Patent ID: 12219666

Note that like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawings. Moreover, multiple instances of the same part are designated by a common prefix separated from an instance number by a dash.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An access point that selectively performs testing is described. During operation, the access point may receive, associated with a computer (such as a controller), information that specifies a group of access points in a network, where the group includes the access point, a second access point and/or a third access point. Note that the group of access points are proximate to each other in the network (e.g., the second access point or the third access point may be within wireless-communication range of the access point and/or the group of access points may share a switch in the network, a router in the network and/or the controller). Then, the access point may receive, associated with the computer, instructions for the testing to conduct with the second access point or the second access point and the third access point, where the testing involves wired communication with the second access point, and wireless communication with the second access point or the third access point. Next, the access point may perform, based at least in part on the information and the instructions, the testing with the second access point or the second access point and the third access point. Moreover, the access point may provide, addressed to the computer, test results associated with the access point.

By selectively performing the testing, these communication techniques may provide improved testing. Notably, the communication techniques may allow the testing to be performed in an automated manner (e.g., with reduced or no human involvement). Moreover, the communication techniques may reduce the time, complexity and expense of the testing. Consequently, the communication techniques may simplify and reduce the time needed to diagnose and address communication problems in the network. These capabilities may improve the communication performance of the network, which may improve the user experience when using the network, and may make it easier to manage and maintain the network.

In the discussion that follows, electronic devices or components in a system communicate packets in accordance with a wireless communication protocol, such as: a wireless communication protocol that is compatible with an IEEE 802.11 standard (which is sometimes referred to as ‘Wi-Fi®,’ from the Wi-Fi Alliance of Austin, Texas), Bluetooth, a cellular-telephone network or data network communication protocol (such as a third generation or 3G communication protocol, a fourth generation or 4G communication protocol, e.g., Long Term Evolution or LTE (from the 3rd Generation Partnership Project of Sophia Antipolis, Valbonne, France), LTE Advanced or LTE-A, a fifth generation or 5G communication protocol, or other present or future developed advanced cellular communication protocol), and/or another type of wireless interface (such as another wireless-local-area-network interface). For example, an IEEE 802.11 standard may include one or more of: IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11-2007, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11-2012, IEEE 802.11-2016, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ax, IEEE 802.11ba, IEEE 802.11be, or other present or future developed IEEE 802.11 technologies. Moreover, an access point, a radio node, a base station or a switch in the wireless network may communicate with a local or remotely located computer (such as a controller) using a wired communication protocol, such as a wired communication protocol that is compatible with an IEEE 802.3 standard (which is sometimes referred to as ‘Ethernet’), e.g., an Ethernet II standard. However, a wide variety of communication protocols may be used in the system, including wired and/or wireless communication. In the discussion that follows, Wi-Fi, LTE and Ethernet are used as illustrative examples.

We now describe some embodiments of the communication techniques.FIG.1presents a block diagram illustrating an example of communication in an environment106with one or more electronic devices110(such as cellular telephones, portable electronic devices, stations or clients, another type of electronic device, etc., which are sometimes referred to as ‘end devices’) via a cellular-telephone network114(which may include a base station108), one or more access points116(which may communicate using Wi-Fi) in a WLAN and/or one or more radio nodes118(which may communicate using LTE) in a small-scale network (such as a small cell). For example, the one or more radio nodes118may include: an Evolved Node B (eNodeB), a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) NodeB and radio network controller (RNC), a New Radio (NR) gNB or gNodeB (which communicates with a network with a cellular-telephone communication protocol that is other than LTE), etc. In the discussion that follows, an access point, a radio node or a base station are sometimes referred to generically as a ‘communication device.’ Moreover, one or more base stations (such as base station108), access points116, and/or radio nodes118may be included in one or more wireless networks, such as: a WLAN, a small cell, and/or a cellular-telephone network. In some embodiments, access points116may include a physical access point and/or a virtual access point that is implemented in software in an environment of an electronic device or a computer.

Note that access points116and/or radio nodes118may communicate with each other and/or computer112(which may be a local or a cloud-based controller that manages and/or configures access points116, radio nodes118and/or switch128, or that provides cloud-based storage and/or analytical services) using a wired communication protocol (such as Ethernet) via network120and/or122. Note that networks120and122may be the same or different networks. For example, networks120and/or122may an LAN, an intra-net or the Internet. In some embodiments, network120may include one or more routers and/or switches (such as switch128).

As described further below with reference toFIG.9, electronic devices110, computer112, access points116, radio nodes118and switch128may include subsystems, such as a networking subsystem, a memory subsystem and a processor subsystem. In addition, electronic devices110, access points116and radio nodes118may include radios124in the networking subsystems. More generally, electronic devices110, access points116and radio nodes118can include (or can be included within) any electronic devices with the networking subsystems that enable electronic devices110, access points116and radio nodes118to wirelessly communicate with one or more other electronic devices. This wireless communication can comprise transmitting access on wireless channels to enable electronic devices to make initial contact with or detect each other, followed by exchanging subsequent data/management frames (such as connection requests and responses) to establish a connection, configure security options, transmit and receive frames or packets via the connection, etc.

During the communication inFIG.1, access points116and/or radio nodes118and electronic devices110may wired or wirelessly communicate while: transmitting access requests and receiving access responses on wireless channels, detecting one another by scanning wireless channels, establishing connections (for example, by transmitting connection requests and receiving connection responses), and/or transmitting and receiving frames or packets (which may include information as payloads).

As can be seen inFIG.1, wireless signals126(represented by a jagged line) may be transmitted by radios124in, e.g., access points116and/or radio nodes118and electronic devices110. For example, radio124-1in access point116-1may transmit information (such as one or more packets or frames) using wireless signals126. These wireless signals are received by radios124in one or more other electronic devices (such as radio124-2in electronic device110-1). This may allow access point116-1to communicate information to other access points116and/or electronic device110-1. Note that wireless signals126may convey one or more packets or frames.

In the described embodiments, processing a packet or a frame in access points116and/or radio nodes118and electronic devices110may include: receiving the wireless signals with the packet or the frame; decoding/extracting the packet or the frame from the received wireless signals to acquire the packet or the frame; and processing the packet or the frame to determine information contained in the payload of the packet or the frame.

Note that the wireless communication inFIG.1may be characterized by a variety of performance metrics, such as: a data rate for successful communication (which is sometimes referred to as ‘throughput’), an error rate (such as a retry or resend rate), a mean-squared error of equalized signals relative to an equalization target, intersymbol interference, multipath interference, a signal-to-noise ratio, a width of an eye pattern, a ratio of number of bytes successfully communicated during a time interval (such as 1-10 s) to an estimated maximum number of bytes that can be communicated in the time interval (the latter of which is sometimes referred to as the ‘capacity’ of a communication channel or link), and/or a ratio of an actual data rate to an estimated data rate (which is sometimes referred to as ‘utilization’). While instances of radios124are shown in components inFIG.1, one or more of these instances may be different from the other instances of radios124.

In some embodiments, wireless communication between components inFIG.1uses one or more bands of frequencies, such as: 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, 60 GHz, the Citizens Broadband Radio Spectrum or CBRS (e.g., a frequency band near 3.5 GHz), and/or a band of frequencies used by LTE or another cellular-telephone communication protocol or a data communication protocol. Note that the communication between electronic devices may use multi-user transmission (such as orthogonal frequency division multiple access or OFDMA).

Although we describe the network environment shown inFIG.1as an example, in alternative embodiments, different numbers or types of electronic devices may be present. For example, some embodiments comprise more or fewer electronic devices. As another example, in another embodiment, different electronic devices are transmitting and/or receiving packets or frames.

As discussed previously, it can be time-consuming and expensive to determine the cause and then address communication problems in a network. Moreover, in order to diagnose and address a customer's communication problem (e.g., with access point116-1), different field tests often need to be performed, which usually depends on the customer's availability and cooperation.

As described further below with reference toFIGS.2-8, in order to addresses these difficulties, at least access point116-1may selectively perform testing. Notably, computer112(which may be a controller of access points116) may provide information to at least access point116-1that specifies a group of access points in a network, such as access point116-1, access point116-2and/or access point116-3. Note that the group of access points are proximate to each other in the network. For example, access points116may be within wireless-communication range of access point116-1. Alternatively or additionally, the group of access points may share a switch in the network, a router in the network and/or computer112. Then, computer112may provide to at least access point116-1instructions for the testing to conduct with access point116-2or access points116-2and116-3, where the testing involves wired communication with access point116-2, and wireless communication with access point116-2or access point116-3. In some embodiments, computer112or another computer (not shown) provides a trigger to at least access point116-1that initiates the testing. Thus, the testing may be conducted in a centralized manner (controlled by computer112) or a distributed manner (controlled by one or more of access points16).

Next, access point116-1may perform, based at least in part on the information and the instructions, the testing with access point116-2or access points116-2and116-3. Moreover, access point116-1may provide to computer112test results associated with access point116-1. Note that the testing may include: communication performance using the wireless communication protocol (such as a wireless communication protocol that is compatible with IEEE 802.11); authentication testing; association testing; DHCP testing; user-authentication testing; and/or DNS testing. In some embodiments, during the testing that involves wireless communication with access point116-2or116-3, access point116-1may associate with access point116-2or116-3. When associated, access point116-2or116-3may be a client of access point116-1.

In some embodiments, one or more of access points116in the group of access points other than access point116-1may perform additional testing and provide, directly or indirectly, additional test results to computer1121. In these embodiments, the instructions may also be provided by computer112to the one or more other access points (such as access point116-2). For example, access point116-1may; receive second test results from access point116-2and/or116-3; and provide to computer112, the second test results. In these embodiments, the instructions may specify that the second test results are to be reported to access point116-1. Alternatively or additionally, the one or more other access points (such as access point116-2) may provide the second test results to computer112.

Note that the testing may be performed in an automated manner (e.g., without human involvement).

In these ways, the communication techniques may allow access points116in the group of access points to automatically (e.g., without human involvement) perform testing and report test results, which may be used to diagnose and address one or more communication problems in or associated with the network. Consequently, the communication techniques may reduce the time, expense and complexity associated with the testing and remediation of the one or more communication problems, and may eliminate the need for customer availability and cooperation during these operations.

We now describe embodiments of the method.

FIG.2presents a flow diagram illustrating an example of a method200for selectively performing testing, which may be performed by a computer (such as computer112, which may be a controller of at least an access point). During operation, the computer may provide, addressed to or intended for at least the access point, information (operation210) specifying a group of access points in a network, where the group of access points includes the access point, a second access point and/or a third access point. Note that the group of access points may be proximate to each other in the network (e.g., the second access point or the third access point may be within wireless-communication range of the access point and/or the group of access points may share a switch in the network, a router in the network and/or the controller).

Then, the computer may provide, addressed to or intended for at least the access point, instructions for the testing (operation212) to conduct with the second access point or the second access point and the third access point, where the testing involves wired communication with the second access point, and wireless communication with the second access point or the third access point. Note that the testing may include: communication performance using the wireless communication protocol (such as a wireless communication protocol that is compatible with IEEE 802.11); authentication testing; association testing; DHCP testing; user-authentication testing; or DNS testing.

Next, the computer may receive, associated with or from the access point, test results (operation214) associated with the access point.

In some embodiments, the computer optionally performs one or more additional operations (operation216). For example, the computer may provide, addressed to or intended for the second access point and/or the third access point, information specifying the group of access points. Moreover, the computer may provide, addressed to or intended for the second access point and/or the third access point, the instructions or second instructions for the testing to conduct with the access point.

Furthermore, the computer may receive, associated with or from the access point, second test results associated with the second access point and/or the third access point. In these embodiments, the instructions or the second instructions may specify that the second test results are to be reported to the access point.

Alternatively or additionally, the computer may receive, associated with or from the second access point and/or the third access point, second test results associated with the second access point and/or the third access point.

In some embodiments, the computer may provide, addressed to one or more of the group of access points, one or more triggers that initiates the testing.

After receiving the test results and/or the second test results, the computer may determine or diagnose a communication problem in the network based at least in part on the test results and/or the second test results. Moreover, the computer may perform a remedial action (such as repairing the communication problem, modifying a configuration of one or more computer network devices in or associated with the network, providing a report or an alert, etc.) based at least in part on the test results, the second test results and/or the diagnosed communication problem.

FIG.3presents a flow diagram illustrating an example of a method300for selectively performing testing, which may be performed by an access point (such as one of access points116and, more generally, a computer network device, such as one of radio nodes118or switch128inFIG.1). During operation, the access point may receive, associated with or from a computer (such as a controller of at least the access point), information (operation310) that specifies a group of access points in a network, where the group includes the access point, a second access point and/or a third access point. Note that the group of access points may be proximate to each other in the network (e.g., the second access point or the third access point may be within wireless-communication range of the access point and/or the group of access points may share a switch in the network, a router in the network and/or the controller).

Then, the access point may receive, associated with or from the computer, instructions for the testing (operation312) to conduct with the second access point or the second access point and the third access point, where the testing involves wired communication with the second access point, and wireless communication with the second access point or the third access point. Note that the testing may include: communication performance using the wireless communication protocol (such as a wireless communication protocol that is compatible with IEEE 802.11); authentication testing; association testing; DHCP testing; user-authentication testing; or DNS testing.

Next, the access point may perform, based at least in part on the information and the instructions, the testing (operation314) with the second access point or the second access point and the third access point. Moreover, the access point may provide, addressed to or intended for the computer, test results (operation316) associated with the access point.

In some embodiments, the access point optionally performs one or more additional operations (operation318). For example, the access point may: receive second test results associated with or from the second access point or the third access point, and provide, addressed to or intended for the computer, the second test results. Note that the instructions may specify that the second test results are to be reported to the access point.

Moreover, the access point may receive, associated with or from the computer or a second computer, a trigger that initiates the testing.

Furthermore, during the testing that involves wireless communication with the second access point or the third access point, the access point may associate with the second access point or the third access point. When associated, the second access point or the third access point may be a client of the access point.

Additionally, the testing may be performed in an automated manner (e.g., without human involvement).

In some embodiments of method200(FIG.2) and/or300, there may be additional or fewer operations. Furthermore, the order of the operations may be changed, and/or two or more operations may be combined into a single operation.

Embodiments of the communication techniques are further illustrated inFIG.4, which presents a drawing illustrating an example of communication among computer112and access points116. InFIG.4, in response to a reported problem in a network, a processor410in computer112may instruct412an interface circuit (IC)414in computer112to provide information416that specifies a group of access points in the network to access point116-1. Note that the group of access points may include at least access points116-1and116-2, which may be proximate to each other in the network. For example, ‘proximate’ access points or electronic devices in the network may be within wireless communication range of each other, may be connected to a common switch in the network and/or may be included in the same subnet in the network. After receiving information416, an interface circuit418in access point116-1may provide information416to a processor420in access point116-1.

Then, processor410may instruct422interface circuit414to provide instruction424to access point116-1for testing426to conduct with access point116-2, where the testing involves wired and wireless communication with access point116-2. For example, testing426may assess throughput and/or communication-performance testing. After receiving instruction424, interface circuit418may provide instruction424to processor420. In response, processor420perform, via interface circuit418, testing426with access point116-2. In some embodiments, computer112provides an optional trigger428to access point116-1to initiate testing426. However, in other embodiments, processor420initiates testing426without trigger428from computer112.

Moreover, processor420may collect test results430for testing426, which are stored in memory432in access point116-1. During or after testing426, processor420may instruct interface circuit418to provide aggregated test results (ATRs)434to access point116-1.

Furthermore, processor410may optionally instruct436interface circuit414to provide instructions438to access point116-2for testing440to conduct with access point116-1, where the testing involves wired and/or wireless communication with access point116-1. Alternatively processor420may instruct442interface circuit118to provide instructions438to access point116-2.

In some embodiments, processor410may instruct444interface circuit414to provide trigger446to access point116-2to initiate testing440, such as throughput and/or communication-performance testing. Alternatively, processor420may instruct448interface circuit418to provide trigger446to access point116-2. After receiving trigger446, access point116-2may perform testing440and, during or after testing440, may provide aggregate test results (ATRs)450to access point116-1or to computer112based at least in part on instructions438. In embodiments where aggregate test results450are provided to access point116-1, processor420may forward, via interface circuit418, aggregate test results450to computer112.

After receiving aggregate test results434and/or450, processor410may perform one or more additional actions452. For example, processor410may diagnose the reported problem and/or may perform a remedial action, such as: repairing or fixing the reported problem, modifying a configuration of one or more computer network devices in or associated with the network, providing a report or an alert, etc.

WhileFIG.4illustrates communication between components using unidirectional or bidirectional communication with lines having single arrows or double arrows, in general the communication in a given operation in this figure may involve unidirectional or bidirectional communication. Moreover, whileFIG.4illustrates operations being performed sequentially or at different times, in other embodiments at least some of these operations may, at least in part, be performed concurrently or in parallel.

We now further describe embodiments of the communication techniques. In field deployments, an access point often faces numerous issues related to communication performance, such as throughput or another communication-performance issue for an access point.

In order to troubleshoot such issues, challenges/problems may occur when performing testing, such as: a feed test (which measures packet loss and performance issues), a speed test (which measures bandwidth), diagnosing a specific component (hardware and/or software) that is causing an issue by providing a continuous flow of wireless packets from a source to a sink (with other computer network devices acting as passthroughs), etc. Notably, there is often a need for additional human, hardware and/or software resources for the testing/troubleshooting and to approval for network access during the troubleshooting. For example, a wireless access point is a bridge that joins wireless and wired technologies together. In order to troubleshoot the connectivity or communication performance issues on the wireless side, a wireless client, station or host typically needs to be associated with a wireless local area network (WLAN) having a service set identifier (SSID) provided by an access point that is withing wireless communication range. Similarly for the wired side of the network, a wired client or host typically needs to be attached to a common switch where the access point is connected to the network.

However, establishing these associations and connections often pose challenges that require additional human, hardware and/or software resources to be deployed in order to facilitate debugging or a service. For example, additional software may need to be installed on the wireless and wired clients. This additional software may need to be calibrated and controlled by a user in order to obtain the desired results. In addition to the capital equipment costs, these additional resources may incur additional operating expenses in the debugging process.

The disclosed communication techniques address these problems by leveraging the fact that most access points are not installed in isolation. Instead, access points are typically installed in groups in a given area, so that they have overlapping wireless signals, which adds or facilitates client roaming. Notably, access points are usually positioned in such a way that at a minimum each wireless client should be able to associate to the WLANs of at least two access points at any point of time, so that in the event that the wireless signal strength of a WLAN from a first access point goes down, the wireless client can associate with an alternate WLAN from a second access point. This approach for positioning access points facilitates roaming and these access points are sometimes referred to as ‘neighboring access points.’

Neighboring access points may be used in the communication techniques, which may eliminate the need for a separate client in the testing. For example, during the testing, a first access point (AP-1) may be in a client mode and may associate with the second access point (AP-2), which may be a system-under test (SUT) access point. Similarly, another neighboring access point (AP-3) connected over a wired port of a common switch with AP-1and AP-2may be selected as a wired host/client.

In general, the group of access points in the communication techniques may include two or more access points. Relative to AP-2, the neighboring access points may be selected based at least in part on one or more criteria, such as: an access point with a highest received signal strength, an access point with a lowest received signal strength, an access point with median received signal strength, or another signal-strength criterion.

Because a controller of AP-1, AP-2and AP-3knows that these access points are in proximity to each other (e.g., they are connected to a common switch) via neighbor information, the controller may set up the testing by providing instructions to AP-1, AP-2and/or AP-3. For example, the controller may send instructions to AP-1, AP-2and/or AP-3, including instructions for which test results to report and where to report the test results. In some embodiments, the test results are collected by and reported to the controller by AP-2. However, in other embodiments, AP-1, AP-2and AP-3may each report test results to the controller.

Moreover, the client and server software used to validate the throughput and communication performance of the SUT access points (such as AP-2and AP-3) may be installed in AP-1, AP-2and AP-3. As noted previously, a controller or a management entity may send the configuration to AP-1, AP-2and/or AP-3to run the performance software in client and server mode. For example, as noted previously, during the testing AP-1may associate with AP-2and may perform wireless testing, and AP-3may perform wired testing with AP-2. Note that the testing of AP-2by AP-1and AP-3may be performed serially or in parallel. The necessary scripts or output of the test results may be collected by AP-1, AP-2and/or AP-3and consolidated or aggregate test results may be provided to the controller. Then, controller may generate a report based at least in part on the test results to evaluate the throughput and communication-performance capability of the SUT AP (AP-2).

In some embodiments, the testing may be divided into a series of tests that facilitates an end-to-end assessment of communication performance, e.g., of AP-2. For example, the testing may include: communication-performance testing, authentication testing, association testing, DHCP testing, user-authentication testing and/or DNS testing.

Moreover, in some embodiments, the testing by AP-1, AP-2and/or AP-3may be initiated by the controller or another computer. For example, testing for problem solving may be triggered by customer service, while testing for service validation may be triggered by analytics. Note that the testing can be on-demand or may be scheduled. In addition, note that the testing may be performed without AP-1, AP-2and/or AP-3having to drop existing associations or connections with clients or stations.

The communication techniques may eliminate the need for additional human resources and/or hardware resources for the service validation. Instead, the complete configuration and provisioning of this feature may be automated and may be run or performed multiple times to generate statistical reports. Note that the reports may be run on-demand or periodically to generate data insights that can be used for analytics. Moreover, the use of separate access points in the communication techniques may reduce the resources needed in a given access point, and may avoid interference and/or latency during the testing. Consequently, the communication techniques may reduce the cost, time and complexity of diagnosing and addressing communication problems in customer deployments.

FIG.5presents a drawing illustrating an example of selectively performing testing of a group of access points, including AP-1, AP-2and AP-3. As shown inFIG.5, the group of access points may be connected to a common switch and may have the same controller. Note that AP-1may be a neighboring access point to AP-2that has the best received signal-strength indication (RSSI) or signal-to-noise ratio with AP-2, and may connect to or associated with the W LAN of AP-2as a client during wireless testing of AP-2(which is the SUT). Moreover, AP-3may act as a server during wired testing of AP-2.

While the preceding discussion illustrated the communication techniques in the context of a reported communication problem, in other embodiments the communication techniques may be used to assess communication performance of one or more components in a network even when a customer has not reported a problem. Such as assessment may allow proactive modification of, e.g., a configuration to further improve the communication performance without requiring customer action.

In a first use case, a school may be planning to have in-person testing. Students may be expected to take an exam from various classrooms and tests may be delivered via the Internet. Consequently, it may be important for the students to connect their electronic devices to the Internet. In this case, the school would like to be prepared and may run tests to confirm that all access points are able to accept wireless connections, reach the Internet and download/upload data. If a school wide test needs to be run, it is likely that a school may be defined as a zone. A controller for this zone may orchestrate a test in which neighboring access points connect to a classroom access point and reaches the Internet. This may need to be repeated for all classrooms.

Alternatively, in a second use case, when schools have in person learning and students are not able to connect to the Internet, they may interrupt the class and precious learning time may be lost. An information technology department may be called and the description of the problem may be: “the Internet is down in classroom X.” In this case, an analytics team from a provider of the access point may be able to run a diagnostic test to confirm if there is indeed a problem. This may involve placing the access point in the classroom as an access point under test (or SUT) and converting one of the neighbor access points to a station or client mode, so that this access point sinks traffic (such as: voice, video, data, etc.). Testing may then be run from the station-mode access point to access point under test to confirm connectivity to the Internet.

FIGS.6-8presents drawing illustrating examples of a test-result user interface that summarize test results obtained using the communication techniques.

We now describe embodiments of an electronic device, which may perform at least some of the operations in the communication techniques.FIG.9presents a block diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device900in accordance with some embodiments, such as one of: base station108, one of electronic devices110, computer112, one of access points116, one of radio nodes118or switch128. This electronic device includes processing subsystem910, memory subsystem912, and networking subsystem914. Processing subsystem910includes one or more devices configured to perform computational operations. For example, processing subsystem910can include one or more microprocessors, graphics processing units (GPUs), ASICs, microcontrollers, programmable-logic devices, and/or one or more digital signal processors (DSPs).

Memory subsystem912includes one or more devices for storing data and/or instructions for processing subsystem910and networking subsystem914. For example, memory subsystem912can include DRAM, static random access memory (SRAM), and/or other types of memory. In some embodiments, instructions for processing subsystem910in memory subsystem912include: one or more program modules or sets of instructions (such as program instructions922or operating system924, such as Linux, UNIX, Windows Server, or another customized and proprietary operating system), which may be executed by processing subsystem910. Note that the one or more computer programs, program modules or instructions may constitute a computer-program mechanism. Moreover, instructions in the various modules in memory subsystem912may be implemented in: a high-level procedural language, an object-oriented programming language, and/or in an assembly or machine language. Furthermore, the programming language may be compiled or interpreted, e.g., configurable or configured (which may be used interchangeably in this discussion), to be executed by processing subsystem910.

In addition, memory subsystem912can include mechanisms for controlling access to the memory. In some embodiments, memory subsystem912includes a memory hierarchy that comprises one or more caches coupled to a memory in electronic device900. In some of these embodiments, one or more of the caches is located in processing subsystem910.

In some embodiments, memory subsystem912is coupled to one or more high-capacity mass-storage devices (not shown). For example, memory subsystem912can be coupled to a magnetic or optical drive, a solid-state drive, or another type of mass-storage device. In these embodiments, memory subsystem912can be used by electronic device900as fast-access storage for often-used data, while the mass-storage device is used to store less frequently used data.

Networking subsystem914includes one or more devices configured to couple to and communicate on a wired and/or wireless network (i.e., to perform network operations), including: control logic916, an interface circuit918and one or more antennas920(or antenna elements). (WhileFIG.9includes one or more antennas920, in some embodiments electronic device900includes one or more nodes, such as antenna nodes908, e.g., a metal pad or a connector, which can be coupled to the one or more antennas920, or nodes906, which can be coupled to a wired or optical connection or link. Thus, electronic device900may or may not include the one or more antennas920. Note that the one or more nodes906and/or antenna nodes908may constitute input(s) to and/or output(s) from electronic device900.) For example, networking subsystem914can include a Bluetooth™ networking system, a cellular networking system (e.g., a 3G/4G/5G network such as UMTS, LTE, etc.), a universal serial bus (USB) networking system, a coaxial interface, a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) interface, a networking system based on the standards described in IEEE 802.11 (e.g., a Wi-Fi® networking system), an Ethernet networking system, and/or another networking system.

Note that a transmit or receive antenna pattern (or antenna radiation pattern) of electronic device900may be adapted or changed using pattern shapers (such as directors or reflectors) and/or one or more antennas920(or antenna elements), which can be independently and selectively electrically coupled to ground to steer the transmit antenna pattern in different directions. Thus, if one or more antennas920include N antenna pattern shapers, the one or more antennas may have 2Ndifferent antenna pattern configurations. More generally, a given antenna pattern may include amplitudes and/or phases of signals that specify a direction of the main or primary lobe of the given antenna pattern, as well as so-called ‘exclusion regions’ or ‘exclusion zones’ (which are sometimes referred to as ‘notches’ or ‘nulls’). Note that an exclusion zone of the given antenna pattern includes a low-intensity region of the given antenna pattern. While the intensity is not necessarily zero in the exclusion zone, it may be below a threshold, such as 3 dB or lower than the peak gain of the given antenna pattern. Thus, the given antenna pattern may include a local maximum (e.g., a primary beam) that directs gain in the direction of electronic device900that is of interest, and one or more local minima that reduce gain in the direction of other electronic devices that are not of interest. In this way, the given antenna pattern may be selected so that communication that is undesirable (such as with the other electronic devices) is avoided to reduce or eliminate adverse effects, such as interference or crosstalk.

Networking subsystem914includes processors, controllers, radios/antennas, sockets/plugs, and/or other devices used for coupling to, communicating on, and handling data and events for each supported networking system. Note that mechanisms used for coupling to, communicating on, and handling data and events on the network for each network system are sometimes collectively referred to as a ‘network interface’ for the network system. Moreover, in some embodiments a ‘network’ or a ‘connection’ between the electronic devices does not yet exist. Therefore, electronic device900may use the mechanisms in networking subsystem914for performing simple wireless communication between the electronic devices, e.g., transmitting advertising or beacon frames and/or scanning for advertising frames transmitted by other electronic devices as described previously.

Within electronic device900, processing subsystem910, memory subsystem912, and networking subsystem914are coupled together using bus928. Bus928may include an electrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connection that the subsystems can use to communicate commands and data among one another. Although only one bus928is shown for clarity, different embodiments can include a different number or configuration of electrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connections among the subsystems.

In some embodiments, electronic device900includes a display subsystem926for displaying information on a display, which may include a display driver and the display, such as a liquid-crystal display, a multi-touch touchscreen, etc.

Moreover, electronic device900may include a user-interface subsystem930, such as: a mouse, a keyboard, a trackpad, a stylus, a voice-recognition interface, and/or another human-machine interface. In some embodiments, user-interface subsystem930may include or may interact with a touch-sensitive display in display subsystem926.

Electronic device900can be (or can be included in) any electronic device with at least one network interface. For example, electronic device900can be (or can be included in): a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a subnotebook/netbook, a server, a tablet computer, a cloud-based computing system, a smartphone, a cellular telephone, a smartwatch, a wearable electronic device, a consumer-electronic device, a portable computing device, an access point, a transceiver, a router, a switch, communication equipment, an eNodeB, a controller, test equipment, and/or another electronic device.

Although specific components are used to describe electronic device900, in alternative embodiments, different components and/or subsystems may be present in electronic device900. For example, electronic device900may include one or more additional processing subsystems, memory subsystems, networking subsystems, and/or display subsystems. Additionally, one or more of the subsystems may not be present in electronic device900. Moreover, in some embodiments, electronic device900may include one or more additional subsystems that are not shown inFIG.9. Also, although separate subsystems are shown inFIG.9, in some embodiments some or all of a given subsystem or component can be integrated into one or more of the other subsystems or component(s) in electronic device900. For example, in some embodiments instructions922is included in operating system924and/or control logic916is included in interface circuit918.

Moreover, the circuits and components in electronic device900may be implemented using any combination of analog and/or digital circuitry, including: bipolar, PMOS and/or NMOS gates or transistors. Furthermore, signals in these embodiments may include digital signals that have approximately discrete values and/or analog signals that have continuous values. Additionally, components and circuits may be single-ended or differential, and power supplies may be unipolar or bipolar.

An integrated circuit (which is sometimes referred to as a ‘communication circuit’) may implement some or all of the functionality of networking subsystem914and/or of electronic device900. The integrated circuit may include hardware and/or software mechanisms that are used for transmitting wireless signals from electronic device900and receiving signals at electronic device900from other electronic devices. Aside from the mechanisms herein described, radios are generally known in the art and hence are not described in detail. In general, networking subsystem914and/or the integrated circuit can include any number of radios. Note that the radios in multiple-radio embodiments function in a similar way to the described single-radio embodiments.

In some embodiments, networking subsystem914and/or the integrated circuit include a configuration mechanism (such as one or more hardware and/or software mechanisms) that configures the radio(s) to transmit and/or receive on a given communication channel (e.g., a given carrier frequency). For example, in some embodiments, the configuration mechanism can be used to switch the radio from monitoring and/or transmitting on a given communication channel to monitoring and/or transmitting on a different communication channel. (Note that ‘monitoring’ as used herein comprises receiving signals from other electronic devices and possibly performing one or more processing operations on the received signals)

In some embodiments, an output of a process for designing the integrated circuit, or a portion of the integrated circuit, which includes one or more of the circuits described herein may be a computer-readable medium such as, for example, a magnetic tape or an optical or magnetic disk. The computer-readable medium may be encoded with data structures or other information describing circuitry that may be physically instantiated as the integrated circuit or the portion of the integrated circuit. Although various formats may be used for such encoding, these data structures are commonly written in: Caltech Intermediate Format (CIF), Calma GDS II Stream Format (GDSII) or Electronic Design Interchange Format (EDIF), OpenAccess (OA), or Open Artwork System Interchange Standard (OASIS). Those of skill in the art of integrated circuit design can develop such data structures from schematics of the type detailed above and the corresponding descriptions and encode the data structures on the computer-readable medium. Those of skill in the art of integrated circuit fabrication can use such encoded data to fabricate integrated circuits that include one or more of the circuits described herein.

While the preceding discussion used Wi-Fi, LTE and/or Ethernet communication protocols as illustrative examples, in other embodiments a wide variety of communication protocols and, more generally, communication techniques may be used. Thus, the communication techniques may be used in a variety of network interfaces. Furthermore, while some of the operations in the preceding embodiments were implemented in hardware or software, in general the operations in the preceding embodiments can be implemented in a wide variety of configurations and architectures. Therefore, some or all of the operations in the preceding embodiments may be performed in hardware, in software or both. For example, at least some of the operations in the communication techniques may be implemented using program instructions922, operating system924(such as a driver for interface circuit918) or in firmware in interface circuit918. Alternatively or additionally, at least some of the operations in the communication techniques may be implemented in a physical layer, such as hardware in interface circuit918.

Note that the use of the phrases ‘capable of,’ ‘capable to,’ ‘operable to,’ or ‘configured to’ in one or more embodiments, refers to some apparatus, logic, hardware, and/or element designed in such a way to enable use of the apparatus, logic, hardware, and/or element in a specified manner.

While examples of numerical values are provided in the preceding discussion, in other embodiments different numerical values are used. Consequently, the numerical values provided are not intended to be limiting.

In the preceding description, we refer to ‘some embodiments.’ Note that ‘some embodiments’ describes a subset of all of the possible embodiments, but does not always specify the same subset of embodiments.

The foregoing description is intended to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Moreover, the foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description only. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, the discussion of the preceding embodiments is not intended to limit the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.