Abstract: Various example embodiments for supporting control over association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points are presented herein. Various example embodiments for supporting control over association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points may be configured to support control over association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points and radio bands of WiFi access points. Various example embodiments for supporting control over association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points and radio bands of WiFi access points may be configured to control association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points and radio bands of WiFi access points by refusing requests of WiFi clients (e.g., authentication requests, association requests, or the like), including sub-optimal requests of WiFi clients, based on WiFi access control information maintained on the WiFi access points.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a cloud controller configured to control a wireless network having an edge controller, including: a network interface configured to communicate with the wireless network; a memory; a processor coupled to the memory and the network interface, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive performance metrics for the wireless network including congestion information; compare the congestion information with congestion criteria; identify clients connected to the wireless network as candidates to be transferred; sending a steering command to the edge controller with a list of identified clients to steer; and receiving an indication of clients steered by the edge controller.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a cloud controller configured to control a wireless network having an edge controller, including: a network interface configured to communicate with the wireless network; a memory; a processor coupled to the memory and the network interface, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive performance metrics for the wireless network including congestion information; compare the congestion information with congestion criteria; identify clients connected to the wireless network as candidates to be transferred; sending a steering command to the edge controller with a list of identified clients to steer; and receiving an indication of clients steered by the edge controller

Abstract: Various example embodiments for supporting control over association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points are presented herein. Various example embodiments for supporting control over association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points may be configured to support control over association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points and radio bands of WiFi access points. Various example embodiments for supporting control over association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points and radio bands of WiFi access points may be configured to control association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points and radio bands of WiFi access points by refusing requests of WiFi clients (e.g., authentication requests, association requests, or the like), including sub-optimal requests of WiFi clients, based on WiFi access control information maintained on the WiFi access points.

Abstract: Various example embodiments for supporting control over association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points are presented herein. Various example embodiments for supporting control over association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points may be configured to support control over association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points and radio bands of WiFi access points. Various example embodiments for supporting control over association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points and radio bands of WiFi access points may be configured to control association of WiFi clients with WiFi access points and radio bands of WiFi access points by refusing requests of WiFi clients (e.g., authentication requests, association requests, or the like), including sub-optimal requests of WiFi clients, based on WiFi access control information maintained on the WiFi access points.

Abstract: An access point includes a transmitter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a timing information device. The timing information device is configured to receive a timing information request from a station associated to the access point, receive timing information for a beacon signal sent by a second access point, and report the timing information to the station. The timing information includes a time difference relative to a known reference time for transmission of the beacon signal and the time difference is an offset in timing units.

Abstract: An access point includes a transmitter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a timing information device. The timing information device is configured to receive a timing information request from a station associated to the access point, receive timing information for a beacon signal sent by a second access point, and report the timing information to the station. The timing information includes a time difference relative to a known reference time for transmission of the beacon signal and the time difference is an offset in timing units.

Abstract: An access point in a wireless local area network may receive an information request from a station associated with the access point. The information request is requesting information about a second beacon transmission associated with a service set identifier (SSID) different from an SSID of the access point. The access point includes a timing information device configured to generate an information response for a beacon signal associated with the SSID different from the SSID of the access point. The information response may include a time difference, relative to a beacon signal sent by the access point, for transmission of the beacon signal associated with the SSID different from the SSID of the access point. The time difference may be an offset in timing units. The access point also includes a transmitter configured to transmit the information response to the station in response to receiving the information request.

Abstract: This invention relates to wireless local area networks, and particularly to the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. It consists of a method and apparatus that can be implemented in access points (APs) and subscriber wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), in order to allow an AP to initiate re-association of a WTRU to itself or a different AP. The invention improves the robustness of the network by enabling more efficient load balancing, congestion control, and roaming, without compromising the user experience.

Abstract: An access point includes a transmitter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a timing information device. The timing information device is configured to receive a timing information request from a station associated to the access point, receive timing information for a beacon signal sent by a second access point, and report the timing information to the station. The timing information includes a time difference relative to a known reference time for transmission of the beacon signal and the time difference is an offset in timing units.

Abstract: An access point includes a transmitter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a timing information device. The timing information device is configured to receive a timing information request from a station associated to the access point, receive timing information for a beacon signal sent by a second access point, and report the timing information to the station. The timing information includes a time difference relative to a known reference time for transmission of the beacon signal and the time difference is an offset in timing units.

Abstract: A method for use in an access point includes receiving a request for a reselection message from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). The reselection message is generated in response to the request and includes: at least one first identifier of one or more candidate basic service sets (BSSs) that may be considered for reselection; a preference indicator associated with each candidate BSS, to indicate the BSS selection preference; an expiration time indicator associated with each candidate BSS, to indicate a time period that the BSS may be considered for reselection; an indication of a measurement to be taken on a BSS and used in a target BSS reselection determination; and a margin by which the measurement must exceed a corresponding value for a currently selected BSS. The reselection message is transmitted to the WTRU. A reselection response message is received from the WTRU, indicating the target BSS reselection determination.

Abstract: A method for use in an access point includes receiving a request for a reselection message from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). The reselection message is generated in response to the request and includes: at least one first identifier of one or more candidate basic service sets (BSSs) that may be considered for reselection; a preference indicator associated with each candidate BSS, to indicate the BSS selection preference; an expiration time indicator associated with each candidate BSS, to indicate a time period that the BSS may be considered for reselection; an indication of a measurement to be taken on a BSS and used in a target BSS reselection determination; and a margin by which the measurement must exceed a corresponding value for a currently selected BSS. The reselection message is transmitted to the WTRU. A reselection response message is received from the WTRU, indicating the target BSS reselection determination.

Abstract: During a contention-free period, or silent measurement period, of a first wireless communications channel, signals received on a second wireless communications channel are analyzed. The results of the analysis are used to perform advanced radio resource management functions, such as frequency selection, load balancing, or power management. Each of a plurality of wireless channels may be measured in order to perform the advanced radio resource management functions. During the analysis, an energy detect threshold may be lowered to a minimal value.

Abstract: An access point includes a transmitter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a timing information device. The timing information device is configured to receive a timing information request from a station associated to the access point, receive timing information for a beacon signal sent by a second access point, and report the timing information to the station, The timing information includes a time difference relative to a known reference time for transmission of the beacon signal and the time difference is an offset in timing units.

Abstract: A list of candidate basic service sets (BSSs) or access points (APs) is included in a medium access control (MAC) message which is received at a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). The list includes an identity of each candidate BSS or AP and a preference indicator which indicates an extent that the candidate BSS or AP is preferred for selection and whether the candidate BSS or AP shall not be considered for selection. A BSS or AP is selected by the WTRU using the list.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for dynamic range power control of a wireless downlink communication signal, such that target signal quality adjustments are held temporarily when it is apparent that transmit power control commands will not produce the desired response at the transmitting station. Comparisons of measured received signals to thresholds are performed to determine whether the transmitting station has either reached the maximum or minimum transmit power, in which case the target signal quality adjustment is controlled accordingly. When normal transmit power is detected, the target signal quality adjustments are allowed to resume as usual.

Abstract: This invention relates to wireless local area networks, and particularly to the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. It consists of a method and apparatus that can be implemented in access points (APs) and subscriber wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), in order to allow an AP to initiate re-association of a WTRU to itself or a different AP. The invention improves the robustness of the network by enabling more efficient load balancing, congestion control, and roaming, without compromising the user experience.

Abstract: A method for neighbor scanning in a wireless local area network having a station, a first access point (AP) to which the station is associated, and a second AP begins by generating timing information regarding a beacon signal sent by the second AP. The timing information is reported from the first AP to the station. The station schedules a time, based on the timing information, to listen for the beacon signal transmitted by the second AP.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may be used for network management via MAC measurements. The measurements may include WTRU uplink traffic loading measurement, and an AP service loading measurement. The measurements may be applicable to at least to layers 1 and 2 as applied to, for example, 802.11k in the context of OFDM and CDMA 2000 systems, but may be applicable to other scenarios as well. A method for determining and transmitting congestion information may be provided for a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system. The method and apparatus may be used for managing congestion when congestion is detected. The method and apparatus may be used in wireless systems that use a Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) mechanism. The methods may be implemented in wireless transmit/receive units (WTRU)s and access points (AP)s of various forms.