Proactively assist roaming of Wi-Fi 6E stations with smart-management of fast BSS transition

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, storing computer-executable instructions in a Wi-Fi controller on a data communication network that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for proactively assisting access point selection during fast BSS roaming over a wireless portion of the data communication network, the method comprising:

• communicatively connecting the Wi-Fi controller to a plurality of access points, wherein a current access point is wirelessly connected to a Wi-Fi 6E station for access to the data communication network;
• receiving, at the Wi-Fi controller, an access point scan list and a station scan report from the plurality of access points, wherein the access point scan list identifies other access points within RF range, and associated BSSIDs and operating channels of the access points, and wherein the station scan report includes stations within RF range and associated RSSI values relative to the stations;
• generating, at the Wi-Fi controller, a global station report based on the access point scan lists and the station scan reports from access points, and listing each station with respect to an RSSI value of each nearby access point from the plurality of access points;
• proactively determining, at the Wi-Fi controller, from the global station report and before receiving any BTM query frame from the specific Wi-Fi 6E station for the proactive fast BSS transition, that an RSSI value for the specific Wi-Fi 6E station relative to at least one preferred access point better than the current access point, and in response, the Wi-Fi controller notifying the current access point and notifying the at least one preferred access point, about a proactive fast BSS transition,
• wherein, in response to the notification from the Wi-Fi controller, and not in response to receiving a BTM query frame from the specific Wi-Fi 6E station, the current access point transmits a BTM-REQ (BSS Transition Management-Request) action frame to the specific Wi-Fi 6E station, wherein the BTM-REQ action frame includes BSSIDs and respective operating channel information for the one or more preferred access points, and wherein the specific Wi-Fi 6E station has not yet transmitted a BTM query frame to the current access point for the proactive fast BSS transition, and
• wherein the specific Wi-Fi 6E station selects a target access point from the at least one preferred access points of the BTM-REQ action frame and an internal RSSI scan table comprising RSSI values with respect to the at least one preferred access points, and the Wi-Fi 6E station transmits a BTM-RES frame to notify the current access point of upcoming BSS fast transition to a selected one of the at least one preferred access point;
• and
• updating the global station report responsive to detecting that the specific Wi-Fi 6E station has completed BSS fast roaming from the current access point to the selected one of the at least one preferred access points.

A Wi-Fi controller on a data communication network, for proactively assisting access point selection during fast BSS roaming over a wireless portion of the data communication network, the Wi-Fi controller comprising:

• a processor;
• a network interface communicatively coupled to the processor and to a data communication network;
• and
• a memory, communicatively coupled to the processor and storing:
• communicatively connect the Wi-Fi controller to a plurality of access points, wherein a current access point is wirelessly connected to a Wi-Fi 6E station for access to the data communication network,
• receive an access point scan list and a station scan report from the plurality of access points, wherein the access point scan list identifies other access points within RF range, and associated BSSIDs and operating channels of the access points, and wherein the station scan report includes stations within RF range and associated RSSI values relative to the stations;
• generate a global station report based on the access point scan lists and the station scan reports from access points, and list each station with respect to an RSSI value of each nearby access point from the plurality of access points;
• and
• proactively determine that an RSSI value for the specific Wi-Fi 6E station to at a least one preferred access point to be better than the current access point, and in response, notify the current access point and notify the at least one preferred access point, about a proactive fast BSS transition,
• wherein, in response to the notification from the Wi-Fi controller, and not in response to receiving a BTM query frame from the specific Wi-Fi 6E station, the current access point transmits a BTM-REQ (BSS Transition Management-Request) action frame to the specific Wi-Fi 6E station, wherein the BTM-REQ action frame includes BSSIDs and respective operating channel information for the one or more preferred access points, and wherein the specific Wi-Fi 6E station has not yet transmitted a BTM query frame to the current access point for the proactive fast BSS transition, and
• wherein the specific Wi-Fi 6E station selects a target access point from the at least one preferred access points of the BTM-REQ action frame and an internal RSSI scan table comprising RSSI values with respect to the at least one preferred access points, and the Wi-Fi 6E station transmits a BTM-RES frame to notify the current access point of upcoming BSS fast transition to a selected one of the at least one preferred access point;
• and
• update the global station report responsive to detecting that the specific Wi-Fi 6E station has completed BSS fast roaming from the current access point to the selected one of the at least one preferred access points.