Method and apparatus of handling coordinated association in a wireless network with multiple access points
A method and an apparatus for handling coordinated association in a wireless network with multiple access points are described. A method comprises receiving network parameters, determining a plurality of AP-STA associations, and sending the plurality of associations to the STAs. An apparatus includes controlling, managing, and optimization modules implementing the method of handling coordinated association in a wireless network.
1 . A method of handling coordinated association (CA) in a wireless network with a plurality of access points (APs) for an apparatus, comprising:
receiving periodically a plurality of network parameters, after sending a plurality of requests by the plurality of APs to a plurality of stations (STAs);
determining a plurality of associations between the plurality of STAs and the plurality of APs according to the plurality of network parameters; and
sending the plurality of associations to the plurality of STAs;
wherein the plurality of network parameters includes the plurality of STAs and the plurality of APs in a multiple APs (MAP), physical layer (PHY) rate estimates, traffic intensity estimates, neighbor discover parameters, the frame lengths estimates, and timing recovery parameters.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of requests are forwarded to the plurality of STAs that are registered with CA services, and the registration is performed by sending an initial CA request by a STA to a CA controller.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of network parameters are received via a backhaul.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of APs are in a multiple APs (MAP) connected via a backhaul link with a CA controller and capabilities to receive and to send periodic requests and the plurality of network parameters, announcement and registration mechanisms of the plurality of STAs with the MAP.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein each association in the plurality of associations is a pair between a STA from the plurality of STAs and an AP in the MAP computed and recommended by the CA controller for the plurality of STAs to initiate re-association requests.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein an association from said plurality of associations is sent via a fronthaul by an AP in the MAP to a STA from the plurality of STAs wherein the STA is required to associate with a new AP.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining the plurality of recommended associations by a CA controller by performing algorithmic optimization according to the plurality of network parameters.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending an initial CA request by a STA to a CA controller;
processing the initial CA request by the CA controller by adding the STA to a list of registered STAs with a CA service; and
sending an initial CA response corresponding to the initial CA request by a CA controller to the STA.
9 . An apparatus for handling coordinated association (CA) in a wireless network with a plurality of access points (APs), comprising:
a controlling module, is configured for receiving periodically a plurality of network parameters after sending a plurality of requests by the plurality of APs to a plurality of stations (STAs) and for sending a plurality of associations between the plurality of STAs and the plurality of APs to the plurality of STAs; and
an optimizing module, coupled to the controlling module, is configured for determining the plurality of associations according to the plurality of network parameters;
wherein the plurality of network parameters includes the plurality of STAs and the plurality of APs in a multiple APs (MAP), physical layer (PHY) rate estimates, traffic intensity estimates, neighbor discover parameters, the frame lengths estimates, and timing recovery parameters.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of requests are forwarded to the plurality of STAs that are registered with CA services, and the registration is performed by sending an initial CA request by a STA to a CA controller.
11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of network parameters are received via a backhaul.
12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of APs are in a multiple APs (MAP) connected via a backhaul link with a CA controller and capabilities to receive and to send periodic requests and the plurality of network parameters, announcement and registration mechanisms of the plurality of STAs with the MAP.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein each association in the plurality of associations is a pair between a STA from the plurality of STAs and an AP in the MAP computed and recommended by the CA controller for the plurality of STAs to initiate re-association requests.
14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein an association from said plurality of associations is sent via a fronthaul by an AP in the MAP to a STA from the plurality of STAs wherein the STA is required to associate with a new AP.
15 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the optimizing module is further configured for obtaining the plurality of recommended associations by a CA controller by performing algorithmic optimization according to the plurality of network parameters.
16 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:
sending an initial CA request by a STA to a CA controller;
processing the initial CA request by the CA controller by adding the STA to a list of registered STAs with a CA service; and
sending an initial CA response corresponding to the initial CA request by a CA controller to the STA.