Wireless beamforming optimization using client location information

An apparatus comprising:

• one or more network interfaces to communicate with a network;
• a processor coupled to the network interfaces and configured to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed configured to:
• determine locations of a plurality of transmitters relative to a particular wireless access point in a wireless network, wherein one of the transmitters comprises a target client to which the particular wireless access point is to communicate;
• compare a plurality of beamforming patterns associated with the particular wireless access point to the determined locations;
• select, based on the comparison, one of the beamforming patterns for use by the particular wireless access point to communicate with the target client, wherein selection of the beamforming pattern for use by the particular wireless access point to communicate with the target client includes:
• forming a feature vector for each of the beamforming patterns, each feature vector quantifying potential interference that would result from the beamforming pattern;
• and
• using a gradient search to compare the feature vectors for the beamforming patterns;
• and
• control the particular wireless access point to use the selected beamforming pattern to communicate with the target client;
• and
• control the particular wireless access point to emit a test of a set of beamforming patterns;
• receive measurement data captured by one or more other wireless access points during the tests of the beamforming patterns by the particular wireless access point;
• and
• associate the measurement data with the beamforming patterns in the set of beamforming patterns.

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program instructions that cause a device to execute a process comprising:

• determining, by the device, locations of a plurality of transmitters relative to a particular wireless access point in a wireless network, wherein one of the transmitters comprises a target client to which the particular wireless access point is to communicate;
• comparing, by the device, a plurality of beamforming patterns associated with the particular wireless access point to the determined locations;
• selecting, by the device and based on the comparison, one of the beamforming patterns for use by the particular wireless access point to communicate with the target client, wherein selecting the beamforming pattern for use by the particular wireless access point to communicate with the target client includes:
• forming a feature vector for each of the beamforming patterns, each feature vector quantifying potential interference that would result from the beamforming pattern;
• and
• using a gradient search to compare the feature vectors for the beamforming patterns;
• and
• controlling, by the device, the particular wireless access point to use the selected beamforming pattern to communicate with the target client;
• and
• controlling, by the device, the particular wireless access point to emit a test of a set of beamforming patterns;
• receiving, at the device, measurement data captured by one or more other wireless access points during the tests of the beamforming patterns by the particular wireless access point;
• and
• associating, by the device, the measurement data with the beamforming patterns in the set of beamforming patterns.