WLAN steering based on capabilities
An access point that provides a transition recommendation is described. This access point may provide a first WLAN having a first capability. During operation, the access point may associate with the electronic device. Moreover, the access point may determine that the electronic device has a second capability that is different from the first capability. For example, the first capability may include compatibility with a first IEEE 802.11 standard and the second capability may include compatibility with a second IEEE 802.11 standard. Next, the access point may provide the transition recommendation addressed to the electronic device based at least in part on the difference in the first capability and the second capability, where the transition recommendation recommends that the electronic device transition from the first WLAN to a second WLAN that has the second capability.
1. An electronic device, comprising:
one or more interface circuits configured to communicate with a second electronic device, wherein the one or more interface circuits are configured to:
advertise a first basic service set identifier (BSSID) and a second BSSID having a common service set identifier (SSID), separate wireless connection interfaces, and different capabilities, wherein the different capabilities comprise the first BSSID supporting a first Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, and the second BSSID supporting one or more previous IEEE 802.11 standards and not supporting the first IEEE 802.11 standard;
receive a probe request associated with the second electronic device;
determine whether the second electronic device supports the first IEEE 802.11 standard based at least in part on one or more fields in the probe request; and
selectively provide a probe response intended for the second electronic device based at least in part on the determination.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first IEEE 802.11 standard comprises IEEE 802.11ax, and the one or more previous IEEE 802.11 standards comprise one or more of: IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, or IEEE 802.11ac.
3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fields comprise a high-efficiency (HE) field in a media access control (MAC) header in the probe request.
4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the determination is based at least in part on the presence of at least the HE field.
5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the probe response comprises the first BSSID when the determination indicates that the second electronic device supports the first IEEE 802.11 standard.
6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the probe response comprises the second BSSID when the determination indicates that the second electronic device does not support the first IEEE 802.11 standard.
7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the probe request comprises a broadcast probe request; and
wherein the broadcast probe request comprises a wild-card SSID or the SSID.
8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the probe request comprises a given BSSID, which is one of the first BSSID or the second BSSID.
9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein, when the given BSSID has a different capability than a corresponding second capability of the second electronic device, the one or more interface circuits are configured to perform a remedial action.
10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, when the determination indicates that the second electronic device supports the first IEEE 802.11 standard and the probe request comprises the second BSSID, the probe response comprises the second BSSID.
11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more interface circuits are configured to:
associate with the second electronic device using the second BSSID; and
provide, intended for the second electronic device, a recommendation that the second electronic device transition to the first BSSID.
12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises an access point.
13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in conjunction with an electronic device, the computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions, wherein, when executed by the electronic device, the program instructions cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising:
advertising a first basic service set identifier (BSSID) and a second BSSID having a common service set identifier (SSID), separate wireless connection interfaces, and different capabilities, wherein the different capabilities comprise the first BSSID supporting a first Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, and the second BSSID supporting one or more previous IEEE 802.11 standards and not supporting the first IEEE 802.11 standard;
receiving a probe request associated with a second electronic device;
determining whether the second electronic device supports the first IEEE 802.11 standard based at least in part on one or more fields in the probe request; and
selectively providing a probe response intended for the second electronic device based at least in part on the determination.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first IEEE 802.11 standard comprises IEEE 802.11ax, and the one or more previous IEEE 802.11 standards comprise one or more of: IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, or IEEE 802.11ac.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the probe response comprises the first BSSID when the determination indicates that the second electronic device supports the first IEEE 802.11 standard; and
wherein the probe response comprises the second BSSID when the determination indicates that the second electronic device does not support the first IEEE 802.11 standard.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the probe request comprises a given BSSID, which is one of the first BSSID or the second BSSID; and
wherein, when the given BSSID has a different capability than a corresponding second capability of the second electronic device, the electronic device performs a remedial action.
17. A method for selectively providing a probe response, comprising:
by an electronic device:
advertising a first basic service set identifier (BSSID) and a second BSSID having a common service set identifier (SSID), separate wireless connection interfaces, and different capabilities, wherein the different capabilities comprise the first BSSID supporting a first Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, and the second BSSID supporting one or more previous IEEE 802.11 standards and not supporting the first IEEE 802.11 standard;
receiving a probe request associated with a second electronic device;
determining whether the second electronic device supports the first IEEE 802.11 standard based at least in part on one or more fields in the probe request; and
selectively providing the probe response intended for the second electronic device based at least in part on the determination.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first IEEE 802.11 standard comprises IEEE 802.11ax, and the one or more previous IEEE 802.11 standards comprise one or more of: IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, or IEEE 802.11ac.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the probe response comprises the first BSSID when the determination indicates that the second electronic device supports the first IEEE 802.11 standard; and
wherein the probe response comprises the second BSSID when the determination indicates that the second electronic device does not support the first IEEE 802.11 standard.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the probe request comprises a given BSSID, which is one of the first BSSID or the second BSSID; and
wherein, when the given BSSID has a different capability than a corresponding second capability of the second electronic device, the electronic device performs a remedial action.