Method and apparatus for handling coordinated association in wireless networks with multiple access points
By introducing a Coordination Association (CA) controller into the 802.11 network to coordinate the association between STAs and APs, the problems of throughput degradation and high latency were solved, and network performance was optimized.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MEDIATEK SINGAPORE PTE LTD
- Filing Date
- 2022-08-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
AI Technical Summary
In 802.11 networks, the site (STA) autonomously selects its access point (AP) association method, which leads to reduced throughput, high latency, and unbalanced network load. Existing standards have failed to effectively address these issues.
A Coordination Association (CA) controller is introduced. By receiving network parameters, the optimization module calculates and coordinates the association between STA and AP, centrally manages association requests, and optimizes network performance.
It achieves higher throughput, improved latency and network load balancing, and enhances the overall performance of the wireless network.
Smart Images
Figure CN115915339B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention generally relates to the field of wireless communication. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to methods and apparatus for processing coordination associations in a wireless network having multiple access points (APs). Background Technology
[0002] This invention generally relates to the field of wireless communication. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to methods and apparatus for processing coordination associations in a wireless network having multiple access points (APs).
[0003] In an 802.11 network, a station (STA) first needs to discover a list of available access points (APs), and then the STA needs to decide which AP to associate with. Currently, the 802.11 standard does not specify how the STA selects APs for association, nor does it provide any mechanism or protocol for APs to manage associations for the STA. Essentially, the 802.11 standard simply offloads the association decisions to the STA. These decisions are controlled by the association method adopted by the STA. Many STA-controlled association methods exist, relying on various decision metrics. However, currently, only the method using the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is widely used in practice.
[0004] Since the introduction of correlation methods, all 802.11-based systems have suffered from multiple issues including throughput degradation, high latency, and network load imbalance. It's worth noting that these problems actually stem from the use of existing correlation methods. The main reason behind this is that STA control methods aim to maximize only their own STA performance, while simultaneously degrading network-wise performance. Therefore, in traditional 802.11 systems, it is practically impossible to solve these problems without considering alternative correlation methods. Summary of the Invention
[0005] Therefore, embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and apparatus for processing coordinated association (CA) in a wireless network with multiple access points.
[0006] According to one embodiment, a method for processing coordination association (CA) of a device in a wireless network having multiple access points (APs) is disclosed. The method includes: receiving multiple network parameters; determining multiple associations between multiple stations (STAs) and multiple access points based on the multiple network parameters; and sending the multiple associations to the multiple STAs.
[0007] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for processing coordinated associations in a wireless network having multiple access points is disclosed. The apparatus includes a control module for receiving multiple network parameters and for sending multiple associations to multiple stations (STAs); and an optimization module, coupled to the control module, for determining multiple associations between the multiple STAs and multiple access points based on the multiple network parameters.
[0008] These and other objects of the invention will undoubtedly become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments shown in the various accompanying drawings.
[0009] The method and apparatus for processing and coordinating relationships provided in this application enable centralized coordination and management of multiple relationships. Attached Figure Description
[0010] Various embodiments of the invention presented as examples will be described in detail with reference to the following accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components, wherein:
[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary wireless network with multiple access points according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] Figure 2 A block diagram of an apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.
[0013] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary series of steps for performing coordinated association according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for STA registration coordination association services according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.
[0015] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating an exemplary series of steps for managing association requests according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.
[0016] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of an exemplary frame structure for supporting coordinated association is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0017] It will be readily understood that, as generally described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the components of the present invention can be arranged and designed in a variety of different configurations. Therefore, the following more detailed description of embodiments of the systems and methods of the present invention illustrated in the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely represents selected embodiments of the invention.
[0018] Multiple Access Point (MAP) systems are being considered as the next generation of Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) by the 802.11 standard. In such MAP WLANs, higher throughput, improved latency, and balanced network traffic load can be achieved when association requests associated with Access Points (APs) are centrally coordinated and managed. This concept of centralized coordination of AP-STA association requests serves as a niche concept for the methods and apparatus disclosed in this invention.
[0019] The invention disclosed herein provides a method and apparatus for performing association between STAs and APs in a wireless network with a MAP, wherein association requests are coordinated and centrally managed according to functions implemented within a CA controller. APs in the MAP communicate with the CA controller according to a predefined backhaul protocol for receiving and sending data and control information. STAs, according to the 802.11 standard, can only communicate with the corresponding AP associated with that STA.
[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary wireless network 10 with multiple access points according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the wireless network 10, a MAP WLAN, includes a CA controller 100, multiple access points AP1-AP3 connected via backhaul (BHL) and representing a MAP, and multiple sites STA1-STA6.
[0021] The CA controller 100 may operate within the access point AP3, but it may also operate as a separate device 101 connected to the BHL backhaul. According to an exemplary wireless network 10 and some embodiments of the present invention, the device is implemented within the CA controller 100.
[0022] There exist transmission coverage areas CVA1-CVA3 corresponding to access points AP1-AP3. These areas are defined as geographical areas where stations STA1-STA6 can be associated with their corresponding access points AP1-AP3 and thus successfully send and receive data, wherein the successfully sent and / or received data supports at least the minimum 802.11 PHY modulation and coding scheme (MCS). The exemplary wireless network 10 also illustrates multiple coordination associations 120_1-120_6 between each station STA1-STA6 and its corresponding AP. These coordination associations 120_1-120_6 are coordinated and assigned to each station STA1-STA6 by the CA controller 100. Specifically, Figure 1 It is shown that stations STA1, STA2, and STA6 are associated with access point AP1, stations STA3 and STA4 are associated with access point AP2, and station STA5 is associated with access point AP3. CA controller 100 is periodically invoked to calculate associations for wireless network 10, wherein only STAs that need to be associated with a new AP receive association requests from CA controller 100.
[0023] Exemplary wireless network 100 may include user equipment (UE), low-cost devices, device-to-device (D2D) communication devices, narrow-band internet of things (NB-IoT), mobile phones, laptops, tablets, portable computer systems, any suitable devices, and combinations thereof. The above are examples and should not limit the scope of the invention.
[0024] Figure 2 A block diagram of an apparatus 20 according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown, which can be used to implement... Figure 1 CA controller 100 in the middle. For example... Figure 2As shown, the device 20 may include a control module 200, an optimization module 210, and a management module 220. The control module 200 collects network parameters, distributes multiple calculated association requests to each STA that needs to join a new AP, updates multiple stored network parameters using multiple measurement parameters, and mitigates anomalies, including but not limited to frequent re-associations, incorrect measurement parameters, security errors, and other types of errors that may cause CA system failure. Furthermore, the control module 200, connected to the MAP via backhaul link 230, sends periodic requests to the APs and multiple STAs in the MAP to request them to prepare and send network parameters to the CA controller 100. The optimization module 210 calculates the multiple STAs associated with the new AP by performing an objective function optimization, where network parameters are used as function variables in the objective function. The optimization module 210 is coupled to the control module 200, which periodically provides new network parameters and requests to calculate optimized associations to the optimization module 210. The optimization module 210 is used to pass the calculated associations to the control module 200. The management module 220, coupled to the control module 200, is used to store, estimate, and manage network parameters. The module can be implemented using integrated circuits, hardware components, software components, firmware, or a combination thereof.
[0025] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating process 30 for performing a method of coordinated association using an exemplary series of steps according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided. Process 30 represents various aspects of implementing a CA controller, and specifically, according to the present invention, represents the implementation of a method of coordinated association using an exemplary series of steps. Figure 1 CA controller 100 operating in the exemplary network 10 shown.
[0026] According to process 30, in step S300, process 30 begins. In step S301, the CA controller sends requests to the APs and multiple STAs in the MAP to request feedback of multiple network parameters to the CA controller. The CA controller first forwards the requests to all APs in the MAP via backhaul. Upon receiving the requests, the APs forward these requests to the multiple STAs associated with these APs via fronthaul, so that the multiple STAs can submit network parameters.
[0027] In step S302, the CA controller receives multiple network parameters for estimating, storing, and calculating AP-STA associations. First, multiple STAs send multiple network parameters to the AP in the MAP via wireless fronthaul. Once the AP has collected all the necessary parameters from all the STAs associated with it, the AP forwards its own measurement parameters along with the parameters received from the STAs to the CA controller via backhaul.
[0028] In step S304, the CA controller determines multiple AP-STA associations for multiple STAs, where each association is a pairing between an STA in the multiple STAs and an AP in the MAP. The CA controller calculates the AP-STA associations by performing an optimization of the objective function based on the network parameters collected and further processed in step S302.
[0029] In step S306, the CA controller sends the calculated set of AP-STA associations to multiple STAs. First, the CA controller sends the calculated associations to the APs in the MAP via the backbone network. After receiving the calculated associations, the AP checks whether its associated STAs need to associate with the new AP. If it determines that they need to, the AP sends a re-association request to the corresponding STAs via wireless fronthaul. In step S308, process 30 ends.
[0030] In one exemplary implementation, network parameters may include a list of STAs registered to the MAP and enabled to support CA capabilities, a list of APs participating in the MAP, and a set of STAs associated with APs in the MAP. Network parameters may also include estimates of multiple physical layer (PHY) rates supported on the transmission link between the STAs and APs in the MAP.
[0031] In one exemplary implementation, the PHY data rate estimate R between APi and STAj is... i,j It can be done through R i,j =f rate (RSSI) is obtained, where the function f rate This is a mapping from RSSI to data rate estimation, where RSSI represents a measurement of channel quality between APi and STAj. In one exemplary implementation, the function f rate RSSI can be mapped to rates in a set of three elements, {r bad ,r moderate ,r good This depends on whether the RSSI value corresponds to a poor channel condition (when RSSI ≤ RSSI). bad (corresponding to a poor channel state), intermediate channel state (when RSSI) bad <RSSI<RSSI good Corresponding to an intermediate channel state, or a better channel state (when RSSI ≥ RSSI). good (corresponding to a better channel state), where RSSI bad and RSSI good This is the RSSI threshold. Due to channel reciprocity, all i and j have R. i,j =R j,i .
[0032] In one exemplary implementation, network parameters may include estimated parameters related to traffic intensity. APs and STAs in the MAP may have the ability to measure the amount of incoming data requested to be transmitted on the downlink (DL) and uplink (UL). The amount of incoming traffic on the DL and UL may be represented by a standardized traffic intensity metric designed to show the arrival rate of incoming traffic and, on average, the frequency at which an AP requests data transmission on the DL or a STA requests data transmission on the UL. The AP performs the traffic intensity metric measurement for DL transmissions against its associated STA, and the STA performs the traffic intensity metric measurement for UL transmissions.
[0033] In one exemplary implementation, network parameters may include neighbor discovery parameters associated with an AP in a STA or MAP. This parameter may be a list of STAs and APs competing for the same channel as the AP in the STA or MAP. Competing STAs and APs can be discovered by examining the 802.11 destination address field of the received frame.
[0034] Other network parameters may include estimation parameters related to frame length. It is understood that an AP in a MAP may have the ability to estimate the expected frame lengths over UL and DL transmissions for all STAs associated with the AP. An exemplary implementation of estimating UL and DL frame length parameters could be the average length of transmitted frames over a period of time.
[0035] Another exemplary implementation may include time parameters related to the time period for calculating and assigning new association requests to STAs, the time period for requesting STAs and APs to provide network parameters to the CA controller, and the time period for updating stored network parameters and calculating new optimized AP-STA parameters. Other parameters may include those related to error handling. The CA controller needs to monitor these parameters to mitigate failures in the CA system. These parameters may be related to frequent AP-STA reassociation, such as when a STA experiences frequent new AP assignments, association rejections, STA arrivals or departures from MAPWLAN or other suitable control, management, resource allocation, or scheduling parameters used to handle CA capabilities within a short period of time, but are not limited to these.
[0036] According to another exemplary implementation, the DL and UL throughput rates can be estimated as follows:
[0037] as well as
[0038]
[0039] in, and This is the expected DL and UL throughput of STA j when communicating with APi. and This is the average frame length between STAj and APi over DL and UL transmissions. PHY rate R i,j This represents the rate at which data is transmitted at the PHY layer between APi and STAj. In a MAP WLAN, station i may need to communicate with its neighboring APs (represented as the AP set). ) and neighboring STAs (represented as STA sets) Competition for channel access. These neighboring sites are located in the competition zone of site i, and therefore compete with site i for the same channel. Channel competition can cause channel access delay due to collisions and backoff. This channel delay is measured by the function C(.), which depends on the number of sites in the competition zone of site i. Sites in the MAP have different arrival rates of incoming data transmitted. Traffic strength index and These represent the scaled traffic volume of STAj when communicating with APi on DL and UL, respectively, based on the average frame length. STA and AP can measure these metrics over a period of time. and To capture business characteristics, and these metrics and This can be used as a standardized value. Finally, M is the number of APs in the MAP WLAN, and N... i It is the set of STAs associated with APi. The cardinality of the set is determined by |N|. i |, and express.
[0040] item It is the average transmission time of APi. APi employs a frame-based round-robin scheduler for the STAN associated with APi. i DL transmission. It is worth noting that... It is the average transmission rate of APi.
[0041] item It is a neighboring STA in the competing area of site i Total transmission time required to send UL data.
[0042] The total throughput S in MAP WLAN can be expressed as follows:
[0043]
[0044] In one exemplary implementation, the CA controller may perform the following operations to find multiple optimized AP-STA associations:
[0045] maxS (Equation 4)
[0046] Subject to constraints:
[0047]
[0048] The objective function is to maximize the total throughput in MAP WLAN, but it can also be... or The set of all STAs in the MAP system is denoted by U, a i,j It is a binary variable, when a i,j =1 indicates that STAj is associated with APi; otherwise, when a i,j =0 indicates that STAj is not associated with APi. It is an index function, when a i,j =1 equals the empty set; otherwise, it equals the universal set.
[0049] The numerical solutions to the exemplary implementations presented in Equations 4-8 can be optimal or near-optimal AP-STA associations. Using this solution, the CA controller can maximize total throughput in the MAP WLAN, reduce latency, and distribute service load evenly across the network.
[0050] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating an exemplary process 40 for STA registration coordination association services according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The CA controller can manage AP-STA associations only for STAs that have registered for CA services. Figure 4 This document illustrates an exemplary series of steps that a STA in a MAP WLAN can perform to register with a CA controller to enable CA capabilities.
[0051] The prerequisite for CA registration is that the STA can register only with a MAP that supports CA services. The AP can announce support for CA services to the STA in a beacon, management frame, or a combination thereof. In one exemplary implementation, the beacon and management frames can include a CA capability field in the 802.11 MAC header. By setting this field, the AP in the MAP can announce support for CA services to the STA.
[0052] about Figure 4The various parts of the CA registration process 40 can be implemented within STA 42, AP 44, and CA controller 46. STA 42 can be one of the sites STA1-STA6, and AP 44 can be one of the access points AP1-AP3, such as... Figure 1 The example MAP WLAN is shown in the example.
[0053] Before process 40 begins, it is understood that STA 42 has received information about the AP's support for CA services by checking the CA capability field in the 802.11 MAC header of the beacon frame or management frame. It should also be understood that STA 42 has determined to enable CA capability by performing registration process 40.
[0054] In step S400, STA 42 sends an initial CA request to AP 44 over the wireless fronthaul.
[0055] In step S402, AP 44 sends an initial CA request to CA controller 46 via wireless or wired backhaul using a predefined inter-AP communication protocol.
[0056] Upon receiving the initial CA request, in step S404, the CA controller 46 processes the request by: adding STA 42 to the list of STAs registered for CA services, allocating resources for managing network parameters associated with STA 42, updating the CA controller's optimization module with the new variables, and testing for critical errors. If STA 42's CA registration process 40 is successful, the CA controller 46 responds to STA 42 by sending an initial CA response. In step S406, the CA controller 46 sends the CA response to AP 44 via a passback, and in step S408, AP 44 forwards the response to STA 42 using the fronthaul interface.
[0057] The exemplary steps of process 40 are not limited to those described. The following additional exemplary embodiments may be attributed to performing process 40.
[0058] Once STA 42 receives the initial CA response, it can begin measuring network parameters. STA 42 may not need to perform an additional authentication process with the MAP or CA controller, as it has already been authenticated by AP 44, an AP member of the MAP. Understandably, during MAP registration, STA 42 receives an identification number that uniquely identifies it within the MAP WLAN. Using this MAP identification number, STA 42 can also be uniquely identified by the CA controller or other APs within the MAP when performing an AP-STA association request.
[0059] Figure 5Process 50 illustrates an exemplary series of steps for managing coordinated associations in a MAP WLAN according to an embodiment of the present invention. To perform coordinated associations, the CA controller periodically collects multiple measured network parameters sent by STAs and APs in the MAP. Using these network parameters, the CA controller periodically calculates AP-STA associations and sends the calculated association requests to STAs registered with the CA service that need to associate with a new AP. Process 50 illustrates a series of steps periodically performed by the STA, AP, and CA controller to manage coordinated associations in the MAP.
[0060] about Figure 5 The various parts of process 50 can be implemented within STA 52, AP 54, and CA controller 56. STA 52 can be one of the sites STA1-STA6, and AP 54 can be one of the access points AP1-AP3, such as... Figure 1 An exemplary MAPWLAN is shown in the diagram. The CA controller 56 can use... Figure 2 The apparatus described herein shall be used to implement this.
[0061] In step S500, process 50 begins with the CA controller 56 sending one or more measurement requests to AP 54. Step S500 is an exemplary step, where AP 54 represents one AP in the MAP. Therefore, it can be understood that step S500 represents the transmission of measurement requests between the CA controller and all APs in the MAP. After checking the received request sent by the CA controller, the AP may send the measurement request only to the STA associated with the AP. In step S502, AP 54 sends a measurement request to STA 52 over the wireless fronthaul. Step S502 is an exemplary step, where STA 52 represents one of the STAs associated with AP 54 and registered with CA services. Therefore, step S502 represents the transmission of measurement requests to multiple STAs associated with AP 54.
[0062] In step S504, in response to the received measurement request, STA 52 sends a measurement response with network parameters to AP 54 via wireless fronthaul. It should be understood that step S504 is performed by all STAs that have received the measurement request. AP 54 collects measurement responses from all STAs associated with AP 54, and in step S506, AP forwards the set of measurement responses collected from the STAs along with its own measurement network parameters to CA controller 56 via backhaul.
[0063] In step S508, the CA controller 56 uses the network parameters received from the APs in the STA and MAP according to steps S500-S506 to determine the AP-STA association. In an exemplary embodiment, the CA controller can use (Equations 4)-(Equations 8) to calculate the AP-STA association.
[0064] After the association is determined, in step S510, the CA controller sends multiple calculated AP-STA associations to AP 54 via a backhaul, wherein the AP-STA associations are only used for STAs that need to be associated with the new AP.
[0065] In step S512, AP 54 sends a request to STA 52 via wireless fronthaul to request association with the new AP. It can be understood that step S512 represents a transmission of association requests to all STAs associated with AP 54 that need to associate with the new AP in the MAP. In step S512, STA 52 is not allowed to interrupt ongoing service flows. Before STA 52 can initiate association with the new AP, STA 52 needs to complete sending data to or receiving data from AP 54.
[0066] In step S514, the series of steps S510-S512 are repeated and process 50 is performed at time interval T. m Then, the series of steps S510-S512 is repeated periodically. In one exemplary embodiment, steps S510-S512 can be repeated when a new STA registers for or unsubscribes from the CA service.
[0067] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of an exemplary frame structure 60 for supporting coordination association in a MAP WLAN according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Frame structure 60 can be used for data exchange between a CA controller, APs, and STAs in a MAP. Frame structure 60 may include a "control element" field 600, a "direction" field 610, an "action type" field 620, a "length of information element" field 630, and an "information element" field 640.
[0068] The “Control Element” field 600 may carry an error flag, the number of associations completed, or an association denial request, but is not limited to these. The “Direction” field 610 may be “Backhaul” indicating a transmission on a backhaul or “Access Link” indicating a transmission on a wireless fronthaul. The “Action Type” field 620 may specify the frame type and may be “Initial CA Request,” “Initial CA Response,” “Measurement Request,” “Measurement Response,” “Transition Association Request,” or “Assignment Action Table.” The “Length of Information Element” field 630 may indicate the length of the “Information Element” field 640.
[0069] The length of the "Information Element" field 640 can vary. Depending on the "Action Type" field 620, the "Information Element" field 640 can include the required information. When the "Action Type" field 620 includes "Initial CA Request" and the "Direction" field 610 includes "Access Link," the "Information Element" field 640 can be empty. When the "Action Type" field 620 includes "Initial CA Request" and the "Direction" field 610 includes "Backhaul," the "Information Element" field 640 can include an AP ID called the BSSID. The AP ID can be obtained when the STA joins the MAP. When the "Action Type" field 620 includes "Initial CA Response" and the "Direction" field 610 includes both "Access Link" and / or "Backhaul," the "Information Element" field 640 can include both the AP ID and the STA ID. When the "Action Type" field 620 includes "Measurement Request" and the "Direction" field 610 includes both "Access Link" and / or "Backhaul," the "Information Element" field 640 can include both the AP ID and the STA ID. When the "Action Type" field 620 includes "Measurement Response", the "Information Element" field 640 may include a list of network parameters, as well as the AP ID and STA ID. When the "Action Type" field 620 includes "Transfer Association Request", the "Information Element" field 640 may include a request to associate a site with the STA ID with a new access point with the AP ID. When the "Action Type" field 620 includes an "Action Assignment Table", the "Information Element" field 640 may include multiple AP-STA associations intended for an access point with the AP ID.
[0070] The operation "determine" mentioned above can be replaced by operations such as "calculate," "obtain," "generate," "output," "use," "select," or "decide." "According to" can be changed to "in response to." The word "related" can be replaced with "of" or "corresponding to." The word "through" can be replaced with "on," "in," or "at."
[0071] Detailed embodiments and implementation methods have been described in the specification, and therefore are omitted here for brevity. Please refer to the preceding sections.
[0072] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that many modifications and changes can be made to the apparatus and method while retaining the teachings of the invention. Therefore, the invention described above should be construed as being limited only by the scope and limitations of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method for processing and coordinating association CAs in a wireless network with multiple access points (APs), characterized in that, include: Receive multiple network parameters, including: an estimation parameter related to frame length, a neighbor discovery parameter associated with an AP in a site STA or MAP, and an estimate of the physical layer PHY rate supported on the transmission link between the STA and the AP, wherein the neighbor discovery parameter associated with the AP in the STA or MAP is a list of STAs and APs competing on the same channel as the STA or the AP in the MAP. Based on the multiple network parameters, multiple associations between multiple STAs and multiple APs are determined; and Send the multiple associations to the multiple STAs.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Receive multiple network parameters, including: After sending multiple requests to the multiple APs, the multiple network parameters are received.
3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The multiple requests are forwarded via fronthaul to the multiple STAs associated with the multiple APs.
4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The network parameters are received via backhaul.
5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the plurality of associations is a pairing between a STA in the plurality of STAs and an AP in the MAP.
6. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of network parameters also include: estimated parameters related to service intensity, and the method further includes: calculating the plurality of associations by performing an optimization of an objective function based on the plurality of network parameters.
7. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The multiple associations are transmitted to the multiple APs in the MAP via the backbone network.
8. An apparatus for processing coordinated association CAs in a wireless network having multiple access points (APs), characterized in that, include: A control module is configured to receive multiple network parameters and send multiple associations between multiple STAs and multiple APs to the multiple STAs. The multiple network parameters include: frame length-related estimation parameters, neighbor discovery parameters associated with APs in the STA or MAP, and estimates of the PHY rate supported on the transmission link between the STA and APs. The neighbor discovery parameters associated with APs in the STA or MAP are a list of STAs and APs competing for the same channel as the STA or AP in the MAP. An optimization module, coupled to the control module, is used to determine the multiple associations based on the multiple network parameters.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that, The control module is also used to receive the multiple network parameters after sending multiple requests to the multiple APs.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, The multiple requests are forwarded via fronthaul to the multiple STAs associated with the multiple APs.
11. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The network parameters are received via backhaul.
12. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, Each of the plurality of associations is a pairing between a STA in the plurality of STAs and an AP in the MAP.
13. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The plurality of network parameters also include: estimated parameters related to service intensity, and the optimization module is further configured to calculate the plurality of associations by performing optimization of an objective function based on the plurality of network parameters.
14. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The multiple associations are transmitted to the multiple APs in the MAP via the backbone network cable.