Handing off a node from a first access point to a second access point

A method for handing off a node from a first access point to a second access point, comprising:

• facilitating communication between a node and a network using a first access point;
• accessing a handoff rule of one or more handoff rules;
• determining one or more handoff factors associated with the first access point and a second access point, a handoff factor relevant in deciding whether to handoff from the first access point to the second access point;
• applying the handoff rule to the one or more handoff factors by:
• determining a first channel utilization value associated with the first access point;
• determining a second channel utilization value associated with the second access point;
• and
• determining a channel utilization difference between the first channel utilization value and the second channel utilization value;
• and
• initiating handoff of the node to the second access point if the channel utilization difference satisfies a channel utilization differential threshold, the channel utilization differential threshold comprising a first channel utilization differential threshold if the first channel utilization value is within a first range of values, the channel utilization differential threshold comprising a second channel utilization differential threshold if the first channel utilization value is within a second range of values, the first range of values less than the second range of values, the first channel utilization differential threshold greater than the second channel utilization differential threshold.

A system for handing off a node from a first access point to a second access point, comprising:

• a first access point operable to facilitate communication between a node and a network;
• and
• the node operable to:
• access a handoff rule of one or more handoff rules;
• determine one or more handoff factors associated with the first access point and a second access point, a handoff factor relevant in deciding whether to handoff from the first access point to the second access point;
• apply the handoff rule to the one or more handoff factors by:
• determining a difference between a first Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value and a second RSSI value, the first RSSI value associated with the first access point, the second RSSI value associated with the second access point;
• and
• initiate handoff of the node to the second access point if the one or more handoff factors satisfy the applied handoff rule by:
• initiating handoff of the node to the second access point if the difference satisfies an RSSI differential threshold, the RSSI differential threshold comprising a first RSSI differential threshold if the first RSSI value is within a first range of values, the RSSI differential threshold comprising a second RSSI differential threshold if the first RSSI value is within a second range of values, the first range of values less than the second range of values, the first RSSI differential threshold less than the second RSSI differential threshold.

A system for handing off a node from a first access point to a second access point, comprising:

• a first access point operable to facilitate communication between a node and a network;
• and
• the node operable to:
• access a handoff rule of one or more handoff rules;
• determine one or more handoff factors associated with the first access point and a second access point, a handoff factor relevant in deciding whether to handoff from the first access point to the second access point;
• apply the handoff rule to the one or more handoff factors by:
• determining a first channel utilization value associated with the first access point;
• determining a second channel utilization value associated with the second access point;
• and
• determining a channel utilization difference between the first channel utilization value and the second channel utilization value;
• and
• initiate handoff of the node to the second access point if the channel utilization difference satisfies a channel utilization differential threshold, the channel utilization differential threshold comprising a first channel utilization differential threshold if the first channel utilization value is within a first range of values, the channel utilization differential threshold comprising a second channel utilization differential threshold if the first channel utilization value is within a second range of values, the first range of values less than the second range of values, the first channel utilization differential threshold greater than the second channel utilization differential threshold.

A node of a communication network, comprising:

• an interface operable to communicate with a first access point;
• and
• a handoff initiator operable to:
• access a handoff rule of one or more handoff rules;
• determine one or more handoff factors associated with the first access point and a second access point, a handoff factor relevant in deciding whether to handoff from the first access point to the second access point;
• apply the handoff rule to the one or more handoff factors by:
• determining a difference between a first Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value and a second RSSI value, the first RSSI value associated with the first access point, the second RSSI value associated with the second access point;
• and
• initiate handoff of the node to the second access point if the one or more handoff factors satisfy the applied handoff rule by:
• initiating handoff of the node to the second access point if the difference satisfies an RSSI differential threshold, the RSSI differential threshold comprising a first RSSI differential threshold if the first RSSI value is within a first range of values, the RSSI differential threshold comprising a second RSSI differential threshold if the first RSSI value is within a second range of values, the first range of values less than the second range of values, the first RSSI differential threshold less than the second RSSI differential threshold.

A node of a communication network, comprising:

• an interface operable to communicate with a first access point;
• and
• a handoff initiator operable to:
• access a handoff rule of one or more handoff rules;
• determine one or more handoff factors associated with the first access point and a second access point, a handoff factor relevant in deciding whether to handoff from the first access point to the second access point;
• apply the handoff rule to the one or more handoff factors by:
• determining a first channel utilization value associated with the first access point;
• determining a second channel utilization value associated with the second access point;
• and
• determining a channel utilization difference between the first channel utilization value and the second channel utilization value;
• and
• initiate handoff of the node to the second access point if the channel utilization difference satisfies a channel utilization differential threshold, the channel utilization differential threshold comprising a first channel utilization differential threshold if the first channel utilization value is within a first range of values, the channel utilization differential threshold comprising a second channel utilization differential threshold if the first channel utilization value is within a second range of values, the first range of values less than the second range of values, the first channel utilization differential threshold greater than the second channel utilization differential threshold.

A system for handing off node from a first access point to a second access point, comprising:

• means for facilitating communicating between a node and a network using a first access point;
• means for accessing a handoff rule of one or more handoff rules;
• means for determining one or more handoff factors associated with the first access point and a second access point, a handoff factor revelant in deciding whether to handoff from the first access point to the second access point;
• means for applying the handoff rule to the one or more handoff factors by:
• determining a difference between a first Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value and a second RSSI value, the first RSSI value associated with the first access point, the second RSSI value associated with the second access point;
• and
• means for initiating handoff of the node to the second access point if the one or more handoff factors satisfy the applied handoff rule by:
• initiating handoff of the node to the second access point if the difference satisfies an RSSI differential threshold, the RSSI differential threshold comprising a first RSSI differential threshold if the first RSSI value is within a first range of values, the RSSI differential threshold comprising a second RSSI differential threshold if the first RSSI value is within a second range of values, the first range of values less than the second range of values, the first RSSI differential threshold less than the second RSSI differential threshold.