Packet dropping based on RF conditions

A method of dropping packets at an access point wirelessly coupled to a plurality of devices operatively coupled to a network, comprising:

• receiving, by the access point, a first indicator of RF conditions associated with a wireless link between the access point and a first device;
• receiving, by the access point, a second indicator of RF conditions associated with a wireless link between the access point and a second device;
• receiving, by the access point, a third indicator of RF conditions associated with a wireless link between the access point and a third device;
• discovering a throughput capacity of a backhaul link between the access point and the network;
• receiving, at a buffer of the access point, a first packet from the first device;
• receiving, at the buffer of the access point, a second packet from the second device;
• receiving, at the buffer of the access point, a third packet from the third device;
• associating a first drop probability with the first indicator of RF conditions, wherein the first drop probability is proportional to the quality of the associated RF conditions;
• associating a second drop probability with the second indicator of RF conditions, wherein the second drop probability is proportional to the quality of the associated RF conditions;
• associating a third drop probability with the third indicator of RF conditions, wherein the third drop probability is proportional to the quality of the associated RF conditions;
• selecting the second packet to be dropped, when the throughput capacity of the backhaul link meets a throughput criteria and when the second drop probability is greater than the first drop probability;
• and
• selecting the third packet to be dropped when the third drop probability is greater than the second drop probability and available space in the buffer meets a space availability criteria.

A method of scheduling packets, comprising:

• storing, in a buffer of an access point, a first packet associated with a first wireless device operatively coupled to the access point, wherein the first wireless device is associated with a first indicator of wireless throughput capacity between the access point and the first wireless device;
• receiving a second packet associated with a second wireless device operatively coupled to the access point, wherein the second wireless device is associated with a second indicator of wireless throughput capacity between the access point and the second wireless device;
• replacing the first packet in the buffer with the second packet, when the first indicator of wireless throughput capacity and the second indicator of wireless throughput capacity indicate that the wireless throughput capacity of the first wireless device is greater than the wireless throughput capacity of the second wireless device, a combined throughput capacity of the first indicator of wireless throughput capacity and the second indicator of wireless throughput capacity meets a throughput criteria, and the available space in the buffer meets a space availability criteria;
• receiving a third packet associated with a third wireless device operatively coupled to the access point, wherein the third wireless device is associated with a third indicator of wireless throughput capacity between the access point and the third wireless device;
• discarding the third packet, when the third indicator of wireless throughput indicates that the wireless throughput of the third wireless device is greater than the wireless throughput of the second wireless device, a combined throughput of the first indicator of wireless throughput capacity, the second indicator of wireless throughput capacity, and the third indicator of wireless throughput capacity meets a throughput criteria, and the available space in the buffer meets a space availability criteria;
• and,
• sending the second packet to a network through a backhaul link between the access point and the network.

A packet buffering and retransmission system, comprising:

• a storage system comprising a buffer configured to receive and store packets associated with a plurality of indicators of wireless throughput capacity for transmission to a network through a backhaul link;
• and,
• a processing system coupled to the storage system comprising packet replacement logic configured to
• receive a first indicator of throughput capacity of a wireless link between an access point and a first device;
• receive a second indicator of throughput capacity of a wireless link between the access point and a second device;
• receive a third indicator of throughput capacity of a wireless link between the access point and a third device;
• discover a throughput capacity of the backhaul link between the access point and the network;
• receive an indication that a first packet from the first device was received at the buffer;
• receive an indication that a second packet from the second device was received at the buffer;
• receive an indicator that a third packet from the third device was received at the buffer;
• determine to discard the third packet from the buffer when the third indicator of throughput capacity is greater than the throughput capacity of the second device, a combined throughput capacity of the first device, second device, and third device, and available space in the buffer meets a space availability criteria;
• and
• initiate sending the first packet and dropping the second packet based on the first indicator of throughput capacity, the second indicator of throughput capacity, and the discovered throughput capacity of the backhaul link, when the first indicator of throughput capacity and the second indicator of throughput capacity indicate that the throughput capacity of the first wireless device is less than the throughput capacity of the second wireless device.