System and method for providing communication services
First Claim
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1. A method for determining a load associated with a node, the method comprising:
- determining an average time interval measure representing an average time interval between successive frames transmitted by the node via a selected channel;
determining a number of unique user devices associated with the node based on a destination media access control (MAC) address field in each of the frames transmitted by the node;
determining a load measure associated with the node, based at least on a value determined by dividing the number of unique user devices associated with the node by the average time interval measure;
determining a rate-weighted load measure associated with the node by weighting the load measure with a data transmission rate associated with the node determined based on an observed signal strength of transmission signals of the node;
repeating the steps of determining an average time interval measure, determining a number of unique user devices, determining a load measure, and determining a rate-weighted load measure for a second node associated with the selected channel; and
selecting a rate-weighted load measure for a Wi-Fi connection with the node, wherein the Wi-Fi connection with the node is selected from among Wi-Fi connections with a plurality of other nodes based on the rate-weighted load measure relative to rate-weighted load measures associated with the plurality of other nodes.
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Abstract
A method for determining a load measure associated with a wireless communications node, such as a Wi-Fi access point or cellular base station, is described. A time interval measure representing a time interval between frames transmitted by a node is determined, and a number of user devices associated with the node is determined based on information in the frames transmitted by the node. A load measure associated with the node is determined, based at least on the number of user devices associated with the node and the time interval measure. Systems and apparatus are also described.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for determining a load associated with a node, the method comprising:
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determining an average time interval measure representing an average time interval between successive frames transmitted by the node via a selected channel; determining a number of unique user devices associated with the node based on a destination media access control (MAC) address field in each of the frames transmitted by the node; determining a load measure associated with the node, based at least on a value determined by dividing the number of unique user devices associated with the node by the average time interval measure; determining a rate-weighted load measure associated with the node by weighting the load measure with a data transmission rate associated with the node determined based on an observed signal strength of transmission signals of the node; repeating the steps of determining an average time interval measure, determining a number of unique user devices, determining a load measure, and determining a rate-weighted load measure for a second node associated with the selected channel; and selecting a rate-weighted load measure for a Wi-Fi connection with the node, wherein the Wi-Fi connection with the node is selected from among Wi-Fi connections with a plurality of other nodes based on the rate-weighted load measure relative to rate-weighted load measures associated with the plurality of other nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions stored thereon, the instructions capable of execution by a processor and defining the steps of:
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determining an average time interval measure representing an average time interval between successive frames transmitted by the node via a selected channel; determining a number of unique user devices associated with the node based on a destination media access control (MAC) address field in each of the frames transmitted by the node; determining a load measure associated with the node, based at least on a value determined by dividing the number of unique user devices associated with the node by the average time interval measure; determining a rate-weighted load measure associated with the node by weighting the load measure with a data transmission rate associated with the node determined based on an observed signal strength of transmission signals of the node; repeating the steps of determining an average time interval measure, determining a number of unique user devices, determining a load measure, and determining a rate-weighted load measure for a second node associated with the selected channel; and selecting a rate-weighted load measure for a Wi-Fi connection with the node, wherein the Wi-Fi connection with the node is selected from among Wi-Fi connections with a plurality of other nodes based on the rate-weighted load measure relative to rate-weighted load measures associated with the plurality of other nodes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A device comprising:
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an antenna configured to; receive a plurality of frames transmitted by a node; and a processor configured to; determine an average time interval measure representing an average time interval between successive frames transmitted by the node via a selected channel; determine a number of unique user devices associated with the node based on a destination media access control (MAC) address field in each of the frames transmitted by the node; determine a load measure associated with the node, based at least on a value determined by dividing the number of unique user devices associated with the node by the average time interval measure; determine a rate-weighted load measure associated with the node by weighting the load measure with a data transmission rate associated with the node determined based on an observed signal strength of transmission signals of the node; repeat the steps of determining an average time interval measure, determining a number of unique user devices, determining a load measure, and determining a rate-weighted load measure for a second node associated with the selected channel; and select a rate-weighted load measure for a Wi-Fi connection with the node, wherein the Wi-Fi connection with the node is selected from among Wi-Fi connections with a plurality of other nodes based on the rate-weighted load measure relative to rate-weighted load measures associated with the plurality of other nodes. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification