US Patent 7394796 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.