Central AP Managing WLAN Association Requests
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless local area networks (WLANs) with large coverage areas, the high number of wireless access points (APs) required leads to complex structures and increased costs, and existing methods struggle to efficiently manage association requests when multiple APs provide the same basic service set identifier (BSSID), potentially causing conflicts and handover issues.
Innovation Solution
A central AP is introduced to receive and manage association requests from multiple APs with the same BSSID, selecting one AP to respond to each request, thereby reducing conflicts and ensuring seamless handovers by integrating the functions of the PHY and data link layers with the APs using a wired network, and optionally selecting based on signal strength or order of receipt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If multiple wireless APs are deployed to provide the same BSSID for seamless handover, then handover smoothness is improved, but association request conflicts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central controller as an intermediary that receives association requests from multiple APs and determines which AP should serve the terminal. This mediator coordinates the association process, preventing conflicts between multiple APs while maintaining the same BSSID for seamless handover. The controller sends control messages to APs to manage association responses, ensuring only one AP responds to each terminal's association request.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a complete WLAN function is implemented in each wireless AP, then network functionality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the WLAN system into two parts: APs that provide basic wireless access functionality and a central controller that provides advanced coordination and management functions. This segmentation allows APs to have simpler structures while the system as a whole maintains complete WLAN functionality through the distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The central controller provides multi-functional capabilities including receiving association requests from multiple APs, determining the serving AP, sending control messages, and managing coordination. This universal controller handles various management tasks that would otherwise require complex functionality in each individual AP.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple APs provide the same BSSID to prevent terminal confusion, then service continuity is improved, but association request management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The central controller acts as a mediator that manages association requests from multiple APs providing the same BSSID. It receives requests, determines which AP should serve the terminal based on various criteria, and coordinates the response process. This intermediary approach maintains service continuity through consistent BSSID while simplifying management by centralizing the decision-making logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless local area network (WLAN) association method and device and a central access point (AP), where the method includes receiving, by the central AP, a plurality of association requests, where the plurality of association requests are from at least two APs, and the plurality of association requests have a same basic service set identifier (BSSID), selecting, by the central AP, one association request from the plurality of association requests as a to-be-replied association request, and sending, by the central AP, a first association response to a to-be-associated AP, where the first association response is a reply to the to-be-replied association request, and the to-be-associated AP is an AP in the at least two APs that sends the to-be-replied association request. Only a to-be-associated AP provides a service for a terminal such that a possibility of conflict occurrence is reduced.