Access Controller Wireless Load Balancing in WLAN
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current load balancing methods in wireless local area networks (WLANs) are ineffective as they only consider wired traffic and do not account for the varying traffic types and loads of wireless traffic, leading to inefficient distribution of stations across access points, which affects network capacity and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A method where the Access Controller (AC) calculates the wireless load of access points based on traffic flow and the number of connected stations, rejecting association requests if the load exceeds a preset threshold or differs significantly from other nearby access points, ensuring balanced distribution of stations across access points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If STAs are distributed to APs based on highest RSSI, then connection simplicity is improved, but load balance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an Access Controller (AC) as an intermediary between STAs and APs. The AC receives association requests from STAs, calculates wireless load for candidate APs, and makes the final decision on STA assignment. This mediator resolves the contradiction by decoupling the simple RSSI-based selection from the complex load balance decision, allowing STAs to connect based on signal strength while the AC ensures balanced distribution across APs.
2Device complexity
If only wired traffic is considered for load balancing, then calculation simplicity is improved, but load balance effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used for load calculation from only wired traffic to include both wired traffic and wireless traffic flow. The wireless load is calculated based on the sum of wired load and wireless traffic, providing a more comprehensive view of actual AP utilization. This parameter expansion improves load balance effectiveness while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic calculation methods.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If number of STAs is used as load metric, then measurement simplicity is improved, but load reflection accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from using only the number of STAs as a load metric to using a composite metric that includes both the number of STAs and the total traffic flow (wired and wireless). This parameter change provides a more accurate reflection of actual AP load, as it accounts for both connection count and data throughput requirements, while remaining measurable through existing monitoring capabilities.
4Reliability
If uniform STA distribution is implemented, then load balance is improved, but network capacity utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making load balancing decisions specific to each STA's situation rather than enforcing uniform distribution. The AC evaluates wireless load for each candidate AP individually and makes decisions based on local conditions (traffic patterns, service types, current load). This allows optimal capacity utilization in each local context while maintaining overall load balance, avoiding the inefficiency of rigid uniform distribution.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention discloses a method of balancing wireless load and an Access Controller (AC). The method includes: receiving by an Access Controller (AC) an association request of joining an Access Port (AP) sent by a Station (STA); calculating wireless load of the AP that the STA requests to join; determining whether one or more preset conditions are met, if the one or more present conditions are met, accepting the association request sent by the STA; otherwise, rejecting the association request sent by the STA. In the present invention, when an AP's wireless load is too large, STAs can be distributed to other APs, thereby optimizing load balance in the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).