Optimization of distributed Wi-Fi networks
A distributed Wi-Fi system includes a first Wi-Fi access point communicatively coupled to a modem/router for connectivity to the Internet and to a cloud controller via the Internet; and at least one additional Wi-Fi access point with wireless backhaul connections to the modem/router via the first Wi-Fi access point, wherein the first Wi-Fi access point and the at least one additional access point cooperatively form a single Wi-Fi network; wherein the cloud controller is configured to receive inputs related to operation of the single Wi-Fi network, perform an optimization based on the inputs with an objective function, and provide operational parameters for the single Wi-Fi network based on the optimization.
1. A method comprising:
receiving inputs related to operation of a Wi-Fi system at a controller which is communicatively coupled to the Wi-Fi system;
performing an optimization in the controller to determine operational parameters of one or more access points in the Wi-Fi system, wherein the optimization is based on the inputs and is configured to maximize an objective function which is based on one or more objectives associated with the Wi-Fi system, the one or more objectives including maximizing throughput based on bandwidth required by the one or more Wi-Fi client devices; and
providing outputs comprising the operational parameters, from the controller to the Wi-Fi system, based on the optimization for configuration of the Wi-Fi system,
wherein the optimization chooses which access point the one or more Wi-Fi client devices connect to in the Wi-Fi system based on the maximizing of the objective function.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inputs comprise a plurality of traffic load required by each Wi-Fi client device, signal strength for each possible link, data rate for each possible link, packet error rates on each link, strength and load on in network interferers, and strength and load on out of network interferers; and
wherein the outputs comprise a plurality of channel and bandwidth (BW) selection, routes and topology, Request to Send/Clear to Send (RTS/CTS) settings, Transmitter (TX) power, clear channel assessment, client association steering, band steering, Arbitration inter-frame spacing (AIFS), and Wi-Fi contention windows.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the load is determined by one or more of measurements by the access points, estimations based on previous measurements, or unknown and set to an assumed value.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to perform the optimization for the Wi-Fi system and one or more additional Wi-Fi systems which are clustered with the Wi-Fi system to mitigate interference therebetween.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operational parameters are set such that one or more of the following are true: not all of the access points are used and backhaul links utilize different channels.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optimization function incorporates a cost for making changes to the operational parameters for the Wi-Fi system, the cost representing disadvantages of making changes to select operational parameters.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying a hysteresis threshold to the output and performing the providing based on the hysteresis threshold, the hysteresis threshold configured to maintain stability of the Wi-Fi system by preventing configuration changes with minor changes in operational circumstances of the Wi-Fi system.
8. A controller comprising:
a network interface communicatively coupled to a plurality of Wi-Fi systems;
one or more processors communicatively coupled to the network interface; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:
receive, via the network interface, inputs related to operation of a Wi-Fi system of the plurality of Wi-Fi systems;
perform an optimization based on the inputs to determine operational parameters of one or more access points in the Wi-Fi system, wherein the optimization is configured to maximize an objective function which is based on one or more objectives associated with the Wi-Fi system, the one or more objectives including maximizing throughput based on bandwidth required by the one or more Wi-Fi client devices; and
provide outputs comprising the operational parameters for the Wi-Fi system based on the optimization,
wherein the optimization chooses which access point the one or more Wi-Fi client devices connect to in the Wi-Fi system based on the maximizing of the objective function.
9. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the inputs comprise a plurality of traffic load required by each Wi-Fi client device, signal strength for each possible link, data rate for each possible link, packet error rates on each link, strength and load on in network interferers, and strength and load on out of network interferers; and
wherein the outputs comprise a plurality of channel and bandwidth (BW) selection, routes and topology, Request to Send/Clear to Send (RTS/CTS) settings, Transmitter (TX) power, clear channel assessment, client association steering, band steering, Arbitration inter-frame spacing (AIFS), and Wi-Fi contention windows.
10. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to perform the optimization for the Wi-Fi system and one or more additional Wi-Fi systems which are clustered with the Wi-Fi system.
11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform steps of:
receiving inputs related to operation of a Wi-Fi system at a controller which is communicatively coupled to the Wi-Fi system;
performing an optimization in the controller to determine operational parameters of one or more access points in the Wi-Fi system, wherein the optimization is based on the inputs and is configured to maximize an objective function which is based on one or more objectives associated with the Wi-Fi system, the one or more objective including maximizing throughput based on bandwidth required by the one or more Wi-Fi client devices; and
providing outputs comprising the operational parameters, from the controller to the Wi-Fi system, based on the optimization for configuration of the Wi-Fi system,
wherein the optimization chooses which access point the one or more Wi-Fi client devices connect to in the Wi-Fi system based on the maximizing of the objective function.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the inputs comprise a plurality of traffic load required by each Wi-Fi client device, signal strength for each possible link, data rate for each possible link, packet error rates on each link, strength and load on in network interferers, and strength and load on out of network interferers; and
wherein the outputs comprise a plurality of channel and bandwidth (BW) selection, routes and topology, Request to Send/Clear to Send (RTS/CTS) settings, Transmitter (TX) power, clear channel assessment, client association steering, band steering, Arbitration inter-frame spacing (AIFS), and Wi-Fi contention windows.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , the load is determined by one or more of measurements by the access points, estimations based on previous measurements, or unknown and set to an assumed value.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to perform the optimization for the Wi-Fi system and one or more additional Wi-Fi systems which are clustered with the Wi-Fi system to mitigate interference therebetween.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the operational parameters are set such that one or more of the following are true: not all of the access points are used and backhaul links utilize different channels.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the optimization function incorporates a cost for making changes to the operational parameters for the Wi-Fi system, the cost representing disadvantages of making changes to select operational parameters.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising:
applying a hysteresis threshold to the output and performing the providing based on the hysteresis threshold, the hysteresis threshold configured to maintain stability of the Wi-Fi system by preventing configuration changes with minor changes in operational circumstances of the Wi-Fi system.