TW202431879A - Method and apparatus for automated frequency coordination - Google Patents

Abstract

Techniques pertaining to the use of automated frequency coordination (AFC) in wireless communication networks are described. A network controller of a wireless communication network may receive spectrum availability information for operating multiple access points (APs) for Wi-Fi communications from the multiple APs, in which the spectrum availability information is obtained by the multiple APs based on locations of the multiple APs or a location of the network controller. The network controller further configures the multiple APs of the wireless communication network to operate for the Wi-Fi communications based on the spectrum availability information.

Description

Translated fromChinese

用於自動頻率控制的方法和裝置Method and device for automatic frequency control

本揭露係有關於無線上網(wireless fidelity；Wi-Fi)通訊，特別係有關於無線通訊網路中的自動頻率控制(automated frequency coordination；AFC)。The present disclosure relates to wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communications, and more particularly to automated frequency coordination (AFC) in wireless communication networks.

除非本文另外指出，否則本節中描述的方法不是下面列出的請求項之先前技術，且不通過包含在本節中而被承認為先前技術。用於無線通訊的6 GHz頻譜受司法管轄區(如：美國、英國以及歐洲)的各種政府規則監管。6 GHz頻譜被用於點對點地面對衛星通訊(即，用於在一地面站和一衛星之間傳送和接收資料)。6 GHz頻譜的另一個用途是用於安裝在多個建築物上之通訊節點之間的點對點無線回傳連線(backhaul link)。然而，由於短距無線通訊(如：無線上網(wireless fidelity；Wi-Fi))需求的增加以及缺乏可用的無線頻譜，6 GHz頻譜目前已被調整來用於短距(如：Wi-Fi)通訊。而由於6 GHz頻譜在選定地點被用於點對點通訊，頻譜可以自由地被重複用於其他地點的其他類型之通訊。這樣對6 GHz頻譜的重複利用取決於是否存在使重複利用不可行的障礙。此處使用的6 GHz頻譜可包括自5.925 GHz至7.125 GHz範圍內的多個操作頻帶。Unless otherwise indicated herein, the methods described in this section are not prior art to the claims listed below and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section. The use of the 6 GHz spectrum for wireless communications is regulated by various government regulations in jurisdictions such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. The 6 GHz spectrum is used for point-to-point ground-to-satellite communications (i.e., for transmitting and receiving data between a ground station and a satellite). Another use of the 6 GHz spectrum is for point-to-point wireless backhaul links between communication nodes installed on multiple buildings. However, due to the increasing demand for short-range wireless communications (e.g., wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi)) and the lack of available wireless spectrum, the 6 GHz spectrum is currently being adapted for short-range (e.g., Wi-Fi) communications. Since the 6 GHz spectrum is being used for point-to-point communications at selected locations, the spectrum is free to be reused for other types of communications at other locations. Such reuse of the 6 GHz spectrum depends on whether there are obstacles that make reuse infeasible. The 6 GHz spectrum used herein may include multiple operating bands ranging from 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz.

以下概述僅是說明性的並且不旨在以任何方式進行限制。也就是說，提供以下概述來介紹本文所述的新穎且非顯而易見的技術的概念、亮點、好處和優點。以下在詳細描述中進一步描述選擇的實施方式。因此，以下概述並非旨在識別所要求保護的主題的基本特徵，也不旨在用於確定所要求保護的主題的範圍。The following summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. That is, the following summary is provided to introduce the concepts, highlights, benefits, and advantages of the novel and non-obvious technologies described herein. Selected implementations are further described below in the detailed description. Therefore, the following summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

本揭露的一個目的為提出解決如上所述之問題的解決方案或模式。更精確來說，本揭露所展示的多個模式有關於在無線通訊網路中的自動頻率控制(automated frequency coordination；AFC)之使用。One object of the present disclosure is to propose a solution or mode for solving the above-mentioned problems. More specifically, the present disclosure presents a plurality of modes related to the use of automatic frequency coordination (AFC) in wireless communication networks.

在一實施例中，一種用於自動頻率控制的方法可包括在一無線通訊網路的一網路控制器，從多個存取點(access point；AP)接收操作上述AP以用於無線上網(wireless fidelity；Wi-Fi)的頻譜可用性資訊，其中上述AP基於上述AP的位置或網路控制器的位置來獲取頻譜可用性資訊。上述用於自動頻率控制的方法更可包括透過上述網路控制器基於上述頻譜可用性資訊，配置上述無線通訊網路的上述AP以進行Wi-Fi通訊之操作。In one embodiment, a method for automatic frequency control may include, at a network controller of a wireless communication network, receiving spectrum availability information for operating the APs for wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) from a plurality of access points (APs), wherein the APs obtain the spectrum availability information based on the location of the APs or the location of the network controller. The method for automatic frequency control may further include configuring the APs of the wireless communication network to operate Wi-Fi communication based on the spectrum availability information through the network controller.

在另一實施例中，一種用於自動頻率控制的裝置可包括被配置以進行無線通訊的一收發器和耦接至上述收發器的一處理器。透過上述處理器實現之一無線網路通訊的一網路控制器可從多個AP接收用於操作上述AP以進行無線通訊的頻譜可用性資訊，其中上述AP基於上述AP的位置或上述網路控制器的位置來獲取上述頻譜可用性資訊。透過上述處理器實現的網路控制器更可基於頻譜可用性資訊來配置無線通訊網路的上述AP以進行Wi-Fi通訊的操作。In another embodiment, an apparatus for automatic frequency control may include a transceiver configured for wireless communication and a processor coupled to the transceiver. A network controller of a wireless network communication implemented by the processor may receive spectrum availability information from a plurality of APs for operating the APs for wireless communication, wherein the APs obtain the spectrum availability information based on the location of the APs or the location of the network controller. The network controller implemented by the processor may further configure the APs of the wireless communication network to operate Wi-Fi communication based on the spectrum availability information.

值得注意的是，雖然此處是以某些無線電存取技術、網路以及網路布局(如：Wi-Fi)，所展示的概念、模式以及任何上述概念和模式的一或多個演變型/衍生物可由、藉由或在無線電存取技術、網路以及網路布局中實現，其中僅為舉例且不限於此，上述無線電存取技術、網路以及網路布局可為藍牙、紫蜂(ZigBee)、紅外線、長期演進技術(Long-Term Evolution；LTE)、進階LTE、進階升級版LTE (LTE-Advanced Pro)、第五代(5th Generation)、新無線電(New Radio；NR)、物聯網(Internet-of-Things；IoT)、窄頻IoT (Narrow Band IoT；NB-IoT)以及工業IoT (Industrial IoT；IIoT)。因此，本揭露的範圍不限於此處所說明的範例。It is worth noting that although certain radio access technologies, networks, and network topologies (e.g., Wi-Fi) are used herein, the concepts, modes, and one or more variations/derivatives of any of the above concepts and modes may be implemented by, through, or in radio access technologies, networks, and network topologies, which may be, by way of example and not limitation, Bluetooth, ZigBee, infrared, Long-Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, LTE-Advanced Pro, 5th Generation, New Radio (NR), Internet-of-Things (IoT), Narrow Band IoT (NB-IoT), and Industrial IoT (IIoT). Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the examples described herein.

本文揭露了所要求保護的主題的詳細實施例和實施方案。然而，應當理解，所揭露的實施例和實施方案僅描述了所要求保護的主題，其可以各種形式來體現。然而，本揭露可以許多不同的形式來實現，並且不應被解釋為限於本文闡述的示例性實施例和實施方案。相反，提供這些示例性實施例和實施方案是為了使本揭露的描述徹底和完整，並將本揭露的範圍充分地傳達給本領域技術人員。 在下面的描述中，可能省略眾所周知的特徵和技術的細節，以避免不必要地模糊所呈現的實施例和實施方案。 概述Detailed embodiments and implementations of the claimed subject matter are disclosed herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments and implementations are merely illustrative of the claimed subject matter, which may be embodied in various forms. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments and implementations set forth herein. Instead, these exemplary embodiments and implementations are provided to make the description of the present disclosure thorough and complete and to fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the following description, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments and implementations.Overview

根據本揭露所展示之有關於多種技術、方法、模式及/或解決方案的實施方案為有關用於一無線通訊網路(如：EasyMesh® Wi-Fi網路)之一特定頻譜的自動頻率控制(automated frequency coordination；AFC)。根據本揭露所述，複數可能的解決方案可被分開或一起實現。也就是說，雖然在如下的內容中這些可能的解決方案被分開描述，但這些可能的解決方案中的二或多個也可以一種組合或其他組合來實現。According to the present disclosure, various techniques, methods, modes and/or solutions are provided for automatic frequency coordination (AFC) of a specific frequency spectrum for a wireless communication network (e.g., EasyMesh® Wi-Fi network). According to the present disclosure, multiple possible solutions can be implemented separately or together. That is, although these possible solutions are described separately in the following content, two or more of these possible solutions can also be implemented in one combination or other combinations.

在美國，聯邦通信委員會(Federal Communications Commission；FCC)維持一個排除資料庫(exclusion database)，上述排除資料庫列出現有的6 GHz點對點負載(encumberment)，例如現有之利用6 GHz頻譜的點對點傳輸器和接收器、上述傳輸器和上述接收器的識別器、上述傳輸器和上述接收器之間的通訊路徑寬度等。FCC利用這些資訊來指定因為和現有6 GHz之點對點使用者重疊而不被允許6 GHz頻譜之重複利用的排除區域。在這些排除區域之外，無線通訊裝置可在室內以較低的功率位準(如：低功率)操作在6 GHz頻譜中。類似地，當無線通訊裝置不在排除區域內並具有FCC的允許，則上述無線通訊裝置可在室內或室外以較高的功率位準(如：標準功率)操作在6 GHz頻譜中。因此，一無線通訊裝置(如：一存取點)可連接FCC的一自動頻率控制(automatic frequency coordination；AFC)伺服器，上述AFC伺服器具有排除資料庫的存取權。無線通訊裝置可提供裝置的位置並開始查詢上述裝置被允許操作AFC伺服器的功率限制。接著，FCC的AFC伺服器可檢查排除資料庫並傳送一個回應來表示上述無線通訊裝置是否被允許在上述位置利用6 GHz頻譜進行操作，若上述裝置被允許進行操作，則設備操作的功率限制也被允許。In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) maintains an exclusion database that lists existing 6 GHz point-to-point loads (encumberment), such as existing point-to-point transmitters and receivers that utilize the 6 GHz spectrum, identifiers of the transmitters and receivers, communication path widths between the transmitters and receivers, etc. The FCC uses this information to designate exclusion areas where reuse of the 6 GHz spectrum is not permitted due to overlap with existing 6 GHz point-to-point users. Outside of these exclusion areas, wireless communication devices may operate in the 6 GHz spectrum indoors at reduced power levels (e.g., low power). Similarly, when a wireless communication device is not in an exclusion zone and has permission from the FCC, the wireless communication device may operate in the 6 GHz spectrum at a higher power level (e.g., standard power) indoors or outdoors. Therefore, a wireless communication device (e.g., an access point) may connect to an automatic frequency coordination (AFC) server of the FCC, which has access to an exclusion database. The wireless communication device may provide the location of the device and initiate a query to the AFC server for the power limit at which the device is permitted to operate. The FCC's AFC server may then check the exclusion database and send a response indicating whether the wireless communication device is permitted to operate using the 6 GHz spectrum at the location, and if the device is permitted to operate, the power limit at which the device operates is also permitted.

特別來說，在一些範例中，一個單獨的存取點(access point；AP)可透過一些因子和AFC伺服器進行連接，上述因子包括AP自身的地理座標、被確定的上述地理座標之準確量測(如：公尺尺度的誤差範圍)、上述AP之天線跟地面的高度差距、上述AP的FCC識別器(identifier；ID)、上述AP的序列號碼等。連接AFC伺服器的複數AP可藉由多種方法確定自身位置(如：地理座標)和自身位置的準確性。舉例來說，室外的AP可透過一基於衛星的無線電導航系統(如：全球定位系統(global positioning system；GPS))確定自身位置。但是，位於室內的AP可能無法使用基於衛星的無線電導航系統。因此，在其他範例中，AP可能透過使用者輸入的手動配置來獲取自身位置、透過安裝在AP上或安裝在其他鄰近並和上述AP進行通訊之裝置(如：智慧型手機)上的應用程式來獲取位置，及/或以此類推。Specifically, in some examples, a single access point (AP) may be connected to an AFC server using factors such as the AP's own geographic coordinates, the accuracy of the determined geographic coordinates (e.g., the error range in meters), the height difference between the AP's antenna and the ground, the AP's FCC identifier (ID), the AP's serial number, etc. Multiple APs connected to an AFC server may determine their own location (e.g., geographic coordinates) and the accuracy of their own location using a variety of methods. For example, an outdoor AP may determine its own location using a satellite-based radio navigation system (e.g., global positioning system (GPS)). However, an indoor AP may not be able to use a satellite-based radio navigation system. Thus, in other examples, an AP may obtain its location through manual configuration input by a user, through an application installed on the AP or installed on another nearby device (e.g., a smartphone) that communicates with the AP, and/or the like.

在其他範例中，一AP可利用代理伺服器來連接AFC伺服器，例如在一些場景中，上述AP為一整體開發(enterprise development)的一部分。在這樣的範例中，代理伺服器可代表一AP並藉由上述AP的一些因子連接FCC的AFC伺服器，上述因子包括AP自身的地理座標、被確定的上述地理座標之準確量測、上述AP之天線跟地面(如：海平面)的高度差距、上述AP的FCC ID、上述AP的序列號碼等。舉例來說，上述資訊可被編碼以根據Wi-Fi聯盟(Wi-Fi Alliance；WFA)的AFC裝置介面說明書1.3.2來透過代理伺服器傳輸至AFC伺服器。當代理伺服器接收到來自AFC伺服器的回應時，代理伺服器可將這個資訊傳遞至一AP，其中上述回應表示上述AP是否被允許操作在6 GHz頻帶中(若適用的話，以及操作功率限制是否被允許)。以這種方式，利用代理伺服器可排除讓在一整體開發中的每個AP以單體為基礎和AFC伺服器連接的需要。In other examples, an AP may utilize a proxy server to connect to an AFC server, such as in some scenarios where the AP is part of an enterprise development. In such examples, the proxy server may represent an AP and connect to the FCC's AFC server using some factors of the AP, including the AP's own geographic coordinates, accurate measurements of the determined geographic coordinates, the height difference between the AP's antenna and the ground (e.g., sea level), the AP's FCC ID, the AP's serial number, etc. For example, the information may be encoded for transmission to the AFC server via the proxy server in accordance with the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA) AFC Device Interface Specification 1.3.2. When the proxy server receives a response from the AFC server, the proxy server can pass this information to an AP, where the response indicates whether the AP is allowed to operate in the 6 GHz band (and if applicable, whether the operating power limit is allowed). In this way, using a proxy server can eliminate the need for each AP in an overall deployment to connect to the AFC server on a stand-alone basis.

然而，目前沒有協定來定義用於有關無線通訊網路之6 GHz頻譜的AFC (如：Wi-Fi EasyMesh®)。EasyMesh®為利用多個Wi-Fi認證存取點(如：5個存取點)的一Wi-Fi網狀網路，上述Wi-Fi認證存取點一起運作以形成一個統一的無線通訊網路以提供更好的無線覆蓋範圍、更高通量的頻帶、優異的頻譜利用及/或以此類推。因此，需要能提供AFC在無線通訊網路中之使用的解決方案。However, there is currently no protocol that defines AFC for use in the 6 GHz spectrum for wireless communication networks (e.g., Wi-Fi EasyMesh®). EasyMesh® is a Wi-Fi mesh network that utilizes multiple Wi-Fi certified access points (e.g., 5 access points) that work together to form a unified wireless communication network to provide better wireless coverage, higher throughput frequency bands, superior spectrum utilization, and/or the like. Therefore, there is a need for a solution that provides for the use of AFC in wireless communication networks.

參照第1圖，一網路環境100可包括進行無線通訊(如：根據一或多個電機電子工程師學會(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers；IEEE) 802.11標準在一無線區域網路(wireless local area network；WLAN)中進行通訊)的多個通訊實體(entity)，例如複數通訊實體110、120以及130。通訊實體110、120以及130可為形成一無線通訊網路(如：一EasyMesh® Wi-Fi網路)的複數存取點(access point；AP)。一軟體控制器節點(即，一網路控制器140)可控制網狀網路的複數AP，其中網路控制器140可為在一區域計算裝置(如AP 110、AP 120以及AP 130)上實現的一應用程式、在一虛擬計算平台(如：雲端計算服務供應商)上實現的一虛擬軟體，及/或以此類推。網路控制器140可被配置以收集和儲存與AP 110、AP 120以及AP 130之功能和無線通訊能力相關的資訊。接著，網路控制器140可對AP 110、AP 120以及AP 130進行分配來進行某些任務。舉例來說，網路控制器140可指派AP 110對AP 110之通訊範圍內的鄰近AP進行掃描的任務。當AP 110進行掃描時，AP 110可將被掃描的鄰近AP之資料傳送回網路控制器140。鄰近AP的資料可被網路控制器140用於頻譜規劃(spectrum planning)，例如對AP 110、AP 120以及AP 130進行分配和配置以利用特定通訊通道來避開鄰近AP之間的干擾。AP 110、AP 120以及AP 130的這種分配和配置可產生在頻寬利用、網路延時及/或以此類推的方面上最佳化的無線通訊網路。在根據本揭露所展示的多個模式下，無線通訊網路更可被調整以透過AFC來利用6 GHz頻譜。舉例來說，當從一外部伺服器150(如：FCC的一AFC)得到允許時，AP 110、AP 120以及AP 130可被配置以利用6 GHz頻譜。一般來說，當在無線通訊網路(如：EasyMesh® Wi-Fi網路)中的一AP可確認及/或配置對應的一位置、具有一FCC ID、具有一製造商ID以及具備AFC認證時，上述AP可連接FCC的一AFC伺服器。然而，網路控制器140沒有FCC ID及/或製造商ID，因此網路控制器140無法作為用於AP 110、AP 120以及AP 130的代理伺服器。1 , anetwork environment 100 may include multiple communication entities that perform wireless communication (e.g., communication in a wireless local area network (WLAN) according to one or more Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards), such asmultiple communication entities 110, 120, and 130. Thecommunication entities 110, 120, and 130 may be multiple access points (APs) that form a wireless communication network (e.g., an EasyMesh® Wi-Fi network). A software controller node (i.e., a network controller 140) may control a plurality of APs of the mesh network, wherein thenetwork controller 140 may be an application implemented on a local computing device (e.g., AP 110, AP 120, and AP 130), a virtual software implemented on a virtual computing platform (e.g., a cloud computing service provider), and/or the like. Thenetwork controller 140 may be configured to collect and store information related to the functions and wireless communication capabilities of the APs 110, AP 120, and AP 130. Thenetwork controller 140 may then assign theAPs 110, AP 120, and AP 130 to perform certain tasks. For example, thenetwork controller 140 may assign the AP 110 to scan neighboring APs within the communication range of the AP 110. When the AP 110 performs the scan, the AP 110 may transmit the data of the scanned neighboring APs back to thenetwork controller 140. The data of the neighboring APs may be used by thenetwork controller 140 for spectrum planning, such as allocating and configuring the AP 110, the AP 120, and the AP 130 to utilize specific communication channels to avoid interference between neighboring APs. Such allocation and configuration of the AP 110, the AP 120, and the AP 130 may produce a wireless communication network optimized in terms of bandwidth utilization, network latency, and/or the like. In the various modes presented in accordance with the present disclosure, the wireless communication network may be further adapted to utilize the 6 GHz spectrum through AFC. For example, when permission is obtained from an external server 150 (e.g., an AFC of the FCC), the AP 110, AP 120, and AP 130 may be configured to utilize the 6 GHz spectrum. Generally, when an AP in a wireless communication network (e.g., an EasyMesh® Wi-Fi network) can identify and/or configure a corresponding location, has an FCC ID, has a manufacturer ID, and has AFC certification, the AP may connect to an AFC server of the FCC. However, thenetwork controller 140 does not have the FCC ID and/or the manufacturer ID, and therefore thenetwork controller 140 cannot act as a proxy server for the AP 110, AP 120, and AP 130.

在根據本揭露所展示的一第一模式下，無線通訊網路的網路控制器140可被配置以獲取一位置。舉例來說，上述位置可包括一組地理座標。在多個實施例中，網路控制器140可獲得上述位置，其中上述位置可從一使用者輸入的手動配置獲取、從做為網路控制器140之一部份的應用程式獲取、從安裝在和網路控制器140進行通訊的一AP上之應用獲取、從和網路控制器140直接連線的另一裝置(如：智慧型手機)獲取，或從與直接和網路控制器140進行連線之一AP進行連線的另一裝置(如：智慧型手機)獲取。In a first mode presented in accordance with the present disclosure, anetwork controller 140 of a wireless communication network may be configured to obtain a location. For example, the location may include a set of geographic coordinates. In various embodiments, thenetwork controller 140 may obtain the location, wherein the location may be obtained from a manual configuration input by a user, from an application that is part of thenetwork controller 140, from an application installed on an AP that communicates with thenetwork controller 140, from another device (e.g., a smartphone) that is directly connected to thenetwork controller 140, or from another device (e.g., a smartphone) that is connected to an AP that is directly connected to thenetwork controller 140.

接著，網路控制器140可將網路控制器140的位置分發給無線通訊網路的所有AP (如：AP 110、AP 120以及AP 130)。在一些範例中，基於網路控制器140和每個AP及/或其他資訊之間的網路關係，網路控制器140可為了準確性，在將上述位置分發給每個AP前對網路控制器140的位置進行調整。舉例來說，基於一網路布局地圖、量測到的一或多個AP之訊號強度、網路控制器140和AP之間已知或計算出的距離、AP之間的接近度測量(proximity measurement)及/或網路控制器140和多個AP之間的方向關係及/或以此類推，網路控制器140可對屬於網路控制器140之上述位置的一組地理座標加上一經度偏移及/或一緯度偏移。網路控制器140進行的位置分發可伴隨用於AP的指令，上述指令使上述AP傳送頻譜可用性要求至包括上述位置的AFC伺服器。每一個AP可使用一個網路連線(如：網際網路連線)以和AFC伺服器進行通訊。在一些範例中，每個AP也可利用上述網路連線和網路控制器140進行通訊。Then, thenetwork controller 140 may distribute the location of thenetwork controller 140 to all APs of the wireless communication network (e.g.,AP 110,AP 120, and AP 130). In some examples, based on the network relationship between thenetwork controller 140 and each AP and/or other information, thenetwork controller 140 may adjust the location of thenetwork controller 140 before distributing the location to each AP for accuracy. For example, thenetwork controller 140 may add a longitude offset and/or a latitude offset to a set of geographic coordinates belonging to the above-mentioned location of thenetwork controller 140 based on a network layout map, measured signal strength of one or more APs, known or calculated distances between thenetwork controller 140 and the APs, proximity measurements between APs, and/or directional relationships between thenetwork controller 140 and multiple APs, and/or the like. The location distribution performed by thenetwork controller 140 may be accompanied by instructions for the APs, which cause the APs to send spectrum availability requests to the AFC server including the above-mentioned locations. Each AP may use a network connection (e.g., an Internet connection) to communicate with the AFC server. In some examples, each AP may also use the above-mentioned network connection to communicate with thenetwork controller 140.

替代性地，網路控制器140可在一開始查詢(query)無線通訊網路中所有AP在6 GHz頻譜中進行操作的能力。舉例來說，響應於這樣的查詢，無線通訊網路中的每一個AP可被配置以傳送一個回應，上述回應包括表示上述AP是否能夠操作在6 GHz頻譜中以用於無線通訊(如：Wi-Fi通訊)的指示符(如：一能力位元值)。因此，網路控制器140可將上述位置分發給表示為具有操作在6 GHz頻譜中之能力的一或多個AP。網路控制器140可透過單播(unicast)(即，透過一對一傳輸將上述位置獨立傳送至每一個AP)或多播(multicast)(即，透過同時連接至多個AP的一傳輸來傳送上述位置)來進行上述位置的分發。Alternatively, thenetwork controller 140 may initially query all APs in the wireless communication network for their ability to operate in the 6 GHz spectrum. For example, in response to such a query, each AP in the wireless communication network may be configured to send a response including an indicator (e.g., a capability bit value) indicating whether the AP is capable of operating in the 6 GHz spectrum for wireless communication (e.g., Wi-Fi communication). Thus, thenetwork controller 140 may distribute the location to one or more APs indicated as having the ability to operate in the 6 GHz spectrum. Thenetwork controller 140 may distribute the location via unicast (ie, transmitting the location independently to each AP via a one-to-one transmission) or multicast (ie, transmitting the location via a transmission that simultaneously connects to multiple APs).

無線通訊網路中，接收到網路控制器140之位置的每一個AP可單獨傳送一頻譜可用性要求至AFC伺服器來請求操作在6 GHz頻譜中的頻譜可用性。來自每一個AP的頻譜可用性要求可包括網路控制器140提供的位置(如：地理座標)、上述位置的準確量測(如：公尺尺度的誤差範圍)、上述AP的天線和地面間的高度差距、上述AP的一FCC識別器(identifier；ID)、上述AP的一序列號碼及/或以此類推。In the wireless communication network, each AP that receives the location of thenetwork controller 140 may individually send a spectrum availability request to the AFC server to request spectrum availability operating in the 6 GHz spectrum. The spectrum availability request from each AP may include the location provided by the network controller 140 (e.g., geographic coordinates), an accurate measurement of the location (e.g., error range in meters), the height difference between the antenna of the AP and the ground, an FCC identifier (ID) of the AP, a serial number of the AP, and/or the like.

AFC伺服器可傳送一頻譜可用性回應至每一個AP以作為回應。當每一個AP接收到對應自身所發出之頻譜可用性要求的頻譜可用性回應時，每一個AP可將頻譜可用性回應傳遞至網路控制器140。每一個頻譜可用性回應可包括一AP在6 GHz頻譜中之頻譜可用性的對應表示(indication)，其中上述頻譜可用性的對應表示包括多個通道。舉例來說，上述通道的每一者可為10至20 MHz的一特定頻譜段。由AFC伺服器傳遞至每一個AP的上述頻譜可用性之表示的每一者可在一段預設的時間(如：24小時)內有效(valid)。當網路控制器140接收到上述頻譜可用性資訊(即，所有具備頻譜可用性之對應表示的頻譜可用性回應)時，基於所表示的可用頻譜，網路控制器140可自AFC伺服器對接收到頻譜可用性回應之無線通訊網路中的每個AP進行配置。The AFC server may send a spectrum availability response to each AP in response. When each AP receives the spectrum availability response corresponding to the spectrum availability request issued by itself, each AP may transmit the spectrum availability response to thenetwork controller 140. Each spectrum availability response may include a corresponding indication of the spectrum availability of an AP in the 6 GHz spectrum, wherein the corresponding indication of the spectrum availability includes multiple channels. For example, each of the channels may be a specific spectrum segment of 10 to 20 MHz. Each of the above indications of spectrum availability transmitted by the AFC server to each AP may be valid within a preset time (e.g., 24 hours). When thenetwork controller 140 receives the spectrum availability information (ie, all spectrum availability responses with corresponding indications of spectrum availability), thenetwork controller 140 may configure each AP in the wireless communication network that receives the spectrum availability response from the AFC server based on the indicated available spectrum.

上述AP的配置可包括，基於網路控制器140的網路知識，網路控制器140可利用使整個無線通訊網路達到最佳表現(如：最高的資料通量、最低的網路延遲等)的一控制邏輯來分配頻譜可用性回應中的通道以供上述AP使用。舉例來說，一第一AP的一第一頻譜可用性回應可包括10個通道，而一第二AP的一第二頻譜可用性回應可包括額外的10個通道。因此，網路控制器140可分配第一頻譜的一或多個通道給第一AP，同時分配第二頻譜的一或多個通道給第二AP。在這個範例中，將一特定通道分配給第一AP可使第一AP避免受到另一個AP或另一個網路的干擾，而分配一特定的第二通道可改善第二AP的室外表現。The configuration of the above-mentioned APs may include that based on the network knowledge of thenetwork controller 140, thenetwork controller 140 may use a control logic to achieve the best performance of the entire wireless communication network (such as: highest data throughput, lowest network latency, etc.) to allocate channels in the spectrum availability response for use by the above-mentioned APs. For example, a first spectrum availability response of a first AP may include 10 channels, and a second spectrum availability response of a second AP may include an additional 10 channels. Therefore, thenetwork controller 140 may allocate one or more channels of the first spectrum to the first AP, and allocate one or more channels of the second spectrum to the second AP. In this example, allocating a specific channel to the first AP can prevent the first AP from being interfered by another AP or another network, while allocating a specific second channel can improve the outdoor performance of the second AP.

此外，在一些範例中，一AP的一頻譜可用性回應可表示上述AP並沒有被AFC伺服器分配任何在6 GHz頻譜中可用的頻譜，例如因為上述AP位於排除區域中。在這樣的範例中，網路控制器140可在分配用於無線通訊的6 GHz頻譜時排除上述AP。Additionally, in some examples, a spectrum availability response from an AP may indicate that the AP has not been assigned any available spectrum in the 6 GHz spectrum by the AFC server, for example because the AP is located in an exclusion zone. In such an example, thenetwork controller 140 may exclude the AP when allocating the 6 GHz spectrum for wireless communication.

當一無線通訊網路(如：EasyMesh® Wi-Fi網路)的一AP被網路控制器140分配了6 GHz頻譜中的一或多個特定通道時，上述AP可利用上述一或多個特定通道來進行和網路中其他AP之間的通訊，以及和無線通訊裝置(如：連接至上述AP的基地台(station；STA))進行上行鏈路(uplink)通訊跟下行鏈路(downlink)通訊。舉例來說，AP 110可利用自身被分配的一或多個通道和複數基地台160、165進行通訊，而AP 130可利用自身被分配的一或多個通道和複數基地台170、175進行通訊。上述AP對6 GHz頻譜的利用可持續直到來自AFC伺服器的頻譜可用性表示失效。這時，網路控制器140可觸發無線通訊網路中的上述AP透過相同的方式要求額外的6 GHz頻譜可用性。When an AP of a wireless communication network (e.g., an EasyMesh® Wi-Fi network) is assigned one or more specific channels in the 6 GHz spectrum by thenetwork controller 140, the AP may utilize the one or more specific channels to communicate with other APs in the network and to communicate with wireless communication devices (e.g., stations (STAs) connected to the AP) in uplink and downlink communication. For example, theAP 110 may utilize the one or more channels assigned to it to communicate with the plurality ofSTAs 160 and 165, and theAP 130 may utilize the one or more channels assigned to it to communicate with the plurality ofSTAs 170 and 175. The AP may continue to utilize the 6 GHz spectrum until the spectrum availability indication from the AFC server fails. At this time, thenetwork controller 140 may trigger the APs in the wireless communication network to request additional 6 GHz spectrum availability in the same manner.

在根據本揭露所展示的一第二模式下，AP 110、AP 120以及AP 130中的每一者可被配置以確定自身的位置。舉例來說，每個AP確定的位置可包括一組地理座標。在多個實施例中，一AP可由一使用者輸入的手動配置獲取自身位置、從安裝在上述AP中的一應用程式獲取自身位置、從上述AP的基於衛星之無線電導航系統接收器(如：一GPS接收器)獲取自身位置、或者從和上述AP進行通訊的一裝置(如：智慧型手機)或上述裝置中的一應用程式獲取自身位置。In a second mode presented in accordance with the present disclosure, each ofAP 110,AP 120, andAP 130 may be configured to determine its own location. For example, the location determined by each AP may include a set of geographic coordinates. In various embodiments, an AP may obtain its own location from a manual configuration entered by a user, from an application installed in the AP, from a satellite-based radio navigation system receiver (e.g., a GPS receiver) of the AP, or from a device (e.g., a smartphone) communicating with the AP or an application in the device.

接著，無線通訊網路中的每個AP (如：AP 110、AP 120或AP 130)可各自傳送一頻譜可用性要求至AFC伺服器以要求操作在6 GHz頻譜中的頻譜可用性。來自每個AP的頻譜可用性要求可包括上述AP的位置(如：地理座標)、上述位置的準確量測(如：公尺尺度的誤差範圍)、上述AP的天線和地面的高度差距、上述AP的FCC識別器(ID)、上述AP的序列號碼及/或以此類推。在一些實施例中，當一個AP具有在6 GHz頻譜中進行無線通訊(如：Wi-Fi通訊)的操作能力時，上述AP可被配置以確定自身位置並在一頻譜可用性要求中傳送上述位置至AFC伺服器。Next, each AP in the wireless communication network (e.g.,AP 110,AP 120, or AP 130) may each send a spectrum availability request to the AFC server to request spectrum availability for operating in the 6 GHz spectrum. The spectrum availability request from each AP may include the location of the AP (e.g., geographic coordinates), an accurate measurement of the location (e.g., error range in meters), the height difference between the antenna of the AP and the ground, the FCC identifier (ID) of the AP, the serial number of the AP, and/or the like. In some embodiments, when an AP has the ability to operate wirelessly (e.g., Wi-Fi communication) in the 6 GHz spectrum, the AP may be configured to determine its own location and send the location to the AFC server in a spectrum availability request.

作為回應，AFC伺服器可傳送一頻譜可用性回應至每一個AP。當每個AP接收到對應自身頻譜可用性要求的頻譜可用性回應時，每個AP可將上述頻譜可用性回應傳遞至網路控制器140。每個頻譜可用性回應可包括一AP在6 GHz頻譜中之頻譜可用性的對應表示，其中上述頻譜可用性的對應表示包括多個通道。舉例來說，每個通道可為10至20 MHz的一特定頻譜段。來自AFC伺服器的每個頻譜可用性表示可在一預設時間(如：24小時)內有效。在一些範例中，每個AP包括在被傳遞之頻譜可用性回應中的一能力表示(如：一能力位元值)，上述能力表示用於表示上述AP當前是否有能力操作在6 GHz頻譜中。每個AP可利用一網路連線(如：網際網路連線)和AFC伺服器進行通訊。在一些範例中，每個AP也可利用上述網路連線和網路控制器140進行通訊。In response, the AFC server may send a spectrum availability response to each AP. When each AP receives the spectrum availability response corresponding to its own spectrum availability request, each AP may transmit the above spectrum availability response to thenetwork controller 140. Each spectrum availability response may include a corresponding representation of the spectrum availability of an AP in the 6 GHz spectrum, wherein the above corresponding representation of spectrum availability includes multiple channels. For example, each channel may be a specific spectrum segment of 10 to 20 MHz. Each spectrum availability representation from the AFC server may be valid within a preset time (e.g., 24 hours). In some examples, each AP includes a capability indication (e.g., a capability bit value) in the transmitted spectrum availability response, which indicates whether the AP is currently capable of operating in the 6 GHz spectrum. Each AP can communicate with the AFC server using a network connection (e.g., an Internet connection). In some examples, each AP can also communicate with thenetwork controller 140 using the network connection.

當網路控制器140接收到上述頻譜可用性資訊(即，所有具備頻譜可用性之對應表示的頻譜可用性回應)時，基於所表示的可用頻譜，網路控制器140可自AFC伺服器對接收到頻譜可用性回應之無線通訊網路中的每個AP進行配置。When thenetwork controller 140 receives the spectrum availability information (ie, all spectrum availability responses with corresponding indications of spectrum availability), thenetwork controller 140 may configure each AP in the wireless communication network that receives the spectrum availability response from the AFC server based on the indicated available spectrum.

上述AP的配置可包括，基於網路控制器140的網路知識，網路控制器140可利用使整個無線通訊網路達到最佳表現(如：最高的資料通量、最低的網路延遲等)的一控制邏輯來分配頻譜可用性回應中的通道以供上述AP使用。舉例來說，一第一AP的一第一頻譜可用性回應可包括10個通道，而一第二AP的一第二頻譜可用性回應可包括額外的10個通道。因此，網路控制器140可分配第一頻譜的一或多個通道給第一AP，同時分配第二頻譜的一或多個通道給第二AP。在這個範例中，將一特定通道分配給第一AP可使第一AP避免受到另一個AP或另一個網路的干擾，而分配一特定的第二通道可改善第二AP的室外表現。此外，在一些範例中，一AP的一頻譜可用性回應可表示上述AP並沒有被AFC伺服器分配任何在6 GHz頻譜中可用的頻譜，例如因為上述AP位於排除區域中。在這樣的範例中，網路控制器140可在分配用於無線通訊的6 GHz頻譜時排除上述AP。The configuration of the above-mentioned APs may include that based on the network knowledge of thenetwork controller 140, thenetwork controller 140 may use a control logic to achieve the best performance of the entire wireless communication network (such as: highest data throughput, lowest network latency, etc.) to allocate channels in the spectrum availability response for use by the above-mentioned APs. For example, a first spectrum availability response of a first AP may include 10 channels, and a second spectrum availability response of a second AP may include an additional 10 channels. Therefore, thenetwork controller 140 may allocate one or more channels of the first spectrum to the first AP, and allocate one or more channels of the second spectrum to the second AP. In this example, allocating a specific channel to the first AP can prevent the first AP from being interfered by another AP or another network, while allocating a specific second channel can improve the outdoor performance of the second AP. Additionally, in some examples, a spectrum availability response from an AP may indicate that the AP has not been assigned any available spectrum in the 6 GHz spectrum by the AFC server, for example because the AP is located in an exclusion zone. In such an example, thenetwork controller 140 may exclude the AP when allocating the 6 GHz spectrum for wireless communication.

當一無線通訊網路(如：EasyMesh® Wi-Fi網路)的一AP被網路控制器140分配了6 GHz頻譜中的一或多個特定通道時，上述AP可利用上述一或多個特定通道來進行和網路中其他AP之間的通訊，以及和無線通訊裝置(如：連接至上述AP的基地台(station；STA))進行上行鏈路(uplink)通訊跟下行鏈路(downlink)通訊。舉例來說，AP 110可利用自身被分配的一或多個通道和基地台160、165進行通訊，而AP 130可利用自身被分配的一或多個通道和基地台170、175進行通訊。上述AP對6 GHz頻譜的利用可持續直到來自AFC伺服器的頻譜可用性表示失效。這時，網路控制器140可觸發無線通訊網路中的上述AP透過相同的方式要求額外的6 GHz頻譜可用性。When an AP of a wireless communication network (e.g., an EasyMesh® Wi-Fi network) is assigned one or more specific channels in the 6 GHz spectrum by thenetwork controller 140, the AP may utilize the one or more specific channels to communicate with other APs in the network and to communicate with wireless communication devices (e.g., stations (STAs) connected to the AP) in uplink and downlink communication. For example, theAP 110 may utilize the one or more channels assigned to it to communicate with theSTAs 160 and 165, and theAP 130 may utilize the one or more channels assigned to it to communicate with theSTAs 170 and 175. The AP may continue to utilize the 6 GHz spectrum until the spectrum availability indication from the AFC server fails. At this time, thenetwork controller 140 may trigger the APs in the wireless communication network to request additional 6 GHz spectrum availability in the same manner.

應當理解，雖然第1圖描述了包括AP 110、AP 120以及AP 130的無線通訊網路的一範例，根據本揭露索描述的無線通訊網路可包括任何數量的AP。因此，第1圖所示的無線通訊網路的範例旨在用於說明而非作為限制。此外，雖然多個模式被描述為和6 GHz頻譜與在6 GHz頻譜中的通道有關，應當理解這些模式可被以類似的方式應用於其他頻譜，例如在某些情況下可由多種類型之通訊及/或無線電存取技術共同利用的現有或未來指定的共享頻譜。 描述性的實施方案It should be understood that although FIG. 1 describes an example of a wireless communicationnetwork including AP 110,AP 120, andAP 130, a wireless communication network described in accordance with the present disclosure may include any number of APs. Therefore, the example of a wireless communication network shown in FIG. 1 is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. In addition, although multiple modes are described as being associated with the 6 GHz spectrum and channels in the 6 GHz spectrum, it should be understood that these modes may be applied in a similar manner to other spectrums, such as existing or future designated shared spectrums that may be commonly utilized by multiple types of communications and/or radio access technologies in certain circumstances.Descriptive Implementation Schemes

第2圖根據本揭露的一實施方案描述了通訊系統200的一範例，上述範例具有裝置210的一範例和裝置220的一範例。裝置210和裝置220可進行多個功能的操作以實現此處描述之有關於無線通訊網路中使用之自動頻率控制(automated frequency coordination；AFC)的複數模式、技術、程序以及方法，上述模式、技術、程序以及方法包括如上所述的複數場景/模式和如下所述的一或多個程序。FIG. 2 illustrates an example of acommunication system 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the example having an example of a device 210 and an example of a device 220. The device 210 and the device 220 can perform multiple functions to implement the various modes, techniques, procedures, and methods described herein for automatic frequency coordination (AFC) in wireless communication networks, including the various scenarios/modes described above and one or more procedures described below.

裝置210和裝置220可為一電子裝置的一部份，上述電子裝置可為一使用者設備(user equipment；UE)，例如一可攜式裝置或一可移動式裝置、一穿戴式裝置、一無線通訊裝置或一計算裝置。舉例來說，裝置210和裝置220可在一智慧型手機、一智慧型手錶、一個人數位助理、一數位相機或一計算設備(如：平板電腦、膝上型電腦或筆記型電腦)中實現。裝置210和裝置220也可為機器類型裝置的一部份，上述機器類型裝置可為一STA (如：一AP STA或一非AP STA)。舉例來說，裝置210和裝置220可在一智慧型定溫器、一智慧型冰箱、一智慧型門鎖、一無線喇叭或一家庭控制中心中實現。替代性地，裝置210可實現為一AP，而裝置220可實現為包括(host)網路控制器140之一虛擬計算平台的一計算裝置。裝置210和裝置220可以一或多個積體電路(integrated-circuit；IC)的形式實現，舉例來說且不限於此，上述積體電路可為一或多個單核處理器、一或多個多核處理器、一或多個精簡指令集計算(reduced-instruction set computing；RISC)處理器或者一或多個複雜指令集計算(complex-instruction-set-computing；CISC)處理器。裝置210和裝置220可分別包括至少一些第2圖所示的複數元件，例如分別包括一處理器212和一處理器222。裝置210和裝置220更可包括和本揭露所展示之模式不相關的一或多個其他元件(如：內部電源供應、顯示裝置及/或使用者介面裝置)，也因此裝置210和裝置220的上述一或多個其他元件並未被展示在第2圖中，且為了簡潔和簡單的目的並未在以下進行說明。Device 210 and device 220 may be part of an electronic device, which may be a user equipment (UE), such as a portable device or a mobile device, a wearable device, a wireless communication device, or a computing device. For example, device 210 and device 220 may be implemented in a smart phone, a smart watch, a personal digital assistant, a digital camera, or a computing device (such as a tablet, a laptop, or a notebook). Device 210 and device 220 may also be part of a machine type device, which may be a STA (such as an AP STA or a non-AP STA). For example, device 210 and device 220 may be implemented in a smart thermostat, a smart refrigerator, a smart door lock, a wireless speaker, or a home control center. Alternatively, device 210 may be implemented as an AP, and device 220 may be implemented as a computing device of a virtual computing platform that hostsnetwork controller 140. Device 210 and device 220 may be implemented in the form of one or more integrated-circuit (IC), for example and not limited thereto, the integrated-circuit may be one or more single-core processors, one or more multi-core processors, one or more reduced-instruction set computing (RISC) processors, or one or more complex-instruction-set-computing (CISC) processors. Device 210 and device 220 may include at least some of the multiple components shown in FIG. 2, such as a processor 212 and a processor 222. Device 210 and device 220 may further include one or more other components not related to the mode shown in the present disclosure (e.g., internal power supply, display device and/or user interface device), and therefore, the one or more other components of device 210 and device 220 are not shown in FIG. 2, and are not described below for the purpose of brevity and simplicity.

在一實施例中，處理器212和處理器222可以一或多個單核處理器、一或多個多核處理器、一或多個RISC處理器或者一或多個CISC處理器的形式實現。也就是說，就算單數用語「一處理器」在此處被用於形容處理器212和處理器222，處理器212和處理器222可在根據本揭露所展示的一些實施方案中包括多個處理器，並在根據本揭露所展示的其他實施方案中包含單一處理器。在其他實施例中，處理器212和處理器222可以具有複數電子元件的硬體(以及選擇性地，韌體)之形式實現，舉例來說且不限於此，上述電子元件可為根據本揭露被配置和分配以達到特定目的的一或多個電晶體、一或多個二極體、一或多個電容、一或多個電阻、一或多個電感、一或多個憶阻器(memristor)及/或一或多個變容二極體(varactor)。換句話說，在至少一些實施方案中，處理器212和處理器222為特定目的的機器，被特別設計、分配以及配置以進行特定任務，上述特定任務包括根據本揭露的多個實施方案之利用AFC的無線通訊網路。In one embodiment, processor 212 and processor 222 may be implemented in the form of one or more single-core processors, one or more multi-core processors, one or more RISC processors, or one or more CISC processors. That is, even if the singular term "a processor" is used herein to describe processor 212 and processor 222, processor 212 and processor 222 may include multiple processors in some embodiments shown according to the present disclosure, and include a single processor in other embodiments shown according to the present disclosure. In other embodiments, processor 212 and processor 222 may be implemented in the form of hardware (and optionally, firmware) having a plurality of electronic components, such as, for example and without limitation, one or more transistors, one or more diodes, one or more capacitors, one or more resistors, one or more inductors, one or more memristors, and/or one or more varactors, configured and allocated to achieve a specific purpose in accordance with the present disclosure. In other words, in at least some embodiments, processor 212 and processor 222 are special-purpose machines that are specifically designed, allocated, and configured to perform specific tasks, including wireless communication networks using AFC in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

在一些實施方案中，裝置210也可包括耦接至處理器212的一收發器216，收發器216能夠無線傳輸和接收資料。在一些實施方案中，裝置210更可包括耦接至處理器212的一記憶體214，處理器212可存取記憶體214和將資料儲存至記憶體214。在一些實施方案中，裝置220也可包括耦接至處理器222的一收發器226，收發器226能夠無線傳輸和接收資料。在一些實施方案中，裝置220更可包括耦接至處理器222的一記憶體224，處理器222可存取記憶體224和將資料儲存至記憶體224。因此，裝置210和裝置220可分別透過收發器216和收發器226以和彼此進行無線通訊。In some embodiments, the device 210 may also include atransceiver 216 coupled to the processor 212, and thetransceiver 216 may be capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data. In some embodiments, the device 210 may further include amemory 214 coupled to the processor 212, and the processor 212 may access and store data in thememory 214. In some embodiments, the device 220 may also include atransceiver 226 coupled to the processor 222, and thetransceiver 226 may be capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data. In some embodiments, the device 220 may further include amemory 224 coupled to the processor 222, and the processor 222 may access and store data in thememory 224. Therefore, device 210 and device 220 may wirelessly communicate with each other viatransceiver 216 andtransceiver 226, respectively.

裝置210和裝置220可為能夠利用根據本揭露所展示的多個模式和彼此進行通訊的通訊實體。舉例來說，裝置210可為網路環境100中的通訊實體110 (或第一通訊實體)之實施方案的一範例，而裝置220可為網路環境100中的通訊實體120 (或第二通訊實體)之實施方案的一範例。為了幫助更好地理解，以下透過一無線通訊環境來描述裝置210和裝置220的複數操作、功能以及能力，其中在上述無線通訊環境中，裝置210在一通訊裝置或一即將機載(to-be-onboarded)之裝置中或作為一通訊裝置或一即將機載之裝置實現，而裝置220在一通訊網路(如：一Wi-Fi網路)之一AP或無線路由器中或者作為一通訊網路(如：一Wi-Fi網路)之一AP或無線路由器實現。在根據本揭露所展示的多個模式下，裝置220的處理器222可被配置以執行提供無線通訊網路中之自動頻率控制(AFC)使用的應用功能，上述應用功能包括網路控制器140的複數功能。值得注意的是，雖然如下所述之實施方案的範例是以無線通訊進行描述，同樣的範例也可透過其他類型的網路來實現。Device 210 and device 220 may be communication entities that can communicate with each other using multiple modes shown in the present disclosure. For example, device 210 may be an example of an implementation of communication entity 110 (or first communication entity) innetwork environment 100, and device 220 may be an example of an implementation of communication entity 120 (or second communication entity) innetwork environment 100. To facilitate better understanding, the following describes the various operations, functions, and capabilities of the device 210 and the device 220 through a wireless communication environment, wherein in the wireless communication environment, the device 210 is implemented in or as a communication device or a to-be-onboarded device, and the device 220 is implemented in or as an AP or wireless router of a communication network (e.g., a Wi-Fi network). In the various modes shown in the present disclosure, the processor 222 of the device 220 can be configured to execute application functions for providing automatic frequency control (AFC) in the wireless communication network, and the application functions include the various functions of thenetwork controller 140. It is worth noting that although the examples of the implementation schemes described below are described using wireless communications, the same examples can also be implemented through other types of networks.

根據本揭露所展示之相關於在無線通訊網路中的AFC之使用的一些模式下之一實施例中，裝置210可在無線通訊網路的一AP(或多個AP)之範例中或者作為無線通訊網路的一AP(或多個AP)之範例實現，而裝置220可在一計算裝置中或者作為一計算裝置實現，其中上述計算裝置支援無線通訊網路中的一網路控制器之執行操作。因此，裝置220的處理器222可將上述網路控制器的一位置提供給上述無線通訊網路的多個AP。According to one embodiment of some modes of use of AFC in a wireless communication network presented in the present disclosure, device 210 may be implemented in or as an example of an AP (or multiple APs) of the wireless communication network, and device 220 may be implemented in or as a computing device, wherein the computing device supports the execution of a network controller in the wireless communication network. Therefore, the processor 222 of device 220 may provide a location of the network controller to multiple APs of the wireless communication network.

此外，處理器222可自多個AP接收用於操作Wi-Fi通訊中之上述AP的頻譜可用性資訊，其中上述AP基於網路控制器的位置獲取上述頻譜可用性資訊。此外，基於上述頻譜可用性資訊，處理器222可將無線通訊網路中的上述AP進行配置以用於操作Wi-Fi通訊。In addition, the processor 222 may receive spectrum availability information of the APs for operating Wi-Fi communication from a plurality of APs, wherein the APs obtain the spectrum availability information based on the location of the network controller. In addition, based on the spectrum availability information, the processor 222 may configure the APs in the wireless communication network for operating Wi-Fi communication.

在一些實施方案中，裝置220的處理器222可從一使用者輸入的手動配置獲取網路控制器的位置、從作為網路控制器一部份的一應用程式獲取上述位置、從安裝在和網路控制器進行通訊的一AP上之應用程式獲取上述位置、從直接和網路控制器進行通訊的另一裝置獲取上述位置，或者從與和網路控制器進行通訊之一AP進行通訊的另一裝置獲取上述位置。In some implementations, the processor 222 of the device 220 may obtain the location of the network controller from a manual configuration entered by a user, from an application that is part of the network controller, from an application installed on an AP that communicates with the network controller, from another device that communicates directly with the network controller, or from another device that communicates with an AP that communicates with the network controller.

在一些實施方案中，網路控制器可為安裝在一AP中的一應用程式，或者為在一虛擬計算平台上執行的一虛擬應用程式。In some implementations, the network controller may be an application installed in an AP, or a virtual application running on a virtual computing platform.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP可為無線通訊網路中的複數個AP之一子集合，其中上述AP已經向網路控制器表示它們在6 GHz頻譜中操作無線通訊的能力。In some implementations, the AP may be a subset of a plurality of APs in a wireless communication network, wherein the APs have indicated to a network controller their ability to operate wireless communications in the 6 GHz spectrum.

在一些實施方案中，在提供網路控制器的位置時，裝置220的處理器222可透過單播將上述位置單獨提供給多個AP，或者透過多播同時提供給多個AP。In some implementations, when providing the location of the network controller, the processor 222 of the device 220 may provide the location to multiple APs individually via unicast, or simultaneously via multicast.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP可從存取一資料庫的一伺服器獲取上述頻譜可用性資訊，其中上述資料庫儲存現有資訊(incumbent information)，上述現有資訊包括排除在一區域中利用6 GHz頻譜進行Wi-Fi通訊的現有資訊，上述區域包括上述位置。In some implementations, the AP may obtain the spectrum availability information from a server accessing a database, wherein the database stores incumbent information, including incumbent information excluding Wi-Fi communications using the 6 GHz spectrum in an area, the area including the location.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP的每一者可傳送包括上述位置的一頻譜可用性要求至伺服器，使得上述伺服器為每個頻譜可用性要求提供一頻譜可用性回應，其中上述頻譜可用性要求包括對應一AP的6 GHz頻譜可用性之對應表示。In some implementations, each of the APs may transmit a spectrum availability request including the location to the server, such that the server provides a spectrum availability response for each spectrum availability request, wherein the spectrum availability request includes a corresponding representation of 6 GHz spectrum availability corresponding to an AP.

在這樣的實施方案中，上述AP中之一或多個AP的每一者之上述頻譜可用性的對應表示可包括在6 GHz頻譜中被上述AP使用的多個對應通道。此外，在這樣的實施方案中，對用於Wi-Fi通訊的多個AP進行配置的操作可包括將一特定AP配置以使用一頻譜可用性之對應表示中的複數通道之一或多個通道，和一或多個其他AP，或者一或多個STA中的至少一者進行通訊。In such an embodiment, the corresponding representation of the spectrum availability of each of the one or more APs may include a plurality of corresponding channels used by the AP in the 6 GHz spectrum. In addition, in such an embodiment, the operation of configuring the plurality of APs for Wi-Fi communication may include configuring a particular AP to communicate with one or more other APs or at least one of the one or more STAs using one or more channels of a plurality of channels in the corresponding representation of spectrum availability.

在一些實施方案中，6 GHz頻譜可包括範圍在5.925 GHz至7.125 GHz的操作頻帶。In some implementations, the 6 GHz spectrum may include an operating band ranging from 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz.

在根據本揭露所展示之相關於在無線通訊網路中使用AFC的一些模式下之另一實施例中，裝置210可在一無線通訊網路中的一AP (或多個AP)之範例中或者以一無線通訊網路中的一AP (或多個AP)之範例實現，而裝置220可在一計算裝置中或者以一計算裝置實現，其中上述計算裝置支援無線通訊網路中的一網路控制器的執行操作。因此，裝置220的處理器222可接收用於操作Wi-Fi通訊之無線通訊網路中的多個AP之頻譜可用性資訊，其中上述AP基於上述AP的位置獲取上述頻譜可用性資訊。此外，處理器222可基於上述頻譜可用性資訊來配置無線通訊網路中的上述AP以操作Wi-Fi通訊。In another embodiment of some modes of using AFC in a wireless communication network according to the present disclosure, the device 210 may be implemented in or with an example of an AP (or multiple APs) in a wireless communication network, and the device 220 may be implemented in or with a computing device, wherein the computing device supports the execution of a network controller in the wireless communication network. Therefore, the processor 222 of the device 220 may receive spectrum availability information of multiple APs in the wireless communication network for operating Wi-Fi communication, wherein the AP obtains the spectrum availability information based on the location of the AP. In addition, the processor 222 may configure the AP in the wireless communication network to operate Wi-Fi communication based on the spectrum availability information.

在一些實施方案中，網路控制器可為安裝在一AP上的一應用程式，或者可為在一虛擬計算平台上執行的一虛擬應用程式。In some implementations, the network controller may be an application installed on an AP, or may be a virtual application running on a virtual computing platform.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP藉由一使用者輸入的手動配置、安裝在上述AP上的一應用程式、上述AP的一基於衛星之無線電導航系統接收器、和上述AP進行通訊的一裝置，或者上述裝置之上的一應用程式來確定上述AP中之一者的位置。In some embodiments, the AP determines the location of one of the APs by a manual configuration input by a user, an application installed on the AP, a satellite-based radio navigation system receiver of the AP, a device that communicates with the AP, or an application on the device.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP可從存取一資料庫的一伺服器獲取上述頻譜可用性資訊，其中上述資料庫儲存現有資訊，上述現有資訊包括排除一區域中利用6 GHz頻譜進行Wi-Fi通訊的現有資訊，上述區域包括上述位置。In some implementations, the AP may obtain the spectrum availability information from a server accessing a database, wherein the database stores existing information including existing information excluding Wi-Fi communications using the 6 GHz spectrum in an area, the area including the location.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP的每一者可傳送包括每個AP之對應位置的一頻譜可用性要求至伺服器，使得上述伺服器為每個頻譜可用性要求提供一頻譜可用性回應，其中上述頻譜可用性要求包括對應一AP的6 GHz頻譜可用性之對應表示。In some implementations, each of the APs may transmit a spectrum availability request including a corresponding location of each AP to the server, such that the server provides a spectrum availability response for each spectrum availability request, wherein the spectrum availability request includes a corresponding representation of 6 GHz spectrum availability corresponding to an AP.

在一些實施方案中，在接收到頻譜可用性資訊時，裝置220的處理器222可從上述AP接收上述AP的頻譜可用性之表示。In some implementations, upon receiving the spectrum availability information, the processor 222 of the device 220 may receive from the AP an indication of the spectrum availability of the AP.

在這樣的實施方案中，上述AP中之一或多個AP的每一者之頻譜可用性的對應表示可包括用於上述AP之6 GHz頻譜中的多個對應通道。此外，在這樣的實施方案中，對用於Wi-Fi通訊的多個AP進行配置的操作可包括將一特定AP配置以使用一頻譜可用性之對應表示中的複數通道之一或多個通道，和一或多個其他AP，或者一或多個STA中的至少一者進行通訊。In such an embodiment, the corresponding representation of spectrum availability for each of the one or more APs may include a plurality of corresponding channels in the 6 GHz spectrum for the APs. In addition, in such an embodiment, the operation of configuring the plurality of APs for Wi-Fi communication may include configuring a particular AP to communicate with one or more other APs or at least one of the one or more STAs using one or more channels of a plurality of channels in a corresponding representation of spectrum availability.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP可為無線通訊網路中之複數個AP的一子集合，其中上述AP具有在6 GHz頻譜中進行無線通訊之操作的能力。In some implementations, the AP may be a subset of a plurality of APs in a wireless communication network, wherein the AP has the capability to operate wirelessly in the 6 GHz frequency spectrum.

在一些實施方案中，6 GHz頻譜可包括範圍在5.925 GHz至7.125 GHz的操作頻帶。 描述性的程序In some embodiments, the 6 GHz spectrum may include an operating band ranging from 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz.Descriptive Procedure

第3圖根據本揭露的一實施方案描述了程序300的一範例。程序300可為如上部分或完整描述的一個模式之實施方案的一範例，上述範例有關於根據本揭露所描述之無線通訊網路的AFC之利用。程序300可代表裝置210及/或裝置220的特徵之實施方案的一實施例。程序300可包括如複數個步驟310和320所描述的一或多個操作、動作或功能。雖然程序300的複數個步驟被描述為分開的步驟，根據所需的實施方案，上述步驟可被分割出額外的步驟，或者被排除或組合成更少的步驟。此外，程序300的步驟可以第3圖所展示的順序來執行，或替代性地，以不同順序執行。程序300可透過裝置210和裝置220實現。僅為了描述的目的且不限於此，程序300將在下述內容中以裝置210和裝置220進行說明，其中裝置210可在無線通訊網路之一AP(或多個AP)的範例中或者以無線通訊網路之一AP(或多個AP)的範例實現，而裝置220可在一計算裝置中或者以一計算裝置實現，上述計算裝置支援無線通訊網路中的網路控制器之執行操作。程序300可從步驟310開始進行。FIG. 3 depicts an example of aprocess 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.Process 300 may be an example of an embodiment of a mode as described in part or in full above, the example relating to the utilization of AFC for a wireless communication network as described in the present disclosure.Process 300 may represent an embodiment of an embodiment of features of device 210 and/or device 220.Process 300 may include one or more operations, actions, or functions as described by a plurality ofsteps 310 and 320. Although the plurality of steps ofprocess 300 are described as separate steps, the steps may be separated into additional steps, or may be eliminated or combined into fewer steps, depending on the desired embodiment. Furthermore, the steps ofprocess 300 may be performed in the order shown in FIG. 3, or alternatively, in a different order.Process 300 may be implemented by device 210 and device 220. For descriptive purposes only and without limitation,process 300 will be described below with device 210 and device 220, wherein device 210 may be implemented in an example of an AP (or multiple APs) of a wireless communication network or in an example of an AP (or multiple APs) of a wireless communication network, and device 220 may be implemented in a computing device or in a computing device that supports the execution of a network controller in the wireless communication network.Process 300 may start fromstep 310.

在步驟310中，程序300可包括處理器222從多個AP接收用於操作Wi-Fi通訊中之上述AP的頻譜可用性資訊，其中上述AP基於網路控制器的一位置獲取頻譜可用性資訊。程序300可由步驟310前進至步驟320。Instep 310 , theprocess 300 may include the processor 222 receiving spectrum availability information of the APs for operating Wi-Fi communication from a plurality of APs, wherein the APs obtain the spectrum availability information based on a location of the network controller. Theprocess 300 may proceed fromstep 310 to step 320 .

在步驟320中，程序300可包括處理器222基於上述頻譜可用性資訊對無線通訊網路中的上述AP進行配置以用於操作Wi-Fi通訊。Instep 320, theprocess 300 may include the processor 222 configuring the AP in the wireless communication network to operate Wi-Fi communication based on the spectrum availability information.

在一些實施方案中，程序300可包括處理器從一使用者輸入的手動配置、從做為網路控制器一部份的應用程式、從安裝在和網路控制器進行通訊之AP上的應用程式、從和網路控制器直接進行通訊的另一裝置，或者從與網路控制器進行通訊之AP進行通訊的上述另一裝置來獲取網路控制器的位置。在一些實施方案中，基於網路控制器和上述AP的每一者之間的網路關係、網路控制器和上述AP的每一者之間的對應距離或者上述AP之間的接近度測量，在由網路控制器提供網路控制器的位置給上述AP之前，可為了準確度而針對上述AP中的每一者對網路控制器的位置進行調整，以補償上述AP的位置。In some embodiments, theprocess 300 may include the processor obtaining the location of the network controller from a manual configuration input by a user, from an application that is part of the network controller, from an application installed on an AP that communicates with the network controller, from another device that communicates directly with the network controller, or from the other device that communicates with the AP that communicates with the network controller. In some embodiments, the location of the network controller may be adjusted for each of the APs to compensate for the location of the APs before the network controller provides the location of the network controller to the APs for accuracy based on the network relationship between the network controller and each of the APs, the corresponding distance between the network controller and each of the APs, or the proximity measurement between the APs.

在一些實施方案中，網路控制器可為安裝在一AP上的應用程式，或者可為在一虛擬計算平台上執行的一虛擬應用程式。In some implementations, the network controller may be an application installed on an AP, or may be a virtual application running on a virtual computing platform.

在一些實施方案中，提供網路控制器的位置時，程序300可包括處理器222透過單播將上述位置單獨提供給上述AP，或者透過多播同時提供上述位置給上述AP。In some implementations, when providing the location of the network controller, theprocess 300 may include the processor 222 providing the location to the APs individually via unicast or providing the location to the APs simultaneously via multicast.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP可從存取一資料庫的一伺服器獲取上述頻譜資訊，其中上述資料庫儲存現有資訊，上述現有資訊包括排除在一區域中利用6 GHz頻譜進行Wi-Fi通訊的現有資訊，上述區域包括上述位置。In some implementations, the AP may obtain the spectrum information from a server accessing a database, wherein the database stores existing information, including existing information excluding Wi-Fi communications using the 6 GHz spectrum in an area, the area including the location.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP可為無線通訊網路中之複數個AP的一子集合，其中上述AP已經向網路控制器表示它們在特定GHz頻譜中進行無線通訊之操作的能力。In some implementations, the AP may be a subset of a plurality of APs in a wireless communication network, where the APs have indicated to a network controller their ability to operate for wireless communication in a particular GHz frequency spectrum.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP的每一者傳送包括上述位置的一頻譜可用性要求至伺服器以獲取頻譜可用性資訊，並從上述伺服器接收每個頻譜可用性要求對應的頻譜可用性回應，上述頻譜可用性回應包括在特定頻譜中對應一AP的頻譜可用性之對應表示。In some implementation schemes, each of the above-mentioned APs transmits a spectrum availability request including the above-mentioned location to the server to obtain spectrum availability information, and receives a spectrum availability response corresponding to each spectrum availability request from the above-mentioned server, and the spectrum availability response includes a corresponding representation of the spectrum availability corresponding to an AP in a specific spectrum.

在這樣的實施方案中，上述AP之每一者的頻譜可用性之對應表示可包括每個AP使用之特定頻譜中的多個對應通道，使得上述AP中的每一者將上述頻譜可用性的對應表示傳送至網路控制器。此外，在這樣的實施方案中，配置上述AP以用於Wi-Fi通訊的操作可包括藉由處理器222對每個AP進行控制及/或指示以利用上述特定頻譜之上述對應通道中一特定對應通道，和一或多個其他AP，或者一或多個STA中的至少一者進行通訊。In such an embodiment, the corresponding representation of the spectrum availability of each of the APs may include a plurality of corresponding channels in the specific frequency spectrum used by each AP, so that each of the APs transmits the corresponding representation of the spectrum availability to the network controller. In addition, in such an embodiment, the operation of configuring the APs for Wi-Fi communication may include controlling and/or instructing each AP by the processor 222 to communicate with one or more other APs or at least one of the one or more STAs using a specific corresponding channel of the corresponding channels in the specific frequency spectrum.

在一些實施方案中，上述特定頻譜可包括位於一6 GHz頻譜或其他指定頻譜中的複數操作頻帶。在一些實施方案中，上述伺服器可為一公有伺服器(governmental server)。In some implementations, the specific frequency spectrum may include a plurality of operating bands in a 6 GHz frequency spectrum or other designated frequency spectrum. In some implementations, the server may be a governmental server.

第4圖根據本揭露的一實施方案描述了程序400的一範例。程序400可為如上部分或完整描述的一個模式之實施方案的一範例，上述範例有關於根據本揭露所描述之無線通訊網路的AFC之利用。程序400可代表裝置210及/或裝置220的特徵之實施方案的一實施例。程序400可包括如複數個步驟410和420所描述的一或多個操作、動作或功能。雖然程序400的複數個步驟被描述為分開的步驟，根據所需的實施方案，上述步驟可被分割出額外的步驟，或者被排除或組合成更少的步驟。此外，程序400的步驟可以第4圖所展示的順序來執行，或替代性地，以不同順序執行。程序400可透過裝置210和裝置220實現。僅為了描述的目的且不限於此，程序400將在下述內容中以裝置210和裝置220進行說明，其中裝置210可在無線通訊網路之一AP(或多個AP)的範例中或者以無線通訊網路之一AP(或多個AP)的範例實現，而裝置220可在一計算裝置中或者以一計算裝置實現，上述計算裝置支援無線通訊網路中的網路控制器之執行操作。程序400可從步驟410開始進行。FIG. 4 depicts an example of aprocess 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.Process 400 may be an example of an embodiment of a mode as described in part or in full above, the example relating to the utilization of AFC for a wireless communication network as described in the present disclosure.Process 400 may represent an embodiment of an embodiment of features of device 210 and/or device 220.Process 400 may include one or more operations, actions, or functions as described by a plurality ofsteps 410 and 420. Although the plurality of steps ofprocess 400 are described as separate steps, the steps may be separated into additional steps, or may be eliminated or combined into fewer steps, depending on the desired embodiment. Furthermore, the steps ofprocess 400 may be performed in the order shown in FIG. 4, or alternatively, in a different order.Process 400 may be implemented by device 210 and device 220. For descriptive purposes only and without limitation,process 400 will be described below with device 210 and device 220, wherein device 210 may be implemented in an example of an AP (or multiple APs) of a wireless communication network or in an example of an AP (or multiple APs) of a wireless communication network, and device 220 may be implemented in a computing device or in a computing device that supports the execution of a network controller in the wireless communication network.Process 400 may start from step 410.

在步驟410，程序400可包括裝置220的處理器222從多個AP接收操作Wi-Fi通訊之無線通訊網路中的上述AP之頻譜可用性資訊，其中上述AP基於上述AP的位置獲取上述頻譜可用性資訊。程序400可由步驟410前進至步驟420。In step 410, theprocess 400 may include the processor 222 of the device 220 receiving spectrum availability information of the APs in the wireless communication network operating Wi-Fi communication from a plurality of APs, wherein the APs obtain the spectrum availability information based on the locations of the APs. Theprocess 400 may proceed from step 410 to step 420.

在步驟420，程序400可包括處理器222基於上述頻譜可用性資訊對無線通訊網路中的上述AP進行配置以用於操作Wi-Fi通訊。Atstep 420, theprocess 400 may include the processor 222 configuring the AP in the wireless communication network to operate Wi-Fi communication based on the spectrum availability information.

在一些實施方案中，網路控制器可為安裝在一AP上的一應用程式，或者可為在一虛擬計算平台上執行的一虛擬應用程式。In some implementations, the network controller may be an application installed on an AP, or may be a virtual application running on a virtual computing platform.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP中之一者從一使用者輸入的手動配置、從安裝在上述AP之上的應用程式、從上述AP之一基於衛星的無線電導航接收器、從和上述AP進行通訊的一裝置，或者上述裝置之上的一應用程式來確定上述AP的位置。In some embodiments, one of the APs determines the location of the AP from a manual configuration entered by a user, from an application installed on the AP, from a satellite-based radio navigation receiver of the AP, from a device in communication with the AP, or from an application on the device.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP從存取一資料庫的一伺服器獲取上述頻譜可用性資訊，其中上述資料庫儲存現有資訊，上述現有資訊包括排除在一區域進行Wi-Fi通訊的一特定頻譜的現有資訊，上述區域包括上述AP之位置。In some implementations, the AP obtains the spectrum availability information from a server accessing a database, wherein the database stores existing information including existing information of excluding a specific spectrum from Wi-Fi communication in an area, the area including the location of the AP.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP的每一者傳送包括每個AP之對應位置的一頻譜可用性要求至伺服器來獲取頻譜可用性資訊，並從上述伺服器接收每個頻譜可用性要求的頻譜可用性回應，上述頻譜可用性回應包括對應一AP的頻譜可用性之對應表示。In some implementations, each of the APs transmits a spectrum availability request including a corresponding location of each AP to a server to obtain spectrum availability information, and receives a spectrum availability response for each spectrum availability request from the server, wherein the spectrum availability response includes a corresponding representation of spectrum availability corresponding to an AP.

在一些實施方案中，接收上述頻譜可用性資訊時，程序400可包括處理器222從上述AP接收上述AP的頻譜可用性之表示。In some implementations, upon receiving the spectrum availability information,process 400 may include processor 222 receiving, from the AP, an indication of the spectrum availability of the AP.

此外，在這樣的實施方案中，上述AP中一或多個AP之每一者的頻譜可用性之表示可包括每個AP使用的特定頻譜中之多個對應通道，使得上述AP中之每一者傳送對應的頻譜可用性之表示至網路控制器。此外，在這樣的實施方案中，配置上述AP以用於Wi-Fi通訊的操作可包括藉由處理器222對每個AP進行控制及/或指示以利用上述特定頻譜中之上述對應通道的一特定對應通道，和一或多個其他AP，或者一或多個STA中的至少一者進行通訊。Furthermore, in such an embodiment, the indication of spectrum availability of each of the one or more APs in the APs may include a plurality of corresponding channels in the specific frequency spectrum used by each AP, so that each of the APs transmits the corresponding indication of spectrum availability to the network controller. Furthermore, in such an embodiment, the operation of configuring the APs for Wi-Fi communication may include controlling and/or instructing each AP by the processor 222 to utilize a specific corresponding channel of the corresponding channels in the specific frequency spectrum to communicate with at least one of one or more other APs or one or more STAs.

在一些實施方案中，上述AP可為無線通訊網路中之複數個AP的一子集合，其中上述AP具有在一特定頻譜中操作無線通訊的能力。In some implementations, the AP may be a subset of a plurality of APs in a wireless communication network, wherein the AP has the capability to operate wireless communications in a specific frequency spectrum.

在一些實施方案中，上述特定頻譜可包括位於6 GHz頻譜或其他指定頻譜中的複數操作頻帶。在一些實施方案中，上述伺服器可為一公用伺服器。 額外註記In some embodiments, the specific frequency spectrum may include a plurality of operating bands in the 6 GHz spectrum or other specified frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, the server may be a public server.Additional Notes

本文所描述的主題有時描述了包含在其他不同元件內或與其他不同元件連接的不同元件。應當理解，這樣描繪的架構只是範例，並且實際上可以實現許多達到相同功能的其他架構。概念上來說，實現相同功能的元件的任何分配都有效地「相關」以實現所需的功能。因此，不論架構或中間元件為何，本文中透過組合以實現特定功能的任何兩個元件可以被視為彼此「相關」以實現需要的功能。同樣地，如此相關的任何兩個元件也可以被視為彼此「可操作地連接」或「可操作地耦合」以實現需要的功能，並且能夠如此相關的任何兩個元件也可以被視為「可操作地可耦合」以實現需要的功能。可操作地可耦合的具體範例包括但不限於物理上可配合及/或物理上交互的元件及/或可無線交互的及/或無線交互的元件及/或邏輯上交互及/或邏輯上可交互的元件。The subject matter described herein sometimes describes different elements contained in or connected to other different elements. It should be understood that the architecture described in this way is only an example, and many other architectures that achieve the same function can actually be realized. Conceptually, any allocation of elements that realize the same function is effectively "related" to realize the required function. Therefore, regardless of the architecture or intermediate elements, any two elements that are combined to realize a specific function herein can be regarded as "related" to each other to realize the required function. Similarly, any two elements that are so related can also be regarded as "operably connected" or "operably coupled" to each other to realize the required function, and any two elements that can be so related can also be regarded as "operably couplable" to realize the required function. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or physically interacting elements and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting elements and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable elements.

此外，關於本文中基本上任何複數及/或單數用語的使用，本領域技術人員可以根據上下文及/或應用將複數翻譯成單數及/或將單數翻譯成複數。為了清楚起見，可以在本文中明確闡述各種單數/複數排列。In addition, with respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those skilled in the art may translate the plural into the singular and/or translate the singular into the plural according to the context and/or application. For the sake of clarity, various singular/plural arrangements may be explicitly stated herein.

此外，本領域技術人員將了解，一般來說，本文中使用的用語，尤其是所附請求項(例如所附請求項的主體)中使用的用語，一般旨在作為「開放性」用語，例如，用語「包括(including)」應解釋為「包括但不限於」，用語「具有」應解釋為「至少具有」，用語「包括(includes)」應解釋為「包括但不限於」等。本領域技術人員還應理解，如果意圖引入特定數量的請求項敘述，則上述意圖將在請求項中明確地敘述，並且在沒有這樣的敘述的情況下，不存在這樣的意圖。例如，為了幫助理解，所附請求項可以包含使用介紹性短語「至少一個」和「一或多個」來介紹請求項的敘述。然而，此類短語的使用不應被解釋為暗示透過不定冠詞「一」或「一個」引入請求項敘述將包含此類引入之請求項敘述的任何特定請求項限制為僅包含一個此類敘述的實施方案，即使當同一請求項包括介紹性短語「一或多個」或者「至少一個」，以及不定冠詞例如「一」或「一個」，例如「一」及/或「一個」應解釋為表示「至少一個」或者「一或多個」；這同樣適用於使用定冠詞來引入請求項陳述。此外，即使明確記載了所引入的請求項列舉的具體數量，本領域技術人員將認識到，這種列舉應當被解釋為至少意味著所列舉的數量，例如，僅列舉「兩個」，而無需其他修飾語，表示至少兩個，或者二或多個。 此外，在那些使用類似「A、B 以及 C 等中的至少一個」之慣例用語的範例中，一般而言，這種結構的利用旨在本領域技術人員會理解慣例的意義上，例如，「具有A、B以及C中的至少一者之系統」將包括但不限於以下系統：單獨具有A、單獨具有B、單獨具有C、同時具有A和B、同時具有A和C、同時具有B和C，及/或同時具有A、B以及C 等。在那些使用類似「具有A、B或C等中的至少一者」之慣例的範例中，一般而言，這種結構旨在本領域技術人員會理解慣例的意義上，例如，「具有A、B或C中的至少一者之系統」將包括但不限於以下系統：單獨具有A、單獨具有B、單獨具有C、同時具有A和B、同時具有A和C、同時具有B和C，及/或同時具有A、B以及C等。本領域技術人員將進一步理解，實際上呈現兩個或更多替代用語的任何分隔詞及/或短語，無論是在說明書、請求項或所附圖式中，都應被理解為考慮包括用語之一者、其中一個用語或兩個用語的可能性。例如，短語「A或B」將被理解為包括「A」、「B」或「A和B」的可能性。Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in general, the terms used herein, and particularly the terms used in the appended claims (e.g., the body of the appended claims), are generally intended to be “open ended” terms, e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” etc. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that if a specific number of claim statements is intended to be introduced, such intent will be expressly stated in the claim statements, and in the absence of such a statement, such intent does not exist. For example, to aid understanding, the appended claims may include statements that use the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim statements. However, the use of such phrases should not be interpreted as implying that the introduction of a claim statement by the indefinite article "a" or "an" limits any particular claim statement containing such introduced claim statement to embodiments containing only one such statement, even when the same claim statement includes the introductory phrase "one or more" or "at least one" and an indefinite article such as "a" or "an", for example, "a" and/or "an" should be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"; the same applies to the use of definite articles to introduce claim statements. Furthermore, even if a specific number of items listed in the claims introduced are explicitly stated, one skilled in the art will recognize that such listing should be interpreted as meaning at least the listed number, e.g., simply listing "two" without other modifiers means at least two, or two or more. Furthermore, in those examples where conventional terms such as "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." are used, generally speaking, the use of such a structure is intended to be understood by one skilled in the art to be conventional, e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include, but not be limited to, the following systems: having A alone, having B alone, having C alone, having A and B at the same time, having A and C at the same time, having B and C at the same time, and/or having A, B, and C at the same time, etc. In those examples where a convention similar to "having at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, generally, such construction is intended to be in the sense that one skilled in the art would understand the convention, for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include, but not be limited to, systems having A alone, B alone, C alone, both A and B, both A and C, both B and C, and/or both A, B, and C, etc. One skilled in the art would further understand that any separators and/or phrases that actually present two or more alternative terms, whether in the specification, claims, or accompanying drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibility of including one of the terms, one of the terms, or both of the terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" would be understood to include the possibility of "A," "B," or "A and B."

從前述內容可以理解，出於說明的目的已經在本文中描述了本揭露的各種實施方案，並且可以在不脫離本揭露之範圍和精神的情況下做出各種修改。因此，本文所揭露的各種實施方案並非旨在進行限制，真正的範圍和精神由所附請求項代表。It can be understood from the foregoing that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for illustrative purposes, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Therefore, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, and the true scope and spirit are represented by the appended claims.

100:網路環境 110,120,130:通訊實體/存取點(AP) 140:網路控制器 150:外部伺服器 160,165,170,175:基地台(STA) 200:通訊系統 210,220:裝置 212,222:處理器 214,224:記憶體 216,226:收發器 300,400:程序 310,320,410,420:步驟100: Network environment110,120,130: Communication entity/Access point (AP)140: Network controller150: External server160,165,170,175: Base station (STA)200: Communication system210,220: Device212,222: Processor214,224: Memory216,226: Transceiver300,400: Procedure310,320,410,420: Steps

附圖被包括以提供對本揭露的進一步理解並且被併入而構成本揭露的一部分。附圖描述了本揭露的實施方式，並且與說明書一起用於解釋本揭露的原理。應當理解，附圖不一定按比例繪製，為了清楚說明本揭露的概念，一些部件可能被描述為與實際實施中的尺寸不成比例。 第1圖係為可實現根據本揭露所展示的多個模式之網路環境的一範例之一示意圖。 第2圖係為根據本揭露的一實施方案之通訊系統的一範例之一區塊圖。 第3圖係為根據本揭露的一實施方案之程序的一第一範例之一流程圖。 第4圖係為根據本揭露的一實施方案之程序的一第二範例之一流程圖。The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated as a part of the present disclosure. The accompanying drawings describe an implementation of the present disclosure and are used together with the specification to explain the principles of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in order to clearly illustrate the concepts of the present disclosure, some components may be described as being out of proportion to the dimensions in the actual implementation.Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a network environment that can implement multiple modes displayed according to the present disclosure.Figure 2 is a block diagram of an example of a communication system according to an implementation of the present disclosure.Figure 3 is a flow chart of a first example of a procedure according to an implementation of the present disclosure.Figure 4 is a flow chart of a second example of a procedure according to an implementation of the present disclosure.

300:程序300:Procedure

310,320:步驟310,320: Steps

Claims (20)

Translated fromChinese

一種用於自動頻率控制的方法，包括： 在一無線通訊網路的一網路控制器，從多個存取點接收上述存取點用於操作無線上網(Wi-Fi)通訊的頻譜可用性資訊，其中上述頻譜可用性資訊係上述存取點基於上述存取點的位置或上述網路控制器的位置所獲取；以及 透過上述網路控制器，配置上述無線通訊網路的上述存取點以基於上述頻譜可用性資訊來操作Wi-Fi通訊。A method for automatic frequency control, comprising: In a network controller of a wireless communication network, receiving spectrum availability information of the access points for operating wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) communication from a plurality of access points, wherein the spectrum availability information is obtained by the access points based on the location of the access points or the location of the network controller; and By means of the network controller, configuring the access points of the wireless communication network to operate Wi-Fi communication based on the spectrum availability information.如請求項1所述之用於自動頻率控制的方法，其中上述網路控制器為安裝在上述存取點之一者上的應用程式，或者為在一虛擬計算平台上執行的一虛擬應用程式。A method for automatic frequency control as described in claim 1, wherein the network controller is an application installed on one of the access points, or is a virtual application executed on a virtual computing platform.如請求項1所述之用於自動頻率控制的方法，其中上述網路控制器的位置是從一使用者輸入的一手動配置獲取、從作為上述網路控制器之一部份的應用程式獲取、從安裝在和上述網路控制器進行通訊之存取點的應用程式獲取，或者從和上述網路控制器直接進行通訊或和上述網路控制器進行通訊之存取點進行通訊的另一裝置獲取。A method for automatic frequency control as described in claim 1, wherein the location of the network controller is obtained from a manual configuration input by a user, from an application that is part of the network controller, from an application installed on an access point that communicates with the network controller, or from another device that communicates directly with the network controller or with an access point that communicates with the network controller.如請求項1所述之用於自動頻率控制的方法，其中上述存取點中之一者的位置是上述存取點從一使用者輸入的一手動配置、安裝在上述存取點之上的應用程式、上述存取點的一基於衛星之無線電導航系統接收器、和上述存取點進行通訊的一裝置或者上述裝置之上的應用程式來確定的。A method for automatic frequency control as described in claim 1, wherein the location of one of the access points is determined by the access point from a manual configuration input by a user, an application installed on the access point, a satellite-based radio navigation system receiver of the access point, and a device with which the access point communicates or an application on the device.如請求項1所述之用於自動頻率控制的方法，其中基於上述網路控制器和上述存取點的每一者之間的一網路關係、上述網路控制器和上述存取點的每一者之間的一對應距離或者上述存取點之間的接近度測量，上述網路控制器在將上述網路控制器的位置提供至上述存取點之前，為了上述存取點的每一者之準確性對上述網路控制器的位置進行調整，以補償上述存取點的位置。A method for automatic frequency control as described in claim 1, wherein based on a network relationship between the network controller and each of the access points, a corresponding distance between the network controller and each of the access points, or a proximity measurement between the access points, the network controller adjusts the position of the network controller for the accuracy of each of the access points to compensate for the position of the access points before providing the position of the network controller to the access points.如請求項1所述之用於自動頻率控制的方法，其中上述網路控制器透過單播(unicast)將上述網路控制器的位置單獨提供至上述存取點，或者透過多播(multicast)將上述網路控制器的位置同時提供至上述存取點。A method for automatic frequency control as described in claim 1, wherein the network controller provides the location of the network controller to the access point individually via unicast, or provides the location of the network controller to the access point simultaneously via multicast.如請求項1所述之用於自動頻率控制的方法，其中上述存取點從存取一資料庫的一伺服器獲取上述頻譜可用性資訊，上述資料庫儲存包括在排除一區域使用一特定頻譜進行Wi-Fi通訊的現有資訊，上述區域包括上述存取點的位置或上述網路控制器的位置。A method for automatic frequency control as described in claim 1, wherein the access point obtains the spectrum availability information from a server that accesses a database, wherein the database stores existing information including the use of a specific spectrum for Wi-Fi communication in an exclusion zone, wherein the zone includes the location of the access point or the location of the network controller.如請求項7所述之用於自動頻率控制的方法，其中上述存取點為上述無線通訊網路之複數個存取點的一子集合，且其中上述存取點已經向上述網路控制器表示上述存取點在上述特定頻譜中操作的能力。A method for automatic frequency control as described in claim 7, wherein the access point is a subset of a plurality of access points of the wireless communication network, and wherein the access point has indicated to the network controller its ability to operate in the specific frequency spectrum.如請求項7所述之用於自動頻率控制的方法，其中上述存取點的每一者藉由傳送一頻譜可用性要求至上述伺服器以獲取上述頻譜可用性資訊，並從上述伺服器接收上述頻譜可用性要求對應的一頻譜可用性回應，其中上述頻譜可用性要求包括對應上述存取點的位置或上述網路控制器的位置，上述頻譜可用性回應包括上述存取點所對應之在上述特定頻譜中的一頻譜可用性之對應表示。A method for automatic frequency control as described in claim 7, wherein each of the above-mentioned access points obtains the above-mentioned spectrum availability information by sending a spectrum availability request to the above-mentioned server, and receives a spectrum availability response corresponding to the above-mentioned spectrum availability request from the above-mentioned server, wherein the above-mentioned spectrum availability request includes a location corresponding to the above-mentioned access point or the location of the above-mentioned network controller, and the above-mentioned spectrum availability response includes a corresponding representation of a spectrum availability corresponding to the above-mentioned access point in the above-mentioned specific spectrum.如請求項9所述之用於自動頻率控制的方法，其中來自上述伺服器的上述存取點之每一者的上述頻譜可用性之對應表示包括上述存取點之每一者在上述特定頻譜中使用的複數對應通道，且其中在上述網路控制器接收上述頻譜可用性資訊的操作包括接收從上述存取點的每一者傳送至上述網路控制器的上述頻譜可用性之對應表示。A method for automatic frequency control as described in claim 9, wherein the corresponding representation of the spectrum availability from each of the access points of the server includes a plurality of corresponding channels used by each of the access points in the specific frequency spectrum, and wherein the operation of receiving the spectrum availability information at the network controller includes receiving the corresponding representation of the spectrum availability transmitted from each of the access points to the network controller.如請求項10所述之用於自動頻率控制的方法，其中配置上述存取點以操作Wi-Fi通訊的操作包括藉由上述網路控制器對上述存取點的每一者進行控制及/或指示，以利用上述特定頻譜中之上述對應通道的一特定對應通道，和一或多個其他存取點，或者一或多個基地台中的至少一者進行通訊。A method for automatic frequency control as described in claim 10, wherein the operation of configuring the access point to operate Wi-Fi communication includes controlling and/or instructing each of the access points by the network controller to utilize a specific corresponding channel of the corresponding channel in the specific frequency spectrum to communicate with one or more other access points, or at least one of the one or more base stations.如請求項7所述之用於自動頻率控制的方法，其中上述特定頻譜包括在6 GHz頻譜或其他指定頻譜中的複數操作頻帶。A method for automatic frequency control as described in claim 7, wherein the specific frequency spectrum includes a plurality of operating bands in the 6 GHz spectrum or other specified frequency spectrum.如請求項7所述之用於自動頻率控制的方法，其中上述伺服器為一公用伺服器。A method for automatic frequency control as described in claim 7, wherein the server is a public server.一種用於自動頻率控制的裝置，包括： 一收發器，被配置以進行無線通訊；以及 一處理器，耦接至上述收發器，上述處理器被配置以進行以下操作： 在透過上述用於自動頻率控制的裝置實現之一網路控制器，從一無線通訊網路中的多個存取點接收上述存取點用於操作無線上網(Wi-Fi)通訊的頻譜可用性資訊，其中上述頻譜可用性資訊係上述存取點基於上述存取點的位置或上述網路控制器的位置所獲取；以及 透過上述網路控制器，配置上述無線通訊網路的上述存取點以基於上述頻譜可用性資訊來操作Wi-Fi通訊。A device for automatic frequency control, comprising:a transceiver configured to perform wireless communication; anda processor coupled to the transceiver, the processor being configured to perform the following operations:receiving spectrum availability information for operating wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) communication from multiple access points in a wireless communication network through a network controller implemented by the device for automatic frequency control, wherein the spectrum availability information is obtained by the access point based on the location of the access point or the location of the network controller; andconfiguring the access point of the wireless communication network to operate Wi-Fi communication based on the spectrum availability information through the network controller.如請求項14所述之用於自動頻率控制的裝置，其中上述網路控制器為安裝在上述存取點之一者上的應用程式，或者在一虛擬計算平台上執行的一虛擬應用程式。An apparatus for automatic frequency control as described in claim 14, wherein the network controller is an application installed on one of the access points, or a virtual application executed on a virtual computing platform.如請求項14所述之用於自動頻率控制的裝置，其中上述存取點從存取一資料庫的一伺服器獲取上述頻譜可用性資訊，上述資料庫儲存包括在排除一區域使用一特定頻譜進行Wi-Fi通訊的現有資訊，上述區域包括上述存取點的位置或上述網路控制器的位置。An apparatus for automatic frequency control as described in claim 14, wherein the access point obtains the spectrum availability information from a server accessing a database, wherein the database stores existing information including the use of a specific spectrum for Wi-Fi communication in an exclusion zone, wherein the zone includes the location of the access point or the location of the network controller.如請求項16所述之用於自動頻率控制的裝置，其中上述存取點的每一者藉由傳送一頻譜可用性要求至上述伺服器以獲取上述頻譜可用性資訊，並從上述伺服器接收上述頻譜可用性要求對應的一頻譜可用性回應，其中上述頻譜可用性要求包括對應上述存取點的位置或上述網路控制器的位置，上述頻譜可用性回應包括上述存取點所對應之在上述特定頻譜中的一頻譜可用性之對應表示。An apparatus for automatic frequency control as described in claim 16, wherein each of the access points obtains the spectrum availability information by sending a spectrum availability request to the server, and receives a spectrum availability response corresponding to the spectrum availability request from the server, wherein the spectrum availability request includes a location corresponding to the access point or the location of the network controller, and the spectrum availability response includes a corresponding representation of a spectrum availability corresponding to the access point in the specific spectrum.如請求項16所述之用於自動頻率控制的裝置，其中來自上述伺服器的上述存取點之每一者的上述頻譜可用性之對應表示包括上述存取點之每一者使用的在上述特定頻譜中之複數對應通道，且其中在上述網路控制器接收上述頻譜可用性資訊的操作包括接收從上述存取點的每一者傳送至上述網路控制器的上述頻譜可用性之對應表示。An apparatus for automatic frequency control as described in claim 16, wherein the corresponding representation of the spectrum availability from each of the access points of the server includes a plurality of corresponding channels in the specific frequency spectrum used by each of the access points, and wherein the operation of receiving the spectrum availability information at the network controller includes receiving the corresponding representation of the spectrum availability transmitted from each of the access points to the network controller.如請求項18所述之用於自動頻率控制的裝置，其中配置上述存取點以操作Wi-Fi通訊的操作包括藉由上述網路控制器對上述存取點的每一者進行控制及/或指示，以利用上述特定頻譜中之上述對應通道的一特定對應通道，和一或多個其他存取點，或者一或多個基地台中的至少一者進行通訊。An apparatus for automatic frequency control as described in claim 18, wherein the operation of configuring the access point to operate Wi-Fi communication includes controlling and/or instructing each of the access points by the network controller to communicate with one or more other access points, or at least one of the one or more base stations, using a specific corresponding channel of the corresponding channel in the specific frequency spectrum.如請求項16所述之用於自動頻率控制的裝置，其中上述特定頻譜包括在6 GHz頻譜或其他指定頻譜中的複數操作頻帶。A device for automatic frequency control as described in claim 16, wherein the specific frequency spectrum includes a plurality of operating bands in the 6 GHz spectrum or other specified frequency spectrum.

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