Client steering

A wireless network device, for use within a wireless network, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory;
• and
• an interface for receiving and transmitting data;
• wherein the wireless network device is adapted to:
• determine a first cost associated with communication between the wireless network device and a client device to which the wireless network device is connectable;
• determine a second cost associated with communication between the client device and a further wireless network device to which the client device is connectable;
• determine whether the first cost or the second cost is the lower cost;
• and
• if the second cost is the lower cost, the wireless network device is adapted to guide the client device to communicate with the further network device, wherein the first cost is an end-to-end cost and the second cost is an end-to-end cost and wherein the wireless network device is adapted to receive data, via the interface, from other wireless network devices in the wireless network, wherein the data is indicative of the second cost.

A wireless network comprising:

• a plurality of wireless network devices each comprising:
• a processor;
• a memory;
• and
• an interface for receiving and transmitting data;
• wherein at least one of the wireless network devices is adapted to:
• determine a first cost associated with communication between the at least one wireless network device and a client device to which the at least one wireless network device is connectable;
• determine a second cost associated with communication between the client device and a further wireless network device to which the client device is connectable;
• determine whether the first cost or the second cost is the lower cost;
• and
• if the second cost is the lower cost, the at least one wireless network device is adapted to guide the client device to communicate with the further network device, wherein the first cost is an end-to-end cost and the second cost is an end-to-end cost and wherein the wireless network device is adapted to receive data, via the interface, from other wireless network devices in the wireless network, wherein the data is indicative of the second cost.

A method of operating a wireless network device, for use within a wireless network, comprising the steps of:

• determining a first cost associated with communication between the wireless network device and a client device to which the wireless network device is connectable;
• determining a second cost associated with communication between the client device and a further wireless network device to which the client device is connectable;
• determining whether the first cost or the second cost is the lower cost;
• and
• if the second cost is the lower cost, guiding the client device to communicate with the further network device, wherein the first cost is an end-to-end cost and the second cost is an end-to-end cost and wherein the wireless network device is adapted to receive data, via the interface, from other wireless network devices in the wireless network, wherein the data is indicative of the second cost.