# US 2019/0320385 A1 · Method and Device for Dynamic and Seamless Link Selection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0320385 A1 - Document ID: US20190320385A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/120,088 - Filed: 2018-08-31 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-13 - Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Apurv Bhartia; Simon Eric Miani Barber; Feng Wang; Derrick Lyndon Pallas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190320385A1 ## CPC - H04W 48/06: based on traffic conditions - H04W 48/20: Selecting an access point - H04W 24/08: Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic - H04W 28/0831: {Core entity} - H04W 28/0861: {between base stations} - H04W 28/0862: {of same hierarchy level} - H04W 28/0942: {based on measured or predicted load of entities- or links} - H04W 48/14: using user query {or user detection} - H04W 76/10: Connection setup - H04W 24/10: Scheduling measurement reports {; Arrangements for measurement reports} - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W 92/20: between access points - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A disclosed method is performed at an access point including a processor and non-transitory memory. The method includes receiving a request message from a client device, where the request message includes a request for an allocation of a wireless channel for the client device from the access point. The method further includes exchanging candidate and load information with a plurality of other access points. The method additionally includes selecting a preferred access point from the access point and the plurality of other access points based on the candidate and load information exchanged with the plurality of other access points. The method also includes facilitating the allocation of the wireless channel for the client device from the preferred access point. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: at an access point including a processor and non-transitory memory: receiving a request message from a client device, wherein the request message includes a request for an allocation of a wireless channel for the client device from the access point; exchanging candidate and load information with a plurality of other access points; selecting a preferred access point from the access point and the plurality of other access points based on the candidate and load information exchanged with the plurality of other access points; and facilitating the allocation of the wireless channel for the client device from the preferred access point. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the candidate and load information is exchanged between the access point and the plurality of other access points through wired connections. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein exchanging the candidate and load information with the plurality of other access points is performed in response to receiving the request message. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein exchanging the candidate and load information with the plurality of other access points is performed periodically. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a local candidates table and a local load table, stored in the non-transitory memory, based on the candidate and load information received from the plurality of other access points. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the local candidates table includes candidate access points for each client device connectable to the access point and the plurality of other access points. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein an entry of the local candidates table includes a MAC address of a particular client device, a sub-table of candidate access points for the particular client device, a current preferred access point for the particular client device, and a timestamp of latest update of the entry. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the local load table includes loads of the access point and the plurality of other access points. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein an entry of the local load table includes a LAN IP address of a respective access point, a current load of the respective access point, and a timestamp of latest update to the entry. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the preferred access point from the access point and the plurality of other access points based on the candidate and load information exchanged with the plurality of other access points includes selecting the preferred access point with the lowest load among candidate access points based on the candidate and load information. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the request is a probe request including SSID of the client device and RSSI of the wireless channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the candidate and load information exchanged with the plurality of other access points includes a candidacy message informing the plurality of other access points of its candidacy to host the client device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the request for the allocation of the wireless channel includes an association request from the client device to establish the wireless channel ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the candidate and load information exchanged with the plurality of other access points includes a load message to update the plurality of other access points of an increase in load of the access point. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein facilitating the allocation of the wireless channel for the client device from the preferred access point includes: determining whether the access point is the preferred access point in response to receiving the association request; transmitting an association response with success status to the client device in accordance with a determination that the access point is the preferred access point; and transmitting an association response with deny status to the client device in accordance with a determination that the access point is not the preferred access point. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a disassociation of the client device from the access point. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the candidate and load information exchanged with the plurality of other access points includes a load message to update the plurality of other access points of a decrease in load of the access point. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: selecting the preferred access point from the access point and the plurality of other access points based on the candidate and load information includes: periodically examining whether or not quality of the wireless channel has fallen below a predetermined threshold; and selecting the preferred access point from the plurality of other access points in accordance with a determination that the quality of the wireless channel has fallen below the predetermined threshold; and facilitating the allocation of the wireless channel for the client device from the preferred access point includes steering away the client device to the preferred access point. ### Claim 19 A networking device comprising: a wireless interface provided to receive a request message from a client device, wherein the request message includes a request for an allocation of a wireless channel for the client device from an access point; a wired interface provided to exchange candidate and load information with a plurality of other access points; a processor; a non-transitory memory coupled to the processor; and one or more programs stored in the non-transitory memory, which, when executed by the processor, cause the networking device to: select a preferred access point from the access point and the plurality of other access points based on the candidate and load information exchanged with the plurality of other access points; and facilitate the allocation of the wireless channel for the client device from the preferred access point. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoding instructions, which, when executed by a processor of a networking device, cause the networking device to: receive a request message from a client device, wherein the request message includes a request for an allocation of a wireless channel for the client device from an access point; exchange candidate and load information with a plurality of other access points; select a preferred access point from the access point and the plurality of other access points based on the candidate and load information exchanged with the plurality of other access points; and facilitate the allocation of the wireless channel for the client device from the preferred access point.