Patent Description:
In many cases, access points (APs) within a wireless network are managed to provide the greatest amount of coverage for a corresponding wireless network. However, as the number of wireless networks and corresponding networked devices increases, the likelihood of interference between devices of different wireless network systems increases. Many wireless networks either randomly assign channels to respective connected APs or employ various techniques to optimize channel allocation among the respective connected APs. Such methods optimize the APs within each wireless network, however, interference may still exist between neighboring APs of different wireless networks. Accordingly, the quality of service experienced by a client device is poor which may cause dropped connections between client devices and the wireless networks and difficulty when transitioning between wireless networks.

Thus, there is a need to detect neighboring wireless networks and a method to organize channel allocation across neighboring wireless network systems.

<CIT> describes, according to its abstract, a first network device which can implement functionality to establish a proximity-based wireless connection with a second network device. It can be determined whether the second network device is within a threshold detection distance from the first network device based on a signal strength associated with RF signals received from the second network device or based on detecting RF saturation at the first network device. Device credentials associated with the first network device can be transmitted to the second network device at a reduced transmit power level in response to determining that the second network device is within the threshold detection distance from the first network device. A communication link can be established between the first network device and the second network device based, at least in part, on the device credentials associated with the first network device and device credentials received from the second network device.

One embodiment presented in this disclosure describes a method for optimizing access points (APs) within a network comprises receiving, at a first AP, parameters corresponding to a second AP, and determining that the first AP and the second AP are part a first and a second wireless local area network (WLAN), respectively. The first and second WLANs support client credential sharing allowing seamlessly transitioning of a client device between the first and second WLANs using common credentials. The method further comprises detecting co-channel interference between the first AP and the second AP based on the parameters corresponding to the second AP and parameters of the first AP, and changing at least one of a channel and transmission power of one or more of the first AP and the second AP in response to the detection of the interference.

One embodiment presented in this disclosure describes a wireless network system comprises a first access point (AP), a second AP, and a controller. The first AP is configured to receive parameters corresponding to a second AP. The controller is coupled to at least of the first AP and the second AP. The controller is configured to determine that the first AP and the second AP are part a first and a second wireless local area network (WLAN), respectively. The first and second WLANs support client credential sharing allowing seamlessly transitioning of a client device between the first and second WLANs using common credentials. The controller is further configured to detect co-channel interference between the first AP and the second AP based on the parameters corresponding to the second AP and parameters corresponding to the first AP. Additionally, the controller is configured to change at least one of a channel and transmission power of one or more of the first AP and the second AP in response to the detection of the co-channel interference.

One embodiment presented in this disclosure describes a network comprises a first wireless network system forming a first local area network (WLAN), a second wireless network system forming a second WLAN, and a cloud computing system. The first wireless network system comprises a first access point (AP) and a first network controller coupled to the first AP. The second wireless network system comprises a second AP configured to receive parameters corresponding to the first AP and a second network controller coupled to the second AP. The cloud computing system is coupled to the first network controller and the second network controller. The cloud computing system is configured to determine that the first AP is assigned to the first WLAN and the second AP is assigned to the WLAN based on the parameters corresponding to the first AP and parameters corresponding to the second AP. The cloud computing system is further configured to determine, based on the parameters corresponding to the first AP, that the first WLAN supports client credential sharing allowing seamlessly transitioning of a client device between the first and second WLANs using common credentials. Additionally, the cloud computing system is configured to detect co-channel interference between the first AP and the second AP based on the parameters corresponding to the first AP, and change at least one of a channel and transmission power of one or more of the first AP and the second AP in response to the detection of the co-channel interference.

Optimization of the operating parameters of access points (APs) is often completed internally within a network system (e.g., a common wireless local area network (WLAN)). However, such methods for optimization may still allow for co-channel interference between APs of different network system that have overlapping coverage areas. Accordingly, difficulties may arise when a mobile device attempts to transition between the APs experiencing co-channel interference. Alternatively, by optimizing the channels of APs of different network systems and having overlapping coverage areas, co-channel interference between these APs is mitigated. Thus, mobile devices may more easily transition between the different wireless network systems without experiencing a drop in connection.

<FIG> illustrates a network <NUM>, according to one embodiment. As shown, the network <NUM> includes a first wireless network system <NUM> and a second wireless network system <NUM>. The wireless network system <NUM> includes a network controller <NUM> and APs 114a-114c. In general, the APs 114a-114c are in communication with each other and are also in communication with the network controller <NUM> to provide a corresponding WLAN. The APs 114a-114c have corresponding coverage areas 115a-115c. In various embodiments, the wireless network system <NUM> includes more than three APs or less than three APs.

The network controller <NUM> may include one or more processors and a memory. One or more applications may be stored within the memory and executable by the one or more processors. For example, the applications may be executed by the processors to configure the operating parameters of the APs 114a-114c. Configuring the operating parameters of the APs 114a-114c includes setting at least one of a channel and transmission power of the APs 114a-114c. The network controller <NUM> may set the channel and/or transmission power of the APs 114a-114c to minimize interference between the APs 114a-114c while maximizing the corresponding WLAN coverage area.

Minimizing the interference between the APs 114a-114c reduces interference between basic service sets (BSSs) within a wireless network. The interference between BSSs may be referred to as overlapping BSS (OBSS) interference. In one or more embodiments, optimizing the APs 114a-114c to mitigate interference comprises mitigating interference in regions of overlap between corresponding coverage areas 115a-115c of the APs 114a-114c.

The wireless network system <NUM> includes a network controller <NUM> and APs 124a-124c. In general, the APs 124a-124c are in communication with each other and are also in communication with the network controller <NUM> to provide a corresponding WLAN. The APs 124a-124c have corresponding coverage areas 125a-125c. In various embodiments, the wireless network system <NUM> includes more than three APs or less than three APs. In various embodiments, the wireless network system <NUM> has more APs than that of the wireless network system <NUM>. Alternatively, the wireless network system <NUM> has more APs than that of the wireless network system <NUM>.

The network controller <NUM> may include one or more processors and memory. Further, one or more applications may be stored within the memory and executable by the one or more processors. For example, the applications may be executed by the processors to configure the operating parameters of the APs 124a-124c. Configuring the operating parameters of the APs 124a-124c includes setting at least one of a channel and transmission power of the APs 124a-124c. The network controller <NUM> may set the channel and/or transmission power of the APs 124a-124c to minimize interference between the APs 124a-124c while maximizing the corresponding WLAN coverage area. For example, the channels and/or transmission power of the APs 124a-124c are optimized to mitigate interference that exists between coverage areas 125a-125c of the APs 124a-124c.

In various embodiments, the wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM> share credentials such that mobile devices (e.g., the mobile device <NUM> which can be a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, and the like) can seamlessly associate and seamlessly transition between the WLANs of the wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM>. In one or more embodiments, the wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM> are not the same extended service set (ESS) and sharing of the credentials allows for mobile devices to seamlessly associate and seamless transition between the wireless networks systems. In one or more embodiments, sharing of credentials to allow mobile devices to seamlessly transitioning between the corresponding WLANs may be achieved through a central user management federation <NUM> (referred herein as the federation). In one or more embodiments, the federation <NUM> transparently connects a mobile device (e.g., the mobile device <NUM>) attempting to connect to a WLAN to an identity provider (e.g., one or more of the identity provides <NUM>) that validates the credentials (e.g., user credentials) corresponding to the mobile device. In one or more embodiments, the federation <NUM> returns a validation of the credentials to a wireless network system (e.g., the wireless network systems <NUM> or <NUM>) and/or an access provider <NUM>. In some embodiments, the federation <NUM> is further configured to communicate contextual information (e.g., policies associated with a user) to a wireless network system (e.g., the wireless network systems <NUM> or <NUM>).

In one or more embodiments, access to the wireless network system <NUM> and <NUM> may be controlled via corresponding access providers <NUM>. The access providers <NUM> may be public venues, retailers, airports, and large enterprises, among others. Each wireless network system <NUM> and <NUM> is associated to one of the access providers <NUM>. For example, in one embodiment, a first one of the access providers <NUM> is associated to the wireless network system <NUM> and a second one of the access providers <NUM> is associated to the wireless network system <NUM>.

The wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM> are also in communication with one or more identity providers <NUM> via the federation <NUM>. The identity providers <NUM> may identify a user of a mobile device, authenticates the user and determines associated rights for a user. The identity providers <NUM> include service providers and cloud providers, among others. The identity providers <NUM> communicate with the mobile device <NUM> and/or the wireless network system <NUM> and <NUM> to authenticate the mobile device <NUM>. In one embodiment, when the mobile device <NUM> attempts to gain access to the WLAN corresponding to the wireless network system <NUM>, the network controller <NUM> communicates with one or more of the identity providers <NUM> via the federation <NUM> to determine rights associated with a user of the mobile device <NUM>. The wireless network system <NUM> communicates data to and from the federation <NUM> which communicates data with the identity providers <NUM>. The identity providers <NUM> identify the user and transmit an indication as to whether or not user authentication was successful to the network controller <NUM> via the federation <NUM>. In embodiments where authentication was successful, the identity providers <NUM> may additionally communicate authorizations, or policies, associated with a user of the mobile device <NUM>. The network controller <NUM> may then grant the mobile device <NUM> access to the corresponding WLAN. If the identity providers <NUM> are unable to authenticate the mobile device <NUM>, the network controller <NUM> rejects access of the mobile device <NUM> to the corresponding WLAN. In one embodiment, once a mobile device associated with a user (e.g., the mobile device <NUM>) is authenticated by one or more of the identity providers <NUM>, the mobile device is authenticated to each wireless system that supports seamless transitioning of mobile devices.

In one or more embodiments, the wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM> support seamless transitioning of mobile devices between the WLANs of the wireless network systems. Accordingly, once the mobile device <NUM> is authenticated by one or more of the identity providers <NUM>, the mobile device <NUM> is granted access to both wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM>. Thus, the mobile device <NUM> may seamlessly transition between the wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM> without having to enter authentication credentials to each wireless network system <NUM> and <NUM> individually. Stated another way, a user may be able to seamlessly transition between the wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM> without having to be reauthenticated to either WLAN of the wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM>. However, in one or more embodiments, co-channel interference may occur within an overlapping coverage area between APs of the different wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, co-channel interference that may occur within a region of overlap <NUM> between coverage areas 115c and 125c of the APs 114c and 124c, respectively. In such embodiments, the co-channel interference may prevent a mobile device from seamlessly transitioning between APs of the different wireless network systems. However, optimizing the operating parameters of the APs of different wireless network systems having the overlapping regions may mitigate the co-channel interference and improve the ability for mobile devices to connect to and seamlessly transition between the APs.

<FIG> illustrates a network system <NUM>, according to one or more embodiments. The network system <NUM> includes the wireless network system <NUM> and the wireless network system <NUM> as described with regard to <FIG>. As compared to the embodiment of <FIG>, the network system <NUM> includes a cloud computing system <NUM>. The cloud computing system <NUM> communicates with the wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM>. Further, the cloud computing system <NUM> communicates with the access providers <NUM>, the identity providers <NUM>, and the federation <NUM>. The cloud computing system <NUM> communicates with the access providers <NUM>, the identity providers <NUM>, and the federation <NUM> to authenticate the mobile device <NUM> and allow the mobile device <NUM> to seamlessly transition between the WLANs of the wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM>.

The cloud computing system <NUM> may include one or more controllers <NUM> and a radio resource management (RRM) component <NUM>. The RRM component <NUM> provides a system level management of co-channel interference, radio resources, and other radio transmission characteristics in the network <NUM>. The RRM component <NUM> includes core algorithms for controlling parameters such as transmission power, user allocation, beamforming, data rates, handover criteria, modulation scheme, error coding scheme, etc. In one embodiment, the RRM component <NUM> receives inter-radio measurement data reported from the wireless network controllers <NUM> and <NUM>. The inter-radio measurement data may include but is not limited to the channel frequency between two radios of different APs, transmission power, antenna information and the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) or path loss between two radios of different APs.

In one embodiment, the RRM component <NUM> performs the inter-radio measurement based on a discovery message. For example, the radio in each AP <NUM> and <NUM> broadcasts a discovery message to all other radios in all other APs on all channels so that all other radios operating on different channels can receive the discovery message. The discovery message may have a predefined packet format.

In one or more embodiments, the network controller <NUM> and the network controller <NUM> communicate directly with each other. In such embodiments, the network controllers <NUM> and <NUM> communicate information directly between each other without the information first being communicated to the cloud computing system <NUM>. Alternatively, the network controllers <NUM> and <NUM> first communicate information to the cloud computing system <NUM> and the cloud computing system <NUM> then communicates the information to the network controllers <NUM> and <NUM>.

The operating parameters of the APs 114a-114c are often optimized separately from the operating parameters of the APs 124a-124c. For example, in one embodiment, the network controllers <NUM> and <NUM> allocate the operating parameters for the APs 114a-114c and 124a-124c, respectively. Alternatively, or additionally, the RRM component <NUM> instructs each of the network controllers <NUM> and <NUM> how to allocate the operating parameters for the APs 114a-114c and 124a-124c, respectively. However, by optimizing the operating parameters of the APs 114a-114c separately from the operating parameters of the APs 24a-124c, one or more of the APs 114a-114c and APs 124a-124c that are in range of each other may be assigned to the same channel. Accordingly, one or more of the APs 114a-114c may interfere with one or more of the APs 124a-124c. For example, in one embodiment, the AP 114c and the 124c may be assigned the same channel. Thus, the APs 114c and 124c may interfere with each other in the region of overlap <NUM> of the corresponding coverage areas 115c and 125c, inducing co-channel interference. The region of overlap <NUM> in coverage areas may be referred to as a co-channel interference zone.

Due to the co-channel interference, the mobile device <NUM> may experience difficulties in connecting with either the AP 114c or the AP 124c. Further, the interference due to the co-channel interference negatively affects the ability for the mobile device <NUM> to seamlessly transition between the AP 114c and the AP 124c. However, by optimizing the operating parameters for the APs (e.g., the APs 114a-114c and 124a-124c) having overlapping coverage areas and that are part of different wireless network systems, the interference due to the co-channel interference may be mitigated. As such, mobile devices may more easily seamlessly transition between the wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM> without experiencing a drop in connection.

<FIG> illustrates a method <NUM> for optimizing APs of different wireless network systems, according to one or more embodiments. At operation <NUM>, the AP 114c receives parameters corresponding to the AP 124c. For example, the AP 124c transmits a discovery message (e.g., a beacon) which is received by the AP 114c. In one or more embodiments, the AP 114c enters a discovery mode during which the AP 114c scans through a plurality of channels to detect discovery messages transmitted by other APs. The AP 114c may enter the discovery mode according to an interval. Further, the AP 124c may switch from a first channel to a second channel to transmit the corresponding discovery message. The AP 124c may switch channels and transmit a discovery message according to an interval. The discovery message is a radio frequency (RF) message that includes information corresponding to the transmitting AP. For example, the discovery message includes one or more of an identifier, listing of capabilities, support of seamless transitioning of mobile devices, channel allocation, and a vender identifier, among others. In one embodiment, the discovery message includes a media access control (MAC) address assigned to the AP 124c.

At operation <NUM>, one or more of the network controller <NUM> and the cloud computing system <NUM> determines that the APs 114c and 124c are part of different wireless network systems. With reference to <FIG>, the AP 114c provides the discovery message transmitted by the AP 124c to the network controller <NUM> and the network controller <NUM> determines whether or not the AP 124c is part of the wireless network system <NUM>. For example, the network controller <NUM> compares the MAC address of the AP 124c to the list of MAC address assigned to the wireless network system <NUM>. If the MAC address of the AP 124c matches one of the MAC addresses assigned to the wireless network system <NUM>, the AP 124c is determined to be part of (e.g., assigned to) the wireless network system <NUM>. Alternatively, if the MAC address of the AP 124c does not match one of the MAC addresses assigned to the wireless network system <NUM>, the AP 124c is determined to be part of a wireless network system other than the wireless network system <NUM>. In another embodiment, the AP 114c provides the discovery message transmitted by the AP 124c to the network controller <NUM> and the network controller <NUM> provides the discovery message or information from the discovery message to the cloud computing system <NUM>. For example, the network controller <NUM> may process the discovery message to identify one or more parameters corresponding the AP 124c and transmit the one or more parameters to the cloud computing system <NUM>. In one embodiment, the network controller <NUM> identifies the MAC address of the AP 124c and transmits the MAC address to the cloud computing system <NUM>. The cloud computing system <NUM> determines whether or not the AP 114c and the AP 124c are associated with the same wireless network system based on the discovery message or the one or more parameters transmitted from the network controller <NUM>. For example, the RRM component <NUM> compares the MAC address of the AP 124c to the MAC addresses of the devices assigned to the wireless network system <NUM> to determine whether or not the AP 124c is part of the same wireless network system as the AP 114c. The RRM component <NUM> may transmit an indication to the network controller <NUM> with the determination as to whether or not the AP 124c is part of the wireless network system <NUM>.

At operation <NUM>, one of the network controllers <NUM> and the cloud computing system <NUM> determines whether or not the AP 124c supports client credential sharing for seamless transitioning of mobile devices between WLANs of different wireless network systems. For example, in one embodiment, the network controller <NUM> receives the discovery message transmitted by the AP 124c and identifies, based on value within the discovery message, that the AP 124c supports client credential sharing between different wireless network systems. The value within the discovery message is a flag or a binary value. Further, the discovery message indicates the name of the system associated with the AP and vender information, among others. The vender information corresponds to an access provider (e.g., an owner or the vender of the wireless network system).

In another embodiment, the network controller <NUM> transmits the discovery message or one or more parameters determined from the discovery message to the cloud computing system <NUM>. In such embodiments, the cloud computing system <NUM> determines whether or not the AP 124c supports client credential sharing for seamless transitioning of mobile devices between WLANs of different wireless network systems. For example, the cloud computing system <NUM> identifies the access provider of a corresponding wireless network system, and compares the vendor a database to determine whether or not the wireless network system and corresponding AP supports client credential sharing for seamless transitioning of mobile devices between WLANs of different wireless network systems. When the AP 124c is found to support seamless transitioning of mobile devices, the mobile device <NUM> is able to seamlessly transition between the WLANs of the wireless network systems <NUM> and <NUM> without having to provide authentication credentials to each wireless network system. For example, once the mobile device <NUM> is authenticated to the wireless network system <NUM>, the mobile device <NUM> is able to be authenticated to the wireless network system <NUM> without explicitly providing authentication credentials to the wireless network system <NUM> based on the previous succesful authentcation by the federation <NUM>.

At operation <NUM>, one or more of the network controllers <NUM> and the cloud computing system <NUM> detect interference between the AP 114c and the AP 124c. For example, in one embodiment, the network controller <NUM> detects interference between the AP 114c and the AP 124c. For example, the network controller <NUM> determines the channel of the AP 124c based on the discovery message and compares the channel of the AP 124c to the channel assigned to the AP 114c to determine whether co-channel interference exists between the APs 114c and 124c. In one embodiment, when the AP 114c and 124c are assigned to a common channel, co-channel interference exits between the APs.

In one or more embodiments, the cloud computing system <NUM> detects interference between the AP 114c and the AP 124c. For example, the cloud computing system <NUM> receives the channel allocation of the AP 114c and the AP 124c from the network controller <NUM> and/or the network controller <NUM>. The cloud computing system <NUM> compares channels allocated to the APs 114c and 124c to determine if co-channel interference exits between the APs. In one embodiment, the RRM component <NUM> compares the channels allocated to the APs 114c and 124c to determine if co-channel interference exists.

At operation <NUM>, one or more of the one or more of the network controller <NUM>, the network controller <NUM>, and the cloud computing system <NUM> changes at least one of a channel and a transmission power of the AP 114c and/or the AP 124c. In one embodiment, the network controller <NUM> changes at least one of a channel and a transmission power of the AP 114c. For example, based on a determination that co-channel interference exists between the AP 114c and the AP 124c, the network controller <NUM> changes the channel of the AP 114c. Alternatively, or additionally, based on the determination that co-channel interference exits between the AP 114c and the AP 124c, the network controller <NUM> changes the transmission power of the AP 114c. In another embodiment, based on the determination that co-channel interference exits between the AP 114c and the AP 124c, the network controller <NUM> provides an indication to the network controller <NUM> to change the channel of the AP 124c. Alternatively, or additionally, based on the determination that co-channel interference exits between the AP 114c and the AP 124c, the network controller <NUM> provides an indication to the network controller <NUM> to decrease the transmission power of the AP 124c.

In one or more embodiments, the cloud computing system <NUM> provides an indication to the network controller <NUM> and/or the network controller <NUM> to change a channel and/or transmission power of the AP 114c and/or the AP 124c, respectively. For example, in one embodiment, the cloud computing system <NUM> determines that interference is present between the APs 114c and 124c and transmits an indication to alter one or more of the channel and the transmission power of the AP 114c to the network controller <NUM> and/or an indication to alter one or more of the channel and the transmission power of the AP 124c to the network controller <NUM>.

The network controller <NUM> alters one or more of the channel and transmission power of the AP 114c based on the indication transmitted by the cloud computing system <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, the network controller <NUM> alters one or more of the channel and transmission power of the AP 124c based on the indication transmitted by the cloud computing system <NUM>. In one embodiment, the cloud computing system <NUM> receives an indication that co-channel interference exists between the APs 114c and 124c from the network controller <NUM> and instructs the network controller <NUM> to change the channel allocated to the AP 124c. For example, the cloud computing system <NUM> provides an indication including the channel to allocate to the AP 124c to the network controller <NUM>.

In another embodiment, a determination of insufficient coverage overlap between the APs 114c and 124c may be made. For example, the cloud computing system <NUM> may detect that the mobile device <NUM> was disconnected from both of the APs 114c and 124c when the mobile device <NUM> was attempting to seamlessly transition between the corresponding WLANs. In one embodiment, APs having insufficient coverage overlap have no overlap between corresponding coverage area. Alternatively, APs having insufficient coverage overlap may have overlapping coverage areas, however, the amount of overlap between coverage areas does not allow a mobile device to transition between corresponding WLANs without experiencing a drop in connection to either AP. In another embodiment, one of the network controllers <NUM> and <NUM> detect a disconnection of the mobile device <NUM> when the mobile device was attempting to seamlessly transition between the APs <NUM> and 124c. Dropping the connection of the mobile device <NUM> when attempting to seamlessly transition between the APs 114c and 124c provides an indication of insufficient overlap in coverage between APs 114c and 124c.

The cloud computing system <NUM> may communicate an indication of insufficient coverage overlap between the APs 114c and 124c to the network controller <NUM> or the network controller <NUM>. The network controller <NUM> or <NUM> increases the transmission power of the AP 114c and 124c, respectfully, to increase the corresponding coverage areas based on the indication. In other embodiments, network controller <NUM> or <NUM> increases the transmission power of the AP 114c and 124c, respectfully, to increase the corresponding coverage areas based on the indication based on a determination of insufficient coverage overlap.

In one embodiment, the channel and/or transmission power of the interfering APs is changed by exchanging tokens between the APs (e.g., the AP 114c and 124c) and the AP with the smaller token changes a corresponding channel and/or transmission power. The tokens are randomly generated by each of the APs. In one example embodiment, the AP 114c generates a token with a value of <NUM> and the AP 124c generates a token with a value of <NUM>. Accordingly, the AP 114c alters one or more of a corresponding channel and/or transmission power.

In one or more embodiments, the RRM component <NUM> generates a list of APs of different network systems, having overlapping coverage areas and that support seamless transitioning of mobile devices between corresponding wireless network systems. The RRM component <NUM> regulates the channels and transmission power of the identified APs to mitigate co-channel interference between APs.

While <FIG> is described with regard to the AP 124c transmitting a discovery message, in one or more embodiments the AP 114c additionally transmits a discovery message. In such embodiments, the discovery message transmitted by the AP 114c is received by the AP 124c and utilized by the network controller <NUM> and/or the cloud computing system <NUM> to determine whether or not to change the channel allocation of the AP 114c and/or the AP 124c. Further, to facilitate changing of a channel of the AP 114c, one or more of the channels of the APs 114a-114b is changed before the channel of the AP 114c is changed. Additionally, or alternatively, to facilitate changing of a channel of the AP 124c, one or more of the channels of the APs 124a-124b is changed before the channel of the AP 124c is changed.

<FIG> illustrates a method <NUM> for optimizing APs of different wireless network systems, according to one or more embodiments. At operation <NUM>, the mobile device <NUM> transmits parameters corresponding to the AP 124c. In one embodiment, the mobile device <NUM> transmits parameters corresponding to the AP 124c in response to connecting with the AP 114c. For example, the mobile device <NUM> may transmit the channel allocated to the AP 124c, the transmission power of the AP 124c, the wireless network that the AP 124c is connected to, and support of seamless transitioning of mobile devices, among others. Additionally, the mobile device <NUM> transmits the signal strength of previously connected APs, and bandwidth of previously connected APs. In one or more embodiments, the mobile device <NUM> transmits parameters corresponding to two or more previous APs to which the mobile device <NUM> was connected.

The mobile device <NUM> transmits the parameters corresponding to the AP 124c as the transmission path between the APs 114c and 124c is interfered with by one or more barriers. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the wall <NUM> interferes with the transmission path between the APs 114c and 124c. As such, the AP 114c and 124c are not able to directly communicate with each other and a discovery message transmitted by one of the APs is not received by the other AP. In one embodiment, the mobile device <NUM> transmits an identifier associated with previously connected wireless network systems. The identifier may include an indication as to whether or not a corresponding wireless network system supports seamless transitioning of mobile devices.

At operation <NUM>, the AP 114c receives parameters corresponding to the AP 124c from the mobile device <NUM>. For example, the AP 114c receives the parameters corresponding the AP 124c in response to the mobile device <NUM> connecting the AP 114c. Further, the method <NUM> includes operations <NUM>-<NUM> which are configured similar to that of operations <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>, respectively. In one embodiment, while the operations <NUM>-<NUM> are described with regard to processing a discovery message, in the operations <NUM>-<NUM> the parameters received from the mobile device <NUM> are processed to determine if co-channel interference exists between the APs 114c and 124c.

In the current disclosure, reference is made to various embodiments. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to specific described embodiments. Instead, any combination of the described features and elements, whether related to different embodiments or not, is contemplated to implement and practice contemplated embodiments. Additionally, when elements of the embodiments are described in the form of "at least one of A and B," it will be understood that embodiments including element A exclusively, including element B exclusively, and including element A and B are each contemplated. Furthermore, although some embodiments disclosed herein may achieve advantages over other possible solutions or over the prior art, whether or not a particular advantage is achieved by a given embodiment is not limiting of the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the aspects, features, embodiments and advantages disclosed herein are merely illustrative and are not considered elements or limitations of the appended claims except where explicitly recited in a claim(s). Likewise, reference to "the invention" shall not be construed as a generalization of any inventive subject matter disclosed herein and shall not be considered to be an element or limitation of the appended claims except where explicitly recited in a claim(s).

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) for optimizing access points, APs, within a network, the method comprising:
receiving (<NUM>), at a first AP (114c), parameters corresponding to a second AP (124c);
determining (<NUM>) that the first AP and the second AP are part of a first (<NUM>) and a second (<NUM>) wireless local area network, WLAN, respectively, wherein the first and second WLANs support client credential sharing allowing seamlessly transitioning (<NUM>) of a client device between the first and second WLANs;
detecting (<NUM>) co-channel interference between the first AP and the second AP based on the parameters corresponding to the second AP and parameters corresponding to the first AP; and
changing (<NUM>) at least one of a channel and transmission power of one or more of the first AP and the second AP in response to the detection of the co-channel interference.