A machine-implementable method of optimizing the performance of a wireless network includes collecting, with a first discovery component of the wireless network, a first set of information describing at least one transmission characteristic of each access point of a first set of at least one access points within a detection area of the first discovery component. Each access point of the first set transmits data over a respective channel of a set of channels. The method further includes determining, based on the first-set information, an optimal channel of the set of channels, the optimal channel having associated therewith the lowest probability of interference with the channels over which the access points of the first set are transmitting.