Broadcom Corporation

Jeff Abramowitz

Stephen Ray Palm

Richard Martin

Jeffrey L Thermond

A Wireless Access Point (WAP) of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) infrastructure includes a processor, a radio and a directional antenna. The radio supports communications with a first plurality of wireless terminals and listens to, but does not participate in transmissions of at least some of a second plurality of wireless terminals to collect non-participatory WAP data. Based upon the non-participatory WAP data, the processor creates WAP operational reports and provides the WAPs operational reports to the WLAN. The WLAN creates directions based thereon and directs the WAP to alter the gain pattern of the directional antenna.

Wireless access point service coverage area management

A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) infrastructure includes a wired backbone network, an air controller, and a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs). Each WAP includes a processor, a wired backbone interface, a first radio, a directional antenna, a second radio, and an antenna. The first radio and directional antenna service wireless terminals. The second radio and the antenna collect non-participatory WAP data. The first radio and directional antenna optionally collect participatory WAP data. Based upon the non-participatory WAP data (and optionally the participatory WAP data), the processor creates WAP operational reports and provides the WAPs operational reports to the air controller. The air controller creates directions based thereon and directs one or more of the WAPs to alter the gain pattern(s) of the directional antenna(s), alter the transmit power(s) of the first radio(s), and/or to alter the channel usage of the first radio(s). In another embodiment, the first radio collects non-participatory WAP data when not servicing communications with wireless units.

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Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Jeff Abramowitz