Centralized WLAN Access Point Management for Throughput Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for increasing wireless local area network (WLAN) throughput capacity focus on coverage rather than capacity, making it expensive and inefficient to enhance capacity by increasing access point density without effective spectrum utilization.
Innovation Solution
Converting existing computing resources into wireless access points and employing central management techniques for AP communication channel assignments, transmission power settings, and client-to-AP mappings to optimize throughput capacity without disrupting client access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the density of access points is increased to improve throughput capacity, then the throughput capacity is improved, but the hardware and software costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing access points serve multiple functions: they continue to provide wireless coverage while simultaneously being converted into additional access points themselves. This multi-functionality allows the system to increase throughput capacity without proportionally increasing the number of physical devices, as existing infrastructure is leveraged to create new access points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of access point functionality on existing infrastructure. By converting existing access points into additional access points through software or virtualization, the system generates multiple functional instances without requiring proportional hardware multiplication, thereby reducing the actual quantity of physical devices needed.
2Productivity
If the density of access points is increased to improve throughput capacity, then the throughput capacity is improved, but the hardware and software costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Existing access points are made universal by enabling them to perform both traditional wireless access functions and additional access point functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated hardware, thereby lowering overall hardware costs while maintaining improved throughput capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of purchasing additional physical access points, the patent creates virtual or software-based copies of access point functionality on existing infrastructure. This copying approach significantly reduces hardware and software costs compared to deploying equivalent numbers of physical devices.
3Productivity
If multiple access points are deployed to improve throughput capacity, then the throughput capacity is improved, but effective spectrum utilization is reduced without central management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements central management that continuously monitors and collects information from multiple access points about their operational status, load conditions, and spectrum usage. This feedback mechanism enables the central controller to make informed decisions about channel assignments and power settings, optimizing spectrum utilization and preventing waste that would occur with decentralized autonomous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a central management entity as an intermediary between multiple access points. This intermediary coordinates channel assignments, transmission power settings, and client mappings across all access points, ensuring efficient spectrum utilization by preventing interference and optimizing resource allocation, thereby reducing energy loss.
4Loss of energy
If central management is implemented to optimize spectrum utilization, then spectrum utilization efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management functions of multiple access points into a single central management entity. By combining control, monitoring, and optimization functions into one centralized system, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having each access point independently manage its own operations while still achieving efficient spectrum utilization through coordinated control.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for enhancing throughput capacity available to client devices connected to a wireless local area network (WLAN) are described. Specifically, existing WLAN resources are converted into wireless access points (APs) to create a dense infrastructure of wireless APs. To leverage this dense AP infrastructure, central management techniques are employed. With client-to-AP mapping, these techniques are used to prevent discovery of multiple APs in a WLAN by a client device and to select a single AP (using certain policies) to associate with the client device and provide it with an enhanced wireless connection to the WLAN. Additionally, techniques are employed to centrally determine, using certain policies, when the AP should disassociate from the client device and when another centrally selected AP should respond to, and associate with, the client device to provide it with an enhanced wireless connection to the WLAN - without interrupting/disrupting the client device's access.