U.S. patent application number 11/799885 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-06 for modifying beacon levels for wireless lan access points.
This patent application is currently assigned to Intel Corporation. Invention is credited to Nikhil M. Deshpande, Abhay A. Dharmadhikari, Robert C. Knauerhase.
Application Number | 20070208847 11/799885 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27753869 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070208847 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Knauerhase; Robert C. ; et
al. |
September 6, 2007 |
Modifying beacon levels for wireless LAN access points
Abstract
An apparatus is described for modifying beacon levels. The
apparatus includes a service unit to determine a need to reduce a
load of a first access point having a first beacon interval, the
first access point being in a network of a plurality of access
points. A set interval unit is included to determine an amount by
which to increase the first beacon interval to generate a new
beacon interval. The apparatus further includes a broadcast unit to
notify one or more other access points in the network of the new
beacon interval.
Inventors: |
Knauerhase; Robert C.;
(Portland, OR) ; Dharmadhikari; Abhay A.;
(Beaverton, OR) ; Deshpande; Nikhil M.;
(Beaverton, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
INTEL/BLAKELY
1279 OAKMEAD PARKWAY
SUNNYVALE
CA
94085-4040
US
|
Assignee: |
Intel Corporation
|
Family ID: |
27753869 |
Appl. No.: |
11/799885 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10086915 |
Feb 28, 2002 |
7222175 |
|
|
11799885 |
May 2, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/223 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 48/08 20130101;
H04W 88/08 20130101; H04W 28/08 20130101; H04W 84/12 20130101; H04W
16/06 20130101; H04W 28/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/223 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/173 20060101
G06F015/173 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a service unit to determine a need to
reduce a load of a first access point having a first beacon
interval, the first access point being in a network of a plurality
of access points; a set interval unit to determine an amount by
which to increase the first beacon interval to generate a new
beacon interval; and a broadcast unit to notify one or more other
access points in the network of the new beacon interval.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set interval unit
additionally increases the first beacon interval until a threshold
condition is met.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the threshold condition
comprises a specified measurement of operating capacity.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the specified measurement
comprises a percentage.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising an intercept
unit to receive capacity information from other access points in
the network, and wherein the set interval unit adjusts the first
beacon interval in accordance with the received capacity
information.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set interval unit
additionally decreases the first interval unit.
7. An apparatus comprising: means for determining a need to reduce
a load of a first access point having a first beacon interval, the
first access point being in a network of a plurality of access
points; means for determining an amount by which to increase the
first beacon interval to generate a new beacon interval; and means
for notifying one or more other access points in the network of the
new beacon interval.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, additionally comprising means for
increasing the first beacon interval until a threshold condition is
met.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for increasing the
first beacon interval until a threshold condition is met comprises
means for increasing the first beacon interval until a specified
measurement of operating capacity is met.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/086,915, entitled Dynamically Configurable
Beacon Intervals for Wireless LAN Access Points, filed Feb. 28,
2002, which is now allowed, and priority is claimed thereof.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may
contain material which is subject to copyright protection. The
copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by
anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it
appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records,
but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The
following notice applies to the software and data as described
below and in the drawings hereto: Copyright .COPYRGT. 2002, Intel
Corporation, All Rights Reserved.
FIELD
[0003] This invention relates to the field of wireless protocols,
and more specifically, to a mechanism for terminating the services
of an access point with minimal interruption to its clients.
BACKGROUND
[0004] IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
802.11 (hereinafter "802.11") is a family of specifications for
wireless local area networks (WLANs), and was developed to maximize
interoperability between differing brands of wired local area
networks (LANs) as well as to introduce a variety of performance
improvements and benefits.
[0005] The 802.11 standard defines over-the-air protocols that are
necessary to support networking in a local area. A primary service
of the 802.11 standard is to deliver MSDUs (MAC Service Data Units)
between peer LLCs (Logical Link Controls). Typically, a radio NIC
(network interface card) and access point (to be discussed) provide
the functions of the 802.11 standard.
[0006] The 802.11 standard provides MAC (Media Access Control) and
PHY (Physical Layer) functionality for wireless connectivity of
fixed, portable, and moving stations moving within a local area. A
station is a wireless node that contains functionality of the
802.11 protocol (i.e., MAC layer, PHY layer, and interface to a
wireless medium). In its most basic form, stations communicate
directly with each other on a peer-to-peer level sharing a given
cell coverage area.
[0007] The 802.11 topology comprises components that interact to
provide a wireless LAN that enables station mobility that is
transparent to higher protocol layers such as the LLC, and may
support topologies including the IBSS (Independent Basic Service
Set) network and the ESS (Extended Service Set) network.
[0008] Whereas an IBSS is commonly referred to as an ad hoc network
of BSSs, and is often formed on a temporary basis, an ESS comprises
a series of BSSs (typically each comprising an AP) that are
connected by means of a Distribution System (hereinafter "DS"),
which can be almost any type of network, such as an Ethernet LAN,
or the Internet, for example. Mobile nodes can then roam between
APs, and seamless campus-wide coverage is possible.
[0009] Both networks utilize a basic building block referred to as
the BSS (Basic Service Set) that provides a coverage area whereby
stations of the BSS remain fully connected. A station is free to
move within a BSS, but it cannot communicate directly with other
stations if it leaves the BSS. Typically, a BSS comprises an access
point (hereinafter "AP"). The main function of an AP is to form a
bridge between wireless and wired LANs. When an AP is present,
stations do not communicate on a peer-to-peer basis. All
communications between stations or between a station and a wired
network client go through the AP.
[0010] The roaming provisions of 802.11 allow for clients to roam
among multiple APs that can be operating on the same or separate
channel, and provide for APs to transmit beacon signals to their
clients. A beacon signal may include a number of parameters, such
as a time stamp for client synchronization, a traffic indication
map, and an indication of supported data rates, for example.
Roaming clients can use the beacon information for a number of
purposes. For example, if a client determines that an existing
connection is weak, that the APs service has been downgraded, or
that an AP is not available when needed, then the client can
attempt to associate itself with a new AP.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and
not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying
drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar
elements and in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a network in which
embodiments of the invention can operate.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method in accordance
with embodiments of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating another method in
accordance with embodiments of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating access points in
accordance with embodiments of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed system in
accordance with embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In one aspect of embodiments of the invention, a method for
intelligently controlling beacon intervals of access points
resulting in load balanced access points and graceful termination
of service is disclosed. Given a set of access points in a network,
each access point servicing a set of clients, when one access point
has a need to downgrade its service to clients, for example to
reduce its client load, or to terminate service (permanently or
temporarily) for service, replacement, or upgrade, the beacon
interval for that access point is increased such that clients
naturally migrate to another access point for service.
[0018] Embodiments of the invention include various operations,
which will be described below. The operations of these embodiments
may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in
machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a
general-purpose or special-purpose processor or logic circuits
programmed with the instructions to perform the operations.
Alternatively, the operations may be performed by a combination of
hardware and software.
[0019] Embodiments of the invention may be provided as a computer
program product which may include a machine-readable medium having
stored thereon instructions which may be used to program a computer
(or other electronic devices) to perform a process according to
embodiments of the invention. The machine-readable medium may
include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical disks,
CD-ROMs (Compact Disc-Read Only Memories), and magneto-optical
disks, ROMs (Read Only Memories), RAMs (Random Access Memories),
EPROMs (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memories), EEPROMs
(Electromagnetic Erasable Programmable Read Only Memories),
magnetic or optical cards, flash memory, or other type of
media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronic
instructions.
[0020] Moreover, embodiments of the invention may also be
downloaded as a computer program product, wherein the program may
be transferred from a remote computer (e.g., a server) to a
requesting computer (e.g., a client) by way of data signals
embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium via a
communication link (e.g., a modem or network connection).
Accordingly, herein, a carrier wave shall be regarded as comprising
a machine-readable medium.
Introduction
[0021] Under the current state of the art, APs transmit beacon
signals to their clients at fixed intervals (sometimes initially
configurable, but fixed thereafter), and clients listen for the
beacon signals to obtain information and to make decisions.
Furthermore, when an AP needs to reduce its service for reasons
including overload and need for downtime, the AP may immediately
and completely terminate service; downgrade service as its load
increases; or refuse service to more than n contemporaneous
clients, where n may be predetermined by the given AP.
[0022] Since clients have no forewarning that service will be
terminated, downgraded, or unavailable, clients are likely to
experience lagtime from the inconvenience of having to find another
AP to service them. In embodiments of the invention, a dynamically
configurable beacon interval time enables clients to naturally
migrate away from an existing AP to another AP without experiencing
the inconvenience associated with sudden termination of service,
downgraded service, or unavailability of service.
[0023] Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to
the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless technologies. However, these
embodiments are intended to be for illustrative purposes only, and
are not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments
described. In fact, one of ordinary skill in the art should
understand its general applicability, as will be apparent from the
described embodiments.
Dynamically Configurable Beacon Intervals
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network within which
embodiments of the invention are compatible. The network is an ESS
network 100 which comprises one or more BSS networks 102, 104
connected via a distribution system 106, which can be any type of
network, such as an Ethernet LAN, or the Internet, which enables
the clients to roam from one AP (to be discussed) to another. The
ESS may also comprise a network server 120 (to be discussed). Each
BSS network 102, 104 comprises a plurality of wireless nodes 108,
110, 114, 116 ("clients") and an access point 112, 118 ("AP").
(Although not all BSS networks 102, 104 comprise an access point
112, 118 ("AP"), we will assume that the BSS networks 102, 104
discussed herein each comprise an AP 112, 118.)
[0025] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method in accordance
with embodiments of the invention. It begins at block 200 and
continues to block 202 where it is determined that a first access
point in a network of access points needs to reduce its service
load. The reduction in load can be a partial service load
reduction, or it may be a complete service load reduction. A
service load may comprise a target number of clients to service, or
an operating capacity, for example.
[0026] At block 204, the beacon interval of the first access point
is increased. By increasing the beacon interval of the first access
point, the frequency at which the first access point sends out a
beacon signal decreases, thereby making the first access point less
available to clients. Consequently, clients currently receiving
service from the first AP may listen for beacon signals from other
access points in an attempt to migrate to another access point to
obtain the service that it needs.
[0027] At block 206, the beacon interval of at least one second
access point in the network may optionally be decreased, where a
second access point is an AP that is not the first access point
that increased its beacon interval. For example, the beacon
interval for one or more second access points may be decreased if
clients are not migrating away from the first access point fast
enough. By decreasing the beacon interval of at least one second
access point in the network, the frequency at which those second
access points send out beacon signals increases, thereby making the
second access points more available to clients. As a result, the
probability that any of the second access points will be found by
any of the clients in the network, including those that had been
serviced by the first AP, increases. The second access points may
then acquire none, some, or all of the first access point's
clients. The method ends at block 208.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating another method in
accordance with embodiments of the invention. The method begins at
block 300 and continues to block 302 where a second access point
receives an indication to increase its load. At block 304, the
beacon interval of the second access point is decreased. The method
ends at block 306.
Determining the Beacon Interval
[0029] The beacon interval can be determined by any number of
algorithms as anyone of ordinary skill in the art could implement.
For example, to set a beacon interval for a shutdown, an algorithm
could be implemented that would increase an APs interval time by
one and a half for the first third of the time prior to shutdown,
and then by double the interval time for the second third of the
time prior to shutdown, and then by three times the interval time
for the last third of the time prior to shutdown.
[0030] Thus, if AP.sub.X has a normal interval time of 5 minutes,
and it needs to be shut down 12 hours from a given time, the above
algorithm would increase the interval time to 7.5 minutes for the
first 4 hours; 10 minutes for the next 4 hours; and 15 minutes for
the last 4 hours. A similar algorithm could be determined for
decreasing a beacon interval.
[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the beacon interval can be
determined amongst multiple APs 112, 118 in a network (only 2
shown, AP.sub.X and AP.sub.Y), where each AP 112, 118 comprises a
service unit 400, a set interval unit 402, a broadcast unit 404,
and an intercept unit 406 for coordinating beacon intervals for the
APs 112, 118 in the network. For instance, a service unit 400 of
AP.sub.X 112 could determine that AP.sub.X needs to be shutdown for
replacement, and schedules AP.sub.X 112 to be shutdown at a future
time. To prepare for shutdown, a set interval unit 402 of AP.sub.X
112 increases its beacon interval as determined by a predetermined
algorithm, an example of which is discussed, supra.
[0032] Furthermore, a broadcast unit 404 of AP.sub.X maintains
capacity information for AP.sub.X, including its current load
(i.e., number of clients, operating capacity, and its beacon
interval). The broadcast unit 404 may convey capacity information
to an intercept unit 406 of other APs in the network so that if
they have the capacity to service more clients, they may decrease
their beacon intervals in an effort to attract more clients. Thus,
for example, an intercept unit 406 of AP.sub.Y intercepts the
information and a set interval unit 402 of AP.sub.Y decreases its
beacon interval in accordance with the load it can handle.
AP.sub.Y's broadcast unit 404 may then broadcast AP.sub.Y's
capacity information to the other APs in the network so that they
can determine if they can increase their load and decrease their
beacon intervals accordingly.
[0033] Alternatively, a centralized system for coordinating beacon
intervals may be implemented, where the centralized system
comprises a set interval unit to determine which one or more AP's
beacon interval to change, what to change the beacon intervals to,
and when to change them. The centralized system can then broadcast
beacon interval information to the APs in the network via a
broadcast unit.
[0034] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, AP.sub.X 112 may
comprise a service unit 400 to determine when it needs to be
shutdown. An interface unit of AP.sub.X 500 relays this information
to a set interval unit 502 of a network server 120 to be scheduled
for shutdown at some future time. The set interval unit 502
determines an appropriate amount by which to increase AP.sub.X's
beacon interval and conveys it back to AP.sub.X for AP.sub.X.
[0035] Other APs in the network may comprise an interface unit 500
to send information, such as an APs capacity, including its beacon
interval, to the network server's 120 set interval unit 502. Based
on the capacity information, the set interval unit 502 of the
network server 120 may calculate a decreased beacon interval for a
given AP and send that information to the AP.
[0036] A broadcast unit 504 of the network server 120 may broadcast
each APs beacon interval information to other APs so that they may
send their capacity information to get a new beacon interval.
Periodically Increasing Beacon Interval of First Access Point
[0037] If it is determined that the first access point still needs
to reduce its load, its beacon interval can be increased again.
Likewise, if it is determined that any of the second access points
can increase their loads, any number of those second access points
in the network can subsequently decrease their beacon
intervals.
[0038] The process of increasing the beacon interval of the first
access point, and decreasing the beacon interval of any of the
second access points may continue individually, or in tandem, until
it is determined that the first access point reaches a point when
it no longer needs to reduce its load. Depending on the
application, the first access point may reach this point when some
threshold condition is satisfied. A threshold condition may
comprise the offloading of a specified number of clients (or,
conversely, the servicing of a target number of clients), or the
attainment of a measurement of operating capacity (such as
percentage), for example.
[0039] Furthermore, the times at which the intervals are increased
and/or decreased may be predetermined, or dynamically determined.
For example, if the first access point is attempting to reduce its
load, it may increase its beacon interval at time t, and check at
predetermined time t+1 if its load is still too heavy. If it is,
then at time t+1, its beacon interval may be increased again. This
process may repeated at time t+2, and so forth, until the threshold
condition is satisfied.
[0040] Alternatively, a time may be a dynamically determined time
that is based on an algorithm which determines if a threshold
condition has been satisfied, and if it has not been satisfied, the
beacon interval may be increased. For example, if the first access
point needs to offload all of its clients for an upgrade, for
example, the set interval unit of the first access point may
determine that the beacon interval needs to be increased if the
first access point is still operating above a predetermined
threshold, say 70% operating capacity.
Returning to Normal Beacon Interval
[0041] After some period of time, the first access point may decide
to increase the number of clients it can service, or to increase
its current operating capacity. For example, servicing may be
completed on the first access point, or the first access point has
the capacity to service more clients. This time may be a
predetermined time, at which time the first access point will
decrease the intervals at which it sends out beacon signals,
thereby gaining more clients; or this time may be dynamically
determined, such as by a set interval unit that determines that the
first access point can service more clients, or that determines
that the upgrade, service, or some other operation has been
completed on the first access point.
[0042] At this time, the first access point can then decrease its
beacon interval in a way that is similar to the process for
gradually increasing the beacon interval, discussed supra. For
example, an AP may gradually decrease its beacon interval until a
threshold condition, such as its normal operating capacity, or its
normal beacon interval, is satisfied.
First Exemplary Embodiment
[0043] In one exemplary embodiment, dynamically configurable beacon
intervals may be used to assist in load-balancing between
co-located access points. For example, a data hotspot at an airport
gate area might have three APs, (AP.sub.X, AP.sub.Y, AP.sub.Z) to
serve a given physical area. In order to even out the load on each
AP, one of the APs, AP.sub.Y, could extend its beacon interval to
several hours, allowing the AP to "hide" from clients. Clients
looking for service could then find another AP such as AP.sub.X or
AP.sub.Z. After some time, AP.sub.Y would reduce its beacon
interval back to normal, and AP.sub.X might then extend its period
in order not to attract new clients.
Second Exemplary Embodiment
[0044] In a second exemplary embodiment, dynamically configurable
beacon intervals are useful in allowing an AP to gracefully exit
before some planned event, such as a periodic service, replacement,
or upgrade. If an AP is scheduled for downtime, it could lengthen
its beacon interval as that time approaches; in this manner,
existing clients of this AP will naturally migrate away, and the
chance that new clients will discover this AP lessens as the
interval grows. Thus, when the scheduled time approaches, a minimum
of clients are inconvenienced by the loss of service.
CONCLUSION
[0045] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been
described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will,
however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be
made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of
the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to
be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
[0046] For example, in this description, while units, such as the
service unit set interval unit, broadcast unit, etc., have been
described as if each was a single module, it should be understood
by one of ordinary skill in the art that such description is made
to facilitate explanation, and is not intended to be limiting in
any manner. Therefore, while in some embodiments, the units may
each be distinct modules, in other embodiments, their
functionalities may be combined as appropriate. Except where noted,
the functionality described herein is not limited to any particular
device.
[0047] Furthermore, while embodiments of the invention describe
increasing the beacon interval for a first access point, and
decreasing the beacon interval for a second access point, it should
be understood that embodiments of the invention are also applicable
in situations where the first access point may need to increase its
service load so that its beacon interval may be decreased. In these
situations, a second access point may then increase its beacon
interval to detract clients.
* * * * *