Patent Description:
Wireless communication systems include access points that provide wireless connectivity according to the Wi-Fi standards, which are a subset of the IEEE <NUM> family of standards. For example, the medium access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) specifications for Wi-Fi access points are defined by IEEE <NUM> for transmitting and receiving data in frequency bands such as infrared, <NUM> gigahertz (GHz), <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and the like. Wi-Fi is used to provide network access to devices that are within range of one or more access points, which are also referred to as hotspots. The geographic area covered by a Wi-Fi hotspot ranges from several square feet to many square kilometers. Wi-Fi service is provided by organizations and businesses, such as airports, hotels, and restaurants. Users that receive network access from an Internet service provider (ISP) frequently install one or more access points to provide coverage within their home or apartment. Thus, Wi-Fi coverage has become nearly ubiquitous, particularly in densely populated areas. The increase in Wi-Fi coverage also increases the mutual interference between access points. For example, an access point that provides connectivity to an associated user (e.g., a user that has the password for a secure access point) can also generate interference for other users that are not associated with the access point, e.g., a user that does not have the password for the secure access point or a user that is associated with a different access point.

<CIT> discloses methods of making databases of geospectral information and using these databases to optimize performance of wireless networks.

Interference from other access points degrades the quality of communication between user equipment and an associated access point. The negative effects of the interference are exacerbated in ultra-dense residential areas such as multiple dwelling units (MDUs), apartment buildings, condominiums, university dorms, and the like. A single access point can detect dozens or even hundreds of potentially interfering network devices such as other access points, customer premises equipment (CPE), Wi-Fi mesh systems, Wi-Fi extenders, and other non-Wi-Fi interference sources. In some cases, the access points scan the available frequencies, channels, or bands periodically (or at boot up) to detect interference and identify the best and least used frequencies, channels, or bands for establishing connections with user equipment. However, the information provided to an access point by periodic scans is typically insufficient to determine an optimal configuration of the access point in the complex environment produced by numerous mutually interfering access points. Access points can auto-configure in a self-preservation mode, but this approach does not support coordination between access points. Radio resource management performed at a cloud controller can analyze the performance of multiple access points and apply a set of rules and algorithms to take corrective action. However, these approaches do not allow an operator to visualize the Wi-Fi environment (or footprints of the individual access points) beyond a geographical, topology/network diagram, or heat map visualization. These methods also do not allow an operator to modify a configuration of the access points using the visualization of the network.

The Wi-Fi communication protocols implement clear channel assessment (CCA) techniques to reduce interference between transmissions by the different access points. For example, listen before talk (LBT) coexistence rules require that each access point monitors a channel (e.g., "listens") to detect energy on the channel prior to transmitting information on the channel. If the detected energy level is below a threshold level, the channel is considered clear and the access point is free to transmit on the channel for a predetermined time interval. If the detected energy level is above the threshold level, which indicates that the channel is not clear because another access point is transmitting on the channel, the listening access point backs off until the energy level falls below the threshold. Although CCA/LBT coexistence rules function well in most situations, the coexistence rules create problems in ultra-dense residential areas. For example, an ultra-dense residential area typically includes a large number of access points that compete for airtime and create numerous cross-talk collisions. All the colliding access points are forced to back-off and retry after the predetermined time interval, which leads to an inefficient allocation of the available airtime. Consequently, allocating the available airtime based only on measurements of the received signal strength (RSSI) between an access point and an end device is not effective in ultra-dense environments, even if the access point is providing excellent signal quality.

<FIG> disclose embodiments of a logical visualization of an environment including multiple access points that is generated using information acquired from the access points. The logical visualization includes icons representing the access points and contours that indicate the coverage areas (or footprints or hotspots) of the access points. In some embodiments, the strength of the mutual interference between access points is indicated by a separation between the access points, an indication of merger or overlap between the corresponding contours, and the like. The logical visualization can also include service set identifier (SSID) names of the access points, frequencies or channels used by the access points, airtime availability of the channels supported by the access points, and the like. The information used to create the logical visualization is acquired from the access points by polling the access points or pulling data from the access points at predetermined times within a time interval. For example, the access points can be polled to collect performance information every <NUM> minutes over a time interval of two weeks. The information is acquired from the access points for the frequencies, bands, or channels supported by the access points. The information includes one or more of transmission signal strengths, received signal strengths from other access points or interference sources, beamforming parameters, and the like. In some embodiments, the information is acquired from friendly access points that are controlled by the same operator or service provider. Access points that are not controlled by the operator or service provider are referred to as non-friendly access points. In some embodiments, additional information is also acquired from the user equipment served by the access points such as measured signal strengths, usage patterns, and the like.

The logical visualization is a two-dimensional (2D) representation or a three-dimensional (3D) representation that is interactive and modifiable by an operator. Modifying the logical visualization includes moving one or more of the access points, e.g., by dragging the icon that represents the access point to a new location within the logical visualization. Modifying the logical visualization also includes modifying the shape of the contour that indicates the coverage area of the access point.

Configuration parameters of the access points are modified in response to an operator modifying the logical visualization of the environment. Examples of configuration parameters that are modified in response to changes in the logical visualization include, but are not limited to, a signal strength, a channel, a channel width, a guard time interval, and a beamforming parameter.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a communication system <NUM> that implements interactive logical visualization of interactions between access points according to some embodiments. The communication system <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> and access points <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, which are collectively referred to herein as "the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. " The controller <NUM> and the access points <NUM>-<NUM> are interconnected by a network (sometimes also referred to as a backbone) that is indicated by the dashed circle <NUM>. The network <NUM> supports communication between the controller <NUM> and the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. The network <NUM> is implemented using wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the access points <NUM>-<NUM> are friendly access points that are controlled by a common operator or service provider via the network <NUM>. The communication system <NUM> also includes one or more unfriendly access points <NUM> that are not controlled by the common operator or service provider via the network <NUM>. Signals transmitted by the unfriendly access points <NUM> interfere with signals that are transmitted or received by the access points <NUM>-<NUM>.

The controller <NUM> includes a transceiver <NUM> for transmitting and receiving signals, e.g. over the network <NUM>. Some embodiments of the transceiver <NUM> are implemented as a single integrated circuit (e.g., using a single ASIC or FPGA) or as a system-on-a-chip (SOC) that includes different modules for implementing the functionality of the transceiver <NUM>. The controller <NUM> also includes a processor <NUM> and a memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> executes instructions stored in the memory <NUM> and stores information in the memory <NUM> such as the results of the executed instructions.

The controller <NUM> acquires status information from the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. In some embodiments, the transceiver <NUM> receives the status information from the access points <NUM>-<NUM> via the network <NUM>. The status information includes, but is not limited to, information indicating transmission signal strengths used by one or more of the access points <NUM>-<NUM> to transmit signals, received signal strengths indicating a strength of signals received by the access points <NUM>-<NUM> from other access points or user equipment (not shown in <FIG> in the interest of clarity), interference levels that indicate a strength of interference detected by the access points <NUM>-<NUM>, beamforming parameters used by the access points <NUM>-<NUM> to transmit information preferentially in one or more directions indicated by the beamforming parameters, and the like. In some embodiments, the transceiver <NUM> acquires separate sets of status information for the different frequencies, bands, or channels supported by the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. For example, the access point <NUM> can provide status information indicating signal strengths used to transmit on the different channels in a <NUM> gigahertz (GHz) band and a <NUM> band. The transceiver <NUM> receives the status information in response to polling the access points <NUM>-<NUM> or pulling the status information from the access points <NUM>-<NUM> at predetermined times within a time interval.

In some embodiments, the transceiver <NUM> acquires additional status information from one or more user equipment <NUM> (only one shown in <FIG> in the interest of clarity) that are served by one or more of the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. The user equipment <NUM> measures signal strengths received from one or more of the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. The user equipment <NUM> can therefore provide indications of the received signal strength, e.g., an RSSI, to the transceiver <NUM>. Usage information associated with the user equipment <NUM> can also be acquired by the transceiver <NUM>, either directly from the user equipment <NUM> or from the access points <NUM>-<NUM> that serves the user equipment <NUM>. Usage information for the user equipment <NUM> includes information indicating time intervals for transmission or reception, volumes of data that are transmitted or received, geographic locations of the user equipment <NUM>, and the like.

The controller <NUM> uses the status information acquired from the access points <NUM>-<NUM> (and, in some embodiments, from the user equipment <NUM>) to generate a logical visualization of the interactions between the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. In some embodiments, the processor <NUM> generates information representing the logical visualization based on the status information. For example, the processor <NUM> can transform the status information into information representing mutual interference between the access points <NUM>-<NUM> on one or frequencies, bands, or channels. The information representing the logical visualization is provided to an interactive display device <NUM> that uses the information to render an image <NUM> of the logical visualization. The interactive display device <NUM> include a touchscreen that allows a user to indicate portions of the image <NUM> and move these portions to other locations on the interactive display device <NUM>, e.g., by "dragging" the portions of the image <NUM>. Other examples of interactive display devices <NUM> include screens or monitors that interact with a user <NUM> via a mouse, a keyboard, a pointing device, a stylus, or similar device that allows the user <NUM> to select portions of the image <NUM> and cause these portions to be moved to other locations on the interactive display device <NUM>.

The user <NUM> views the image <NUM> and decides whether to modify the image <NUM> to cause corresponding changes in the configuration of the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. In some embodiments, the user <NUM> modifies the image <NUM> by dragging an icon that represents one of the access points to a new location within the image <NUM> of the logical visualization. The user <NUM> can also modify a shape of a contour representing mutual interference between two of the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. The user can also modify a shape of a contour representing a coverage area of one of the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. In response to the modifications indicated by the user <NUM>, the processor <NUM> modifies parameters that configure one or more of the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. Some embodiments of the processor <NUM> modify configuration parameters including, but not limited to, a signal strength of signals transmitted by one or more of the access points <NUM>-<NUM>, a channel used for transmission by one or more of the access points <NUM>-<NUM>, a channel width of one or more of the channels used for transmission by one or more of the access points <NUM>-<NUM>, a guard time interval between transmissions by one or more of the access points <NUM>-<NUM>, and a beamforming parameter used by one or more of the access points <NUM>-<NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a logical visualization <NUM> of interactions between access points according to some embodiments. The logical visualization <NUM> represents some embodiments of the image <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The logical visualization <NUM> represents interactions between a set of access points <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, which are collectively referred to herein as "the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. " The access points <NUM>-<NUM> are represented by circular icons in <FIG>, although any type of icon can be used to represent the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the logical visualization <NUM> is generated by a controller such as the controller <NUM> shown in <FIG> and displayed on an interactive display device such as the interactive display device <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

In the illustrated embodiment, signal strengths of the signals transmitted by the access points <NUM>-<NUM> are indicated by sizes (or radii) of corresponding contours <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, which are collectively referred to herein as "the contours <NUM>-<NUM>. " For example, the signal strength of signals transmitted by the access point <NUM> is stronger than the signal strength of the signals transmitted by the access point <NUM>, as indicated by the relative sizes of the contours <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The strength of the interaction between the access points <NUM>-<NUM> is indicated by the separation of the centers of the corresponding icons and degrees of overlap between the contours <NUM>-<NUM>. For example, the relative strength of the interaction between the access points <NUM> and <NUM> is larger than the relative strength of the interaction between the access points <NUM> and <NUM>. Thus, the access point <NUM> is expected to cause relatively more interference at the access point <NUM> and the access point <NUM> is expected to cause relatively less interference at the access point <NUM>. The strengths of signals transmitted by the access points <NUM>-<NUM> and strengths of the interactions between the access points <NUM>-<NUM> is determined by the configuration parameters used to configure the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. As discussed in detail herein, a user can modify the logical visualization <NUM>, which causes a corresponding modification in the configuration parameters of the access points <NUM>-<NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a logical visualization <NUM> of interactions between access points according to some embodiments. The logical visualization <NUM> represents some embodiments of the image <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The logical visualization <NUM> represents interactions between a set of access points <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, which are collectively referred to herein as "the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. " The access points <NUM>-<NUM> are represented by circular icons in <FIG>, although any type of icon can be used to represent the access points <NUM>-<NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the logical visualization <NUM> is generated by a controller such as the controller <NUM> shown in <FIG> and displayed on an interactive display device such as the interactive display device <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The mutual interactions between the access points <NUM>-<NUM> are represented by contours <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, which are collectively referred to herein as "the contours <NUM>-<NUM>. " The degree of interaction between the access points as indicated by the shapes and connections between the contours <NUM>-<NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the contour <NUM> indicates relatively strong degrees of interaction between the access point <NUM> and the access point <NUM>. The contour <NUM> also indicates relatively strong degrees of interaction between the access point <NUM> and the access point <NUM>, as well as between the access point <NUM> and the access point <NUM>. The slight elongation of the contours <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in the direction of the access point <NUM> indicates relatively weak degrees of interaction between the access point <NUM> and the access points <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Thus, there are large amounts of mutual interference between the access points <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, while the access points <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> generate relatively smaller amounts of interference at the access point <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating user modifications to a logical visualization that are used to reconfigure access points according to some embodiments. A set of access points <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (collectively referred to herein as "the access points <NUM>-<NUM>") is represented in an initial configuration <NUM> and a modified configuration <NUM> that is determined based on user modifications to the initial configuration <NUM> of the logical visualization.

Contours <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (collectively referred to herein as "the contours <NUM>-<NUM>") and relative separations between the access points <NUM>-<NUM> indicate the relative strengths of the mutual interactions between the access points <NUM>-<NUM> in the initial configuration <NUM>. A user viewing the logical visualization of the initial configuration <NUM> sees relatively strong interactions between the access points <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and relatively weak interactions between the access points <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The strong interactions between the access points <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> indicate large degrees of mutual interference between the access points <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, which leads to an inefficient allocation of airtime availability, e.g., as a result of crosstalk collisions as discussed herein. The user therefore modifies the initial configuration <NUM> by moving the icons that represent the access points <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the modifications performed by the user are indicated by the arrows <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

The contours <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (collectively referred to herein as "the contours <NUM>-<NUM>") and relative separations between the access points <NUM>-<NUM> indicate the relative strengths of mutual interactions between the access points <NUM>-<NUM> in the modified configuration <NUM>. Moving the access point <NUM> to a more central location in the logical visualization and moving the access points <NUM>, <NUM> downwards and upwards, respectively, in the logical visualization reduces the mutual interaction between the access points <NUM>, <NUM>,<NUM>. The modifications also allow the access points <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to transmit at higher signal strengths, as indicated by the larger radii of the contours <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in the modified configuration <NUM>. The access points <NUM>-<NUM> are reconfigured with a set of configuration parameters that are determined based on the modified configuration <NUM>, as discussed herein.

The icons that represent the access points <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG>, the access points <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG>, and the access points <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG> are used to indicate a position within the corresponding logical visualizations. However, some embodiments of logical visualizations include icons that represent additional information such as airtime availability. As used herein, the term "airtime availability" is defined as a difference between total resources provided for communication over an air interface and a sum of the resources that are allocated for communication by the corresponding access point and resources that are consumed by interference at the access point. The airtime availability can be determined for all the resources of the access point, resources at different frequencies, resources in different frequency bands, resources on different channels, and the like.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an icon <NUM> that identifies an access point and status information associated with the access point according to some embodiments. The icon <NUM> is used to represent some embodiments of the access points <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG>, the access points <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG>, and the access points <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG> in the corresponding logical visualizations. The icon <NUM> includes a circle <NUM> that is used to represent a location of the corresponding access point in a logical visualization, e.g., a center of the circle <NUM> indicates the location of the corresponding access point. The icon <NUM> also includes a plurality of status bars <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, which are collectively referred to herein as "the status bars <NUM>-<NUM>. " The status bars <NUM>-<NUM> are displayed as a heliograph that represents status information associated with the access points. In the illustrated embodiment, the status bars <NUM>-<NUM> are associated with channels used by the access point associated with the icon <NUM>. For example, the status bars <NUM>-<NUM> can represent channels in a <NUM> frequency band or a <NUM> frequency band utilized by the access point.

The status bars <NUM>-<NUM> indicate a total resource available for allocation on the corresponding channel. In the illustrated embodiment, the resource indicated by the status bars <NUM>-<NUM> is the airtime available for allocation to a user equipment to support a call or a data stream. The overall size of the status bars <NUM>-<NUM> indicates the total airtime and the sections of the status bars <NUM>-<NUM> indicate the airtime availability (open portion), the usage of the airtime (hatched portion), and the detected interference (crosshatched portion). For example, the status bar <NUM> indicates an airtime availability <NUM>, an airtime usage <NUM>, and an interference level <NUM> for the corresponding channel of the frequency band represented by the heliograph. Users can use the information presented in the status bars <NUM>-<NUM> of the heliograph to determine how to modify the logical visualization and, by extension, how to reconfigure the access points. Some embodiments of the icon <NUM> include information indicating a service set identifier (SSID) <NUM>, which in this case is "Nacho Wi-Fi.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a set <NUM> of logical visualizations corresponding to different frequencies, channels, or bands associated with an access point according to some embodiments. The set <NUM> is used to represent some embodiments of the image <NUM> that is displayed on the interactive display device <NUM> in <FIG>. The set <NUM> includes logical visualizations <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> that represent access points in a wireless communication system at the different frequencies, channels, or bands. A user can therefore modify one or more of the logical visualizations <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> based on the representation in the corresponding frequency, channel, or band. For example, the user can modify the logical visualization <NUM> to cause a corresponding reconfiguration of parameters used by the access points to transmit or receive in the frequency, channel, or band represented by the logical visualization <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the logical visualizations <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are substantially independent of each other, e.g., because there is little or no overlap between the frequencies, channels, or bands associated with the logical visualizations <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Modifications to the logical visualizations <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> therefore cause reconfigurations of the frequencies, channels, or bands that are substantially independent of configuration/reconfigurations of the other frequencies, channels, or bands. In other embodiments, two or more of the logical visualizations <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> depend at least partially upon each other, e.g., because of overlap between the frequencies, channels, or bands associated with the logical visualizations <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Modifications to the logical visualizations <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> therefore cause reconfigurations of the frequencies, channels, or bands that are at least partially dependent on (or cause changes to) configuration/reconfigurations of the other frequencies, channels, or bands.

The logical visualizations depicted in <FIG> are represented in a two-dimensional (2D) format in the interest of clarity. However, some embodiments of logical visualizations are represented in three dimensions. For example, mutual interactions between the access points in a multistory building are well represented by a three-dimensional (3D) structure so that interactions between access points on different floors are distinguished from interactions between access points on the same floor. In some embodiments, other types of interactive display devices are used to present the logical visualization to the user and receive input from the user. For example, virtual reality, augmented reality, or mixed reality devices such as head mounted devices, hand controllers, and the like can be used to represent a 3D logical visualization, allow the user to "move" through the 3D logical visualization, and receive input from the user indicating modifications to the 3D logical visualization, which result in changes to the configuration of the corresponding access points.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of a method <NUM> for reconfiguring a set of access points via interaction with a logical visualization of mutual interference between the access points according to some embodiments. The method <NUM> is implemented in some embodiments of the communication system <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

At block <NUM>, a controller such as the controller <NUM> shown in <FIG> gathers status information from the set of access points. In some embodiments, the controller polls the access points, by sending requests to the access points at different times within a time interval. In response to receiving the poll, the access points transmit the requested status information to the controller. Some embodiments of the controller pull the status information from the access points at predetermined times within a time interval. The status information indicates transmission or reception parameters used to configure the access points. For example, the status information can include a transmission signal strength used to transmit downlink signals from the access point, a received signal strength for uplink signals received at the access point from other access points or user equipment, an interference level that indicates how much interference is being received at the access point from other sources, and a beamforming parameter that indicates any directionality to the downlink signals transmitted by the access points. The status information represents parameters for transmission or reception in a frequency, band, or channel supported by the access points. In some embodiments, the controller acquires the status information from friendly access points that are controlled by a common operator or service provider. The status information can also include information received from (or associated with) one or more user equipment that are served by the access points. In some embodiments the status information associated with the user equipment includes indications of received signal strengths measured by the user equipment, usage of airtime resources by the user equipment, and the like.

At block <NUM>, the controller generates an interaction map for the access points based on the acquired status information. The interaction map indicates the relative strength of mutual interactions between the access points. In some cases, separate interaction maps are generated for different frequencies, channels, or bands, as discussed herein.

At block <NUM>, the controller displays (or causes to be displayed) a logical visualization of the interaction map for the access points. The logical visualization represents the mutual interactions in terms of contours and separations between icons that represent the access points, e.g., as shown in <FIG>. The logical visualization is displayed on an interactive display device that displays a representation of the logical visualization and allows a user to modify the representation by interacting with the interactive display device.

At block <NUM>, the user modifies the representation of the logical visualization by interacting with the interactive display device. In some embodiments, the user modifies the logical visualization by performing touchscreen operations such as dragging an icon that represents one of the access points to a new location within the logical visualization, modifying a shape of a contour representing mutual interference between two of the access points, and modifying a shape of a contour representing a coverage area of one of the access points.

At block <NUM>, the controller computes new configuration parameters for one or more of the access points based on the modifications to the logical visualization. In some embodiments, the new (or modified) configuration parameters include modified transmission signal strengths for downlink signals, parameters indicating a switch from one channel to another channel, increasing or decreasing a channel width, increased or decreased guard time intervals, or modified beamforming parameters that are selected to change a shape of a transmission or reception beam for one or more of the access points.

At block <NUM>, the controller reconfigures (or causes to be reconfigured) one or the access points using the new or modified configuration parameters. In some embodiments, the controller transmits an instruction message to the access points. The instruction message identifies the access points that are to be reconfigured and provides the corresponding new or modified configuration parameters. The access points that are identified in the instruction message perform the reconfiguration using the new or modified configuration parameters.

Claim 1:
A system comprising:
an interactive display (<NUM>), and;
a controller (<NUM>) comprising:
a processor (<NUM>) configured to determine measures of mutual interference between access points based on first information received from the access points and configured to generate second information representing a logical visualization of the access points and the mutual interference, the logic visualization comprising icons representing the access points and contours indicating coverage areas of the access points; and
a transceiver (<NUM>) configured to provide the second information to the interactive display device arranged to display the logical visualization based on the second information and provide third information to the transceiver that indicates modifications to the logical visualization made by a user via the interactive display device,
wherein the processor is configured to reconfigure at least one of the access points based on the third information,
wherein the third information indicates modifications to the logical visualization resulting from at least one of the user dragging an icon that represents one of the access points to a new location within the logical visualization, the user modifying a shape of a contour representing mutual interference between two of the access points, and the user modifying a shape of a contour representing a coverage area of one of the access points.