Automatic channel layering in a wi-fi communication system

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method in a controller of a wireless communication network deploying multiple access points on multiple communication channels to optimize a coverage area while minimizing interference, the method comprising the steps of:

• collecting RSSI (received signal strength indicator) values for each station heard from each of a plurality of access points;
• assigning a subset of the plurality of access points to a first communication, comprising:
• determining a best access point per station based on the best access point having a highest RSSI value heard from the station;
• determining a second best access point per station based on the second best access point having a second highest RSSI value heard from the station;
• calculating an RSSI difference at each best access point between the highest RSSI value and the second highest RSSI value at a second best access point for each station;
• identifying a highest RSSI difference for each access point;
• and
• assigning access points with the RSSI difference above a predetermined threshold to a current communication channel, wherein the RSSI threshold indicates a lack of redundancy in coverage;
• recording an association between the assigned access points and corresponding communication channel in a data structure;
• assigning a second subset of with the RSSI difference below the predetermined threshold to at least a second communication channel, wherein the RSSI difference below the predetermined threshold indicates redundancy in coverage;
• sending messages to the plurality of access points with channel assignments;
• and
• handing-off a station from a first access point on the first communication channel to a second access point on the second communication channel without requiring reconfiguration to the second access point by the station other than changing channels.

A controller server of a wireless communication network deploying multiple access points on multiple communication channels to optimize a coverage area while minimizing interference, the controller server comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory, storing:
• a first module to collect RSSI (received signal strength indicator) values for each station heard from each of a plurality of access points;
• a second module to assign a subset of the plurality of access points to a first communication, which comprises:
• determining a best access point per station based on the best access point having a highest RSSI value heard from the station;
• determining a second best access point per station based on the second best access point having a second highest RSSI value heard from the station;
• calculating an RSSI difference at each best access point between the highest RSSI value and the second highest RSSI value at a second best access point for each station;
• identifying a highest RSSI difference for each access point;
• and
• assigning access points with the RSSI difference above a predetermined threshold to a current communication channel, wherein the RSSI threshold indicates a lack of redundancy in coverage;
• a third module to record an association between the assigned access points and corresponding communication channel in a data structure;
• a fourth module to assign a second subset of with the RSSI difference below the predetermined threshold to at least a second communication channel, wherein the RSSI difference below the predetermined threshold indicates redundancy in coverage;
• a fifth module to sent messages to the plurality of access points with channel assignments;
• and
• a sixth module to hand-off a station from a first access point on the first communication channel to a second access point on the second communication channel without requiring reconfiguration to the second access point by the station other than changing channels.