US7400901B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
WLAN having load balancing based on access point loading
Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP
•
Filing: 2002-11-12
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Granted: 2008-07-15
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Expires: 2022-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A network having distribution of access point loading includes access points to which mobile stations can associate themselves based upon access point beacon signal levels and loading levels for the various access points. A mobile station receives beacon signals from various access points and determines a signal strength for the received beacon signals. The mobile station also receives access point loading information from the access points. The mobile station associates with an access point based upon the access point beacon signal strengths and the access point loading information.
Inventors
- 👤 Zoran Kostic
- 👤 Kin K Leung
- 👤 Hujun Yin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:11
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W48/00; H04W48/20; H04L; H04L47/00; H04L47/10; H04L47/12; H04L47/122; H04W28/00; H04W28/02; H04W28/0205; H04W48/08; H04W8/00; H04W8/02; H04W8/04; H04W24/00; H04W28/0289; H04W48/16; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/10; H04W84/12; H04W88/00; H04W88/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of distributing access point loading in a wireless network, comprising: receiving beacon signals from a plurality of access points; determining a signal strength for the received beacon signals; receiving access point loading information from the plurality of access points, the access point loading information comprising a transmission queue length and a number of transmitted error packets; and associating with a first one of the plurality of access points based upon the beacon signal strengths, the access point loading information, mobile station priority weighting, access point priorities, and overall network loading.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of distributing access point loading in a wireless network, comprising: receiving beacon signals from a plurality of access points; determining a signal strength for the received beacon signals; receiving access point loading information from the plurality of access points, the access point loading information comprising a transmission queue length and a number of transmitted error packets; and associating with a first one of the plurality of access points based upon the beacon signal strengths, the access point loading information, mobile station priority weighting, access point priorities, and overall network loading.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 1 , further including associating with the first one of the plurality of access points when a beacon signal strength of the first one of the plurality of access points is less than a second one of the plurality of access points.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 2 , wherein a loading level of the second one of the plurality of access points is greater than a loading level of the first one of the plurality of access points.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 , further including receiving the access point loading information in a beacon frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1 , further including associating with the first one of the plurality of access points where at least two of the beacon signal strengths are above a predetermined level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 5 , further including associating with the first one of the plurality of access points which has a fewest number of associated mobile stations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1 , further including associating with the first one of the plurality of access points based upon a cost function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 7 , wherein the cost function includes a parameter corresponding to the access point loading information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 7 , further including associating with the first one of the plurality of access points with the cost function using one or more parameters including one or more of access point traffic intensity and access point signal strength levels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is a 802.11 network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 , further including receiving the access point loading information in capability information field.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
An access point, comprising: a processor; a module coupled to the processor for obtaining parameters, said parameters comprising load level information of the access point, access point priority, and overall network loading, the load level information comprising a transmission queue length and a number of transmitted error packets; a memory coupled to the processor for storing the parameters; and a means for transmitting the access point parameters to mobile stations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
An access point, comprising: a processor; a module coupled to the processor for obtaining parameters, said parameters comprising load level information of the access point, access point priority, and overall network loading, the load level information comprising a transmission queue length and a number of transmitted error packets; a memory coupled to the processor for storing the parameters; and a means for transmitting the access point parameters to mobile stations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The access point according to claim 12 , wherein the memory stores link quality information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The access point according to claim 12 , wherein the access point forms a part of an 802.11 network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
A mobile station, comprising a processor; a memory coupled to the processor for storing access point loading information, access point beacon signal strength information, mobile station priority weighting, access point priorities, and overall network loading, the loading information comprising a transmission queue length and a number of transmitted error packets; and a means for selecting to associate with a first one of a plurality of access points based upon the beacon signal strength information, the access point loading information, the mobile station priority weighting, access point priorities, and overall network loading.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
91 words
A mobile station, comprising a processor; a memory coupled to the processor for storing access point loading information, access point beacon signal strength information, mobile station priority weighting, access point priorities, and overall network loading, the loading information comprising a transmission queue length and a number of transmitted error packets; and a means for selecting to associate with a first one of a plurality of access points based upon the beacon signal strength information, the access point loading information, the mobile station priority weighting, access point priorities, and overall network loading.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The mobile station according to claim 15 , further including means for selecting to associate with the first one of the plurality of access points when a beacon signal strength of the first one of the plurality of access points is less than a second one of the plurality of access points.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The mobile station according to claim 16 , wherein a loading level of the second one of the plurality of access points is greater than a loading level of the first one of the plurality of access points.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2011-07-15 | 2012-01-14 | 2012-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-07-15 | 2016-01-14 | 2016-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-07-15 | 2020-01-14 | 2020-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |