Cloud Controller Steering Distributed Wi-Fi Clients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Wi-Fi systems face challenges with interference, congestion, and coverage issues, particularly in distributed networks, where traditional approaches like increasing access point power or using repeaters or mesh networks fail to effectively address these problems, leading to reduced throughput and increased interference.
Innovation Solution
A distributed Wi-Fi system with multiple access points, optimized through cloud-based control, where each access point communicates on different channels for backhaul and client links, minimizing interference and congestion, and a cloud controller steers clients between access points to optimize network performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a single access point transmits with higher power to improve coverage, then signal strength is improved, but interference with other networks increases and regulatory limits are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the coverage area into multiple zones served by different access points, each transmitting at lower power levels. This segmentation allows the network to achieve comprehensive coverage without any single access point exceeding power limits or creating excessive interference, as each access point only needs to serve its local zone rather than the entire area.
Solution Approach 2:
Each access point is configured with locally optimized transmit power levels appropriate for its specific coverage zone and environmental conditions. This local quality approach ensures that signal strength is sufficient for each local area while minimizing interference to neighboring networks, rather than using uniform high power across all access points.
2Area of stationary object
If more access points are deployed to improve coverage, then coverage is improved, but device complexity and network management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Access points automatically perform channel selection, power level adjustment, and client association decisions without requiring manual configuration or complex centralized management. Each access point monitors its environment and autonomously optimizes its operation, which simplifies network management while enabling deployment of multiple access points to expand coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The access points are designed as universal, multi-functional units that can operate independently in various environments. Each access point integrates multiple functions including wireless transmission, channel selection, power management, and client association control, allowing them to be deployed flexibly to extend coverage without proportionally increasing management complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If repeaters or mesh networks are used to extend coverage, then coverage is improved, but interference and congestion increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using repeaters that retransmit signals (creating interference), the system segments the network into multiple independent access points, each creating its own clean transmission environment. This segmentation allows coverage extension without the interference and congestion problems associated with signal repetition, as each access point transmits independently on its own channel.
4Productivity
If cloud-based control is implemented to optimize network performance, then network capacity and performance are improved, but system complexity and control requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A cloud-based controller acts as an intermediary that receives simple status reports from access points and returns optimized configuration parameters. The cloud controller handles the complex optimization algorithms and decision-making, while access points remain relatively simple devices that execute received commands. This intermediary approach enables network capacity optimization without requiring complex control systems at each access point.
5Productivity
If client steering is implemented to balance load, then network performance is improved, but additional control mechanisms and signaling overhead are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements client steering by monitoring network conditions and providing feedback to clients about optimal access point associations. Clients use this feedback information to autonomously select the best access point for their needs, achieving load balancing and performance optimization without requiring complex centralized control or excessive signaling overhead. The feedback mechanism enables efficient client steering while minimizing information loss and overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods implemented by a cloud controller for steering Wi-Fi client devices in a Wi-Fi network include determining a client needs to be steered from a first access point to a second access point; selecting a client steering approach from a plurality of client steering approaches based on the client; and causing the client to be steered from the first access point to the second access point based on the selected client steering approach. The determining can be based on optimization performed by the cloud controller based on operational parameters associated with the Wi-Fi network.