wired backbone
`interface, a first radio, and a dynamically directional antenna
`coupled to the first radio. Each WAP also includes a second
`radio that couples to an antenna. The wired backbone
`interface communicatively couples to the processor and to
`the wired backbone network.
`
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`US 2004/0017793 A1
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`
`0.010 The first radio communicatively couples to the
`wired backbone interface and to the processor and Supports
`communications with the plurality of wireleSS terminals.
`The directional antenna couples to the first radio and has an
`antenna gain pattern that is controlled by the processor. The
`Second radio communicatively couples to the wired back
`bone interface and to the processor. The Second radio
`passively listens to, but does not participate in the commu
`nications of at least Some of the plurality of wireleSS
`terminals, gathers non-participatory WAP data, and provides
`the non-participatory WAP data to the processor. The pro
`cessor receives the non-participatory WAP data from the
`second radio, creates WAP operational reports based there
`upon, and provides the WAP operational reports to the air
`controller. Based upon directions received from the air
`controller, the processor alters the gain pattern of the direc
`tional antenna.
`0011. According to another aspect of the present inven
`tion, the air controller may also provide directions to the
`WAP that causes the WAP to alter the transmission power of
`the first radio. According to Still other aspect of the present
`invention, the air controller provides directions to the WAP
`that causes the WAP to alter the channels upon which the
`first radio operates. In altering the channels of operation of
`the first radio, the processor may direct the first radio to
`operate on a reserved set of channels that are available to the
`first radio. As is generally known, in a WLAN that operates
`according to particular operating protocol Standard, e.g.,
`IEEE 802.11(b), a plurality of channels are allocated for
`operation within the WLAN.
`0012. According to the present invention, some channels
`may be reserved to Service particular types of communica
`tions, e.g., Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communica
`tions serviced by the WLAN, data communications required
`to meet a Quality of Service (QoS) requirement, etc. In Such
`cases, a reserved set of channels is employed So that the
`WLAN will provide a service level that is sufficient to
`Support the VoIP Voice communication or QoS guaranteed
`data communication. Further, the reserved set of channels
`may service a virtual local area network within the WLAN
`Service area.
`0013 In a particular operation according to the present
`invention, the air controller coordinates the operation of
`each of the plurality of WAPs of the WLAN. In coordinating
`the operation of the plurality of WAPs, the air controller
`controls the directional antennas of each of the plurality of
`WAPs. In another operation, the air controller coordinates
`the operation, e.g., transmit power and/or channelization, of
`the first radios of one or more of the plurality of WAPs. In
`other embodiments, the WAPs coordinate the operation of
`their own first radios based upon the non-participatory WAP
`data. Coordination of operation may include altering the
`transmit power of the first radios of each of the plurality of
`WAPS, altering channel usage, etc. By managing each of the
`plurality of WAPs, the air controller controls the service
`areas provided by each of the plurality of WAPs. Controlling
`the service area of the plurality of WAPs is particularly
`important in ensuring that wireleSS terminal load is distrib
`uted across the plurality of WAPs. Further, by controlling at
`least one of the gain pattern of the directional antennas of the
`plurality of WAPs and the transmit power of coupled first
`radioS, the air controller reduces interference among the
`plurality of WAPs and increases WLAN performance.
`
`0014. The WAP operational reports may also include
`participatory WAP data, i.e., information regarding commu
`nications serviced by a respective WAP. The participatory
`WAP data may include received carrier Signal Strengths,
`carrier to interference ratios, byte error rates, dropped link
`occurrences, and channel utilization for communications
`with serviced wireless terminals. Each of these types of
`participatory WAP data indicates the relative quality of the
`communication link between the WAP and one or more
`serviced wireless terminals. The non-participatory WAP
`data, on the other hand, includes information relating to
`potentially all wireless terminals serviced by the WLAN.
`The non-participatory WAP data, however, can only char
`acterize the information it receives and may include received
`carrier Signal Strengths, carrier interference ratios, and chan
`nel utilizations for the plurality transmissions it monitors.
`Because the Second radio listens to wireless terminals that
`are not serviced by the first radio of the WAP collecting the
`non-participatory WAP data, the non-participatory WAP data
`is of great importance. Such is the case because transmis
`sions received at a first WAP that are serviced by a second
`WAP produce interference at the first WAP. Thus, it is
`advantageous to at least one of control the gain of the
`directional antenna and transmission power of the first radio
`of the first Atty. Docket No. BP 2488. WAP to reduce
`interference at the second WAP, and vice versa. In some
`operations, the non-participatory WAP data may include
`data based upon transmissions from other WAPs.
`0015 According to another embodiment of the present
`invention, each WAP only includes a single radio and a
`Single antenna. In Such case, the radio communicatively
`couples to the wired backbone interface and to the processor
`and Supports communications with a first plurality of wire
`less terminals. The directional antenna couples to the first
`radio and has an antenna gain pattern that is controlled by
`the processor. When the radio is idle with respect to the first
`plurality of wireless terminals, the radio passively listens to,
`but does not participate in transmissions of at least Some of
`a Second plurality of wireleSS terminals, gathers non-partici
`patory WAP data, and provides the non-participatory WAP
`data to the processor. The processor receives the non
`participatory WAP data from the radio, creates WAP opera
`tional reports based there upon, and provides the WAP
`operational reports to the air controller. Then, based upon
`directions received from the air controller, the processor
`alters the gain pattern of the directional antenna.
`0016 Other features and advantages of the present inven
`tion will become apparent from the following detailed
`description of the invention made with reference to the
`accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0017. These and other features, aspects and advantages of
`the present invention will be more fully understood when
`considered with respect to the following detailed descrip
`tion, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
`0018 FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a premises
`in which a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) con
`Structed according to the present invention is deployed;
`0019 FIG. 2 is a partial system diagram illustrating a
`portion of the campus of FIG. 1 in which wireless commu
`nications are Serviced according to the present invention;
`
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`US 2004/0017793 A1
`
`Jan. 29, 2004
`
`0020 FIG. 3 is a partial system diagram illustrating a
`portion of a campus in which wireleSS communications are
`Serviced according to the present invention;
`0021
`FIG. 4 is a partial system diagram illustrating a
`WLAN constructed according to the present invention;
`0022 FIG. 5 is a partial system diagram illustrating in
`more detail the WLAN of FIG. 4;
`0023 FIGS. 6A and 6B are graphs illustrating various
`antenna gain patterns of WAP directional antennas operating
`according to the present invention;
`0024 FIG. 7A is a block diagram illustrating a WAP
`constructed according to the present invention;
`0.025
`FIG. 7B is a block diagram illustrating the com
`ponents of a wireleSS terminal that operates according to the
`present invention;
`0.026
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an air con
`troller constructed according to the present invention;
`0027 FIGS. 9A and 9B are a logic diagrams illustrating
`WAP operations according to the present invention; and
`0028 FIG. 10 is a logic diagram illustrating air controller
`operations according to the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0029 FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a premises
`100 in which a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
`constructed according to the present invention is deployed.
`The premises 100 (campus) includes office buildings 102,
`104, 106 and industrial buildings 108, 110, 112, and 114.
`The premises 100 may correspond to a company Such as a
`technology company, a Seller of goods, a Service company,
`or another type of company. Contained within each of the
`office buildings 102, 104, and 106 are a number of offices,
`each of which provides a working Space for at least one
`person. Each of the industrial buildings 108, 110, 112, and
`114 provides Space for manufacturing, Storage, and/or
`another purpose. People also work within industrial build
`ings 108, 110, 112, and 114.
`0030 Contained within each of these buildings 102-114
`are computer WorkStations, computer Servers, printers, FAX
`machines, phones, and other electronic devices. Each of
`these electronic devices has its communication require
`ments. For example, computer WorkStations, computer Serv
`ers, and printers each require data communication Service.
`Such data communication Service requires that the devices
`can communicate with other devices located within the
`premises 100 and with devices located external to the
`premises 100 across one or more data networks. The FAX
`machines and phones require coupling to one another and to
`the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
`0.031
`FIG. 2 is a partial system diagram illustrating a
`portion of the campus of FIG. 1 in which wireless commu
`nications are Serviced according to the present invention. A
`building floor 200 shown in FIG.2 may be a lower floor of
`one of the buildings of FIG. 1, e.g., building 102. The
`building floor 200 includes a plurality of rooms 202, 204,
`206, and 208. Each of these rooms 202, 204, 206, and 208
`has placed therein WAPs 206A, 206B, 206C, 206D, and
`206E, respectively, that Service corresponding areas. Fur
`ther, an external WAP206F services an area external to room
`
`208 of building floor 200. Each of these WAPs 206A-206F
`couples to a wired network infrastructure that may include
`a building router 216.
`0032 Serviced within the building floor 200 are wireless
`telephoneS/data terminals 212A-212I and laptop computers
`214A-214H, together “wireless terminals.” Each of these
`wireleSS terminals wirelessly communicates with a Servicing
`WAP. For example, laptop computer 214A and wireless
`terminals 212A and 212B wirelessly communicate with
`WAP206A (in their illustrated positions). Each of the WAPs
`206A-206E supports wireless communications primarily
`within a designated area respectively. However, the cover
`age area of each WAP 206A-206E extends beyond the
`boundaries of the serviced rooms 202-208 so that overlap
`ping coverage areas exist. For example, WAPs 206A and
`206C provide service between rooms 202 and 206 so that
`wireleSS terminals that roam between the rooms continue to
`receive wireleSS communication Service when between the
`rooms 202 and 206. Further, WAP206E supports wireless
`communications outside of the floor 200 to service laptop
`computer 214H and wireless terminal 212I.
`0033 FIG. 3 is a block diagram partially illustrating a
`portion of the WLAN of FIG. 2 that supports operations
`according to the present invention. The portion of the
`network shown includes WAPs 206A and 206B that support
`wireleSS communications within a Serviced area, for
`example, the rooms 202 and 204 of FIG.2. The WAPs 206A
`and 206B couple to a wired backbone network 305. The
`WAPS 206A and 206B service wireless communications for
`laptop computers 306,308, and 310, desktop computers 312,
`314, 316, and 318, and wireless telephones/data terminals
`320,322, 322,324, 326, and 328, together “wireless termi
`nals.” Note that while different numbering is used for the
`wireless terminals of FIG. 3, they are the same as, or similar
`to wireless terminals of FIG. 2. Service coverage areas
`supported by WAPs 206A and 206B partially overlap. The
`wired backbone network 305 couples to one or more data
`networks and to an air controller 326.
`0034). As illustrated, each of the WAPs 206A and 206B
`includes two antennas. A first antenna of the two antennas is
`a dynamically directional antenna that couples to a first radio
`of a respective WAP and a second antenna of the two
`antennas couples to a second radio of a respective WAP. The
`directional antennas and first radios of the WAPs 206A and
`206B service wireless communications with those of the
`laptop computers 306,308, and 310, desktop computers 312,
`314, 316, and 318, and wireless telephones/data terminals
`320,322, 322,324, 326, and 328, together “wireless termi
`nals, operating within respective Service areas. AS will be
`described further with reference to FIGS. 4-10, the WAPs
`206A and 206B are controlled by the air controller 326 so
`that their respective Service areas do not unduly interfere
`with one another and Such that Satisfactory Service is pro
`vided therein. In such case, each of WAPs 206A and 206B
`provides Service to a Subset of the wireleSS terminals.
`0035) In controlling the WAPs 206A and 206B, the air
`controller 326 directs the WAPS 206A and 206B to alter the
`gain pattern of their directional antennas, to modify their
`first radio transmit powers, and to alter the channels upon
`which they operate, among other directions. The control of
`the WAPs 206A and 206B by the air controller 326 is based
`upon WAP operational reports received from the WAPs.
`
`Hewlett Packard Exhibit 1005, Page 16 of 22
`Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company v. Intellectual Ventures II LLC
`IPR2021-01377
`
`

`

`US 2004/0017793 A1
`
`Jan. 29, 2004
`
`Second radios of the WAPS 206A and 206B listen to
`transmissions from at least one of the wireleSS terminals and
`WAPs and collect non-participatory WAP data. The WAPs
`206A and 206B produce the WAP operational reports based
`upon the non-participatory WAP data and forward the WAP
`operational reports to the air controller 326. In Some opera
`tions, the WAP operational reports may also include infor
`mation gathered by the WAPs 206A and 206B based upon
`the communications Serviced by the first radio-participa
`tory WAP data. Participatory WAP data may include
`received carrier Signal Strengths, carrier to interference
`ratios, bit error rates, dropped link occurrences, and channel
`utilization. Non-participatory WAP data may include
`received carrier Signal Strengths, carrier to interference
`ratios, and channel utilizations. Based upon the WAP opera
`tional reports, the air controller 326 controls the service
`areas of the plurality of WAPs 206A and 206B. Resultantly,
`the air controller 326 reduces Radio Frequency (RF) inter
`ference among the plurality of WAPs, ensures that coverage
`is provided within all desired areas of the premises, and
`provides Specialized Service when required, e.g., VoIP Ser
`WCC.
`0036). According to another aspect of the present inven
`tion, that will be described further with reference to 7B and
`7C, the WAPs 206A and 206B also control the directionality
`(and transmit power) of Serviced wireless terminals. In
`performing this function, the WAPs 206A and 206B listen to
`the Strength of the received transmissions from a managed
`wireless terminal, determine again vector for a directional
`antenna of the wireleSS terminal and have the wireleSS
`terminal control its directional antenna to meet this gain
`vector. Generally, the gain vector will correspond to the
`location of a servicing WAP, WAP 206A for example. By
`directing the gain of the directional antenna of the wireleSS
`terminal toward the servicing WAP 206A, interference with
`non-servicing WAPs is reduced and the ability of the ser
`vicing WAP 206A to service the wireless terminal is
`improved.
`0037 FIG. 4 is a partial system diagram illustrating a
`WLAN constructed according to the present invention. As
`shown in FIG. 4, the WAPs 206A, 206B, 206C, and 206D
`are located across the serviced premises. Each of the WAPs
`206A through 206D and the air controller 326 couples to the
`wired backbone network 305 (not in FIG. 4). As is further
`illustrated, each of the WAPs 206A through 206D includes
`a directional antenna 404A through 404D, respectively, and
`a second antenna, 402A through 402D, respectively.
`0038 WAP 206A services communications with a laptop
`computer 306 using its first radio and its directional antenna
`404A. However, according to the present invention, each of
`the WAPs 206A, 206B, 206C, and 206D also listens to
`transmissions from the laptop computer 306 (and also to
`transmissions from the WAP 206A in some embodiments).
`In these operations, the WAPs 206A through 206D use
`antennas 402A through 402D and second radios, respect
`fully, to listen to transmissions of the laptop computer 306.
`0039. As will be further described herein with reference
`to FIGS. 5 through 10, in listening to transmissions of the
`laptop computer 306 and each other transmitting wireleSS
`terminal within the Service premises and other Sources of
`interference, the WAPs generate WAP operational reports.
`These WAP operational reports are forwarded by the WAPs
`
`206A through 206D to the air controller 326. Based upon the
`WAP operational reports the air controller produces direc
`tions which are sent to one or more of the WAPS 206A
`through 206D. Then, based upon its directions, the WAPs
`206A through 206D alter the operations of their directional
`antennas 404A-404D, respectively, alter the transmission
`power of their first radios, and/or alter the channels of
`operation of the first radioS. According to another aspect of
`the present invention, when the WAPs 206A-206D include
`only a single radio and a single antenna, the WAPs 206A
`260D listen to transmissions of non-serviced wireless ter
`minals when they are idle with respect to their Serviced
`wired terminals. Thus, with the embodiment, the WAPs
`206A-206D are able to collect non-participatory WAP data
`and participatory WAP data using a single radio.
`0040 FIG. 5 is a system diagram illustrating in more
`detail the WLAN of FIG. 4 that operates according to the
`present invention. FIG. 5 also illustrates the manner in
`which WAPs 206A through 206D service wireless terminals
`operating within the premises. As shown, WAP 206A pro
`vides RF coverage within a respective service area 502 for
`wireless terminals 212A, 212B, and 306. Likewise, WAP
`206B provides RF coverage within a respective service area
`504 for wireless terminals 212C, 212D, 214B and 214C.
`WAP206C provides RF coverage within a respective service
`area 506 for wireless terminals 214D, 214E and 212F.
`Finally, WAP 206D provides RF coverage within a respec
`tive service area 508 for wireless terminals 212H, 214F, and
`214G.
`0041 AS is illustrated, each of the service areas 502,504,
`506, and 508 has an irregular shape. While these irregular
`shapes are exaggerated for the illustrative purposes of FIG.
`5, each of the WAPs 206A through 206D includes direc
`tional antennas 404A through 404D, respectively, that are
`capable of Supporting respective Service areas having irregu
`lar (and unique) shapes. AS was previously discussed herein,
`the directional antennas 404A through 404D, the transmit
`power provided thereto by the coupled first radioS, and the
`channel usage of the first radioS are altered via direction
`from the air controller. AS part of this alteration process,
`varying the directionality of the directional antennas 404A
`through 404D as well as the transmit power applied to the
`directional antennas 404A through 404D will alter the
`service coverage areas 502,504, 506, and 508 respecti