Abstract: WLAN access point configured to: configure a first wireless extender device not to exceed a hop limit; cause the first wireless extender device to initiate messaging with a root APD via a root fronthaul BSS to receive credentials for a backhaul BSS; cause the first wireless extender device to onboard onto the root APD via the backhaul BSS using the received credentials; enable a second wireless extender device to initiate messaging via the first fronthaul BSS of the first wireless extender device to obtain the credentials for the backhaul BSS; and prevent, in a case that the hop limit has been reached, the second wireless extender device from onboarding onto the backhaul BSS of the first wireless extender device so as to cause the second wireless extender device to onboard onto either the root APD or another wireless extender device.

Abstract: A network controller is provided for use with a client device. The network controller includes a memory and a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory. The instructions when executed by the processor cause the network controller to set a value of a steering delay based on a steering trigger type, transmit a steering request to steer the client device from a first BSS ID to a second BSS ID, determine whether the client device has steered from the first BSS ID to the second BSS ID during the steering delay measured from the transmission of the steering request, and in response to a determination that the client device has not steered from the first BSS ID to the second BSS ID during the steering delay, increase the value of the steering delay by an increase amount and again transmit the steering request.

Abstract: A steering controller of an access point device can provide an optimized network environment or performance by steering a target client device to a basic service set (BSS) of a network device that is different from the current BSS of the target client device based on one or more non-associated client (NAC) link quality parameters to the BSS on the network device. The steering controller can identify the target client device based on a steering condition. A delta link quality can be determined based on the NAC link quality parameters and the target link quality parameters associated with the target client device. The steering controller can send one or more steering instructions to the target client device if a candidate BSS is identified based on a comparison between a determined maximum difference between a NAC link quality parameter and a target link quality parameter and an associated threshold.

Abstract: To prevent a client device from being stranded, a steering controller of an access point device can provide an improved network environment or performance by steering a target client device to a basic service set (BSS) of a network device that is different from the current BSS of the target client device based on a first or a poor link quality threshold where non-associated client (NAC) link quality parameters for NAC network devices within the network environment, such as a mesh network, is not available. The steering controller can select or identify a candidate BSS and then send a steering query to the target client device. The steering controller can receive a response from the target client device that indicates whether the steering to the candidate BSS was successful or accepted by the targeted client device.

Abstract: WLAN access point configured to: configure a first wireless extender device not to exceed a hop limit; cause the first wireless extender device to initiate messaging with a root APD via a root fronthaul BSS to receive credentials for a backhaul BSS; cause the first wireless extender device to onboard onto the root APD via the backhaul BSS using the received credentials; enable a second wireless extender device to initiate messaging via the first fronthaul BSS of the first wireless extender device to obtain the credentials for the backhaul BSS; and prevent, in a case that the hop limit has been reached, the second wireless extender device from onboarding onto the backhaul BSS of the first wireless extender device so as to cause the second wireless extender device to onboard onto either the root APD or another wireless extender device.

Abstract: WLAN access point configured to: configure a first wireless extender device not to exceed a hop limit; cause the first wireless extender device to initiate messaging with a root APD via a root fronthaul BSS to receive credentials for a backhaul BSS; cause the first wireless extender device to onboard onto the root APD via the backhaul BSS using the received credentials; enable a second wireless extender device to initiate messaging via the first fronthaul BSS of the first wireless extender device to obtain the credentials for the backhaul BSS; and prevent, in a case that the hop limit has been reached, the second wireless extender device from onboarding onto the backhaul BSS of the first wireless extender device so as to cause the second wireless extender device to onboard onto either the root APD or another wireless extender device.

Abstract: A network controller is provided for use with a client device. The network controller includes a memory and a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory. The instructions when executed by the processor cause the network controller to set a value of a steering delay based on a steering trigger type, transmit a steering request to steer the client device from a first BSS ID to a second BSS ID, determine whether the client device has steered from the first BSS ID to the second BSS ID during the steering delay measured from the transmission of the steering request, and in response to a determination that the client device has not steered from the first BSS ID to the second BSS ID during the steering delay, increase the value of the steering delay by an increase amount and again transmit the steering request.

Abstract: WLAN access point configured to: configure a first wireless extender device not to exceed a hop limit; cause the first wireless extender device to initiate messaging with a root APD via a root fronthaul BSS to receive credentials for a backhaul BSS; cause the first wireless extender device to onboard onto the root APD via the backhaul BSS using the received credentials; enable a second wireless extender device to initiate messaging via the first fronthaul BSS of the first wireless extender device to obtain the credentials for the backhaul BSS; and prevent, in a case that the hop limit has been reached, the second wireless extender device from onboarding onto the backhaul BSS of the first wireless extender device so as to cause the second wireless extender device to onboard onto either the root APD or another wireless extender device.