Global and local optimization of Wi-Fi access points

• US 9,066,251 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plume Design, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wildfire.Exchange, Inc. (Plume Design, Inc.)
• Inventors: Madan, Ritesh K., Chandrasekhar, Vikram, Goldsmith, Andrea, Krishna, Santhosh
• Primary Examiner(s): LEVITAN, DMITRY
• Application Number:
  US13/958,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20140036691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370328-330, 370/343, 370/345
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A method of managing Wi-Fi access points (APs) includes selecting between a global optimization and a local optimization of AP parameters based at least in part on one or more factors. The method includes causing a global optimization to be performed in the event that a global optimization is selected, the global optimization comprising: searching for adjustments to a first set of AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a global region, the global region including a first set of APs. The method includes causing a local optimization to be performed in the event that a local optimization is selected, the local optimization comprising: searching for adjustments to a second set of AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a localized region, the localized region including a second set of APs, wherein the second set of APs comprises a subset of the first set of APs.

Claims

1. A method of managing Wi-Fi access points (APs), comprising:

selecting by a processor between a global optimization and a local optimization of Wi-Fi AP parameters based at least in part on one or more factors;

causing a global optimization to be performed in the event that a global optimization is selected, the global optimization comprising;

searching for adjustments to a first set of Wi-Fi AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a global region, the global region including a first set of APs; and

causing a local optimization to be performed in the event that a local optimization is selected, the local optimization comprising;

searching for adjustments to a second set of Wi-Fi AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a localized region, the localized region including a second set of APs, wherein the second set of APs comprises a subset of the first set of APs;

determining a portion of the second set of APs, wherein determining a portion of the second set of APs comprises determining the portion using a heuristic, and wherein the heuristic determines the portion as the portion of the second set of APs with performance below a predetermined performance target level;

searching for adjustments to Wi-Fi AP parameters corresponding to the portion of the second set of APs; and

keeping the Wi-Fi AP parameters corresponding to the remaining portion of the second set of APs unchanged.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a portion of the second set of APs comprises determining the portion using a heuristic, and wherein the heuristic determines the portion comprising the APs with the most performance degradation within a time interval.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the local optimization further comprises:

selecting an AP as a center point of the localized region.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the local optimization further comprises:

determining the portion of the second set of APs based on a number of hops from the center point.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the local optimization further comprises:

determining the localized region based on a number of hops from the center point.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the AP selected as the center point comprises a failed AP.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the AP selected as the center point comprises a new AP.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more factors include one or more of the following:

a degree of network topology change, a degree of network condition change, a time period between local optimizations, a time period between global optimizations, computational complexity, and performance gain.

9. A system for managing Wi-Fi access points (APs), comprising:

a processor configured to;

select between a global optimization and a local optimization of Wi-Fi AP parameters based at least in part on one or more factors;

cause a global optimization to be performed in the event that a global optimization is selected, the global optimization comprising;

searching for adjustments to a first set of Wi-Fi AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a global region, the global region including a first set of APs; and

cause a local optimization to be performed in the event that a local optimization is selected, the local optimization comprising;

searching for adjustments to a second set of Wi-Fi AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a localized region, the localized region including a second set of APs, wherein the second set of APs comprises a subset of the first set of APs;

determining a portion of the second set of APs, and wherein determining a portion of the second set of APs comprises determining the portion using a heuristic, and wherein the heuristic determines the portion as the portion of the second set of APs with performance below a predetermined performance target level;

searching for adjustments to Wi-Fi AP parameters corresponding to the portion of the second set of APs; and

keeping the Wi-Fi AP parameters corresponding to the remaining portion of the second set of APs unchanged; and

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein determining a portion of the second set of APs comprises determining the portion using a heuristic, and wherein the heuristic determines the portion comprising the APs with the most performance degradation within a time interval.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the local optimization further comprises:

selecting an AP as a center point of the localized region.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the local optimization further comprises:

determining the portion of the second set of APs based on a number of hops from the center point.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the local optimization further comprises:

determining the localized region based on a number of hops from the center point.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the AP selected as the center point comprises a failed AP.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the AP selected as the center point comprises a new AP.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more factors include one or more of the following:

a degree of network topology change, a degree of network condition change, a time period between local optimizations, a time period between global optimizations, computational complexity, and performance gain.

17. A computer program product for managing Wi-Fi access points (APs), the computer program product being embodied in a tangible non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

selecting between a global optimization and a local optimization of Wi-Fi AP parameters based at least in part on one or more factors;

causing a global optimization to be performed in the event that a global optimization is selected, the global optimization comprising;

searching for adjustments to a first set of Wi-Fi AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a global region, the global region including a first set of APs; and

causing a local optimization to be performed in the event that a local optimization is selected, the local optimization comprising;

searching for adjustments to a second set of Wi-Fi AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a localized region, the localized region include a second set of APs, wherein the second set of APs comprises a subset of the first set of APs; and

determining a portion of the second set of APs, wherein determining a portion of the second set of APs comprises determining the portion using a heuristic, and wherein the heuristic determines the portion as the portion of the second set of APs with performance below a predetermined performance target level;

searching for adjustments to Wi-Fi AP parameters corresponding to the portion of the second set of APs; and

keeping the Wi-Fi AP parameters corresponding to the remaining portion of the second set of APs unchanged.

18. The computer program product recited in claim 17, wherein the one or more factors include one or more of the following:

a degree of network topology change, a degree of network condition change, a time period between local optimizations, a time period between global optimizations, computational complexity, and performance gain.

19. The computer program product recited in claim 17, wherein the local optimization comprises:

selecting an AP as a center point of the localized region.

20. A method of managing Wi-Fi access points (APs), comprising:

selecting by a processor between a global optimization and a local optimization of Wi-Fi AP parameters based at least in part on one or more factors;

causing a global optimization to be performed in the event that a global optimization is selected, the global optimization comprising;

searching for adjustments to a first set of Wi-Fi AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a global region, the global region including a first set of APs; and

causing a local optimization to be performed in the event that a local optimization is selected, the local optimization comprising;

searching for adjustments to a second set of Wi-Fi AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a localized region, the localized region including a second set of APs, wherein the second set of APs comprises a subset of the first set of APs;

determining a portion of the second set of APs, wherein determining a portion of the second set of APs comprises determining the portion using a heuristic, and wherein the heuristic determines the portion comprising the APs with the most performance degradation within a time interval;

searching for adjustments to Wi-Fi AP parameters corresponding to the portion of the second set of APs; and

keeping the Wi-Fi AP parameters corresponding to the remaining portion of the second set of APs unchanged.