Uplink airtime fairness through basic service set steering

• US 10,091,682 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sun, Yanjun, Tinnakornsrisuphap, Peerapol, Buesker, Brian Michael, Ho, Saiyiu Duncan, Chakravarty, Bharat Bhushan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US15/218,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20180027440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/32 by discarding or delaying data units, e.g. packets or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. Methods, systems, and devices provide for determining or identifying a client device that is monopolizing a channel associated with a first basic service set (BSS). Once identified, a second BSS is dynamically created and configured with parameters that are throttled with respect to the first BSS. The client device is steered to the second BSS and is prevented from reassociating with the first BSS until a change in device status.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

determining that a first client device is monopolizing a channel of a first basic service set (BSS) associated with a first BSS identifier (BSSID);

dynamically creating, based on the determining, a second BSS comprising a virtual AP, wherein the second BSS is throttled with respect to the first BSS; and

steering the first client device to the second BSS, the second BSS associated with a second BSSID different from the first BSSID.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first client device is monopolizing the channel of the first BSS comprises:

determining a performance degradation of a second client device connected to the first BSS.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the performance degradation of the second client device connected to the first BSS comprises:

determining an airtime usage of the channel by the first client device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

increasing an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) deferral length for the first client device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reducing a transmission opportunity (TXOP) limit for the first client device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selectively withholding a transmission of a clear to send (CTS) message to the first client device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to send (RTS) message from the first client device, the RTS message comprising a requested duration value;

selecting a duration field value that is less than the requested duration value, the selecting based on the determination; and

transmitting a clear to send (CTS) message to the first client device, the CTS message comprising the selected duration field value.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying an uplink Aggregate MAC Protocol Data Unit (A-MPDU) policy for the first client device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

preventing the first client device from reassociating with the first BSS after steering the first client device to the second BSS.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dropping an uplink packet from the first client device at a protocol layer higher than a media access control (MAC) protocol layer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first client device is monopolizing the channel of the first BSS comprises:

determining that the first client device is overloading an uplink channel associated with the first BSS.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein steering the first client device comprises:

transmitting a dissociation message, a deauthentication message, or a BSS transition management frame to the first client device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating the second BSS based on a change in status of the first client device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the change in status comprises at least one of a change in association between the first client device and the first BSS or the second BSS, or a change in the determination that the first client device is monopolizing the channel of the first BSS, or a change in association between a second client device and the first BSS, or a combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

steering the first client device to the first BSS based on a termination of the second BSS, or a change in the determination that the first client device is monopolizing the channel of the first BSS, or a change in association between a second client device and the first BSS, or a combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a service set identifier (SSID) and security credentials of the first BSS and the second BSS are the same.

17. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for determining that a first client device is monopolizing a channel of a first basic service set (BSS) associated with a first BSS identifier (BSSID);

means for dynamically creating, based on the determining, a second BSS comprising a virtual AP, wherein the second BSS is throttled with respect to the first BSS; and

means for steering the first client device to the second BSS, the second BSS associated with a second BSSID different from the first BSSID.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for determining that the first client device is monopolizing the channel of the first BSS comprises:

means for determining a performance degradation of a second client device connected to the first BSS.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for determining the performance degradation of the second client device connected to the first BSS comprises:

means for determining an airtime usage of the channel by the first client device.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for increasing an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) deferral length for the first client device.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for reducing a transmission opportunity (TXOP) limit for the first client device.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for selectively withholding a transmission of a clear to send (CTS) message to the first client device.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for receiving a request to send (RTS) message from the first client device, the RTS message comprising a requested duration value;

means for selecting a duration field value that is less than the requested duration value, the selecting based on the determination; and

means for transmitting a clear to send (CTS) message to the first client device, the CTS message comprising the selected duration field value.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for modifying an uplink Aggregate MAC Protocol Data Unit (A-MPDU) policy for the first client device.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for preventing the first client device from reassociating with the first BSS after steering the first client device to the second BSS.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for dropping an uplink packet from the first client device at a protocol layer higher than a media access control (MAC) protocol layer.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for determining that the first client device is monopolizing the channel of the first BSS comprises:

means for determining that the first client device is overloading an uplink channel associated with the first BSS.

28. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for steering the first client device comprises:

means for transmitting a dissociation message, a deauthentication message, or a BSS transition management frame to the first client device.

29. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for terminating the second BSS based on a change in status of the first client device.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the change in status comprises at least one of a change in association between the first client device and the first BSS or the second BSS, or a change in the determination that the first client device is monopolizing the channel of the first BSS, or a change in association between a second client device and the first BSS, or a combination thereof.

31. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for steering the first client device to the first BSS based on a termination of the second BSS, or a change in the determination that the first client device is monopolizing the channel of the first BSS, or a change in association between a second client device and the first BSS, or a combination thereof.

32. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a service set identifier (SSID) and security credentials of the first BSS and the second BSS are the same.

33. An apparatus for wireless communication, in a system comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to;

determine that a first client device is monopolizing a channel of a first basic service set (BSS) associated with a first BSS identifier (BSSID);

dynamically create, based on the determining, a second BSS comprising a virtual AP, wherein the second BSS is throttled with respect to the first BSS; and

steer the first client device to the second BSS, the second BSS associated with a second BSSID different from the first BSSID.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

determine a performance degradation of a second client device connected to the first BSS.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

determine an airtime usage of the channel by the first client device.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

increase an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) deferral length for the first client device.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

reduce a transmission opportunity (TXOP) limit for the first client device.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

selectively withhold a transmission of a clear to send (CTS) message to the first client device.

39. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

receive a request to send (RTS) message from the first client device, the RTS message comprising a requested duration value;

select a duration field value that is less than the requested duration value, the selecting based on the determination; and

transmit a clear to send (CTS) message to the first client device, the CTS message comprising the selected duration field value.

40. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

modify an uplink Aggregate MAC Protocol Data Unit (A-MPDU) policy for the first client device.

41. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

prevent the first client device from reassociating with the first BSS after steering the first client device to the second BSS.

42. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

drop an uplink packet from the first client device at a protocol layer higher than a media access control (MAC) protocol layer.

43. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

determine that the first client device is overloading an uplink channel associated with the first BSS.

44. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

transmit a dissociation message, a deauthentication message, or a BSS transition management frame to the first client device.

45. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

terminate the second BSS based on a change in status of the first client device.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the change in status comprises at least one of a change in association between the first client device and the first BSS or the second BSS, or a change in the determination that the first client device is monopolizing the channel of the first BSS, or a change in association between a second client device and the first BSS, or a combination thereof.

47. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

steer the first client device to the first BSS based on a termination of the second BSS, or a change in the determination that the first client device is monopolizing the channel of the first BSS, or a change in association between a second client device and the first BSS, or a combination thereof.

48. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein a service set identifier (SSID) and security credentials of the first BSS and the second BSS are the same.

49. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to:

determine that a first client device is monopolizing a channel of a first basic service set (BSS) associated with a first BSS identifier (BSSID);

dynamically create, based on the determining, a second BSS comprising a virtual AP, wherein the second BSS is throttled with respect to the first BSS; and

steer the first client device to a second BSS, the second BSS associated with a second BSSID different from the first BSSID.

50. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

determine a performance degradation of a second client device connected to the first BSS.

51. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

determine an airtime usage of the channel by the first client device.

52. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

increase an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) deferral length for the first client device.

53. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

reduce a transmission opportunity (TXOP) limit for the first client device.

54. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

selectively withhold a transmission of a clear to send (CTS) message to the first client device.

55. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

receive a request to send (RTS) message from the first client device, the RTS message comprising a requested duration value;

select a duration field value that is less than the requested duration value, the selecting based on the determination; and

transmit a clear to send (CTS) message to the first client device, the CTS message comprising the selected duration field value.

56. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

modify an uplink Aggregate MAC Protocol Data Unit (A-MPDU) policy for the first client device.

57. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

prevent the first client device from reassociating with the first BSS after steering the first client device to the second BSS.

58. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

drop an uplink packet from the first client device at a protocol layer higher than a media access control (MAC) protocol layer.

59. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

determine that the first client device is overloading an uplink channel associated with the first BSS.

60. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

transmit a dissociation message, a deauthentication message, or a BSS transition management frame to the first client device.

61. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

terminate the second BSS based on a change in status of the first client device.

62. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 61, wherein the change in status comprises at least one of a change in association between the first client device and the first BSS or the second BSS, or a change in the determination that the first client device is monopolizing the channel of the first BSS, or a change in association between a second client device and the first BSS, or a combination thereof.

63. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

steer the first client device to the first BSS based on a termination of the second BSS, or a change in the determination that the first client device is monopolizing the channel of the first BSS, or a change in association between a second client device and the first BSS, or a combination thereof.

64. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein a service set identifier (SSID) and security credentials of the first BSS and the second BSS are the same.