Method and apparatus for adjacent channel interference mitigation

A communications system comprising:

• a) an interference mitigation unit (IMU) comprising a processor, memory and at least one input/output (I/O) port, the processor configured to:
• i) output RF environment survey instructions from the at least one I/O port to cause a plurality of recipients to measure signals received within a predetermined frequency range;
• ii) receive through the at least one I/O port, in response to the RF environment survey instructions, measurements indicating the RF environment;
• iii) determine whether to use guard bands in transmissions;
• iv) output information regarding the guard band if a determination is made to use the guard bands;
• b) a Network Operations Unit comprising a processor and coupled to the IMU, the processor configured to:
• i) receive the information regarding the guard band from the IMU;
• and
• ii) in response to the received guard band information, output instructions to cause at least one of the recipients to transmit with the guard bands;
• and
• c) further including a Medium Access Control sub-layer module (server MAC) configured to:
• i) receive from the IMU the RF environmental survey instructions;
• ii) transmit the RF environmental survey instructions to the plurality of recipients;
• iii) receive measurements from the at least one of the plurality of recipients in response to the RF environmental survey instructions;
• iv) prepare a report based on the receive measurements;
• v) transmit the report to the IMU;
• and
• vi) receive guard band instructions from the Network Operations Unit;
• and wherein the IMU is further configured to receive the report prepared by the server MAC and determine whether to use guard bands in response to information provided in the report.

A communications system comprising:

• a) an interference mitigation unit (IMU) configured to:
• i. output RF environment survey instructions to cause a plurality of recipients to measure signals received within a predetermined frequency range;
• ii. receive, in response to the RF environment survey instructions, a report indicating the Radio Frequency (RF) environment associated with the target BS/APs;
• iii. determine from the received report whether there are any potential sources of cross channel interference in the RF environment;
• iv. determine sub-channel assignments for traffic flows based on the received report;
• v. output sub-channel assignments;
• b) a server Medium Access Control sub-layer module (server MAC) coupled to the IMU, the server MAC configured to:
• i. receive from the IMU the RF environmental survey instructions;
• ii. transmit the instructions to the plurality of target BS/APs;
• iii. receive measurements from the target BS/APs;
• iv. prepare a report based on the receive measurements;
• v. transmit the report to the IMU;
• vi. receive sub-channel assignments from the Network Operations Unit;
• and
• c) a Network Operations Unit coupled to the IMU and configured to:
• i. receive the sub-channel assignments from the IMU;
• and
• ii. in response to the received sub-channel assignments, output instructions to the server MAC to cause at least one BS/AP to operate in accordance with the sub-channel assignments.

A communications system comprising:

• a) an interference mitigation unit (IMU) configured to:
• i. output RF environment survey instructions to cause a plurality of target base station/access points (BS/APs) to measure signals received within a predetermined frequency range;
• ii. receive, in response to the RF environment survey instructions, a report indicating the Radio Frequency (RF) environment associated with the target BS/APs;
• iii. determine from the received report whether there are any potential sources of cross channel interference in the RF environment;
• iv. determine whether to coax a user equipment (UE) from the current frequency assignment;
• v. instructions to coax the UE from the current frequency assignment;
• b) a server Medium Access Control sub-layer module (server MAC) coupled to the IMU, the server MAC configured to:
• i. receive from the IMU the RF environmental survey instructions;
• ii. transmit the instructions to the plurality of target BS/APs;
• iii. receive measurements from the target BS/APs;
• iv. prepare a report based on the receive measurements;
• v. transmit the report to the IMU;
• vi. receive transmit power instructions;
• and
• c) a Network Operations Unit coupled to the IMU and configured to:
• i. receive instructions to coax the UE from the current frequency assignment;
• and
• in response to the received instructions to coax the UE from the current frequency assignment, output transit power instructions to the server MAC to cause at least one BS/AP to operate in accordance with the output power instructions.