Signal Strength Mapping for Multi-AP Client Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-access point environments, redundant measurement requests and reports due to stationary APs lead to delayed and failed steering attempts of wireless devices, flooding the communication medium and reducing power efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Segmenting each AP's coverage area into smaller regions, assigning preliminary identifiers, and consolidating these into unique global identifiers to avoid redundant measurement reports by using target AP information from previous steering attempts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If measurement requests are sent in multi-AP environments, then steering information can be obtained, but redundant requests and reports flood the communication medium causing delayed and failed steering attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having APs proactively share coverage area information and measurement reports with neighboring APs before steering is needed. This pre-population of information allows the serving AP to make informed steering decisions without requiring the STA to generate redundant measurement reports, thus preventing communication medium flooding while ensuring reliable steering attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where APs act as mediators by sharing measurement reports and coverage information with each other. Instead of the STA repeatedly requesting measurements from multiple APs (causing flooding), the APs exchange information amongst themselves, reducing the number of messages in the communication medium while still providing comprehensive steering data.
2Measurement precision
If each AP operates independently without coverage information sharing, then AP configuration is simple, but steering decisions lack comprehensive signal strength data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coverage area information into discrete units (coverage areas with identified regions) that can be independently shared between APs. Each AP maintains its own coverage segmentation independently, then shares these segmented representations with neighbors. This allows comprehensive signal strength assessment across multiple APs while keeping individual AP configurations relatively simple and modular.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where APs share measurement reports and coverage information with neighboring APs. This feedback loop allows each AP to build a comprehensive understanding of signal conditions across the multi-AP environment without requiring complex centralized coordination. The serving AP receives feedback from neighboring APs about signal strengths in their respective coverage areas, enabling precise steering decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides methods, components, devices and systems for steering a wireless device in a multi-AP environment based on target AP information. The target AP information includes signal strength data for a particular region in which the wireless device is located. The coverage areas of the multiple APs are each segmented into regions and a unique identifier is assigned to each region. When the wireless device is first eligible for steering in a particular region, it generates a measurement report which is associated with that region in a measurement map. When the wireless device is subsequently eligible for steering in that region, instead of generating another measurement report, the previously collected target AP information in the measurement map is used to steer the wireless device to a target AP.