Coordination of probe response restrictions in multiple Wi-Fi 7 access point on a WLAN

1 . A computer-implemented method in a Wi-Fi controller communicatively coupled to a plurality of WI-FI 7® (Wi-Fi 7) access points on a data communication network, coordinating a restriction of probe responses the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access point receiving a probe request from a station, the method comprising:

connecting with the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access points over the data communication network;

forming a multiple access point coordination group from two or more of the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access points, wherein the two or more of the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access points at least partially overlap in radio signal coverage area;

receiving a probe request of the station from each at least two of the at least two of the two or more Wi-Fi 7 access points, wherein the probe requests are each sourced from the station while within the at least partially overlapped radio signal coverage area;

selecting one of the at least two of the two or more access points to respond to the probe request with a probe response, based at least on an Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value associated with the probe requests; and

transmitting a single probe response to the station, in response to the multiple probe requests, by notifying the selected access point to send the single probe response including a Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) data providing connection information for the at least two access points, and wherein the other of the at least two Wi-Fi 7 access points refrain from sending additional probe responses to the station.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the a first probe request received from a first Wi-Fi 7 access point and a second probe request received from a second Wi-Fi 7 access point have a common BSSID, wherein the first and second Wi-Fi 7 access points are from the multiple access point coordination group.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a first probe request received from a first Wi-Fi 7 access point and a second probe request received from a second Wi-Fi 7 access point have different BSSIDs, wherein the first and second Wi-Fi 7 access points are from the multiple access point coordination group.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of creating the multiple access point coordination group is automatically created based on at least current network statistics and current access point conditions concerning the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access points.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting one of the at least two of the two or more access points to respond is based on at least current network statistics and current access point conditions concerning the at least two access points.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: generating the RNR data by the selected access point, wherein the RNR data includes a BSSID of at least one access point not selected to transmit the single probe response.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving notification of a connection request from the station, to connect to an access point included in the RNR, although not selected to transmit the single probe response.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of creating a multiple access point coordination group is on-the-fly in response to receiving the probe request.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein responsive to having information for synchronous evaluation, redirecting, by the web extension, the web request to display a web page to bypass the browser extension holding page.

10 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium in a Wi-Fi controller communicatively coupled to a plurality of WI-FI 7® (Wi-Fi 7) access points on a data communication network, coordinating a restriction of probe responses the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access point receiving a probe request from a station, the method comprising:

connecting with the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access points over the data communication network;

forming a multiple access point coordination group from two or more of the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access points, wherein the two or more of the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access points at least partially overlap in radio signal coverage area;

receiving a probe request of the station from each at least two of the at least two of the two or more Wi-Fi 7 access points, wherein the probe requests are each sourced from the station while within the at least partially overlapped radio signal coverage area;

selecting one of the at least two of the two or more access points to respond to the probe request with a probe response, based at least on an Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value associated with the probe requests; and

transmitting a single probe response to the station, in response to the multiple probe requests, by notifying the selected access point to send the single probe response including a Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) data providing connection information for the at least two access points, and wherein the other of the at least two Wi-Fi 7 access points refrain from sending additional probe responses to the station.

11 . A Wi-Fi controller communicatively coupled to a plurality of WI-FI 7® (Wi-Fi 7) access points on a data communication network, coordinating a restriction of probe responses the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access point receiving a probe request from a station, the Wi-Fi controller comprising:

a processor;

a network interface communicatively coupled to the processor and to a data communication network; and

a memory, communicatively coupled to the processor and storing:

an access point module to connect with the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access points on the data communication network;

an access point grouping module to form a multiple access point coordination group from two or more of the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access points, wherein the two or more of the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access points at least partially overlap in radio signal coverage area,

wherein the access point module to receive a probe request of the station from each at least two of the at least two of the two or more Wi-Fi 7 access points, wherein the probe requests are each sourced from the station while within the at least partially overlapped radio signal coverage area;

a selection module to select one of the at least two of the two or more access points to respond to the probe request with a probe response, based at least on an Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value associated with the probe requests, wherein a single probe response is transmitted to the station, in response to the multiple probe requests, by notifying the selected access point to send the single probe response including a Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) data providing connection information for the at least two access points, and wherein the other of the at least two Wi-Fi 7 access points refrain from sending additional probe responses to the station.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the a first probe request received from a first Wi-Fi 7 access point and a second probe request received from a second Wi-Fi 7 access point have a common BSSID, wherein the first and second Wi-Fi 7 access points are from the multiple access point coordination group.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a first probe request received from a first Wi-Fi 7 access point and a second probe request received from a second Wi-Fi 7 access point have different BSSIDs, wherein the first and second Wi-Fi 7 access points are from the multiple access point coordination group.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of creating the multiple access point coordination group is automatically created based on at least current network statistics and current access point conditions concerning the plurality of Wi-Fi 7 access points.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of selecting one of the at least two of the two or more access points to respond is based on at least current network statistics and current access point conditions concerning the at least two access points.

16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising: generating the RNR data by the selected access point, wherein the RNR data includes a BSSID of at least one access point not selected to transmit the single probe response.

17 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving notification of a connection request from the station, to connect to an access point included in the RNR, although not selected to transmit the single probe response.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of creating a multiple access point coordination group is on-the-fly in response to receiving the probe request.

19 . The method of claim 10 , wherein responsive to having information for synchronous evaluation, redirecting, by the web extension, the web request to display a web page to bypass the browser extension holding page.

20 . The Wi-Fi controller of claim 11 , wherein the a first probe request received from a first Wi-Fi 7 access point and a second probe request received from a second Wi-Fi 7 access point have a common BSSID, wherein the first and second Wi-Fi 7 access points are from the multiple access point coordination group.