WLAN Controller Edge AP Authentication Data Synchronization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing system performance is affected due to the significant signaling required when a WLAN controller synchronizes authentication data of a STA when it associates with an AP, particularly as the number of STAs increases.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves determining if an AP is an edge AP or an internal AP, and only synchronizing authentication data with neighboring WLAN controllers when the STA associates with an edge AP, thereby reducing the signaling load by selectively sending authentication data only when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If authentication data is synchronized for all STAs when they associate with any AP, then roaming authentication is enabled across WLAN controllers, but signaling load increases significantly affecting system performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between edge APs and internal APs. Authentication data synchronization is selectively performed only when STAs associate with edge APs (APs managed by this WLAN controller that have neighboring APs managed by other controllers), while no synchronization is performed for internal APs. This localized approach ensures roaming authentication is maintained where needed (at network boundaries) while avoiding unnecessary signaling within the controller's own domain, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable roaming and system performance.
2Reliability
If authentication data is synchronized for all STAs, then complete authentication coverage is achieved, but signaling processing overhead increases with STA quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and identifies the specific subset of APs (edge APs) that require authentication data synchronization. By determining whether each AP is an edge AP or internal AP, the system extracts only the necessary synchronization operations. This extraction principle reduces authentication coverage to the minimal required set (edge APs where cross-controller roaming occurs) while eliminating unnecessary signaling for internal APs, thus resolving the contradiction between complete authentication coverage and signaling processing complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If authentication data synchronization is performed universally, then roaming between controllers is supported, but processing time increases due to extensive signaling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing authentication data synchronization only partially - specifically only when STAs associate with edge APs rather than all APs. This partial synchronization maintains cross-controller roaming adaptability (since edge APs are where cross-controller transitions occur) while significantly reducing the processing time and signaling overhead by omitting redundant synchronization operations for internal APs where roaming between controllers is not possible.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes determining, by a first wireless local area network (WLAN) controller, that a first access point (AP) is an edge AP when a first STA associates with the first AP, where the edge AP is an AP neighboring to another AP, and the other AP and the edge AP are respectively managed by different WLAN controllers, and sending, by the first WLAN controller, authentication data of the first STA to at least one WLAN controller.