Cloud Managed Wi-Fi Access Point Roaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud-based controllers face communication delays due to high volumes of data required for maintaining control over enterprise Wi-Fi networks, leading to intolerable delays in hand-offs between access points.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where access points locally manage hand-offs by receiving management messages from a remote cloud-based controller, reducing real-time communication with the cloud by determining the best neighboring access point for hand-offs based on RSSI values, allowing for centralized management and reduced administrative complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a cloud-based controller is used to manage Wi-Fi networks remotely, then administrative complexity and on-site infrastructure costs are reduced, but communication delays increase due to high volumes of data required for maintaining control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the controller functionality by designating specific access points as controller access points that perform local control functions. This divides the centralized cloud controller into distributed local controllers, reducing communication delays while maintaining centralized management benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces controller access points as intermediary devices between the cloud-based controller and other access points. These intermediaries handle local control communications, reducing the communication burden on the remote cloud controller and minimizing delays.
2Reliability
If constant communication is maintained between access points and cloud-based controller for tight control, then network control reliability is improved, but communication delays and network overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having controller access points pre-establish control relationships and maintain local state information. This allows hand-offs and control decisions to be executed locally without real-time cloud communication, ensuring reliability while minimizing delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic control architecture where access points can operate in different modes - fully controlled by cloud, locally controlled by controller access points, or hybrid. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt communication frequency based on operational needs, maintaining reliability when necessary while reducing delays during normal operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Directing station roaming in a cloud-managed Wi-Fi network. Management messages are received from a controller that is located remotely from the Wi-Fi communication network by an access point. When an RSSI (received signal strength indication) value between the station and the access point falls below a threshold, the access point (i.e., controller access point) determines which neighboring access point would be a best fit for a hand-off, with limited real-time input form the cloud-based Wi-Fi controller. One of the two or more of the plurality of access points is selected for handing-off the station based on the RSSI values received from the interrogation. Responsive to the selection, a message is sent to the selected access point instructing the one of the at least one of the plurality of access points to respond to messages from the station.