Steering inherently autonomous wireless devices to access points based on MIMO (multiple input/ multiple output) capabilities of network components

1. A computer-implemented method, in an access point of a wireless network, for steering network connections between a plurality of radios on the access point with distinct VHT (very high throughput) capabilities for stations, wherein a first radio of the access point uses a first protocol of parallel communications, and the first protocol is inherently backward compatible with a second protocol of serial communication, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving assignments for MU-MIMO (multiple user-multiple input/multiple output) and SU-MIMO (single user-multiple input/multiple output) services for MU-MIMO radios from a controller, wherein the controller determines assignments based on global conditions including MU-MIMO and SU-MIMO loads currently being handled by other access points in a plurality of access points;

assigning a first radio of the plurality of radios to IEEE 802.11ac, wave 2 stations using MU-MIMO communication in a parallel manner, wherein the first radio continues to operate under IEEE 802.1 1ac, wave 2;

assigning a second radio of the plurality of radios to dedicated to IEEE 802.11ac, wave 1 stations using SU-MIMO communication in a serial manner, wherein the second radio also continues to operate under IEEE 802.11ac, wave 2 which is inherently backward-compatible with IEEE 802.11ac, wave 1;

receiving a connection request from a first station;

determining a VHT capability of the first station, the VHT capability based on whether the first station is able to communicate using an MU-MIMO radio;

responsive to a determination that the first station is VHT capable, matching the first station to the first radio for MU-MIMO communication,

wherein responsive to a second station also determined to be VHT capable, matching the second station to the first radio for MU-MIMO communication, in a parallel manner with the first station, without waiting until the first station has completed MU-MIMO communication;

responsive to a determination that the first station is not VHT capable, matching the first station to the second radio, the second radio operating to conduct transmissions using IEEE 802.11ac, wave 2 protocol, in a parallel manner, for dedicated SU-MIMO communication using IEEE 802.11, wave 2, and conducting transmissions in the IEEE 802.11, wave 1 in a serial manner,

wherein responsive to the second station also determined not to be VHT capable, matching the second station to the second radio for dedicated SU-MIMO communication, in a serial manner to the first station, and waiting until the first station has completed SU-MIMO communication; and

conducting transmissions between the first station and the matched radio according to the VHT capability.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the VHT capability of the first station comprises:

determining the VHT capability of the first station including inspecting a frame received from the first station.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the VHT capability of the first station comprises:

determining the VHT capability of the first station including receiving an indication of VHT capability from a controller in the wireless network.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second radio comprises an MU-MIMO communication capable radio that downlinks to provide SU-MIMO communication.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that a load on the first radio assigned to MU-MIMO communication exceeds a threshold or that a throughput on the first radio is below a threshold; and

matching the first station to the second radio for dedicated SU-MIMO communication despite MU-MIMO communication capability of the first station.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

reassigning at least one of: the first radio to SU-MIMO communications, and the second radio to MU-MIMO communications.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating the first radio with a first BSSID (basic service set identifier); and

associating the second radio with a second BSSID.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the assignments of the first and second radios from a controller.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the assignments of the first and second radios from a controller, wherein the controller determines assignments based on global conditions associated with a plurality of access points managed by the controller, the plurality of access points including the access point and at least one other access point.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by an access point of a wireless network, performs a method for steering network connections between a plurality of radios on the access point with distinct VHT (very high throughput) capabilities for a network device, wherein a first radio of the access point uses a first protocol of parallel communications, and the first protocol is inherently backward compatible with a second protocol of serial communication, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving assignments for MU-MIMO (multiple user-multiple input/multiple output) and SU-MIMO (single user-multiple input/multiple output) services for MU-MIMO radios from a controller, wherein the controller determines assignments based on global conditions including MU-MIMO and SU-MIMO loads currently being handled by other access points in a plurality of access points;

assigning a first radio of the plurality of radios to IEEE 802.11ac, wave 2 stations using MU-MIMO communication in a parallel manner, wherein the first radio continues to operate under IEEE 802.1 1ac, wave 2;

assigning a second radio of the plurality of radios to dedicated to IEEE 802.11ac, wave 1 stations using SU-MIMO communication in a serial manner, wherein the second radio also continues to operate under IEEE 802.11ac, wave 2 which is inherently backward-compatible with IEEE 802.11ac, wave 1;

receiving a connection request from a first station;

determining a VHT capability of the first station, the VHT capability based on whether the first station is able to communicate using an MU-MIMO radio;

responsive to a determination that the first station is VHT capable, matching the first station to the first radio for MU-MIMO communication,

wherein responsive to a second station also determined to be VHT capable, matching the second station to the first radio for MU-MIMO communication, in a parallel manner with the first station, without waiting until the first station has completed MU-MIMO communication;

responsive to a determination that the first station is not VHT capable, matching the first station to the second radio, the second radio operating to conduct transmissions using IEEE 802.11ac, wave 2 protocol, in a parallel manner, for dedicated SU-MIMO communication using IEEE 802.11, wave 2, and conducting transmissions in the IEEE 802.11, wave 1 in a serial manner,

wherein responsive to the second station also determined not to be VHT capable, matching the second station to the second radio for dedicated SU-MIMO communication, in a serial manner to the first station, and waiting until the first station has completed SU-MIMO communication; and

conducting transmissions between the first station and the matched radio according to the VHT capability.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein in the method, determining the VHT capability of the first station comprises:

determining the VHT capability of the first station including inspecting a frame received from the first station.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein in the method,

determining the VHT capability of the first station comprises:

determining the VHT capability of the first station including receiving an indication of VHT capability from a controller in the wireless network.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein in the method, the second radio comprises a MU-MIMO communication capable radio that downlinks to provide SU-MIMO communication.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining that a load on the first radio assigned to MU-MIMO communication exceeds a threshold or that a throughput on the first radio is below a threshold; and

matching the first station to the second radio for dedicated SU-MIMO communication despite MU-MIMO communication capability of the first station.