# US 2020/0288455 A1 · Rf channel analysis and improved usage of wireless channels in a wireless network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0288455 A1 - Document ID: US20200288455A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/884,206 - Filed: 2020-05-27 - Published: 2020-09-10 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-10 - Assignees: Charter Communications Operating, LLC - Applicants: Charter Communications Operating, LLC - Inventors: Matthew J. Dillon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200288455A1 ## CPC - H04W 16/10: Dynamic resource partitioning - H04W 72/51: based on terminal or device properties - H04W 8/22: Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities - H04W 24/08: Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic - H04W 72/02: Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal - H04W 72/0446: Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames - H04W 72/0453: Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA - H04W 72/541: using the level of interference - H04W 72/542: using measured or perceived quality - H04W 24/02: Arrangements for optimising operational condition - H04W 72/563: of the wireless resources - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract According to one configuration, an analyzer resource determines an ability of a wireless access point to wirelessly communicate over each of multiple available wireless communication channels in a wireless frequency band. The analyzer resource produces performance information (performance metrics or calibration information) based on the measured ability. The analyzer resource assigns the performance metrics to the wireless access point. When operating in the field (such as in a wireless network environment), to provide mobile communication devices access to a remote network, the wireless access point uses the assigned performance metrics as a basis to select amongst multiple available wireless communication channels to communicate with one or more mobile communication devices in the wireless network environment. These and other techniques are disclosed herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: determining an ability of a wireless access point to wirelessly communicate over each of multiple wireless communication channels in a wireless frequency band; producing performance metrics based on the determined ability; and assigning the performance metrics to the wireless access point, the wireless access point operable to implement the performance metrics to select amongst the multiple wireless communication channels to communicate in a wireless network environment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as in claim 1, wherein producing the performance metrics includes ranking the multiple wireless communication channels based on transmit power strength of the wireless access point in each of the wireless communication channels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as in claim 1, wherein producing the performance metrics includes ranking the multiple wireless communication channels based on reception sensitivity of the wireless access point to receive wireless communications over each of the multiple wireless communication channels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as in claim 1, wherein producing the performance metrics includes: producing a first performance metric, the first performance metric assigned to a first wireless channel of the multiple wireless communication channels, the first performance metric indicating a power level associated with a capability of the wireless access point to transmit wireless communications over the first wireless channel; producing a second performance metric, the second performance metric assigned to a second wireless channel of the multiple wireless communication channels, the second performance metric indicating a power level associated with a capability of the wireless access point to transmit wireless communications over the second wireless channel; and wherein the first performance metric indicates that the wireless access point transmits wireless communications over the first wireless channel at a higher transmit power level than over the second wireless channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as in claim 1, wherein producing the performance metrics includes: producing a first performance metric, the first performance metric assigned to a first wireless channel of the multiple wireless communication channels; producing a second performance metric, the second performance metric assigned to a second wireless channel of the multiple wireless communication channels; and wherein the first performance metric indicates that the wireless access point has a better receiver sensitivity to receive wireless communications over the first wireless channel than over the second wireless channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as in claim 1, wherein the performance metrics indicate a default wireless channel in which to select for wireless communications upon initialization of the wireless access point. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as in claim 1, wherein the performance metrics indicate that the wireless access point produces a highest transmit power output strength at a first wireless channel of the multiple wireless communication channels; and wherein the performance metrics indicates that the wireless access point provides a best performance of receiving wireless communications at a second wireless channel of the multiple wireless communication channels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as in claim 1, wherein the performance information is generated based on a combination of: i) wireless receiver performance information associated with a first wireless receiver disposed in the wireless access point, and ii) wireless access point transmitter performance information generated by a second wireless receiver disparately located with respect to the wireless access point. ### Claim 9 Computer-readable storage hardware having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when carried out by computer processor hardware, cause the computer processor hardware to: measure an ability of a wireless access point to wirelessly communicate over each of multiple wireless communication channels in a wireless frequency band; produce performance metrics based on the determined ability; and assign the performance metrics to the wireless access point, the wireless access point operable to implement the performance metrics to select amongst the multiple wireless communication channels to communicate in a wireless network environment. ### Claim 10 A system comprising: a monitor resource operative to measure an ability of a wireless access point to wirelessly communicate over each of multiple wireless communication channels in a wireless frequency band; an analyzer resource operative to produce performance metrics based on the determined ability; and a management resp operative to assign the performance metrics to the wireless access point, the wireless access point operable to implement the performance metrics to select amongst the multiple wireless communication channels to communicate in a wireless network environment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system as in claim 10 further comprising: a controller resource operable to control the wireless access point to output a test signal output over each of the multiple wireless communication channels. ### Claim 12 A method comprising: communicating over a first wireless channel in a wireless region, the first wireless channel selected from multiple wireless channels available to support wireless communications; monitoring the wireless region for presence of noise over each of the multiple wireless channels; and in response to detecting an event indicating wireless interference over the first wireless channel above an interference threshold value, switching over to use of a second wireless channel of the multiple wireless channels to communicate in the wireless region, the second wireless channel selected based on identified levels of noise detected in the multiple wireless channels during the monitoring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method as in claim 12, wherein monitoring the wireless region for the presence of noise includes: producing and storing noise metrics indicating levels of noise detected over each of the multiple wireless channels while the wireless access point is configured to use the first wireless channel to communicate in the wireless region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method as in claim 12, wherein monitoring the wireless region for presence of noise over each of the multiple wireless channels includes: measuring a power level of the noise as a background task with respect to supporting communications over the first wireless channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as in claim 14 further comprising: measuring the power level of the noise while the wireless access point is in a standby mode in which the wireless access point does not transmit wireless communications. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method as in claim 12, wherein detecting the event indicating wireless interference includes: detecting a performance degradation of an ability to communicate over the first wireless channel to communication devices in the wireless region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method as in claim 12, wherein switching over to use of the second wireless channel includes selecting the second wireless channel in response to detecting a lower level of background noise present on the second wireless channel than a background noise detected on the first wireless channel. ### Claim 18 A method comprising: receiving performance information assigned to a wireless access point, the performance information indicating different performance capabilities of the wireless access point to wirelessly communicate in a wireless region over each of multiple wireless channels in a wireless frequency band; measuring power levels of noise in the wireless region over each of the multiple wireless channels; analyzing a combination of the performance information in view of the measured power levels of noise; and based on the analysis, selecting a wireless channel amongst the multiple wireless channels to communicate in the wireless region. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method as in claim 18, wherein analyzing a combination of the performance information in view of the measured power levels of noise includes: identifying a first performance metric from the performance information, the first performance metric indicating a relative ability of the wireless access point to communicate over the first wireless channel; adjusting the first performance metric depending on an amount of measured noise in the first wireless channel; identifying a second performance metric from the performance information, the second performance metric indicating a relative ability of the wireless access point to communicate over the second wireless channel; and adjusting the second performance metric depending on an amount of measured noise in the second wireless channel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method as in claim 19, wherein analyzing the combination includes: comparing the first adjusted performance metric to the second adjusted performance metric; and selecting the wireless channel based on the comparison.