US 11,240,734 B2 · Utilizing blacklist steering to prevent rejection of BSS transition management (BTM) steering

Abstract

Wireless devices (clients) connect to different access points (AP) in a wireless network. The wireless network may determine that based on, for example, congestion of certain APs that a client should be steered away from a current AP. Steering may be conducted utilizing BSS transition management (BTM) messages to provide the client with a list of network-preferred APs for a transition. Clients may also have one or more preferred APs and may reject the BTM steering message if it does not include at least one client-preferred AP. To prevent rejection of the BTM message, at least one client-preferred AP may be added to the BTM message. To ensure the client is steered to a network-preferred AP, the client is blacklisted from connecting to the client-preferred AP until the client has been steered to a network-preferred AP.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for preventing a wireless device from rejecting BSS transition management (BTM) steering in a wireless network, the method comprising:

preparing a list of network-preferred access points in the wireless network for the wireless device to connect to the wireless network;
creating a modified list by adding at least one client-preferred access point for the wireless device to the list of network-preferred access points;
preparing a BTM steering message utilizing the modified list;
blacklisting the wireless device from connecting to the at least one client-preferred access point;
and
sending the BTM steering message to the wireless device.

3 more elements

A device for preventing a wireless device from rejecting BSS transition management (BTM) steering in a wireless network, the device comprising:

a wired interface to communicate with one or more wireless access points associated with the wireless network;
a processor communicatively coupled to a memory for storing network configuration information and network connectivity information;
and
a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
prepare a list of network-preferred access points in the wireless network for the wireless device to connect to the wireless network;
create a modified list by adding at least one client-preferred access point for the wireless device to the list of network-preferred access points;
instruct a current access point to prepare a BTM steering message utilizing the modified list and to send the BTM steering message to the wireless device;
and
blacklist the wireless device from connecting to the at least one client-preferred access point.

6 more elements

A wireless network comprising:

a plurality of access points to enable wireless devices to connect to the wireless network;
and
a network controller to control operation of the wireless network including preventing a wireless device from rejecting BSS transition management (BTM) steering by:
preparing a list of network-preferred access points in the wireless network for the wireless device to connect to the wireless network;
creating a modified list by adding at least one client-preferred access point for the wireless device to the list of network-preferred access points;
instructing a current access point to prepare a BTM steering message utilizing the modified list and to send the BTM steering message to the wireless device;
and
blacklisting the wireless device from connecting to the at least one client-preferred access point.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Utilizing blacklist steering to prevent rejection of BSS transition management (BTM) steering

Life of this patent

Utilizing blacklist steering to prevent rejection of BSS transition management (BTM) steering

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20