Method, device and storage medium for adjusting threshold in wireless mesh network

Abstract

A method for adjusting thresholds in a wireless mesh network includes a controller access point sending a metric query message to multiple proxy access points divided into multiple clusters. The multiple proxy access points determine whether to return a metric response message based on a set of reporting thresholds in the metric query message. The controller access point estimates the channel transmission rate of each proxy access point based on the received metric response message and uses a K-means algorithm to adjust the set thresholds so that the average channel transmission rates of the proxy access points in each group converge to a consistent value, thereby obtaining the adjusted set reporting thresholds. The present invention also provides an apparatus and storage medium for implementing the threshold adjustment method in a wireless mesh network. The present invention can achieve dynamic threshold adjustment in a wireless mesh network.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless mesh network, and more particularly to a method, device, system and storage medium for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network. Background Art

[0002] To expand Wi-Fi coverage throughout a home or office and improve network performance, the Wi-Fi Alliance has developed a basic standard called Easy Mesh for interconnecting access points (APs) from different manufacturers.

[0003] An Easy Mesh network consists of a controller AP that manages the entire network, with all proxy APs connected to it (including indirect connections). The controller AP can send control information to guide or recommend client devices to transfer connections from one AP to another to balance the load between multiple APs and optimize client roaming.

[0004] Decisions involving client roaming require all proxy APs to report network metrics and capabilities to the controller AP. Each proxy AP then determines whether to report based on thresholds received from the controller AP. Typically, setting appropriate thresholds requires deployment and field testing. However, static threshold settings are often insufficient. To obtain all the information needed to make decisions, the controller AP requires adaptively adjusted thresholds related to performance metrics to timely obtain network metrics and capabilities information from all proxy APs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, an object of the present invention is to provide a method, apparatus, and storage medium for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network, which can dynamically adjust the threshold.

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for adjusting thresholds in a wireless mesh network, the method comprising: a controller access point dividing a plurality of proxy access points into a plurality of clusters; the controller access point initializing a set of reporting thresholds; the controller access point sending a metric query message to the plurality of proxy access points, wherein the metric query message includes a metric reporting policy Type Length Value (TLV), and the metric reporting policy TLV includes the set of thresholds; the controller access point estimating a channel transmission rate of each proxy access point based on a metric response message received from each proxy access point; and the controller access point adjusting the set of reporting thresholds using a K-means algorithm without changing the plurality of clusters, so that the average channel transmission rates of the clusters are approximately consistent.

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a device for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network. The device includes a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is used to store at least one instruction, and the processor is used to execute the at least one instruction to implement the method for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network.

[0008] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a storage medium storing at least one instruction. When the at least one instruction is executed by a processor, the method for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network is implemented.

[0009] Compared to the prior art, the method, device, system, and storage medium for adjusting thresholds in a wireless mesh network provided by the present invention can achieve efficient and reliable autonomous threshold adjustment, replacing the labor-intensive process of obtaining thresholds through field testing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an apparatus for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Description of main component symbols

[0013] Device 100 processor 102 Memory 104 Communication unit 106 step S201~S206

[0014] The following specific embodiments will further illustrate the present invention in conjunction with the above-mentioned drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] To facilitate understanding and implementation of the present invention by those skilled in the art, the present invention is further described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be implemented in a variety of specific forms. Those skilled in the art can utilize the details described in these or other embodiments, as well as other applicable structural, logical, and electrical variations, to implement the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0016] This specification provides various embodiments to illustrate the technical features of various embodiments of the present invention. The configurations of the components in the embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the present invention. The repetition of reference numerals in the figures in the embodiments is for simplification and does not indicate a correlation between the different embodiments. Identical component numbers used in the figures and the specification represent identical or similar components. The illustrations in this specification are simplified and not drawn to exact scale.

[0017] Furthermore, in describing some embodiments of the present invention, the specification describes the method and / or program of the present invention in a specific order of steps. However, since the method and program are not necessarily implemented according to the specific order of steps described, they are not limited to the specific order of steps described. A person skilled in the art of the present invention will recognize that other orders are also possible implementation methods. Therefore, the specific order of steps described in the specification is not used to limit the scope of the patent application. Furthermore, the scope of the patent application for the method and / or program of the present invention is not limited to the order of execution steps written therein, and a person skilled in the art of the present invention will understand that adjusting the order of execution steps does not deviate from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0018] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. The terms used herein in the specification of the present invention are intended solely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items. Some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] See also Figure 1 , which is a block diagram of an apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the device 100 includes a processor 102, a memory 104, and a communication unit 106. The device 100 may include a router, a wireless gateway, or a simple access point. Those skilled in the art should understand that Figure 1 The components of the device 100 shown do not constitute a limitation of the embodiments of the present invention. Figure 1 The apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is simplified for ease of description, and in different embodiments, may include fewer or more components than shown.

[0020] In some embodiments, the processor 102 may be comprised of an integrated circuit, such as a single packaged integrated circuit or a plurality of packaged integrated circuits with the same or different functions, including a combination of one or more central processing units (CPUs), microprocessors, digital processing chips, graphics processors, and various control chips. The processor 102 is the control core (control unit) of the device 100, connecting the various components of the entire device 100 using various interfaces and circuits. It executes or runs computer programs or modules stored in the memory 104 and calls data stored in the memory 104 to execute various functions of the device 100 and process data, such as the method for adjusting thresholds in a wireless mesh network.

[0021] In some embodiments, the memory 104 is used to store computer program code and various data, such as a method for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network, and to enable high-speed, automatic access to programs or data during operation of the device 100. The memory 104 includes a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a one-time programmable read-only memory (OTPROM), an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or other optical disc storage, magnetic disk storage, magnetic tape storage, or any other computer-readable storage medium capable of carrying or storing data.

[0022] The communication unit 106 is used to connect to an external communication device via a network. The communication unit 106 can receive requests from the external communication device and can also send requests, instructions, and information to the external communication device. The external communication device can be a target terminal or other access point. The communication unit 106 includes a wireless interface, which includes a radio frequency circuit and a wireless network chip. For example, the communication unit 106 may include a wireless interface corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band and a wireless interface corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band.

[0023] In some embodiments, the device 100 supports the Wi-Fi Easy Mesh standard and can serve as a controller for controlling the entire wireless mesh network, with other access points in the wireless mesh network serving as proxy access points.

[0024] In some embodiments, the device 100 may not only have the function of a controller, but also have the function of an agent.

[0025] In some embodiments, device 100 is connected to a wide area network and can communicate with external networks such as the Internet. Device 100, acting as a controller, and other access points, acting as proxies, can communicate via a wireless mesh network. Specifically, device 100, acting as a controller, can manage and control proxy access points and client devices in the wireless mesh network.

[0026] See also Figure 2, which shows a method for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method is applied to an access point that serves as a controller in the wireless mesh network, also referred to as a controller access point, and other access points that serve as agents are referred to as agent access points. The method includes the following steps:

[0027] In step S201 , a controller access point divides a plurality of proxy access points into a plurality of clusters.

[0028] In one embodiment, the controller access point may divide the plurality of proxy access points into a plurality of clusters according to access point information, signal metric information, geographic location information, etc. of the plurality of proxy access points.

[0029] Step S202: The controller access point initializes a set of reporting thresholds.

[0030] In one embodiment, the set of reporting thresholds includes a channel utilization threshold and a received channel power indicator threshold.

[0031] In step S203, the controller access point sends a metric query message to the multiple proxy access points, wherein the metric query message includes a metric reporting policy type length value (TLV), and the metric reporting policy TLV includes the group reporting threshold.

[0032] After receiving the metric query message, the proxy access point determines whether to send a metric response message to the controller access point according to the reporting threshold group of the metric reporting policy TLV in the metric query message.

[0033] Specifically, when the proxy access point receives a measurement reporting policy TLV with a channel utilization threshold field, for a given radio band, the proxy access point continuously measures the channel utilization of the radio band according to the measurement period, and if the channel utilization of the two most recent measurements is greater than the channel utilization threshold in the group of reporting thresholds, the proxy access point sends a measurement response message to the controller access point, where the measurement response message includes the measurement TLV of each basic service set (BSS) on the radio band.

[0034] Specifically, when the proxy access point receives a metric reporting policy TLV with a receive channel power indicator threshold field, the proxy access point monitors the uplink receive channel power indicators of each client device associated with the BSS operating on a given radio frequency band, and if the uplink receive channel power indicator of any associated client device is greater than the receive channel power indicator in the group reporting threshold, the proxy access point sends a metric response message to the controller access point, where the metric response message contains a link metric report of the associated client device.

[0035] Step S204: The controller access point estimates the channel transmission rate of each proxy access point according to the measurement response message received from each proxy access point.

[0036] In one embodiment, the link metric report in the metric response message also includes a received signal to noise ratio indicator (RSNI). The controller access point obtains a corresponding modulation based on the RSNI, and multiplies the modulation by the channel utilization of each proxy access point to obtain the channel transmission rate of each proxy access point.

[0037] In step S205 , the controller access point adjusts the group reporting threshold using a K-means algorithm without changing the plurality of clusters, so that the average channel transmission rates of the clusters are close to each other.

[0038] According to S206 , the controller access point uses a steering policy TLV to set a steering policy on multiple proxy access points according to the adjusted group reporting threshold.

[0039] Specifically, the controller access point sets the RCPDI steering threshold in the steering strategy TLV according to the adjusted RCPDI threshold. In one embodiment, the RCPDI steering threshold is equal to or less than the RCPDI threshold.

[0040] When the uplink power indicator of the user terminal device associated with the proxy access point is greater than or less than the receive channel power indicator steering threshold in the steering strategy TLV, the proxy access point will try to guide the associated user terminal to the BBSS of the identified best proxy access point.

[0041] In summary, the method, device, system, and storage medium for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network of the present invention provide a method for autonomously adjusting a threshold, which can be applied to a wireless mesh network environment in a residence or office.

[0042] It is worth noting that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present invention may be modified or replaced by equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network, characterized in that: The method comprises: The controller access point divides multiple agent access points into multiple clusters; The controller access point initializes a set of reporting thresholds; The controller access point sends a metric query message to the multiple proxy access points, wherein the metric query message includes a metric reporting policy TLV (Type Length Value), the metric reporting policy TLV includes the group reporting threshold, wherein the group reporting threshold includes a channel utilization threshold and a receive channel power indicator threshold, and after receiving the metric query message, the multiple proxy access points determine whether to send a metric response message to the controller access point based on the reporting threshold group of the metric reporting policy TLV in the metric query message; The controller access point estimates, based on a measurement response message received from each of the proxy access points, a channel transmission rate of each of the proxy access points, wherein the measurement response message includes a link measurement report, and the link measurement report includes a received signal-to-noise ratio indicator; The controller access point obtains a corresponding modulation according to the signal-to-noise ratio indicator, and multiplies the modulation by the channel utilization of each proxy access point to obtain a channel transmission rate of each proxy access point; and The controller access point adjusts the group reporting threshold using the K-means algorithm without changing the plurality of clusters, so that the average channel transmission rates of the clusters are close to each other.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The method further comprises: The controller access point sets a diversion policy on the plurality of proxy access points using a diversion policy TLV according to the adjusted group reporting threshold.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein The steering policy TLV includes a reception channel power indicator steering threshold, and the controller access point sets the reception channel power indicator steering threshold according to the adjusted reception channel power indicator threshold of the group of reporting thresholds.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein The reception channel power indicator turning threshold is equal to or less than the adjusted reception channel power indicator threshold of the group of reporting thresholds.

5. A device for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network, characterized in that: The device includes a processor and a memory, the memory is used to store at least one instruction, and the processor is used to execute the at least one instruction to implement the method for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A storage medium, characterized in that The storage medium stores at least one instruction, and when the at least one instruction is executed by a processor, the method for adjusting a threshold in a wireless mesh network according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is implemented.

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