Wireless Switch Load Balancing for Layer 3 Roaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current WLAN technologies face challenges in maintaining seamless IP connectivity and load balancing across different IP subnets during layer 3 roaming, leading to disruptions in applications like VoIP and streaming, and result in sub-optimal routing and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a registration server that creates a mesh network of wireless switches, allowing clients to maintain their original IP address by tunneling traffic through a new home wireless switch selected based on load balancing criteria, and using DHCP to manage IP address assignments dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a client roams to a new access point in a different IP subnet, then the client can extend its wireless coverage area, but IP connectivity is disrupted and the client must obtain a new IP address
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a home wireless switch as an intermediary that maintains the client's original IP address and tunnels traffic between the client's new location (foreign wireless switch) and the original subnet. This mediator enables seamless layer 3 roaming by preserving the IP address while allowing physical movement across subnets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network into home wireless switches and foreign wireless switches, where the home wireless switch maintains the client's IP address and the foreign wireless switch provides local connectivity. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component while maintaining overall IP connectivity.
2Device complexity
If multiple clients are assigned to a single home wireless switch, then IP address management is simplified, but the wireless switch experiences increased load and performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The foreign wireless switch acts as an intermediary that handles local client connections and tunnels traffic to the home wireless switch. This distributes the load by allowing foreign switches to handle local connectivity while home switches manage IP addressing, preventing any single switch from becoming a bottleneck.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a dimensional separation between home wireless switches (IP management function) and foreign wireless switches (connectivity function). This dimensional change allows load distribution across multiple switches while maintaining centralized IP address management.
3Reliability
If a client maintains its original IP address while roaming to a different subnet, then application sessions remain active, but routing complexity increases and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The home wireless switch is pre-configured with the client's original IP address and subnet information before roaming occurs. This preliminary setup enables rapid tunnel establishment and minimal latency during the roaming transition, as the routing path is already determined.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous IP connectivity by establishing a tunnel that preserves the client's original IP address and routing path. This continuity ensures that application sessions remain active without interruption or increased latency, as the useful action of IP communication continues uninterrupted.
4Area of moving object
If wireless switches are deployed across multiple IP subnets to increase network coverage, then geographic coverage is improved, but load balancing between switches becomes difficult and routing optimization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes wireless switches multi-functional by enabling them to operate as either home wireless switches (IP management) or foreign wireless switches (connectivity), or both simultaneously for different clients. This universality simplifies load balancing by allowing any switch to handle multiple roles and enabling dynamic assignment based on load conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic role assignment where wireless switches can transition between home and foreign roles based on real-time load conditions and client roaming patterns. This dynamic behavior enables automatic load balancing across multiple subnets without complex manual configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are provided for load balancing among a plurality of wireless switches configured to support a plurality of clients including a first client. An initial home wireless switch can be configured to initially support the first client. The initial home wireless switch can select one of the wireless switches as a new home wireless switch for the first client. These techniques can be implemented, for example, in a wireless local area network.