Intelligent wireless access point selection

• US 8,116,285 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Barnum, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/246,827
• Time in Patent Office: 3,435 Days
• Field of Search: 370328-339, 455436-443
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A method or system of enabling a wireless client device to select an access point based on at least two performance related parameters. A performance related parameter is a measurement of how efficiently a particular access point transfers data. By selecting an access point based on more than one performance related parameter, a wireless client device is more likely communicate with the most efficient access point. In addition, the wireless network as a whole will be more balanced and have a greater capacity if each of the wireless client devices is connected to the access point that provides the most efficient communications.

Claims

1. In a wireless client device, a method of selecting an access point comprising:

scanning for available access points;

if there are more than one available access point, performing the following acts;

eavesdropping on the available access points to observe communications between the available access points and at least one wireless client device;

determining at least two performance related parameters for each of the access points based upon the eavesdropping on the access points;

selecting an access point, based on the at least two performance related parameters and a predetermined weighting criteria, which would provide the most efficient communications; and

connecting with the selected access point.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two performance related parameters include a data transfer rate of the available access point.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two performance related parameters include reliability information of the available access point.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two performance related parameters include a locked parameter.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two performance related parameters include a private parameter.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two performance related parameters include historical data on the performance of communications with the wireless access point.

7. A wireless client device comprising:

a wireless network interface device; and

a module to select an efficient access point of a plurality of available access points to communicate with in a wireless network based on at least two performance related parameters determined through an eavesdropping process on the plurality of available access points using the wireless network interface device, wherein the eavesdropping process includes an observation of communications between the plurality of available access points and at least one wireless client device.

8. The wireless client device of claim 7 wherein the at least two performance related parameters include a data transfer rate of the available access point.

9. The wireless client device of claim 7 wherein the at least two performance related parameters include reliability information of the available access point.

10. The wireless client device of claim 7 wherein the at least two performance related parameters include a locked parameter.

11. The wireless client device of claim 7 wherein the at least two performance related parameters include a private parameter.

12. The wireless client device of claim 7 wherein the at least two performance related parameters include historical data on the performance of communications with the wireless access point.

13. In a wireless client device, a method of selecting an access point comprising:

scanning for available access points;

if there is more than one available access point, performing the following acts;

eavesdropping on the access points;

determining a performance related parameter for each of the access points based upon observation of communications between the available access points and one or more wireless client devices;

selecting an access point, based on the performance related parameter which would provide efficient communications; and

connecting with the selected access point.