Multi-Link AP Roaming Preference for Weighted Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current BSS transition management (BTM) processes do not fully accommodate the complexities introduced by multi-link operations (MLO), leading to less efficient load distribution and network management.
Innovation Solution
Integrate MLO capacities into BSS Transition Candidate Preference values, assigning preference values to neighboring APs based on operational data such as station counts, channel utilization, bandwidth, and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), and communicate these values in a neighbor report to client devices for informed roaming decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If current BSS transition management (BTM) processes are used without MLO integration, then the existing framework remains simple and compatible, but load distribution efficiency and network management performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the existing BSS Transition Candidate Preference mechanism by introducing new parameters (MLO capability indicators, multi-link operational data) into the preference calculation. This allows the system to accommodate MLO complexities while maintaining the original BTM framework structure, thereby improving load distribution efficiency without fundamentally changing the device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a unified preference value mechanism that serves both traditional single-link and multi-link operations. By making the BTM framework universal to handle both MLO and non-MLO scenarios through the same preference calculation, the system improves productivity without proportionally increasing complexity
2Productivity
If MLO capacities are integrated into BSS Transition Candidate Preference values, then load distribution efficiency improves, but the complexity of preference calculation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the preference calculation into distinct components: traditional parameters (RSSI, basic BSS information) and MLO-specific parameters (multi-link capability indicators, aggregated operational data from multiple links). This segmentation allows the system to improve network performance through comprehensive evaluation while managing calculation complexity through modular processing
3Adaptability or versatility
If only traditional parameters like RSSI are used for building preferred BSSID candidate lists, then the process remains simple and compatible with existing standards, but the ability to optimally utilize MLO capabilities is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimension to the traditional single-link BSS preference evaluation by incorporating multi-link operational data. Instead of evaluating only single-link parameters, the system aggregates information across multiple links (throughput, load, operational status) to create a comprehensive preference value that reflects MLO capabilities, thereby improving adaptability without excessive complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for weighted load balancing in multi-link operation (MLO) are provided. An announcement message from a second network device is received by a first network device, where the announcement message indicates a presence of the second network device within a network environment. Operational data of the second network device is collected by the first network device by monitoring network signals transmitted by the second network device. An aggregated weight for the second network device is calculated by the first network device based on the collected operational data. A preference value is determined, by the first network device, for the second network device using the aggregated weight. Upon receiving a request from a client device connected to the first network device, a neighbor report is transmitted by the first network device to the client device, where the neighbor report comprises the preference value determined for the second network device.