Mode steering in a wireless communication network
AssigneeMotorola Solutions, Inc.
InventorsAnil Kaushik, Hari Sharma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Mode steering in a wireless communication network includes configuring a list of neighboring access points and their operational modes. If an operational mode of a requesting mobile device can not be supported by the access point, denying the association. If an operational mode of a requesting mobile device matches a highest operational mode of the access point, allowing the association. If the operational mode of the mobile device is not the same as the highest operational mode of the access point, and if any neighboring access point has an available operational mode matching that of the mobile device, denying the association, so as to steer the requesting mobile device to the matching neighboring access point.
Claims19
A method for mode steering in a wireless communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
- configuring a list of neighboring access points and their operational modes by an access point;
- receiving a request for association from a mobile device by the access point;
- determining an operational mode of the mobile device by the access point;
- wherein if the operational mode of the mobile device does not match any operational mode of the access point, denying the association, and
- wherein if the operational mode of the mobile device matches a highest throughput operational mode of the access point, allowing the association, and
- wherein if the operational mode of the mobile device is a lower throughput operational mode than the highest throughput operation mode of the access point, and if any neighboring access point has an available operational mode matching the operational mode of the mobile device, denying the association, and otherwise allowing the association.
An access point operable for mode steering in a wireless communication network, the access point comprising:
- a memory operable to be configured with a list of neighboring access points and their operational modes;
- a transceiver operable to receive a request for association from a mobile device;
- and
- a processor coupled to the memory and transceiver, the processor operable to determine an operational mode of the mobile device;
- wherein if the operational mode of the mobile device does not match any operational mode of the access point, denying the association, and wherein if the operational mode of the mobile device matches a highest throughput operational mode of the access point, allowing the association, and wherein if the operational mode of the mobile device is a lower throughput operational mode than the highest throughput operation mode of the access point, and if any neighboring access point has an available operational mode matching the operational mode of the mobile device, denying the association, and otherwise allowing the association.
A wireless local area network including an access point operable for mode steering in a wireless communication network and at least one neighboring access point, the access point comprising:
- a memory operable to be configured with a list of neighboring access points and their available operational modes;
- a transceiver operable to receive a request for association from a mobile device;
- and
- a processor coupled to the memory and transceiver, the processor operable to determine an operational mode of the mobile device;
- wherein if the operational mode of the mobile device does not match any operational mode of the access point, denying the association, and wherein if the operational mode of the mobile device matches a highest throughput operational mode of the access point, allowing the association, and wherein if the operational mode of the mobile device is a lower throughput operational mode than the highest throughput operation mode of the access point, and if any neighboring access point has an available operational mode matching the operational mode of the mobile device, denying the association, and otherwise allowing the association.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.