System and method for optimizing roaming in a wireless data network

• US 8,095,129 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Adams, Joel, Garvin, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Gary, Erika
• Application Number:
  US11/682,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20080219208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point

Abstract

A system and method for a mobile client device to associate with a preferred access point in a wireless network A determination is made as to whether the mobile client device is stationary within the wireless network The preferred access point is determined between the different access points within the wireless network. The mobile client device associates with the preferred access point to gain desired access to the wireless network

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining that a mobile client device is stationary;

determining a preferred access point during a roam scan performed only upon and in response to determining that the mobile client device is stationary; and

associating the mobile client device with the preferred access point based on the roam scan performed upon and in response to determining that the mobile client device is stationary.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises determining whether the mobile client device is connected to an electrical outlet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises determining whether a peripheral is communicating with the mobile client device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises processing motion sensor signals.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises processing satellite positioning signals.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises determining whether the mobile client device is connected to an external video monitor device.

7. The method of claim 6 where the external video device is a video projector.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises determining whether the mobile client device is connected to a docking station.

9. A mobile client device comprising:

an indicator module adapted to determine whether the mobile client device is stationary;

an access point detection module adapted to perform a roam scan only upon and in response to receiving a signal from the indicator module indicating that the mobile client device is stationary; and

a processor coupled to the indicator module, the processor adapted to associate the mobile client device with a first access point based on the roam scan performed in response to the signal indicating that the mobile client device is stationary.

10. The mobile client device of claim 9 wherein a second access point is within the range of the access point detection module.

11. The mobile client device of claim 10 wherein a signal strength of the first access point is within an acceptable range.

12. The mobile client device of claim 11 wherein a signal strength of the second access point is stronger than the signal strength of the first access point.

13. The mobile client device of claim 12 wherein the second access point is a preferred access point.

14. The mobile client device of claim 13 wherein the processor associates with the second access point.

15. A method of roaming a mobile client device in a wireless network, the method comprising:

accessing a wireless network through a first access point;

determining that the mobile client device has accessed the wireless network through the first access point for more than a threshold amount of time;

performing a roam scan to locate a second access point within the wireless network only upon and in response to determining that the mobile client device has accessed the wireless network through the first access point for more than the threshold amount of time;

determining that the second access point is a preferred access point during the roam scan;

disconnecting from the first access point in response to the roam scan; and

connecting to the second access point based on determining that the second access point is the preferred access point during the roam scan performed only upon and in response to determining that the mobile client device has accessed the wireless network through the first access point for more than the threshold amount of time.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein a first set of access points provides the mobile client device with access to the wireless network while roaming.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein a second set of access points provides the mobile client device with access to the wireless network while the mobile client device is stationary.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second set of access points improves a density capability in a centralized location.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein a signal strength for the first set of access points is stronger than a signal strength of the second set of access points while the mobile client device is roaming.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the signal strength for the second set of access points is stronger than the signal strength of the first set of access points while the mobile client device is stationary.