Method and system of intelligently load balancing of Wi-Fi access point apparatus in a WLAN

• US 9,072,040 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medium Access Systems Private Limited
• Original Assignee: Medium Access Systems Private Limited
• Inventors: Fang, Yang Lit
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, ANDREW CHUNG CHEUNG
• Application Number:
  US14/088,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20140082200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 370/235, 370/310, 370/315, 370/328, 370/331, 370/335, 370/352, 455/41.2, 455/411, 455/436, 455/445, 455/466
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0838 using one-time-passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 based on traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A computer networking infrastructure for load balancing, which comprises a network, access points each with a first service set identifier, computing devices and a computing system. The computing system can receive requests from computing devices to access the network via a second service set identifier of an access point. In response to a request to access the network from a computing device, the computing system generates a list of access points which are able to support a connection with the computing device. The computing device may connect to the network via an access point on the list and via the first service set identifier.

Claims

1. A method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure by a computing device in communication with a computing system including at least one memory with at least one region for storing executable program code and at least one processor for executing the program code stored in the memory, the method comprising:

(a) sending, by a computing device to the computing system, a request to access a network, wherein said computing device includes at least one access profile, the network is connected to one or more access points, each of the one or more access points has a first service set identifier, the request includes the at least one access profile, and the request is received via a second service set identifier of one of the one or more access points;

(b) receiving, by said computing device, a list comprising at least one of the one or more access points able to support a connection with said computing device, wherein said list is responsive to a determination that the computing device is permitted to access the network, and;

(c) connecting, by said computing device, to said one or more access points determined permitted to access the network based on the at least one access profile.

2. The method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the list includes the first service set identifier of each of the at least one of the one or more access points.

3. The method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the second service set identifier provides a communications medium for providing authentication of access to the network by said computing device.

4. The method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the second service set identifier is limited to providing authentication of access to the network by said computing device.

5. The method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure of claim 1, wherein computing device further comprises a daemon or software application, and wherein communications between said computing device and the computing system are sent and received via the daemon or software application.

6. The method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure of claim 5, wherein the daemon or software application detects the first and second service set identifiers.

7. The method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure of claim 1, wherein:

the method further comprises;

generating a token, one time password or one time certificate, and

receiving, by said computing device, said the token, one time password or one time certificate to the computing device;

wherein said computing device is configured to access the network through one of the at least one of the one or more access points on the list using the token, one time password or one time certificate.

8. The method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the at least one access profile is stored on a USB device, SD card, Micro SD card, SIM card, or integrated circuit.

9. The method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the first service set identifier of each of the one or more access points are hidden or not broadcasted.

10. The method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more access points is further configured to collect data utilization information for at least one computing device.

11. The method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure of claim 1, where the list is ordered according to signal strength of the first service set identifier relative to or detected by said computing device.

12. The method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the list is ordered according to the distance between each access point and the location of said computing device.

13. The method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the network is connected to or comprises the internet.

14. A system for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure for a subscriber attempting to access the Internet comprising:

a Client Personal Equipment (“

CPE”

) comprising an access controller;

at least one beacon access point; and

a computing system including at least one memory with at least one region for storing executable program code and at least one processor for executing the program code stored in the memory;

wherein said access controller is configured to detect said at least one beacon access point and send a request to access the internet to a policy server of said computing system;

wherein said policy server is configured to send a request for available access points to a resource server of said computing system;

wherein said resource server is configured to generate a list of said available access points able to support said CPE and send said list to said policy server;

wherein, in response to said list generation, said policy server is configured to notify an authentication, authorization, and accounting server (“

AAA server”

) of said computing system of the CPE'"'"'s attempt to access the Internet;

wherein said AAA server is configured to notify said policy server if said CPE has a prepaid service plan;

wherein said policy server is configured to generate a token, one time password, or one time certificate in response to said notification, said token, one time password, or one time certificate comprising information necessary for said CPE to access the Internet via one of said at least one access points, and send said notification and said token, one time password, or one time certificate to said access controller;

wherein said access controller is configured to attempt to connect to the Internet at one of said at least one access points by means of a beacon SSID;

wherein said access point is configured to forward said attempt to connect to the Internet to said AAA server;

wherein said AAA server is configured, upon receipt of said attempt, to authenticate said attempt, communicate with said access point to allow said CPE to connect to the Internet, and notify said resource server that said CPE has connected to said access point;

wherein said access point is configured to send authorization information to said access controller;

wherein said access controller is configured to complete said connection with said access point; and

wherein, upon said completion of said connection, said CPE is configured to access the Internet.

15. A system for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure as claimed in claim 14, wherein said list comprises SSIDs, capacity information, and status information for said available access points.

16. A system for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure as claimed in claim 14, wherein said list comprises SSIDs associated with said available access points instead of said available access points.

17. A method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure for a subscriber attempting to access the Internet comprising:

detecting, by an access controller of a Client Personal Equipment (“

CPE”

), at least one beacon access point and sending, by said access controller, a request to access the internet to a policy server of a computing system including at least one memory with at least one region for storing executable program code and at least one processor for executing the program code stored in the memory;

sending, by said policy server, a request for available access points to a resource server of said computing system;

generating, by said resource server, a list of said available access points able to support said CPE and sending, by said resource server, said list to said policy server;

notifying, by said policy server in response to said list generation, an authentication, authorization, and accounting server (“

AAA server”

) of said computing system of the CPE'"'"'s attempt to access the Internet;

notifying, by said AAA server, said policy server if said CPE has a prepaid service plan;

generating, by said policy server, a certificate in response to said notification, said certificate comprising information necessary for said CPE to access the Internet via one of said at least one access points, and sending, by said policy server, said notification and said certificate to said access controller;

attempting, by said access controller, to connect to the Internet at one of said at least one access points by means of a beacon SSID, and forwarding, by said access points, said attempt to connect to the Internet to said AAA server;

authenticating, by said AAA server upon receipt of said attempt, said attempt to connect to the Internet, communicating, by said AAA server, with said access point to allow said CPE to connect to the Internet, and notifying, by said AAA server, said resource server that said CPE has connected to said access point;

sending, by said access point, authorization information to said access controller;

completing, by said access controller, said connection with said access point; and

accessing, by said CPE upon said completion of said connection, the Internet.

18. A method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure as claimed in claim 17, wherein said list comprises SSIDs, capacity information, and status information for said available access points.

19. A method for load balancing a computer networking infrastructure as claimed in claim 17, wherein said list comprises SSIDs associated with said available access points instead of said available access points.