PROBABILISTIC PROBE RESPONSE
An electronic device (such as an access point) is described. This electronic device includes an interface circuit that wirelessly communicates with a second electronic device. During operation, the electronic device may receive, from the interface circuit, a probe request associated with the second electronic device, where the probe request includes an identifier of the second electronic device (such as a media access control or MAC address). In response, the electronic device may probabilistically provide, from the interface circuit, a probe response addressed to the second electronic device, where the probabilistically providing has a probability that is based at least in part on a communication-performance metric associated with the probe request, a predefined minimum value of the communication-performance metric and a predefined maximum value of the communication-performance metric.
1 . An electronic device, comprising:
an interface circuit configured to communicate using wireless communication with a second electronic device, wherein the electronic device is configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from the interface circuit, a probe request associated with the second electronic device, wherein the probe request comprises an identifier of the second electronic device; and
in response to receiving the probe request, probabilistically providing, from the interface circuit, a probe response addressed to the second electronic device, wherein the probabilistically providing has a probability that is based at least in part on a communication-performance metric associated with the probe request, a predefined minimum value of the communication-performance metric and a predefined maximum value of the communication-performance metric.
2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises an access point.
3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the communication-performance metric comprises a signal strength associated with the probe request.
4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the signal strength comprises a received signal strength indication (RSSI).
5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the predefined minimum value and the predefined maximum value are based at least in part on an inter-electronic device communication-performance metric associated with communication between the electronic device and at least a neighboring electronic device.
6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the inter-electronic device communication-performance metric comprises a signal strength associated with the communication.
7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the signal strength comprises a received signal strength indication (RSSI).
8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the predefined minimum value and the predefined maximum value are based at least in part on a density of the electronic device and the neighboring electronic device, a distance between the electronic device and the neighboring electronic device, or both.
9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, when the communication-performance metric has a smaller value, the probability of providing the probe response is reduced.
10 . 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 one or more operations comprising:
receiving a probe request associated with a second electronic device, wherein the probe request comprises an identifier of the second electronic device; and
in response to receiving the probe request, probabilistically providing a probe response addressed to the second electronic device, wherein the probabilistically providing has a probability that is based at least in part on a communication-performance metric associated with the probe request, a predefined minimum value of the communication-performance metric and a predefined maximum value of the communication-performance metric.
11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the electronic device comprises an access point.
12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the communication-performance metric comprises a signal strength associated with the probe request.
13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein, when the communication-performance metric has a smaller value, the probability of providing the probe response is reduced.
14 . A method for probabilistically providing a probe response, comprising:
by an electronic device:
receiving a probe request associated with a second electronic device, wherein the probe request comprises an identifier of the second electronic device; and
in response to receiving the probe request, probabilistically providing the probe response addressed to the second electronic device, wherein the probabilistically providing has a probability that is based at least in part on a communication-performance metric associated with the probe request, a predefined minimum value of the communication-performance metric and a predefined maximum value of the communication-performance metric.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the electronic device comprises an access point.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the communication-performance metric comprises a received signal strength indication (RSSI) associated with the probe request.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the predefined minimum value and the predefined maximum value are based at least in part on an inter-electronic device communication-performance metric associated with communication between the electronic device and at least a neighboring electronic device.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the inter-electronic device communication-performance metric comprises a received signal strength indication (RSSI) associated with the communication.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the predefined minimum value and the predefined maximum value are based at least in part on a density of the electronic device and the neighboring electronic device, a distance between the electronic device and the neighboring electronic device, or both.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein, when the communication-performance metric has a smaller value, the probability of providing the probe response is reduced.