System and method for facilitating fair association of client devices with access points in a wireless communication system

An access point comprising:

• a processor;
• one or more network interfaces for establishing connection with one or more client devices and other access points in a wireless communication system;
• a transceiver for communicating with the client devices and the other access points;
• a memory comprising:
• an information module configured to receive at least one client parameter and required throughput from the one or more client devices;
• a rate module configured to compute an achievable transmission rate for the one or more client devices based on the respective client parameter, and to estimate throughput for the one or more client devices based on the computed achievable transmission rate;
• a utility module configured to compute a utility value considering an association of a first client device, selected from the one or more client devices, with the access point based on the estimated throughput of the first client device and the throughput requirement of the first client device;
• a comparison module configured to compare the computed utility value with utility values received from the other access points;
• and
• an association module configured to allow the first client device to associate with the access point based on the comparison.

A method for facilitating association of one or more client devices with an access point in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• determining that a new client device is present in a coverage area of the access point;
• receiving at least one client parameter and required throughput from the new client device;
• computing an achievable transmission rate for the new client device based on the client parameter;
• estimating throughput for the new client device based on the achievable transmission rate;
• computing a utility value considering an association of the new client device with the access point, based on the estimated throughput and the required throughput of the new client device;
• determining whether the new client device is to be associated with the access point based on the computed utility value;
• associating the new client device with the access point based on the determination;
• computing a change in utility value of the access point due to the association with the new client device;
• disassociating one or more client devices previously associated with the access point based on the computed change;
• and
• associating the disassociated client devices with other access points in the wireless communication system.