Access point proximity graphing

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program instructions that cause a computer to execute a process, comprising:

• determining how often client devices roam from a given access point (AP) to each particular neighbor AP of a plurality of neighbor APs of the given AP;
• determining a roaming distance from the given AP to each particular neighbor AP, the roaming distance being shorter for neighbor APs roamed to more often, and longer for neighbor APs roamed to less often, within a given interval;
• detecting successful but temporary roams to the plurality of neighbor APs, wherein the temporary roams are roams to the plurality of neighbors that last less than a predefined time interval;
• removing temporary roams to each particular neighbor AP from consideration in the roaming distance to that particular neighbor AP;
• generating a proximity list of one or more of the neighboring APs having the shortest roaming distances;
• and
• feeding the proximity list to the given AP to cause the given AP to provide the proximity list to client devices for optimized client roaming.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor configured to execute one or more process;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed configured to:
• determine how often client devices roam from a given access point (AP) to each particular neighbor AP of a plurality of neighbor APs of the given AP;
• determine a roaming distance from the given AP to each particular neighbor AP, the roaming distance being shorter for neighbor APs roamed to more often, and longer for neighbor APs roamed to less often, within a given interval;
• detect successful but temporary roams to the plurality of neighbor APs, wherein the temporary roams are roams to the plurality of neighbors that last less than a predefined time interval;
• remove temporary roams to each particular neighbor AP from consideration in the roaming distance to that particular neighbor AP;
• generate a proximity list of one or more of the neighboring APs having the shortest roaming distances;
• and
• feed the proximity list to the given AP to cause the given AP to provide the proximity list to client devices for optimized client roaming.