Centralized wireless LAN load balancing

摘要

A centralized wireless LAN load balancing mechanism is described herein. In one embodiment, in response to a request for entering a wireless network from a wireless station and forwarded from multiple access points (APs) of the wireless network, a network access device coupled to the multiple APs determines a load for each of the APs. The network access device then selects one of the APs based on the determined loads of the APs and instructs the selected AP to associate with the wireless station. The network access device further instructs the remaining APs to reject the request. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

主权项

1. A method for load balancing a wireless area network, the method comprising:
receiving load data from a plurality of access points, each of the access points having received an entry request from a wireless client; and executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor:
calculates a weighted load value for each access point by inputting the load data for each access point into a load balancing algorithm, wherein the load balancing algorithm includes the following variables:
a variance of a mean received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the access point, the variance considering the mean RSSI both with and without the wireless client taken into account, anda quotient comparing the mean RSSI of the access point with the wireless client taken into account to the maximum possible RSSI for the access point;compares the weighted load values of the access points to one another; andselects one access point from among the plurality of access points to accept the entry request from the wireless client according to a predetermined category, wherein the predetermined category is based on the comparison of the weighted load values.