METHODS FOR SELECTION OF LINK AGGREGATION CAPABLE ACCESS POINTS

• US 20150288599A1
• Filed: 04/02/2014
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: ZHOU, Yan, Cherian, George, Abraham, Santosh Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,288,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/245 Link aggregation, e.g. trunking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/70 Routing based on monitoring results
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a processor configured to identify at least one interface (e.g., AP interface) configured to support link aggregation, identify one or more groups of the at least one interface, wherein all interfaces of a respective group are configured to be aggregated together, identify supported link aggregation types per group, select one of the groups to support communication via link aggregation, select at least one interface of the selected group, and send information to the selected at least one interface to initialize link aggregation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processing system configured to;

identify at least one interface configured to support link aggregation;

identify one or more groups of the at least one interface, wherein all interfaces of a respective group are configured to be aggregated together; and

select one of the groups to support communication via link aggregation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to select by:

determining a parameter for at least one of the groups; and

selecting one of the groups based on the parameter.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the parameter comprises at least one of:

an average packet latency;

a packet error rate;

or

an aggregated throughput.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein if the parameter comprises the aggregated throughput, the parameter for a group is determined by:

determining an over-the-air throughput of each link in the group based on a measured signal strength of each link and a load broadcasted on each link;

determining an over-the-air aggregated throughput based on the over-the-air throughput of each link and a link aggregation type supported by the group; and

determining the aggregated throughput by limiting the over-the-air aggregated throughput based on an available backhaul speed at which any link of the group broadcasts a signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein if the supported link aggregation type is a packet level aggregation, the over-the-air aggregated throughput is based on the over-the-air throughputs of all links in the group.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

receive information from at least one interface of the apparatus; and

identify the at least one interface configured to support link aggregation based on the information.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the information comprises at least one of:

an indicator indicating support of link aggregation;

an identification of a link controller associated with one of the groups;

or

a supported link aggregation type.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the supported link aggregation type comprises at least one of:

flow level aggregation;

packet level aggregation;

or

tunneled direct link setup (TDLS)-based aggregation.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the information received from the at least one interface is associated with the at least one interface or an interface neighboring the at least one interface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

select at least one interface of the selected group; and

send information to the selected at least one interface to initialize link aggregation.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the information comprises at least one of:

an indicator indicating support of communication via multiple interfaces;

a capability associated with the at least one interface or the interface neighboring the at least one interface;

a supported link aggregation type;

or

a preferred link aggregation type.

12. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

identifying at least one interface configured to support link aggregation;

identifying one or more groups of the at least one interface, wherein all interfaces of a respective group are configured to be aggregated together; and

selecting one of the groups to support communication via link aggregation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the selecting comprises:

determining a parameter for at least one of the groups; and

selecting one of the groups based on the parameter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the parameter comprises at least one of:

an average packet latency;

a packet error rate;

or

an aggregated throughput.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein if the parameter comprises the aggregated throughput, the parameter for a group is determined by:

determining an over-the-air throughput of each link in the group based on a measured signal strength of each link and a load broadcasted on each link;

determining an over-the-air aggregated throughput based on the over-the-air throughput of each link and a link aggregation type supported by the group; and

determining the aggregated throughput by limiting the over-the-air aggregated throughput based on an available backhaul speed at which any link of the group broadcasts a signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein if the supported link aggregation type is a packet level aggregation, the over-the-air aggregated throughput is based on the over-the-air throughputs of all links in the group.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving information from at least one interface of an apparatus; and

identifying the at least one interface configured to support link aggregation based on the information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the information comprises at least one of:

an indicator indicating support of link aggregation;

an identification of a link controller associated with one of the groups;

or

a supported link aggregation type.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the supported link aggregation type comprises at least one of:

flow level aggregation;

packet level aggregation;

or

tunneled direct link setup (TDLS)-based aggregation.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the information received from the at least one interface is associated with the at least one interface or an interface neighboring the at least one interface.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

selecting at least one interface of the selected group; and

sending information to the selected at least one interface to initialize link aggregation.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the information comprises at least one of:

an indicator indicating support of communication via multiple interfaces;

a capability associated with the at least one interface or the interface neighboring the at least one interface;

a supported link aggregation type;

or

a preferred link aggregation type.

23. A computer program product for wireless communications at an apparatus, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions executable to:

identify at least one interface configured to support link aggregation;

identify one or more groups of the at least one interface, wherein all interfaces of a respective group are configured to be aggregated together; and

select one of the groups to support communication via link aggregation.

24. A station, comprising:

at least one antenna; and

a processing system configured to;

identify via the at least one antenna at least one interface configured to support link aggregation,

identify via the at least one antenna one or more groups of the at least one interface, wherein all interfaces of a respective group are configured to be aggregated together; and

select one of the groups to support communication via link aggregation.