Wireless Access Point RF Power Control for Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless local area networks (WLANs), overloaded access points (APs) compromise the quality of service (QoS) due to excessive loading, leading to decreased data throughput and compromised service for clients, especially when legacy terminals are involved, as existing methods often require changes to mobile devices or reduce data rates to manage load.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves adjusting the RF transmission power of APs, where a nearly overloaded AP reduces its power to decrease its coverage area, while neighboring APs increase their power to expand their coverage areas, thereby redistributing client load without requiring modifications to existing mobile devices, using either a centralized or distributed approach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the usable capacity of an AP is reached due to large traffic load, then system adjustments may be made by limiting data rates, but the quality of service for a given client is unnecessarily compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the client base by identifying legacy clients versus non-legacy clients, and applies different data rate limiting strategies to each segment. Non-legacy clients maintain full data rates while legacy clients have their data rates limited, thereby preserving QoS for modern devices while managing overall network load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating treatment based on client type. Instead of uniformly limiting all clients' data rates, it selectively applies data rate limiting only to legacy clients who are capable of operating at lower rates, while non-legacy clients continue to receive high-quality service with full data rates.
2Quantity of substance
If data rate limiting is applied to manage load, then traffic load is controlled, but data throughput suffers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments traffic handling by client type, allowing non-legacy clients to maintain high data throughput while legacy clients have reduced data rates applied. This segmentation ensures that overall productivity is preserved for modern devices while still managing the aggregate traffic load through selective rate limiting.
3Quantity of substance
If existing methods are used to manage load, then loading control is achieved, but modifications to mobile devices are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having the access point autonomously identify legacy clients and apply appropriate data rate limiting without requiring any modifications or additional functionality in the mobile devices. The AP independently determines which clients are legacy devices and manages their data rates accordingly, eliminating the need for device-side changes.
4Quantity of substance
If uniform data rate limiting is applied to all clients, then load is balanced, but QoS is compromised for all clients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing differentiated data rate policies based on client type. Non-legacy clients continue to receive high-quality service with full data rates, while legacy clients have reduced data rates applied. This selective approach maintains load balance while preserving QoS for modern devices that do not require rate limiting.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for use in controlling the loading of wireless access points (APs) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) in support of legacy terminals are disclosed. The WLAN has at least a first AP and a second wireless AP adjacent the first wireless AP. An indication which indicates whether a loading of the second wireless AP is greater than a predetermined threshold is identified. When the indication indicates that the loading is greater than the predetermined threshold, a first nominal radio frequency (RF) transmission power of the first wireless AP is increased in order to increase a first RF coverage area of the first wireless AP. A second nominal RF transmission power of the second wireless AP is correspondingly reduced in order to reduce a second RF coverage area of the second wireless AP. In response, some of the mobile communication devices initially operating with the second wireless AP are switched to operate with the first wireless AP in order to reduce the loading of the second wireless AP. The techniques may be embodied in a centralized approach where transmission control equipment of the WLAN controls each wireless APs in this manner, or alternatively in a distributed non-centralized approach where each wireless AP acts independently and autonomously in the same or similar manner. Preferably, the techniques do not require the functional requirements of mobile devices to modified and therefore are suitable for use with existing legacy devices.