CAPWAP Extension Tunnel for Wireless Interference Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless local area networks (WLANs), the increasing number of access points in overlapping basic service sets (OBSS) regions leads to interference between wireless termination points (WTPs) under different access controllers, as each controller can only manage its own WTPs and lacks trust to coordinate with others, limiting effective channel configuration and load balancing.

Innovation Solution

Establishing CAPWAP extension tunnels between WTPs and access controllers (ACs) to facilitate the exchange of measurement information, allowing ACs to generate configuration information for WTPs under their control and for WTPs to configure channels that avoid interference from other WTPs, thereby acting as local coordinators to manage multiple WTPs and reduce interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If each AC only controls WTPs under its own control using CAPWAP tunnel, then centralized management and protection are achieved, but interference between WTPs under different ACs in OBSS region cannot be effectively addressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentralized management reliabilityVSAvoidinterference between WTPs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces WTPs as intermediaries that can establish CAPWAP extension tunnels with ACs not under their control to forward measurement information. This allows ACs to obtain interference information from WTPs under other ACs' control through trusted intermediaries, enabling coordinated channel configuration without direct AC-to-AC trust relationships.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extends the traditional CAPWAP tunnel model by adding a new dimension - CAPWAP extension tunnels between WTPs and ACs. This allows measurement information to be transmitted across AC boundaries through WTPs, creating a multi-dimensional control architecture that addresses interference in OBSS regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If ACs cannot trust other ACs to control WTPs, then each AC only configures channels for its own WTPs, but this limits the ability to perform load balance and interference avoidance across multiple ACs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel configuration capabilityVSAvoidload balancing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

WTPs serve as trusted intermediaries that can relay measurement information between ACs. Each WTP establishes CAPWAP extension tunnels with ACs under different controls to forward measurement data, enabling ACs to perform load balancing and interference avoidance across multiple ACs while maintaining trust through the WTP intermediary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The CAPWAP extension tunnel mechanism provides universal functionality, allowing any WTP to establish communication with any AC regardless of control relationships. This enables measurement information exchange between ACs through WTPs, supporting multi-AC coordination for load balancing and interference management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Area of stationary object

If more WTPs are deployed in OBSS region to increase coverage, then network coverage is improved, but interference between WTPs under different ACs increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverage areaVSAvoidinterference between WTPs
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where WTPs continuously transmit measurement information about interference conditions through CAPWAP extension tunnels to ACs. ACs use this feedback information to dynamically adjust channel configurations for WTPs under their control, enabling real-time interference avoidance as WTPs are deployed and moved in OBSS regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

ACs use measurement information received through CAPWAP extension tunnels to perform preliminary channel configuration adjustments before interference problems occur. By proactively configuring channels based on reported measurement data, ACs can prevent interference issues rather than reacting to them after they manifest.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3043621B1Wireless termination point and control method and system thereof and wireless control point
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3043621B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3043621B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3043621B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided are a wireless termination point and a control method and system thereof and a wireless control point. The method comprises: a first WTP and a second WTP establish a first CAPWAP spreading tunnel; the first WTP receives first measurement information sent by the second WTP via the first CAPWAP spreading tunnel, wherein the second WTP is uncontrolled by a first AC; and the first WTP sends the first measurement information to the first AC, wherein the first measurement information comprises at least channel measurement information, so that the first AC, according to second measurement information and the first measurement information sent by the WTP under the control of the first AC, generates first configuration information about the WTP under the control of the first AC and sends same to the WTP under the control of the first AC to configure a wireless channel of the WTP under the control of the first AC, so that the WTP under the control of the first AC will not be interfered with by the other WTP. The technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present invention is used for reducing the interference among wireless termination points in an OBSS region.