Location-Based Wireless Controller Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional load balancing methods in wireless networks are inefficient, leading to overload on some wireless controllers, increased latency, and congestion due to the lack of location-based distribution, making them tedious, labor-intensive, and difficult to troubleshoot.
Innovation Solution
Implementing location-based load balancing by configuring Campus-Building-Floor-Sector (C-B-F-S) attributes for APs and WSs, where APs associate with the geographically closest and least loaded WC or WS, using administrator-configured policies or parsing location information to determine the optimal network device for traffic distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional load balancing methods (round robin or least loaded WC) are used without location information, then the load is distributed across WCs, but network congestion and latency increase when WS is situated far away in the network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making load balancing decisions based on location-specific characteristics. Each WS is assigned to a WC considering its geographic location, ensuring that locally proximal devices are paired together. This creates location-aware quality in the load balancing process, reducing network latency while maintaining effective load distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to the load balancing process by incorporating location information (Campus-Building-Floor-Sector hierarchy) into the decision-making. This transforms the traditional one-dimensional load balancing (based solely on WC utilization) into a multi-dimensional approach that considers both load distribution and geographic proximity.
2Measurement precision
If manual configuration is used for load balancing of APs to WCs, then precise control is achieved, but the process becomes tedious and labor intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically performing load balancing assignments based on location information. The hierarchical location data (Campus-Building-Floor-Sector) enables the system to autonomously determine optimal WC-WS pairings without requiring manual intervention, thereby achieving precise control while eliminating tedious configuration work.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring hierarchical location information (Campus-Building-Floor-Sector) for each WS and AP. This preliminary structuring of location data enables automatic load balancing decisions to be made efficiently without requiring complex real-time calculations or manual intervention during operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If APs are associated with WCs without location-based distribution, then setup is simplified, but troubleshooting becomes harder and firewall programming increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the network into hierarchical location segments (Campus-Building-Floor-Sector). This segmentation creates naturally bounded network zones where traffic is contained within local segments, simplifying troubleshooting by isolating problems to specific geographic areas and reducing the need for extensive firewall programming.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product for performing location based load balancing of wireless access points and wireless switches is presented. A wireless controller (WC) receives an associate message from an Access Point (AP)/wireless switch (WS) at the WC. The WC then determines whether a preferred WC for the AP/WS is available. When the preferred WC is not available, then the WC determines if an alternate WC for the AP is available. When the alternate WC is not available, an administrator configured policy may be used that maps the AP to a specific WC. When the policy does exist then the AP is coupled to the WC according to the policy and when the policy does not exist then the WC parses the AP/WS location information for the AP/WS to determine an available geographically closest WC for the AP/WS and sends a message to the AP/WS relating to the available WC. The WC will also assign an available geographically closest WS to AP.