Multi-Access Point Coordination for Wi-Fi Coverage Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Wi-Fi networks suffer from coverage holes, leading to radio link failures and poor user experience due to inadequate signal propagation, and current mitigation methods like increasing transmit power cause interference and fail to guarantee coverage, necessitating a more effective solution.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Multi-Access Point Coordination (MAPC) framework to enable exchange and transfer of user associations among access points, allowing seamless handover to a suitable neighboring access point when a device enters a coverage hole, using MAPC-specific signaling and authentication mechanisms to ensure efficient communication sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If transmit power is increased to mitigate coverage holes, then coverage area is improved, but interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network coverage area is segmented into multiple zones served by different access points. When a device enters a coverage hole of its serving AP, the system segments the handover process into detection, evaluation, and execution phases, allowing coordinated mitigation without requiring all APs to increase power simultaneously, thus reducing overall interference while maintaining coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple access points are merged into a coordinated system through the MAPC framework. The host AP and visited AP work together to detect coverage holes and execute handovers, combining their coverage areas to eliminate gaps without requiring either AP to independently increase transmit power, thereby avoiding the interference problem.
2Reliability
If coverage holes are detected and handover is initiated, then connectivity reliability is improved, but handover latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing coordination agreements between potential host APs and visited APs in advance. Capability information, including coverage areas and supported features, is pre-exchanged and stored. When a coverage hole is detected, the handover can be executed immediately using pre-evaluated candidate APs, significantly reducing handover latency while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback mechanisms where the host AP monitors device connection quality and coverage status in real-time. When degradation is detected, the pre-established coordination information is quickly retrieved and used to trigger handover, creating a fast feedback loop that minimizes connectivity disruption while ensuring reliable handover execution.
Data Source
AI summary
There is herein disclosed an apparatus comprising means for determining that a first access point and a second access point are in a coordination agreement and that a device is in a first wireless communication session with the first access point and determining that the device is positioned in a coverage hole of the first access point. The apparatus further comprises means for transmitting, to the second access point, a request for the second access point to indicate whether it is suitable for providing a second wireless communication session with the device and means for receiving, from the second access point, an indication that the second access point is suitable for providing a second wireless communication session with the device. The apparatus further comprises means for negotiating an authorisation of the second wireless communication session between the device and the second access point and means for authorising the second wireless communication session between the device and the second access point.