Changing topology in a wireless network

1. A method for changing a topology of a Wi-Fi network, the Wi-Fi network including an access point (AP) Wi-Fi device in communication with a satellite Wi-Fi device and a client Wi-Fi device over one or more of a plurality of communication channels, the method comprising:

determining a network-related parameter of a particular Wi-Fi device, wherein the particular Wi-Fi device is the client Wi-Fi device or satellite Wi-Fi device;

determining, based on the network-related parameter, to change the topology of the Wi-Fi network; and

causing the topology of the Wi-Fi network to change by:

determining that the satellite Wi-Fi device has dynamic frequency selection (DFS) capability, wherein some of the plurality of communication channels require DFS;

causing backhaul communications between the AP Wi-Fi device and the satellite Wi-Fi device to change from a first communication channel of the plurality of communication channels to a second communication channel of the plurality of communication channels, wherein the second communication channel is one of the some of the plurality of communication channels requiring DFS;

determining that the client Wi-Fi device does not have DFS capability; and

causing fronthaul communications between the client Wi-Fi device and any of the AP Wi-Fi device or the satellite Wi-Fi device to change from the second communication channel to the first communication channel, wherein the first communication channel is a non-DFS channel.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the AP Wi-Fi device is a router device that is capable of forwarding data packets between communication networks and that is capable of being connecting to a wired network; and

wherein the satellite Wi-Fi device is capable of relaying data between the client Wi-Fi device and the AP Wi-Fi device via the plurality of communication channels.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the AP Wi-Fi device and the satellite Wi-Fi device are a same model device that are substantially identical.

4. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the particular Wi-Fi device is the satellite Wi-Fi device;

wherein the network-related parameter of the particular Wi-Fi device is a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) that indicates a strength of a signal received by the satellite Wi-Fi device from the client Wi-Fi device, and

wherein causing the topology of the Wi-Fi network to change further includes:

causing the client Wi-Fi device to roam from the satellite Wi-Fi device to an other Wi-Fi device in the Wi-Fi network.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the other Wi-Fi device is any of the AP Wi-Fi device or another satellite Wi-Fi device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the topology of the Wi-Fi network to change further includes:

causing the satellite Wi-Fi device to temporarily cease communication with the client Wi-Fi device; and

causing the client Wi-Fi device to, in response to the ceasing of communication by the satellite Wi-Fi device, roam to another Wi-Fi device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network-related parameter of the particular Wi-Fi device is a data-traffic-related parameter of the particular Wi-Fi device.

8. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the particular Wi-Fi device is the client Wi-Fi device.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the network-related parameter of the client Wi-Fi device includes:

monitoring network traffic from the client Wi-Fi device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein monitoring the network traffic from the client Wi-Fi device includes:

performing deep packet inspection (DPI) of packets received from the client Wi-Fi device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein results of the DPI include an identifier of the client Wi-Fi device, and wherein the network-related parameter of the client Wi-Fi device is determined by performing a database lookup based on the identifier, and by accessing a value indicative of the network-related parameter associated with the identifier via the database.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein monitoring the network traffic from the client Wi-Fi device includes:

performing DPI to detect an identifier that identifies the client Wi-Fi device as a gaming system.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein monitoring the network traffic from the client Wi-Fi device includes:

causing the satellite Wi-Fi device to scan for interference on a plurality of candidate communication channels of the plurality of communication channels.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network-related parameter of the particular Wi-Fi device is a parameter that indicates a level of interference of a particular communication channel of the plurality of communication channels over which the particular Wi-Fi device is communicating.

15. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the AP Wi-Fi device, the satellite Wi-Fi device, and the client Wi-Fi device are each capable of communicating via at least three communication channels, the three communication channels including the first communication channel, the second communication channel, and a third communication channel, and

wherein each of the AP Wi-Fi device, the satellite Wi-Fi device, and the client Wi-Fi device includes, respectively, a first radio capable of communicating via the first communication channel, a second radio capable of communicating via the second communication channel, and a third radio capable of communicating via the third communication channel.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network-related parameter of the particular Wi-Fi device is a predicted data load of the particular Wi-Fi device, the method further comprising:

predicting the data load of the particular Wi-Fi device by performing a statistical analysis based on a statistical model of data traffic.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication channel is in a first Wi-Fi band and the second communication channel is in a second Wi-Fi band, and wherein the first Wi-Fi band is different than the second Wi-Fi band.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first Wi-Fi band is the 5 GHz band and the second Wi-Fi band is the 2.4 GHz band.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein each of the AP Wi-Fi device, the satellite Wi-Fi device, and the client Wi-Fi device includes, respectively, a 5 GHz radio configured for communicating over the first communication channel and a 2.4 GHz radio configured for communication over the second communication channel.

20. A system for changing a topology of a Wi-Fi network, the Wi-Fi network including an access point (AP) Wi-Fi device in communication with a satellite Wi-Fi device and a client Wi-Fi device over one or more of a plurality of communication channels, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations including:

determining a network-related parameter of a particular Wi-Fi device, wherein the particular Wi-Fi device is the client Wi-Fi device or satellite Wi-Fi device;

determining, based on the network-related parameter, to change the topology of the Wi-Fi network; and

causing the topology of the Wi-Fi network to change by:

determining that the satellite Wi-Fi device has dynamic frequency selection (DFS) capability, wherein some of the plurality of communication channels require DFS;

causing backhaul communications between the AP Wi-Fi device and the satellite Wi-Fi device to change from a first communication channel of the plurality of communication channels to a second communication channel of the plurality of communication channels, wherein the second communication channel is one of the some of the plurality of communication channels requiring DFS; and

causing fronthaul communications between the client Wi-Fi device and any of the AP Wi-Fi device or the satellite Wi-Fi device to change from the second communication channel to the first communication channel.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the system is part of the AP Wi-Fi device.

22. The system of claim 20 ,

wherein the AP Wi-Fi device is a router device that is capable of forwarding data packets between communication networks and that is capable of being connecting to a wired network; and

wherein the satellite Wi-Fi device is capable of relaying data between the client Wi-Fi device and the AP Wi-Fi device via the plurality of communication channels.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations for changing a topology of a Wi-Fi network, the Wi-Fi network including an access point (AP) Wi-Fi device in communication with a satellite Wi-Fi device and a client Wi-Fi device over one or more of a plurality of communication channels, the operation including:

determining a network-related parameter of a particular Wi-Fi device, wherein the particular Wi-Fi device is the client Wi-Fi device or satellite Wi-Fi device;

determining, based on the network-related parameter, to change the topology of the Wi-Fi network; and

causing the topology of the Wi-Fi network to change by:

determining that the satellite Wi-Fi device has dynamic frequency selection (DFS) capability, wherein some of the plurality of communication channels require DFS;

causing backhaul communications between the AP Wi-Fi device and the satellite Wi-Fi device to change from a first communication channel of the plurality of communication channels to a second communication channel of the plurality of communication channels, wherein the second communication channel is one of the some of the plurality of communication channels requiring DFS; and

causing fronthaul communications between the client Wi-Fi device and any of the AP Wi-Fi device or the satellite Wi-Fi device to change from the second communication channel to the first communication channel.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the computer system is part of the AP Wi-Fi device.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23 ,

wherein the AP Wi-Fi device is a router device that is capable of forwarding data packets between communication networks and that is capable of being connecting to a wired network; and

wherein the satellite Wi-Fi device is capable of relaying data between the client Wi-Fi device and the AP Wi-Fi device via the plurality of communication channels.