阅读说明：本技术 将无线电划分成链以扫描信道 (Dividing radios into chains to scan channels ) 是由 S·西拉杰 S·加努 A·博丹 B·顿斯贝根 M·塔瓦尼 周强 于 2017-06-09 设计创作，主要内容包括：示例实现涉及将无线电划分成链以扫描信道。在一些示例中,网络设备可以包括处理资源和存储器资源,存储资源存储机器可读指令,以响应于扫描请求,将网络设备的默认无线电划分成服务链和扫描链,利用扫描链扫描特定信道以发现在网络的特定信道上操作的设备,以及将服务链和扫描链组合成默认无线电。(Example implementations relate to dividing radios into chains to scan channels. In some examples, a network device may include processing resources and memory resources, the storage resources storing machine-readable instructions to, in response to a scan request, divide a default radio of the network device into a service chain and a scan chain, scan a particular channel with the scan chain to discover devices operating on the particular channel of the network, and combine the service chain and the scan chain into the default radio.)

1. A network device, comprising:

processing resources; and

a memory resource storing machine-readable instructions to cause the processing resource to:

in response to a scan request, dividing a default radio of the network device into a service chain and a scan chain;

scanning a particular channel with the scan chain to discover devices operating on the particular channel of the network; and

combining the service chain and the scan chain into the default radio.

2. The network device of claim 1, comprising instructions to cause the processing resource to: providing network connectivity to a client device connected to the network device using the service chain while the particular channel is scanned by the scan chain.

3. The network device of claim 1, wherein the channel scanned by the scan chain is determined based on the scan request.

4. The network device of claim 1, wherein the network device provides network connectivity to client devices connected to the network device on channels different from the particular channels scanned by the scan chain.

5. The network device of claim 1, comprising instructions to cause the processing resource to:

scanning the particular channel with the scan chain for a predetermined amount of time; and

combining the service chain and the scan chain into the default chain after the predetermined amount of time.

6. The network device of claim 1, wherein the network device is an Access Point (AP).

7. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having machine-readable instructions stored thereon to cause a computer processor to:

dividing, by a network device in response to receiving a scan request, a default radio of the network device into a service chain and a scan chain;

scanning, by the scan chain of the network device, a particular channel for a device operating on the particular channel of the network, wherein the network device is operating on a different channel than the particular channel; and

combining the service chain and the scan chain into the default radio.

8. The medium of claim 7, comprising instructions to combine the service chain and the scan chain into the default radio in response to at least one of:

scanning the particular channel for a predetermined amount of time;

receiving multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) transmissions from a plurality of client devices connected to the network device; and

transmitting MU-MIMO transmissions to the plurality of client devices connected to the network device.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the predetermined amount of time is modifiable.

10. The medium of claim 7, wherein the scan request is received by the network device periodically.

11. The medium of claim 7, wherein the scan request is received by the network device in response to a change in topology of the network.

12. A method, comprising:

dividing, by an Access Point (AP), a default radio of the AP into a service chain and a scan chain in response to receiving a scan request;

scanning, by the scan chain of the AP, a particular channel to discover devices operating on the particular channel of a network, wherein the AP is operating on a different channel than the particular channel;

providing, by the service chain of the AP, network connectivity to a client device connected to the AP; and

combining, by the AP, the service chain and the scan chain into the default radio.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method comprises combining the service chain and the scan chain in response to at least one of:

scanning the particular channel for a predetermined amount of time; and

receiving a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) transmission from a client device connected to the network device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the method comprises:

determining, by the AP, whether a MU-MIMO transmission of the client device is in progress; and

refraining from partitioning the default radio in response to a MU-MIMO transmission of the client device being in progress.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method comprises:

queuing the received scan request in response to the MU-MIMO transmission being in progress; and

scanning, by the scan chain of the AP, a particular channel included in the queued scan request in response to a MU-MIMO transmission stoppage of the client device.

Background

Network devices may transmit and/or receive electromagnetic waves to communicate with other devices. Electromagnetic waves may be transmitted and/or received by a radio chain of a network device.

The network device may communicate with other devices over a radio channel. For example, the network device and the other devices may communicate using the same radio channel.

Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a network layout according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a network device that divides a radio into chains to scan channels according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a system according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a method according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example flow diagram for partitioning a radio into chains to scan channels in accordance with this disclosure.

Detailed Description

The network device may transmit and/or receive information using a radio chain. Information may be transmitted and/or received via a network. As used herein, the term "radio chain" may, for example, refer to hardware that may transmit and/or receive information via radio signals. Client devices and/or other devices may communicate with network devices over radio channels using multiple radio chains. As used herein, the term radio channel may, for example, refer to a frequency or range of frequencies used by a network device to communicate (e.g., transmit and/or receive) information.

The network device may scan other channels to discover devices that may be operating on the other channels. In some cases, devices operating on other channels may not be able to communicate with the network device. In some implementations, the network device may divide the default radio into a service chain and a scan chain. The scan chain may scan other channels to discover other devices that may be operating on the other channels. As used herein, the term "service chain" may, for example, refer to a radio chain that provides network connectivity to client devices connected to a network device. As used herein, the term "scan chain" may, for example, refer to a radio chain that scans other channels for other devices that may be operating on the other channels.

The service chain may provide network connectivity to client devices connected to the network device while the scan chain scans other channels. As used herein, the term "network connectivity" may refer, for example, to the ability to transmit and/or receive information via radio signals via a network relationship. As used herein, the term "network relationship" may refer, for example, to a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Personal Area Network (PAN), a distributed computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment), a Storage Area Network (SAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a cellular communication network, and/or the internet, among other types of network relationships.

As used herein, the term "information" may refer to, for example, data, addresses, control, management (e.g., statistics), or any combination thereof. For data transmission, the information may be transmitted as a message, i.e. a set of bits in a predetermined format. A message, such as a wireless message, may include a header having a predetermined number of information bits and payload data. The wireless message may be placed in the format of a plurality of packets, frames, or units.

In some implementations, dividing the radio into multiple chains to scan channels may facilitate continuous network connectivity with client devices connected to the network device while scanning other channels of the network. Using this partitioning mechanism, partitioning the radio into multiple chains to scan the channel can reduce the chance of a client device dropping frames during scanning, which can reduce the chance of network device connectivity problems during scanning. As used herein, the term "mechanism" may refer, for example, to a component of a system or device that provides multiple functions, including but not limited to software components, electronic components, electrical components, mechanical components, electromechanical components, and the like.

Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a network layout 100 according to the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 1, network layout 100 may include network device 102, service chain 104, service channels 105, client devices 106-1, 106-M (collectively client devices 106), scan chain 108, specific channels 109, and devices 110-1, 110-N (collectively devices 110).

As used herein, the term "default radio" may refer, for example, to a radio of a network device, such as network device 102, that may provide network connectivity to a client device, such as client device 106, when network device 102 is not performing a scan. For example, although not shown in fig. 1 for clarity and so as not to obscure examples of the present disclosure, when network device 102 is not performing a channel scan, network device 102 may provide network connectivity to client device 106 via a default radio. The default radio may be a single radio, such as a WLAN radio, which may be divided into a service chain 104 and a scan chain 108. When the network device 102 is not performing a scan of a particular channel 109, the service chain 104 and the scan chain 108 may be combined as a default radio, as further described herein. As used herein, the term "network device" may refer, for example, to a device such as a station (e.g., any data processing equipment such as a computer, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, tablet device, etc.), access point, data transfer device (such as a network switch, router, controller, etc.), or the like, suitable for transmitting and/or receiving signaling and processing information within such signaling.

Network device 102 may divide the default radio of network device 102 into service chain 104 and scan chain 108. As used herein, the term "partition" may refer to a partial or shared allocation or distribution, for example. For example, network device 102 may divide the default radio into a plurality of radio-chain portions. Portions of the default radio may include a service chain 104 and a scan chain 108.

As shown in fig. 1, network device 102 may be a network device having 8 x 8 antennas. As used herein, the term "antenna" may, for example, refer to a device that converts electrical power into electromagnetic waves (e.g., radio waves) and/or vice versa. For example, a network device 102 having 8 x 8 antennas may include a radio that may include eight transmit antennas and eight receiver antennas, for example. The network device 102 may divide the default radio into a 4 x 4 service chain 104 and a 4 x 4 scan chain 108. That is, the 4 x 4 service chain 104 may include four transmit antennas and four receiver antennas, while the 4 x 4 scan chain 108 may include four transmit antennas and four receiver antennas.

Although shown in fig. 1 as dividing network device 102 into 4 x 4 service chain 104 and 4 x 4 scan chain 108, examples of the disclosure are not so limited. For example, network device 102 may divide the default radio into a 7 x 7 service chain and a 1 x 1 scan chain, among other division schemes. That is, the 7 x 7 service chain 104 may include seven transmit antennas and seven receiver antennas, and the 1 x 1 scan chain 108 may include one transmit antenna and one receiver antenna.

Although network device 102 is illustrated in fig. 1 as an 8 x 8 antenna network device, examples of the disclosure are not so limited. For example, network device 102 may be smaller than an 8 x 8 network device (e.g., a 6 x 6 network device), or larger than an 8 x 8 network device (e.g., a 12 x 12 network device).

The network device 102 may divide the default radio into a service chain 104 and a scan chain 108 in response to a scan request. As used herein, the term "scan request" may, for example, refer to a request to scan a particular channel 109. The scan request may include the particular channel 109 to be scanned. The particular channel 109 may be a channel that is not used by the network device 102 to provide network connectivity to the client device 106. In other words, the network device 102 may provide network connectivity to the client device 106 over a service channel 105, where the service channel 105 is a different service channel 105 than the particular channel 109.

In some examples, the scan request may be received by the network device 102 periodically. As used herein, the term "periodically" may, for example, refer to recurring at regular and/or irregular intervals. For example, the network device 102 may receive the scan request every second, every five seconds, and/or combinations thereof (e.g., every second, then every five seconds, then every second, etc.), examples of the subject disclosure are not limited to periodic scan requests received every second, five seconds, etc. For example, the periodic scan request may be received more or less than every second.

In some examples, the scan request may be received by the network device 102 in response to a change in network topology. The network may be the network to which network device 102 is connected. The topology of the network may change and thus the network device 102 may scan a particular channel 109 to determine a change in the topology of the network. For example, an Access Point (AP) may be added to the network. The added AP may change the topology of the network to which network device 102 is connected. Network device 102 may receive a scan request in response to adding an AP to a network. An AP may refer to a networking device that allows client devices to connect to a wired or wireless network. As used herein, the term "access point" (AP) may refer, for example, to a receiving point of any convenient wireless access technology that is or may subsequently become known. In particular, the term AP is not intended to be limited to IEEE802.11 based APs. APs are commonly used as electronic devices that are adapted to allow wireless devices to connect to wired networks via various communication standards. The AP may include processing resources, memory, and/or input/output interfaces, including wired network interfaces such as IEEE 802.3 ethernet interfaces, and wireless network interfaces such as IEEE802.11 Wi-Fi interfaces, although examples of the present disclosure are not limited to such interfaces. An AP may include memory resources including read-write memory, and a hierarchy of persistent memory, such as ROM, EPROM, and flash memory.

Although described above as receiving periodic scan requests or receiving scan requests in response to a change in network topology, examples of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, the network device 102 may receive the scan request in response to various performance issues with the network. For example, the network device 102 may receive the scan request in response to a sub-optimal channel and/or radio assignment, an asymmetric AP link, beacon link out-of-sync, and/or other performance issues (such as a performance threshold being exceeded), and/or the like.

Network device 102 may utilize scan chain 108 to scan a particular channel 109 to discover devices 110 operating on a particular channel 109 of the network. As used herein, the term "scan" may, for example, refer to searching for devices that may not be known to network device 102. For example, the device 110 may be operating on a particular channel 109, while the client device 106 may be operating on the service channel 105 and the network device 102 may provide network connectivity on the service channel 105. Network devices 102 may not be aware of devices 110 because they are operating on a particular channel 109. Network device 102 may scan a particular channel 109 to discover device 110.

Network device 102 can provide network connectivity to client devices 106 connected to network device 102 using service chain 104 while particular channels 109 are scanned by scan chain 108. For example, when the scan chain 108 scans a particular channel 109 to search for a device 110, the service chain 104 may provide network connectivity to client devices 106 operating on the service channel 105. In other words, the network device 102 can provide network connectivity to client devices 106 connected to the network device 102 on service channels 105, where the service channels 105 are different channels than the particular channels 109 scanned by the scan chains 108. By dividing the default radio into the service chain 104 and the scan chain 108, a single radio may be utilized to provide network connectivity to existing client devices 106 while scanning a particular channel 109 for devices 110 operating on the particular channel 109.

In some examples, network device 102 may scan a particular channel 109 for a predetermined amount of time. For example, network device 102 may scan a particular channel 109 for one second, although examples of the disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, network device 102 may scan a particular channel 109 for more than one second or less than one second.

The predetermined amount of time may be modifiable. For example, network device 102 may scan a particular channel 109 for an modifiable amount of time. For example, network device 102 may scan for a particular channel 109 for two seconds. The predetermined amount of time may be modified to be greater than two seconds or less than two seconds.

Network device 102 may combine service chain 104 and scan chain 108 into a default radio. For example, as shown in fig. 1, service chain 104 and scan chain 108 are shown as being divided into 4 x 4 service chain 104 and 4 x 4 scan chain 108. The network device 102 may combine the 4 x 4 service chain 104 and the 4 x 4 scan chain 108 into an 8 x 8 default radio. The 8 x 8 default radio may provide network connectivity to the client device 106 and the network device 102 no longer has any antennas to scan for a particular channel 109.

In some examples, in response to scanning a particular channel 109 for a predetermined amount of time, network device 102 may combine service chain 104 and scan chain 108 into a default radio. In other words, the network device 102 may combine the service chain 104 and the scan chain 108 into a default radio after a predetermined amount of scan time. For example, the scan chain 108 may scan a particular channel 109 for two seconds, and the network device 102 may combine the service chain 104 and the scan chain 108 into a default radio after two seconds.

In some examples, network device 102 may combine service chain 104 and scan chain 108 into a default radio in response to receiving a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) transmission from a client device 106 connected to network device 102. As used herein, a MU-MIMO device may utilize a radio channel to simultaneously transmit and receive more than one data signal. The MU-MIMO device may include operational constraints such that the network device 102 may provide network connectivity to the MU-MIMO device in a non-partitioned state. That is, the network device 102 may utilize a default radio, including at most all available radio chains included in the default radio, to transmit and/or receive MU-MIMO frames to provide network connectivity to the MU-MIMO device, as further described in conjunction with fig. 4 and 5.

In some examples, network device 102 may be an Access Point (AP), although examples of the disclosure are not limited to network device 102 being an AP.

According to the present disclosure, dividing radios into chains to scan channels can allow a network device to scan for other devices without interfering with the network connectivity of existing client devices connected to the network device. By dividing the default radio into a service chain and a scan chain, the network device can provide continuous network connectivity to existing client devices using the dedicated service chain and simultaneously scan the backup channels using the scan chain. According to the present disclosure, dividing radios into chains to scan channels can reduce the chance of an existing client device dropping frames while scanning, while providing stable network connectivity for existing client devices connected to the network device. Dividing the radio into chains to scan channels can avoid having an antenna dedicated to scanning channels and unable to provide network connectivity for client devices.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram 212 of an example network device 202 that divides radios into chains to scan channels according to the present disclosure. As described herein, network device 202 (e.g., network device 102 previously described in connection with fig. 1) may perform functions related to dividing radios into chains to scan channels. Although not illustrated in fig. 2, network device 202 may include a machine-readable storage medium. Although the following description refers to individual processing resources and individual machine-readable storage media, the descriptions may also apply to a system having multiple processing resources and multiple machine-readable storage media. In such an example, network device 202 may be distributed across multiple machine-readable storage media, and network device 202 may be distributed across multiple processing resources. In other words, the instructions executed by the network device 202 may be stored on a plurality of machine-readable storage media and may be executed on a plurality of processing resources, such as in a distributed or virtual computing environment.

As illustrated in fig. 2, the network device 202 may include a processing resource 214 and a memory resource 216, the memory resource 216 storing machine-readable instructions to cause the processing resource 214 to perform operations related to dividing radios into chains to scan channels. That is, using the processing resources 214 and the memory resources 216, the network device 202 may partition the default radio, among other operations. The processing resource 214 may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), microprocessor, and/or other hardware device suitable for retrieving and executing instructions stored in the memory resource 216.

The network device 202 may include instructions 218 stored in the memory resource 216 and executable by the processing resource 214 to partition the default radio. For example, network device 202 may include instructions 218 stored in memory resources 216 and executable by processing resources 214 to partition a default radio of network device 202 into service chains and scan chains in response to a scan request.

Network device 202 may include instructions 220 stored in memory resource 216 and executable by processable resource 214 to scan a particular channel. For example, network device 202 may include instructions 220 stored in memory resource 216 and executable by processing resource 214 to scan a particular channel with a scan chain to discover devices operating on a particular channel of the network.

Network device 202 may include instructions 222 stored in memory resource 216 and executable by processing resource 214 to combine service chains and scan chains. For example, network device 202 may include instructions 222 stored in memory resource 216 and executable by processing resource 214 to combine service chains and scan chains into a default radio.

In this manner, network device 202 may divide the default radio into a service chain and a scan chain, scan a particular channel with the scan chain, while providing network connectivity to existing client devices with the service chain, and combine the service chain and scan chain into the default radio.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a system 324 according to the present disclosure. In the example of fig. 3, the system 324 includes the processing resource 314 (e.g., the processing resource 214 previously described in connection with fig. 2) and a machine-readable storage medium 326. Although the following description refers to individual processing resources and individual machine-readable storage media, the descriptions may also apply to a system having multiple processing resources and multiple machine-readable storage media. In such an example, the instructions may be distributed across multiple machine-readable storage media, and the instructions may be distributed across multiple processing resources. In other words, the instructions may be stored on a plurality of machine-readable storage media and executed on a plurality of processing resources, such as in a distributed computing environment.

The processing resource 314 may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), microprocessor, and/or other hardware device suitable for retrieving and executing instructions stored in the machine-readable storage medium 326. In the particular example shown in fig. 3, the processing resource 314 may receive, determine, and send instructions 328, 330, and 332. Alternatively or in addition to retrieving and executing instructions, the processing resource 314 may include electronic circuitry that includes electronic components for performing the operations of the instructions in the machine-readable storage medium 326. With respect to the executable instruction representations or blocks described and illustrated herein, it should be understood that some or all of the executable instructions and/or electronic circuitry included within one block may be included in another block illustrated in the figures or in another block not illustrated.

The machine-readable storage medium 326 may be any electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage device that stores executable instructions. Thus, the machine-readable storage medium 326 may be, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a storage drive, an optical disk, and so forth. The executable instructions may be "installed" on the system 324 illustrated in fig. 3. Machine-readable storage medium 326 may be, for example, a portable, external, or remote storage medium that allows system 324 to download instructions from the portable/external/remote storage medium. In this case, the executable instructions may be part of an "installation package". As described herein, the machine-readable storage medium 326 may be encoded with executable instructions related to antenna polarization diagrams.

The instructions 328 for partitioning the default radio, when executed by the processing resource 314, may cause the system 324 to partition the default radio of the network device into a service chain and a scan chain through the network device in response to receiving the scan request. In some examples, the scan request may be a periodic scan request. In some examples, the scan request may be received by the network device in response to a change in the topology of the network. The network may be a network to which the network device is connected.

The instructions 330 for scanning for a particular channel, when executed by the processing resources 314, may cause the system 324 to scan for the particular channel through the scan chain of the network device to discover devices operating on the particular channel of the network. The network device may be operating on a different channel than the particular channel. The service chain may provide network connectivity for existing client devices connected to the network device while the scan chain scans a particular channel.

Instructions 332 for combining service chains and scan chains, when executed by processing resources 314, may cause system 324 to combine service chains and scan chains into a default radio. In some examples, the network device may combine the service chain and the scan chain into a default radio in response to scanning a particular channel for a predetermined amount of time. In some examples, the network device may combine the service chain and the scan chain into a default radio in response to receiving a MU-MIMO transmission from an existing client device connected to the network device, as further described in conjunction with fig. 4 and 5.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a method 434 according to the present disclosure. The method 434 may be performed by a network device (e.g., network devices 102, 202 described in conjunction with fig. 1 and 2, respectively).

At 436, the method 434 can include partitioning, by an Access Point (AP), a default radio of the AP into a service chain and a scan chain in response to receiving a scan request. In some examples, the scan request may be a periodic scan request. In some examples, the scan request may be received by the network device in response to a change in the topology of the network. The network may be a network to which the network device is connected.

In some examples, the AP may determine whether MU-MIMO transmission of an existing client device is in progress before partitioning the default radio. For example, the AP may operate using a default radio to successfully transmit and/or receive MU-MIMO transmissions with existing client devices connected to the network device. As further described in conjunction with fig. 5, the AP may refrain from partitioning the default radio in response to the MU-MIMO transmission of the client device being in progress.

At 438, the method 434 can include scanning, by the scan chain of the AP, a particular channel to discover devices operating on the particular channel of the network. The AP may operate on a channel different from the particular channel.

At 440, the method 434 can include providing, by the service chain of the AP, network connectivity to a client device connected to the AP. For example, the scan chains of the AP may simultaneously scan a particular channel of the network while the service chains of the AP provide network connectivity to existing client devices connected to the AP.

At 442, the method 434 can include combining, by the AP, the service chain and the scan chain into a default radio. In some examples, the AP may combine a service chain and a scan chain into a default radio in response to scanning a particular channel for a predetermined amount of time. In some examples, the AP may combine a service chain and a scan chain into a default radio in response to receiving a MU-MIMO transmission from a client device connected to the network device.

The method 434 may be repeated. In some examples, method 434 may be repeated in response to receiving a scan request. In some examples, method 434 may be repeated in response to a change in network topology.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example flow diagram 544 of partitioning a radio into chains to scan channels in accordance with this disclosure. At 546, a scan request may be generated. The scan request may be periodic or in response to a change in network topology. At 548, the network device may operate on the operating channel. That is, the network device may provide network connectivity to existing client devices over the operating channel. A network device may receive a scan request.

At 550, the network device may determine whether any MU-MIMO transmissions of the client device are in progress. The ongoing MU-MIMO transmission may include receiving the MU-MIMO transmission from the client device and/or transmitting the MU-MIMO transmission by the network device to the client device. In response to the MU-MIMO transmission of the client device being in progress, the network device may refrain from partitioning a default radio of the network device. For example, the network device may operate in a default mode such that when there is a client device performing MU-MIMO transmissions with the network device, the default radio is not divided because the network device may transmit and/or receive MU-MIMO frames with all available radio chains included in the default radio to provide network connectivity for the MU-MIMO device.

In an example of an ongoing MU-MIMO transmission, the network device may queue the received scan request. For example, a client device may be transmitting a MU-MIMO transmission with a network device while three scan requests are received. The three scan requests may include requests to scan three different channels (e.g., channel 1, channel 2, and channel 3), where the network device is operating on channel 4.

At 552, in response to the MU-MIMO transmission of the client device ceasing, the network device may divide the default radio and scan channels received from the scan request. For example, MU-MIMO transmissions from the client device with the network device may cease, and the network device may divide the default radio into a service chain and a scan chain. The service chain may provide network connectivity to the client device, while the scan chain may scan queued channels (e.g., channel 1, channel 2, and channel 3).

Although described above as queuing three channels, examples of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the network device may queue less than three channels to be scanned or more than three channels to be scanned.

At 554, the network device may determine whether the scan time is complete. For example, in response to the scan time being completed, the network device may combine the scan chain and the service chain into a default radio. At 548, the default radio may resume providing network connectivity to the existing client device via the operating channel. The network device may resume MU-MIMO transmission.

At 556, the network device may determine whether any MU-MIMO transmission is in progress in response to the scan time not being completed. For example, the network device may determine whether the client device may have transmitted any MU-MIMO transmissions to the network device.

In response to no MU-MIMO transmission coming in, the network device may continue to scan the channels included in the scan request. For example, the network device may continue to scan for any queued channels received in the scan request.

In response to an incoming MU-MIMO transmission, the network device may combine the scan chain and the service chain into a default radio. The default radio may resume providing network connectivity to the existing client device via the operating channel at 548, and the network device may resume MU-MIMO transmission.

Although described above as operating in a default mode such that the default radio is not divided when there is a client device performing MU-MIMO transmission with a network device, examples of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, the network device may operate in a default mode such that the default radio is divided into a service chain and a scan chain. A default mode with a divided default radio may be used when none of the client devices connected to the network device has MU-MIMO capability. The network device may combine the service chain and the scan chain into a default radio in response to the MU-MIMO capable client device connecting with the network device, and may operate in a default mode such that the default radio is not divided.

According to the present disclosure, dividing radios into chains to scan channels can allow a network device to provide continuous network connectivity to existing client devices while scanning for other devices on different channels. By dividing the default radio into a service chain and a scan chain, the network device is able to perform dynamic resource allocation. That is, the network device may avoid dedicated/permanent scan chains, allowing for better resource allocation when no scan operation is performed. Examples of the disclosure may reduce the chance of an existing client device dropping frames, which can reduce the chance of losing network connectivity with an existing client device when the network device scans different channels.

In the foregoing detailed description of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration examples of how the disclosure may be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the examples of this disclosure, and it is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and that process, electrical, and/or structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Similar elements or components between different figures may be identified by the use of similar digits. For example, reference element "02" may be referenced at 102 in FIG. 1, and similar elements may be referenced as 202 in FIG. 2. Elements shown in the various figures herein may be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as to provide a number of additional examples of the present disclosure. Additionally, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate examples of the present disclosure and should not be taken as limiting. As used herein, particularly with respect to reference numerals in the figures, the indicators "M" and "N" indicate that a number of particular features so designated may be included in examples of the present disclosure. The indicators may represent the same or different number of specific features. Further, as used herein, "a plurality of" elements and/or features may refer to more than one such element and/or feature.