Network device and recommendation method for switching connection

Abstract

A network device and a connection switching recommendation method are disclosed herein. The network device includes a processor and a transceiver. The processor is configured to determine a recommended connection device from a plurality of candidate devices based at least on a signal test report signal, wherein the signal test report signal includes a plurality of signal quality information corresponding to a user equipment and the plurality of candidate devices, and the signal test report signal is generated by the user equipment. The transceiver is electrically connected to the processor and is configured to receive the signal test report signal from the user equipment and transmit a transfer request signal to the user equipment, thereby recommending the user equipment to switch its connection to the recommended connection device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a network device and method in a wireless network, and more specifically, to a network device in a wireless network and a method for recommending a switchable network device for user equipment. Prior Technology

[0002] In wireless network environments, it's common for user equipment (UE) connections to be concentrated on a single server network device (e.g., a wireless access point), while other surrounding server network devices remain relatively idle. This uneven distribution of connections often overloads some server network devices, requiring UE to switch connections. Conversely, UE may also need to switch server network devices for various reasons (e.g., moving away from the original server network device, degraded connection quality, or simply due to user preference). To address this, the currently connected server network device periodically provides suggestions to the UE regarding other candidate server network devices, recommending that the UE switch to a server network device deemed "more suitable" by that device.

[0003] To make recommendations, the currently connected server network device needs to know not only the connection status between itself and the user device, but also the status information (e.g., signal strength) between other unconnected server network devices and the user device for comprehensive evaluation. However, in existing technologies, because server network devices typically use different frequency bands than neighboring server network devices to reduce signal interference, unconnected server network devices cannot directly obtain the signal strength of the user device. Instead, they need to perform a background scan, switch to the channel of the currently connected server network device and the user device, or install an additional scanning radio module to obtain this information. More specifically, when the user device connects to the currently connected server network device, the surrounding unconnected server network devices will periodically and quickly switch to the channel of the currently connected server network device to collect the signal emitted by the user device, thereby determining the signal strength of the user device relative to itself, and then transmitting this information to the currently connected server network device for aggregation.

[0004] However, when unconnected server network devices switch between background scans, it can cause a degrade in connection quality for user devices. Furthermore, currently connected server network devices need to frequently exchange status information with unconnected server network devices, significantly increasing the data exchange and computational load between server network devices. On the other hand, adding additional scanning modules will increase manufacturing costs and occupy internal space, potentially increasing the device's overall size. Therefore, how to improve the connection quality degradation of user devices caused by background scans where candidate server network devices frequently switch to the main channel for signal evaluation is a pressing technical problem to be solved in the field of this invention. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To at least address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention provides a network device. The network device may include a processor and a transceiver. The processor is configured to determine a recommended connection device from a plurality of candidate devices listed in a candidate list, based at least on a signal test report signal, wherein the signal test report signal includes a plurality of signal quality information corresponding to a user equipment and the plurality of candidate devices, and the signal test report signal is generated by the user equipment. The transceiver is electrically connected to the processor and is configured to receive the signal test report signal from the user equipment and transmit a transfer request signal to the user equipment, thereby recommending that the user equipment switch its connection to the recommended connection device.

[0006] Optionally, the transceiver is also used to transmit a signal test request signal to the user equipment so that the user equipment can generate the signal test report signal accordingly.

[0007] Optionally, the signal test report signal is a beacon report response, and the signal test request signal is a beacon report request frame.

[0008] Optionally, the plurality of signal quality information includes the signal strength between the user device and the plurality of candidate devices.

[0009] Optionally, the processor determines the recommended connection device based on at least one of the signal test report signal, an operational status information of the network device, a connection status information between the network device and the user equipment, and a packet transmission and reception status information of the user equipment.

[0010] Optionally, the operational status information of the network device includes at least one of the following: the number of user equipment connections to the network device, the maximum number of user equipment connections to the network device, and the channel utilization rate of the channel to which the network device is located.

[0011] Optionally, the connection status information between the network device and the user equipment includes at least one of the following: the connection signal strength between the network device and the user equipment, and the number of times the network device sends a transfer request signal to the user equipment.

[0012] Optionally, a packet transmission and reception status information of the user equipment includes: the number of packets sent by the user equipment, the number of packets received by the user equipment, and whether the user equipment is continuously sending packets, at least one of these.

[0013] Optionally, the network device further includes a storage device electrically connected to the processor and the storage device, and the storage device is used to store a plurality of operational status information corresponding to the plurality of candidate devices, wherein the plurality of operational status information includes the number of user equipment connections for each of the plurality of candidate devices, the maximum number of user equipment connections for each of the plurality of candidate devices, and the channel utilization rate for each of the plurality of candidate devices. The processor determines the recommended connection device based on the signal test report signal and the plurality of operational status information.

[0014] Optionally, the transceiver is also used to exchange a basic service set information with each of the plurality of candidate devices, thereby establishing the candidate list.

[0015] Optionally, the transceiver is also configured to repeatedly transmit the signal test request signal to the user equipment according to a time interval, and repeatedly receive updated signal test report signals from the user equipment until the user equipment terminates the connection with the network device.

[0016] Optionally, the processor is further configured to generate an updated transfer request signal based on the updated signal test report signal, and the transceiver is further configured to transmit the updated transfer request signal to the user equipment.

[0017] To at least address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention also provides a connection switching recommendation method. This connection switching recommendation method is executed by a network device and includes the following steps: receiving a signal test report signal from a user equipment; determining a recommended connection device from a plurality of candidate devices listed in a candidate list, at least based on the signal test report signal, wherein the signal test report signal contains a plurality of signal quality information corresponding to the user equipment and the plurality of candidate devices, and the signal test report signal is generated by the user equipment; and transmitting a transfer request signal to the user equipment, thereby recommending the user equipment to switch its connection to the recommended connection device.

[0018] Optionally, the connection switching recommendation method further includes the following steps before receiving the signal test report signal: transmitting a signal test request signal to the user equipment so that the user equipment can generate the signal test report signal accordingly.

[0019] Optionally, in this connection switching recommended method, the signal test report signal is a beacon report response, and the signal test request signal is a beacon report request frame.

[0020] Optionally, in this connection switching recommendation method, the plurality of signal quality information includes the signal strength between the user device and the plurality of candidate devices.

[0021] Optionally, in this connection switching recommendation method, the network device determines the recommended connection device based on at least one of the signal test report signal, an operational status information of the network device, a connection status information between the network device and the user equipment, and a packet transmission and reception status information of the user equipment.

[0022] Optionally, in this connection switching recommendation method, the operating status information of the network device includes at least one of the following: the number of user equipment connections of the network device, the maximum number of user equipment connections of the network device, and the channel utilization rate of the channel to which the network device is located.

[0023] Optionally, in this connection handover recommendation method, the connection status information between the network device and the user equipment includes at least one of the following: the connection signal strength between the network device and the user equipment and the number of times the network device sends a transfer request signal to the user equipment.

[0024] Optionally, in this connection switching recommendation method, the packet transmission and reception status information of the user equipment includes: the packet transmission volume of the user equipment, the packet reception volume of the user equipment, and whether the user equipment is continuously transmitting packets, at least one of these.

[0025] Optionally, in this connection switching recommendation method, the network device stores multiple operational status information corresponding to the plurality of candidate devices, and the network device determines the recommended connection device based on the signal test report signal and the multiple operational status information, wherein the multiple operational status information includes the number of user equipment connections for each of the plurality of candidate devices, the upper limit of the number of user equipment connections for each of the plurality of candidate devices, and the channel utilization rate for each of the plurality of candidate devices.

[0026] Optionally, the connection switching recommendation method further includes the following steps: exchanging basic service set information with each of the plurality of candidate devices, thereby establishing the candidate list.

[0027] Optionally, the connection switching recommendation method further includes the following steps: repeatedly transmitting the signal test request signal to the user equipment over a time interval, and repeatedly receiving updated signal test report signals from the user equipment until the user equipment terminates the connection with the network device.

[0028] Optionally, the connection switching recommendation method further includes the following steps: after receiving the updated signal test report signal, generating an updated transfer request signal based on the updated signal test report signal; and transmitting the updated transfer request signal to the user equipment.

[0029] In summary, the network device provided by this invention makes recommendations based on information such as signal strength and channel utilization of surrounding network devices scanned by the user device itself. This eliminates the need for each network device to switch to the channel of the currently connected network device and the user device for background scanning, thereby avoiding the connection quality degradation caused by background scanning and maintaining connection quality and user experience. This also eliminates the cost and space required for additional scanning modules.

[0030] The above description is not intended to limit the present invention, but merely to provide a general overview of the technical problems that the present invention can solve, the technical means employed, and the technical effects that can be achieved, so as to enable those skilled in the art to gain a preliminary understanding of the present invention. Based on the attached drawings and the description of the following embodiments, those skilled in the art can further understand various embodiments of the present invention. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0031] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a network device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2 is a signaling diagram of the network device shown in Figure 1 recommending connection switching targets for user equipment. Figure 3 is a flowchart of a connection switching recommendation method according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

[0032] The contents shown in Figures 1 to 3 are merely examples illustrating embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Implementation

[0033] The following embodiments are not intended to limit the claimed invention to a particular environment, application, structure, process, or situation. In the attached drawings, elements not directly related to the claimed invention are omitted. The dimensions of the elements and the proportions between them in the attached drawings are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the claimed invention. Unless otherwise stated, the same element symbols in the following text refer to the same elements.

[0034] The terminology used herein is merely for the convenience of describing the embodiments and is not intended to limit the invention for which protection is sought. Unless otherwise clearly stated, the singular "a" or "an" shall be considered to include the plural. Terms such as "comprising," "including," and "having" are used to specifically describe the presence of features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups stated thereafter, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other additional features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups, etc. The term "and / or" is used to indicate any or all combinations of one or more related enumerated items. When terms such as "first," "second," and "third" are used to describe elements, the purpose is not to limit the elements described, but merely to distinguish the elements described. Thus, for example, an element that is actually first in order may also be named a second element without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention for which protection is sought.

[0035] The first embodiment of the present invention is a network device for recommending connection switching targets. Referring to FIG1, a network device 102 on a wireless network system 101 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. The network device 102 may be a node on a wireless network topology, which can be used to establish a wireless connection with user devices (e.g., mobile phones, computers, wearable electronic devices, Internet of Things devices, etc.) on the wireless network, and act as a server to provide (directly or indirectly) network services to user devices. More specifically, the network device 102 may be, for example, but not limited to, a wireless access point, or other network devices that integrate wireless access point functionality in the wireless network topology, such as routers, switches, or even smart home appliances that integrate wireless access point functionality.

[0036] Network device 102 may include at least a processor 103 and a transceiver 104. In some embodiments, it may further include a storage unit 105. The processor 103 may be electrically connected to the transceiver 104 and the storage unit 105, and the transceiver 104 may be electrically connected to the storage unit 105. The electrical connection between the processor 103, the transceiver 104, and the storage unit 105 may be direct (i.e., connected to each other without other components) or indirect (i.e., connected to each other through other components). Overall, network device 102 can be used to provide a transfer request signal 107 to user equipment 106 to recommend that user equipment 106 switch its connection to a recommended network device.

[0037] The processor 103 can be a programmable special integrated circuit with capabilities for computation, storage, and output / input. It can accept and process various encoded instructions to perform various logical and arithmetic operations and output the corresponding results. The processor 103 can be programmed to interpret various instructions and execute various tasks or programs to complete the various processes described in this invention. For example, the processor 103 can include: a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a Microprocessor, and / or a Microcontroller.

[0038] Transceiver 104 may include a transmitter and a receiver. Taking wireless communication as an example, the transceiver may include, but is not limited to, communication components such as: antenna, amplifier, modulator, demodulator, detector, analog-to-digital converter, and digital-to-analog converter. Taking wired communication as an example, the transceiver may be, for example, but not limited to: a gigabit Ethernet transceiver, a gigabit interface converter (GBIC), a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver, and a ten gigabit small form-factor pluggable (XFP) transceiver.

[0039] Storage 105 can be used to store data generated by network device 102, data transferred from external devices, and / or data generated by users through input / output elements (e.g., a combination of keyboard, mouse, touch panel, display, etc.). For example, storage 105 may include primary memory (also known as main memory or internal memory), and processor 103 can directly read instruction sets stored in primary memory and execute these instruction sets when needed. Storage 105 may also include secondary memory (also known as external memory or auxiliary memory), which can transfer stored data to primary memory through a data buffer. The secondary memory may be, for example, but not limited to, storage media such as hard drives and optical discs. Storage 105 may also include tertiary memory, such as pluggable storage devices or cloud hard drives. Depending on different needs, storage 105 may include primary memory, secondary memory, and / or tertiary memory.

[0040] The wireless network topology where network device 102 is located may also include a plurality of candidate network devices (hereinafter referred to as "candidate devices"), such as candidate device 108 and candidate device 109 shown in FIG1. ​​The candidate device may be a device that, like network device 102, can establish a connection with user equipment 106 and provide services. When network device 102 and user equipment 106 are connected, at least one of the plurality of candidate devices may be the connection switching target recommended by network device 102.

[0041] A more specific example of how network device 102 recommends connection switching targets to user equipment 106 can be seen in Figure 2, with Figure 1 as an aid. In action 201, network device 102 can exchange Basic Service Set (BSS) information 110 with the plurality of candidate devices through transceiver 104, and simultaneously establish and maintain a candidate list (not shown in the figure). The candidate list can list network devices with consistent BSS settings (including SSID name, encryption method, password, etc.).

[0042] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the network device 102 may also periodically exchange operational status information 111 with the plurality of candidate devices via transceiver 104 to monitor the status of each device. The operational status information 111 may include, for each of the plurality of candidate devices, the number of user device connections, the maximum number of user device connections, channel utilization, etc.

[0043] Next, in action 202, network device 102 can establish a connection with user equipment 106 through transceiver 104, that is, network device 102 becomes the current network device connected to user equipment 106.

[0044] In action 203, to understand the signal conditions observed by user equipment 106 and provide more accurate connection switching recommendations, network device 102 can transmit a signal test request signal 112 to the user equipment via transceiver 104. In action 204, user equipment 106 can scan the signal strength of surrounding network devices (e.g., wireless access points) based on the received signal test request signal 112, generate a signal test report signal 113, and provide the signal test report signal 113 to the transceiver 104 of network device 102 in action 205. The signal test report signal 113 may include signal quality information such as BSS information of surrounding network devices scanned by user equipment 106, signal strength, and other signal quality-related information. The surrounding network devices may include a plurality of candidate devices such as candidate device 108 and candidate device 109, unless they cannot be successfully scanned by user equipment 106.

[0045] In some embodiments, one specific example of the signal test request signal 112 may be a Beacon Report Request frame in the IEEE 802.11k standard, and the signal test report signal 113 may be a Beacon Report Response.

[0046] Next, since the signal test report signal 113 may contain signal quality information (such as BSS information of surrounding network devices scanned by user equipment 106, signal strength, and other signal quality-related information), in action 208, processor 103 can, based on the signal test report signal 113, determine a more suitable candidate device for user equipment 106 from the plurality of candidate devices listed in the candidate list as its recommended connection device. Accordingly, processor 103 can generate a transfer request signal 107, which contains connection-related information (such as BSS information) of the recommended connection device. In this way, network device 102 not only successfully makes a recommendation for connection switching, but its reference basis does not need to be the scan result obtained through traditional background scan switching (i.e., the signal strength measurement of user equipment 106 by switching channels of surrounding unconnected network devices), but rather the scan result reported by user equipment 106 itself. Such a recommendation basis is more consistent with the actual operating conditions of user equipment 106.

[0047] However, in some embodiments, the processor 103 may determine the recommended device in action 208 based not only on the signal test report signal 113, but may also refer to other information. In some embodiments, the processor 12 may determine the recommended connection device based on the signal test report signal 113 and at least one of the following: network device 102's operational status information, the connection status information between network device 102 and user equipment 106, and the packet transmission and reception status information of user equipment 106. More specifically, the operational status information may include at least one of: the number of user equipments currently connected to network device 102, the maximum number of user equipments allowed to establish connections by network device 102, and the channel utilization rate of the channel on which network device 102 is located. The connection status information between network device 102 and user equipment 106 may include at least one of: the connection signal strength between network device 102 and user equipment 106 and the number of times network device 102 transmits transfer request signals 107 to user equipment 102. The packet transmission and reception status information of user equipment 102 may include: the number of packets sent by the user equipment, the number of packets received by the user equipment, and whether the user equipment 106 continues to send packets, at least one of these.

[0048] Specifically, in some embodiments, in addition to the signal strength of surrounding network devices measured by user equipment 106 as indicated in signal test report signal 113, processor 103 may also consider the status of network device 102 itself, the status between network device 102 and user equipment 106, and / or the status of user equipment 106, thereby making a recommendation result different from that when only signal test report signal 113 is referenced. For example, if the signal strength of each candidate network device indicated in signal test report signal 113 is not stronger than the signal strength between network device 102 itself and user equipment 106, but network device 102 considers that its own operating status is too busy, it can recommend other candidate devices besides itself to user equipment 106. For another example, if network device 102 has transferred request signals 107 to user equipment 106 multiple times to reach a threshold (e.g., but not limited to 10 times), but user equipment 106 still has not transferred the connection, it means that user equipment 106 (or its user) may be dissatisfied with the previously recommended result. Therefore, processor 103 can exclude the connection switching objects that it has already recommended in transfer request signal 107 and then recommend other candidate devices.

[0049] In some embodiments, in addition to the aforementioned operational status information of network device 102, connection status information between network device 102 and user equipment 106, and packet transmission and reception status information of user equipment 106, processor 103 may further refer to information related to the plurality of candidate devices for recommendation in action 208. More specifically, in actions 206 and 207, transceiver 104 may receive operational status information reported by each candidate device and store it in storage 105. The operational status information may be transmitted via a wireless transmission path or a wired transmission path. Similar to the operational status information of network device 102, the operational status information of candidate devices may also include at least one of the following: the number of user equipments currently connected to each candidate device, the maximum number of user equipments allowed to connect to each candidate device, and the channel utilization rate of the channel where each candidate device is located.

[0050] In detail, in some embodiments, in addition to the signal strength of surrounding network devices measured by user equipment 106 as indicated in signal test report signal 113, processor 103 may also consider the status of each candidate device, thereby making a recommendation result different from that when only signal test report signal 113 is referenced. For example, if processor 103 originally intended to recommend candidate device 109 as the preferred candidate based on signal test report signal 113, but considering that the channel where candidate device 109 is located is congested, it may instead recommend candidate device 108, which has a lower channel usage rate. It should be understood that even if processor 103 additionally considers the current status of each candidate device, its recommendation still does not rely on the background scan of user equipment 106 performed by each candidate device switching to the channel where network device 102 is located.

[0051] It should be noted that the timing relationship between actions 206 and 207 shown in Figure 2 is only one possible implementation result, and not an absolute limitation. Actions 206 and 207 can be executed at any point in the time sequence before action 208.

[0052] In action 209, network device 102 can transmit a transfer request signal 107 to user equipment 106 via transceiver 104. Since the transfer request signal 106 indicates the connection information of the recommended connection switching device, if user equipment 106 accepts the recommendation, it can actively switch the connection to the recommended connection device, such as candidate device 108 shown in FIG2, in action 210, thereby making candidate device 108 the new current connection network device.

[0053] If user equipment 106 does not have a more suitable alternative connection to switch to (e.g., compared to the currently connected network device 102), or if user equipment 106 insists on maintaining the connection with network device 102, it can repeat actions 203 to 208 until user equipment 106 terminates the connection with network device 102. More specifically, transceiver 104 can repeatedly transmit signal test request signals 112 to user equipment 106 for a period of time (e.g., but not limited to, one minute). User equipment 106 can update its signal test report signal 113 accordingly, and transceiver 104 can repeatedly receive the updated signal test report signal 113 from user equipment 106. The processor 103 can generate an updated transfer request signal 107 based on the updated signal test report signal 113, and the transceiver 104 can then transmit the updated transfer request signal 107 to the user equipment 106 so that the user equipment 106 can refer to the updated connection switching recommendation.

[0054] A second embodiment of the present invention is a connection object recommendation method. Referring to FIG3, a connection switching recommendation method 3 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. The connection switching recommendation method can be performed by a network device (e.g., but not limited to the network device 102 described above) and may include the following steps: A user equipment receives a signal test report signal (marked as step 301); Based at least on the signal test report signal, a recommended connection device is selected from a plurality of candidate devices listed in a candidate list (marked as step 302), wherein the signal test report signal contains a plurality of signal quality information corresponding to the user equipment and the plurality of candidate devices, and the signal test report signal is generated by the user equipment; and A transfer request signal is sent to the user equipment (marked as step 303), thereby recommending that the user equipment switch its connection to the recommended connection device.

[0055] In some embodiments, the connection switching recommendation method 3 may further include the following steps before receiving the signal test report signal: transmitting a signal test request signal to the user equipment so that the user equipment can generate the signal test report signal accordingly. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the signal test report signal may be a beacon report response, and the signal test request signal may be a beacon report request frame.

[0056] In some embodiments, regarding connection switching recommendation method 3, the plurality of signal quality information may include the signal strength between the user device and the plurality of candidate devices.

[0057] In some embodiments, regarding connection switching recommendation method 3, the network device may determine the recommended connection device based on at least one of the signal test report signal, operational status information of the network device, connection status information between the network device and the user equipment, and packet transmission and reception status information of the user equipment. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the operational status information of the network device may include at least one of the following: the number of user equipment connections of the network device, the maximum number of user equipment connections of the network device, and the channel utilization rate of the channel to which the network device is located. In some embodiments, the connection status information between the network device and the user equipment may include at least one of the following: the connection signal strength between the network device and the user equipment, and the number of times the network device sends a transfer request signal to the user equipment. In some embodiments, the packet transmission and reception status information of the user equipment may include at least one of the following: the amount of packets sent by the user equipment and the amount of packets received by the user equipment.

[0058] In some embodiments, regarding connection switching recommendation method 3, the network device may store multiple operational status information corresponding to the plurality of candidate devices, and the network device may determine the recommended connection device based on the signal test report signal and the multiple operational status information. Furthermore, the multiple operational status information may include the number of user equipment connections for each of the plurality of candidate devices, the maximum number of user equipment connections for each of the plurality of candidate devices, and the channel utilization rate for each of the plurality of candidate devices.

[0059] In some embodiments, the connection switching recommendation method 3 may further include the following steps: exchanging basic service set information with each of the plurality of candidate devices, thereby establishing the candidate list.

[0060] In some embodiments, the connection handover recommendation method 3 may further include the following steps before receiving the signal test report signal: transmitting a signal test request signal to the user equipment so that the user equipment can generate the signal test report signal accordingly. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the connection handover recommendation method 3 may further include the following steps: repeatedly transmitting the signal test request signal to the user equipment over a time interval, and repeatedly receiving updated signal test report signals from the user equipment until the user equipment terminates the connection with the network device. In some embodiments, the connection handover recommendation method 3 further includes the following steps: Upon receiving the updated signal test report signal, an updated transfer request signal is generated based on the updated signal test report signal; and The updated transfer request signal is transmitted to the user device.

[0061] Each embodiment of the connection switching recommendation method 3 corresponds essentially to one embodiment of the network device 102. Therefore, based solely on the above description of the network device 102, those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will be able to fully understand and implement all corresponding embodiments of the connection switching recommendation method 3, even if not every embodiment of the connection switching recommendation method 3 has been described in detail above.

[0062] As described above, the connection switching recommendation scheme provided by this invention is based on the signal measurement results (including signal strength, SSID, and channel status information) reported by the user equipment, and in specific embodiments, it is supplemented by a comprehensive consideration of the network device's own operating status, the connection status between the network device and the user equipment, the user equipment's operating status, and / or the operating status of candidate devices. Regardless of the embodiment, the connection switching recommendation scheme provided by this invention does not require each network device to switch to the channel currently connected to the network device and the user equipment for background scanning, thereby avoiding the connection quality degradation caused by background scanning and maintaining connection quality and user experience. This also eliminates the cost and space required for additional scanning modules. Furthermore, since the connection switching recommendation scheme of this invention is based on the signal measurement results reported by the user equipment, it can more accurately reflect the actual situation perceived by the user equipment (e.g., the relative distance between the user equipment and each candidate device).

[0063] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of some implementations of the present invention and to explain the technical features of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope and protection of the present invention. Any changes or equivalent arrangements that can be easily made by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains are within the scope of the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention is determined by the claims.

[0064] 101: Wireless Network System 102: Network Device 103: Processor 104: Transceiver 105: Storage 106: User Equipment 107: Transfer Request Signal 108, 109: Candidate devices 110: Basic Service Information 111: Operational Status Information 112: Signal Test Request Signal 113: Signal Test Report 201,202,203,204,205,206,207,208,209,210: Actions 3: Recommended method for switching connections 301, 302, 303: Steps

Claims

1. A network device, comprising: a processor configured to determine a recommended connection device from a plurality of candidate devices listed in a candidate list based on a signal test report signal and at least one of operational status information of the network device, connection status information between the network device and the user equipment, and packet transmission and reception status information of the user equipment, wherein: The signal test report signal includes multiple signal quality information corresponding to a user equipment and the plurality of candidate devices; the network device's operational status information includes the number of user equipment connections to the network device, the maximum number of user equipment connections to the network device, and at least one of the channel utilization rate of the channel to which the network device is located; and the signal test report signal is generated by the user equipment; and a transceiver, electrically connected to the processor, is used to: receive the signal test report signal from the user equipment; and transmit a transfer request signal to the user equipment, thereby recommending that the user equipment switch its connection to the recommended connection device.

2. The network apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein, The transceiver is also used to transmit a signal test request signal to the user equipment so that the user equipment can generate a signal test report signal.

3. The network apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein, The signal test report signal is a beacon report response, and the signal test request signal is a beacon report request frame.

4. The network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The plurality of signal quality information includes the signal strength between the user device and the plurality of candidate devices.

5. The network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The connection status information between the network device and the user equipment includes: the connection signal strength between the network device and the user equipment, and at least one of the number of times the network device sends a transfer request signal to the user equipment.

6. The network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The packet transmission and reception status information of the user equipment includes: the number of packets sent by the user equipment, the number of packets received by the user equipment, and whether the user equipment is continuously sending packets, at least one of these.

7. The network apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a storage device electrically connected to the processor and the storage device, wherein: The storage is used to store multiple operational status information corresponding to the plurality of candidate devices, wherein the multiple operational status information includes the number of user equipment connections for each of the plurality of candidate devices, the upper limit of the number of user equipment connections for each of the plurality of candidate devices, the channel utilization rate for each of the plurality of candidate devices; and the processor determines the recommended connection device based on the signal test report signal and the multiple operational status information.

8. The network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The transceiver is also used to exchange a basic service set information with each of the plurality of candidate devices, thereby establishing the candidate list.

9. The network apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein, The transceiver is also used to repeatedly transmit the signal test request signal to the user equipment according to a time interval, and repeatedly receive updated signal test report signals from the user equipment until the user equipment terminates the connection with the network device.

10. The network apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein, The processor is also used to generate an updated transfer request signal based on the updated signal test report signal, and the transceiver is also used to transmit the updated transfer request signal to the user equipment.

11. A connection handover recommendation method, performed by a network device, the connection handover recommendation method comprising the following steps: receiving a signal test report signal from a user equipment; determining a recommended connection device from a plurality of candidate devices listed in a candidate list based on the signal test report signal and based on at least one of the following: operational status information of the network device, connection status information between the network device and the user equipment, and packet transmission and reception status information of the user equipment, wherein... The signal test report includes multiple signal quality information corresponding to the user equipment and the plurality of candidate devices. The network device's operational status information includes at least one of the following: the number of user equipment connections to the network device, the maximum number of user equipment connections to the network device, and the channel utilization rate of the channel to which the network device is located. The signal test report is generated by the user equipment. The report also includes sending a transfer request signal to the user equipment to recommend that the user equipment switch its connection to the recommended device.

12. The connection switching recommendation method as described in claim 11 further includes the following steps before receiving the signal test report signal: transmitting a signal test request signal to the user equipment so that the user equipment can generate the signal test report signal accordingly.

13. The connection switching recommendation method as described in request item 12, wherein, The signal test report signal is a beacon report response, and the signal test request signal is a beacon report request frame.

14. The connection switching recommendation method as described in request item 11, wherein, The plurality of signal quality information includes the signal strength between the user device and the plurality of candidate devices.

15. The connection switching recommendation method as described in request item 11, wherein, The connection status information between the network device and the user equipment includes: the connection signal strength between the network device and the user equipment, and at least one of the number of times the network device sends a transfer request signal to the user equipment.

16. The connection switching recommendation method as described in request item 11, wherein, The packet transmission and reception status information of the user equipment includes: the number of packets sent by the user equipment, the amount of packet received by the user equipment, and whether the user equipment is continuously sending packets, at least one of these.

17. The connection switching recommendation method as described in request item 11, wherein, The network device stores multiple operational status information corresponding to the plurality of candidate devices, and the network device determines the recommended connection device based on the signal test report signal and the multiple operational status information. The multiple operational status information includes the number of user equipment connections for each of the plurality of candidate devices, the maximum number of user equipment connections for each of the plurality of candidate devices, and the channel utilization rate for each of the plurality of candidate devices.

18. The connection switching recommendation method as described in claim 11 further includes the steps of: exchanging basic service set information with each of the plurality of candidate devices, thereby establishing the candidate list.

19. The connection switching recommendation method as described in claim 12 further includes the following steps: repeatedly transmitting the signal test request signal to the user equipment over a time interval, and repeatedly receiving an updated signal test report signal from the user equipment until the user equipment terminates the connection with the network device.

20. The connection switching recommendation method as described in claim 19 further comprises the following steps: after receiving the updated signal test report signal, generating an updated transfer request signal based on the updated signal test report signal; and transmitting the updated transfer request signal to the user equipment.

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