US 9,853,899 B2 · Method and system for controlling traffic in a wireless LAN

Abstract

Embodiments provide a traffic control system for WLAN access points. The traffic control system works in dependence on a first input-user priority (supplied by an authentication server). This allows different service levels to be provided to different classes of customer. In addition, the traffic control system polices and/or shapes traffic based on a second input—a modulation rate detector, which measures the modulation rate at which each connected client is sending its traffic, and uses it to indirectly cause fairer use of the available air interface capacity (e.g. by causing TCP streams to back off when they detect packet loss). Finally, for some embodiments where public Wi-Fi is being delivered through private Wi-Fi access points, the traffic control system is to manage the air interface utilization split between public and private WiFi users, to ensure that private users do not have their Wi-Fi air interface network capacity unduly impaired by public users.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method for controlling data traffic in a wireless local area network (WLAN), comprising:

determining respective priority levels for wireless stations communicating with a wireless access point;
calculating wireless traffic load on the WLAN as a sum across the wireless stations of a ratio of a wireless station data rate to a modulation rate;
and
for a wireless station, setting a traffic flow control limit in dependence on the wireless station priority level and the calculated wireless traffic load;
wherein the setting comprises reducing a traffic flow control limit when the wireless traffic load is above a threshold level, and increasing the traffic flow control limit when the wireless traffic load is below the threshold level.

2 more elements

A wireless local area network access point comprising:

traffic flow control system circuitry to:
i) determine respective priority levels from a user priority store for wireless stations communicating with a wireless access point;
ii) calculate wireless traffic load on the WLAN as a sum across the wireless stations of a ratio of a wireless station data rate to a modulation rate as determined by a modulation rate detector;
and
iii) for a wireless station, set a traffic flow control limit in dependence on the wireless station priority level and the calculated wireless traffic load;
wherein the setting comprises reducing a traffic flow control limit when the wireless traffic load is above a threshold level, and increasing the traffic flow control limit when the wireless traffic load is below the threshold level.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for controlling traffic in a wireless LAN

Life of this patent

Method and system for controlling traffic in a wireless LAN

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13