Location driven association of client devices to access points
View Patent ↗A method may determine the location and/or motion of a client device. Based on these determinations, the method may 1) delay a potential move of the client device to a new access point until the client device reaches a non-transitional or less dense area or is stationary, 2) delay a potential move of the client device to a new access point while the client device is on the edge of the network environment, 3) compute a probable destination of the client device and wait until this destination is reached before triggering movement to a new access point, 4) reduce the effects caused by shadowing, 5) guide the client device to more proximate access points, and 6) guide the client device to dedicated proximate access points when client devices are relatively motionless. Accordingly, the method dynamically leverages client device location and motion to intelligently assign client devices to access points.
1. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
determine a layout of a plurality of access points in a network;
determine a direction of each access point of the plurality of access points relative to each other in the network;
determine a location of one or more edge access points to determine a periphery of the network;
determine a first signal quality corresponding to wireless signals received by a first access point from a client device, wherein the client device is associated with the first access point;
determine that a second signal quality corresponding to wireless signals received by a second access point from the client device;
determine that the first signal quality is lower than the second signal quality;
based on a current location, motion vector, and/or a trajectory of the client device, determine whether to cause the client device to switch from (a) associating with the first access point to (b) associating with the second access point; and
based on the current location, motion vector, and/or a trajectory of the client device, refrain from causing the client device to switch from (a) associating with the first access point to (b) associating with the second access point.
2. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the refrain from causing the client device to switch is based on a determination that the client device is moving toward a third access point.
3. The medium of claim 2 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the one or more processors to cause the first client device to switch from (a) associating with the first access point to (b) associating with the third access point.
4. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the refrain from causing the client device to switch is based on a determination that a signal quality of wireless signals received by a third access point is increasing.
5. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the determine whether to cause the client device to switch is based on the current location of the client device.
6. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the determine whether to cause the client device to switch is based on the motion vector of the client device.
7. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the determine whether to cause the client device to switch is based on the trajectory of the client device.
8. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the refrain from causing the client device to switch is based on a determination that the client device is only temporarily at the current location.
9. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the refrain from causing the client device to switch is based on a determination that the client device is leaving a wireless network coverage area.
10. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the one or more processors to switch the client device from (a) associating with the first access point to (b) associating with the second access point subsequent to a period of time during which the refraining operation was performed.
11. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the refrain from causing the client device to switch is based on a determination let that a decrease in the first signal quality occurred without the client device changing locations.
12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
determine a layout of a plurality of access points in a network;
determine a direction of each access point of the plurality of access points relative to each other in the network;
determine a location of one or more edge access points to determine a periphery of the network;
detect a first wireless signal quality corresponding to wireless signals received by a first access point from a client device is decreased, wherein the client device is associated with the first access point;
determine that a second wireless signal quality corresponding to wireless signals received by a second access point from the client device is not changed; and
responsive at least to a determination that the second wireless signal quality is not changed, refrain from causing the client device to associate with another access point different than the first access point for at least a temporary period of time.
13. The medium of claim 12 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the one or more processors to:
responsive at least to a determination let that the first wireless signal quality has not increased during the temporary period of time, cause the client device to associate with another access point different than the first access point.
14. The medium of claim 12 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the one or more processors to:
responsive at least to a determination let that the first wireless signal quality has increased during the temporary period of time, refrain from causing the client device to associate with another access point.
15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
determine a layout of a plurality of access points in a network;
determine a distance separating the plurality of access points;
determine a direction of each access point of the plurality of access points relative to each other in the network;
determine a location of one or more edge access points to determine a periphery of the network;
determine that a first set of wireless signals received by a first access point from a client device meet a signal quality criteria, wherein the client device is associated with the first access point;
determine that a second set of wireless signals received by a second access point from the client device meet the signal quality criteria;
determine that the client device is closer in distance to the second access point than the first access point; and
responsive to a determination that the client device is closer in distance to the second access point than the first access point, cause the client device to switch association from the first access point to the second access point.
16. The medium of claim 15 , wherein a signal quality of wireless signals received by the first access point from the client device is better than the signal quality of wireless signals received by the second access point.
17. The medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are to cause the one or processors to cause the client device to switch association from the first access point to the second access point based on a determination that the client device is moving closer to the first access point.