Balancing wireless access based on centralized information
First Claim
1. A machine-implemented method, comprising:
- a computer receiving, from a first access node in a plurality of access nodes, a request to provide wireless access to a wireless client to connect the wireless client with the first access node, wherein each of said plurality of access nodes is configured to provide wireless access to one or more clients;
the computer selecting, from among a plurality of stored policies, a first access policy applicable to said first access node;
wherein said first access policy comprises, at least in part, one or more rules that, based on characteristics of a user of the wireless client, limit a number of wireless clients that are able to wirelessly access said first access node;
the computer determining whether to allow said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client based on said first access policy;
the computer, upon determining that said first access policy allows said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client, transmitting a first message, to said first access node, that instructs said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client; and
the computer, upon determining that said first access policy does not allow said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client, transmitting a second message, to said first access node, that instructs said first access node to deny wireless access to said wireless client and instructs said wireless client not to send another request to said first access node to provide wireless access.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for managing and balancing wireless access based on centralized information is provided. A request to provide service to a wireless client is received from a first access node in a plurality of access node. An access policy, applicable to the first access node, is selected from a plurality of stored policies. The stored policies may include a variety of rules, such as how many or which wireless clients may be serviced by an access node. A centralized manager, such as an AAA server, may perform the selection of the access policy. A determination is made as to whether to allow the first access node to provide service to the wireless client based on the selected access policy. A message that instructs the first access node whether to provide or deny service to the wireless client is transmitted to the first access node.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A machine-implemented method, comprising:
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a computer receiving, from a first access node in a plurality of access nodes, a request to provide wireless access to a wireless client to connect the wireless client with the first access node, wherein each of said plurality of access nodes is configured to provide wireless access to one or more clients; the computer selecting, from among a plurality of stored policies, a first access policy applicable to said first access node; wherein said first access policy comprises, at least in part, one or more rules that, based on characteristics of a user of the wireless client, limit a number of wireless clients that are able to wirelessly access said first access node; the computer determining whether to allow said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client based on said first access policy; the computer, upon determining that said first access policy allows said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client, transmitting a first message, to said first access node, that instructs said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client; and the computer, upon determining that said first access policy does not allow said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client, transmitting a second message, to said first access node, that instructs said first access node to deny wireless access to said wireless client and instructs said wireless client not to send another request to said first access node to provide wireless access. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A non-transitory machine-readable volatile or non-volatile storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform:
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receiving, from a first access node in a plurality of access nodes, a request to provide wireless access to a wireless client to connect the wireless client with the first access node, wherein each of said plurality of access nodes is configured to provide wireless access to one or more clients; selecting, from among a plurality of stored policies, a first access policy applicable to said first access node; wherein said first access policy comprises, at least in part, one or more rules that, based on characteristics of a user of the wireless client, limit a number of wireless clients that are able to wirelessly access said first access node; determining whether to allow said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client based on said first access policy; upon determining that said first access policy allows said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client, transmitting a first message, to said first access node, that instructs said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client; and upon determining that said first access policy does not allow said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client, transmitting a second message, to said first access node, that instructs said first access node to deny wireless access to said wireless client and instructs said wireless client not to send another request to said first access node to provide wireless access. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus, comprising:
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one or more processors; means for receiving, from a first access node in a plurality of access nodes, a request to provide wireless access to a wireless client to connect the wireless client with the first access node, wherein each of said plurality of access nodes is configured to provide wireless access to one or more clients; means for selecting, from among a plurality of stored policies, a first access policy applicable to said first access node; wherein said first access policy comprises, at least in part, one or more rules that, based on characteristics of a user of the wireless client, limit a number of wireless clients that are able to wirelessly access said first access node; means for determining whether to allow said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client based on said first access policy; means for transmitting a first message, to said first access node, that instructs said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client upon determining that said first access policy allows said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client; and means for transmitting a second message, to said first access node, that instructs said first access node to deny wireless access to said wireless client upon determining that said first access policy does not allow said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client and instructs said wireless client not to send another request to said first access node to provide wireless access. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer apparatus, comprising:
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a network interface that is configured to couple to a network that comprises one or more access nodes; one or more processors; logic encoded in one or more storage media which logic when executed causes the one or more processors to perform; receiving, from a first access node in a plurality of access nodes, a request to provide wireless access to a wireless client to connect the wireless client with the first access node, wherein each of said plurality of access nodes is configured to provide wireless access to one or more clients; selecting, from among a plurality of stored policies, a first access policy applicable to said first access node; wherein said first access policy comprises, at least in part, one or more rules that, based on characteristics of a user of the wireless client, limit a number of wireless clients that are able to wirelessly access said first access node; determining whether to allow said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client based on said first access policy; upon determining that said first access policy allows said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client, transmitting a first message, to said first access node, that instructs said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client; and upon determining that said first access policy does not allow said first access node to provide wireless access to said wireless client, transmitting a second message, to said first access node, that instructs said first access node to deny wireless access to said wireless client and instructs said wireless client not to send another request to said first access node to provide wireless access.
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Specification