Patent ID: 8122134
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: H04B,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a repeater in a wireless local area network (WLAN) having one or more repeaters and a network protocol for communicating between one or more base units and one or more client units, the one or more base units and one or more client units receiving and transmitting on at least a first frequency channel, the network protocol defining multiple operating frequencies, the method comprising: monitoring the multiple operating frequencies to detect a signal transmitted by one of the one or more base units on the first frequency channel; characterizing the signal to determine whether the signal is associated with the one of the one or more base units; and selecting a second frequency channel for use by at least one of the one or more repeaters for retransmission of one or more additional signals received on the first frequency channel based on the characterizing of the signal, wherein the selecting the second frequency channel further includes sending a test transmission on the second frequency channel, and monitoring the first frequency channel, to detect the presence of another one of the one or more repeaters operating on the second frequency channel being tested.