Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus' for optimizing network performance are described herein. A Cloud-Server may optimize one or more mesh networks of a plurality of 802.11 access points (APs) and stations (STA) connected to the APs. The Cloud-Server may work with a client steering daemon (CSD) miming on each AP. The Cloud-Server may operate in a location that is remote to the AP(s). The Cloud-Server may collect, store, and process network and client related data from one or more CSDs. The processing may include measuring network (e.g., premises) and client (e.g., STA) performance as well as analyzing (e.g., machine learning, etc.) to determine network parameters that will optimize network performance The Cloud-Server may then apply these network parameters to the relevant CSDs in order to improve per client and per network performance.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for facilitating the automated configuration of one or more new 802.11 access points (APs) are disclosed herein. A cloud server may receive a message associated with a customer account for one or more new APs. The cloud server may associate a first AP of the one or more new APs based on the message. The cloud server may then retrieve a public key associated with the first AP which has a reciprocal private key. The cloud server may send the public key to a gateway (GW) associated with the customer account. The GW may encrypt the GW credentials, such as a password and SSID, into a ciphertext using the public key and then broadcast this information. When the first AP has been powered on it may decrypt the ciphertext using the private key and use the credentials to act as a node in the GW's network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for reducing overhead in a probe request and probe response message exchange used in wireless networks. An access point (AP) may receive a first signal from a station (STA). The first signal may include a probe request message that includes an identification of the STA. The AP may determine that the STA is not currently associated with the AP and has not been associated with the AP within a predetermined time using a stored STA information table. The AP may generate a probe response message upon determining that a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the first signal is above a predetermined threshold. The AP may then transmit a second signal to the STA. The second signal may include the probe response message.

Abstract: A wireless device, for operation within a wireless network, the wireless device comprising: a RF transmitter, a RF receiver, and processing circuitry, where the RF transmitter sends a radar-detected message or a channel-switch announcement message to other wireless devices in the wireless networks. The other wireless devices receive the radar-detected message and abandon radar-detected channels designated in the radar-detected message. The other wireless devices also receive the channel-switch announcement message and switch to radar-free channels designated in the channel-switching message.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for optimizing a mesh network by cloud computing. A cloud network controller may receive from multiple access points (APs) in a mesh network information related to channel quality based on measurements taken by the APs. Based on this information, the cloud network controller may forecast one or more optimal channels based on the information related to channel quality. The cloud network controller my then send to the multiple APs a message including a recommendation to switch to the one or more optimal channels based on the forecasting. The AP may then make a decision to carry out the recommended channel switch.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for facilitating the automated configuration of one or more new 802.11 access points (APs) are disclosed herein. A cloud server may receive a message associated with a customer account for one or more new APs. The cloud server may associate a first AP of the one or more new APs based on the message. The cloud server may then retrieve a public key associated with the first AP which has a reciprocal private key. The cloud server may send the public key to a gateway (GW) associated with the customer account. The GW may encrypt the GW credentials, such as a password and SSID, into a ciphertext using the public key and then broadcast this information. When the first AP has been powered on it may decrypt the ciphertext using the private key and use the credentials to act as a node in the GW's network.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for optimizing a connection of a station (STA) in a mesh network of a plurality of 802.11 access points (APs) carried out by a client steering daemon (CSD) running on an AP of the plurality of APs. The CSD may calculate a cost ratio based on a plurality of metrics from a list and compare the signal strength information against a predetermined value. Based on the outcome of the signal strength comparison the CSD may analyze risk for the STA, determine a course of action for the STA based on the calculating, comparing, and analyzing and send instructions to a plurality of CSDs running on each of the plurality of APs for the course of action. The course of action may be keeping a STA associated with a current interface, guiding a STA to a destination interface, or kicking a STA to a destination interface.

Abstract: A method for assessing path quality between a source node and a destination node, the method comprising, at a node: determining a first parameter and a first path classification of a first path having at least one link; determining a second parameter and a second path classification of a second path having at least one link; determining the quality of the first path based on the first parameter and the first path classification; determining the quality of the second path based on the second parameter and the second path classification; and comparing the quality of the first path and the quality of the second path thereby to determine the best quality path.

Abstract: A wireless network device, for use within a wireless network, comprising: a processor; a memory; and an interface for receiving and transmitting data; wherein the wireless network device is adapted to: determine a first cost associated with communication between the wireless network device and a client device to which the wireless network device is connectable; determine a second cost associated with communication between the client device and a further wireless network device to which the client device is connectable; determine whether the first cost or the second cost is the lower cost; and if the second cost is the lower cost, the wireless network device is adapted to guide the client device to communicate with the further network device.

Abstract: A wireless device, for operation within a wireless network, the wireless device comprising: a RF transmitter, a RF receiver, and processing circuitry, where the RF transmitter sends a radar-detected message or a channel-switch announcement message to other wireless devices in the wireless networks. The other wireless devices receive the radar-detected message and abandon radar-detected channels designated in the radar-detected message. The other wireless devices also receive the channel-switch announcement message and switch to radar-free channels designated in the channel-switching message.

Abstract: A wireless network device, for use within a wireless network, comprising: a processor; a memory; and an interface for receiving and transmitting data; wherein the wireless network device is adapted to: determine a first cost associated with communication between the wireless network device and a client device to which the wireless network device is connectable; determine a second cost associated with communication between the client device and a further wireless network device to which the client device is connectable; determine whether the first cost or the second cost is the lower cost; and if the second cost is the lower cost, the wireless network device is adapted to guide the client device to communicate with the further network device.

Abstract: A wireless network device and method that operate an enhanced mesh network management (EMNM) agent at the wireless network device. The EMNM agent receives, from at least one associated mesh access point (AP), a WiFi EasyMesh compatible message. The EMNM agent determines whether the WiFi EasyMesh compatible message includes an additional information element including device metrics of the at least one associated mesh AP. On a condition that the EMNM agent determines that the WiFi EasyMesh compatible message includes the additional information element, the wireless network device stores the device metrics of the at least one associated mesh AP.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for steering an IEEE 802.11 station (STA) using a cloud server are disclosed herein. There may be a plurality of IEEE 802.11 access points (AP)s, where at least one AP of the plurality of APs operate at least a first virtual network. One or more APs of the plurality of APs may run a Client Steering Daemon (CSD) configured to perform unassociated STA monitoring that produces a log of data that may be sent to the cloud server on a regular or dynamic basis. The cloud server may receive the log data and transmit a signal to at least one of the APs of the plurality of APs to enable it to steer the STA between the first virtual network and a second virtual network.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for optimizing a connection of a station (STA) in a mesh network of a plurality of 802.11 access points (APs) carried out by a client steering daemon (CSD) running on an AP of the plurality of APs. The CSD may calculate a cost ratio based on a plurality of metrics from a list and compare the signal strength information against a predetermined value. Based on the outcome of the signal strength comparison the CSD may analyze risk for the STA, determine a course of action for the STA based on the calculating, comparing, and analyzing and send instructions to a plurality of CSDs running on each of the plurality of APs for the course of action. The course of action may be keeping a STA associated with a current interface, guiding a STA to a destination interface, or kicking a STA to a destination interface.

Abstract: A method for assessing path quality between a source node and a destination node, the method comprising, at a node: determining a first parameter and a first path classification of a first path having at least one link; determining a second parameter and a second path classification of a second path having at least one link; determining the quality of the first path based on the first parameter and the first path classification; determining the quality of the second path based on the second parameter and the second path classification; and comparing the quality of the first path and the quality of the second path thereby to determine the best quality path.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for steering an IEEE 802.11 station (STA) using a cloud server are disclosed herein. There may be a plurality of IEEE 802.11 access points (AP)s, where at least one AP of the plurality of APs operate at least a first virtual network. One or more APs of the plurality of APs may run a Client Steering Daemon (CSD) configured to perform unassociated STA monitoring that produces a log of data that may be sent to the cloud server on a regular or dynamic basis. The cloud server may receive the log data and transmit a signal to at least one of the APs of the plurality of APs to enable it to steer the STA between the first virtual network and a second virtual network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for reducing overhead in a probe request and probe response message exchange used in wireless networks. An access point (AP) may receive a first signal from a station (STA). The first signal may include a probe request message that includes an identification of the STA. The AP may determine that the STA is not currently associated with the AP and has not been associated with the AP within a predetermined time using a stored STA information table. The AP may generate a probe response message upon determining that a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the first signal is above a predetermined threshold. The AP may then transmit a second signal to the STA. The second signal may include the probe response message.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus' for optimizing network performance are described herein. A Cloud-Server may optimize one or more mesh networks of a plurality of 802.11 access points (APs) and stations (STA) connected to the APs. The Cloud-Server may work with a client steering daemon (CSD) miming on each AP. The Cloud-Server may operate in a location that is remote to the AP(s). The Cloud-Server may collect, store, and process network and client related data from one or more CSDs. The processing may include measuring network (e.g., premises) and client (e.g., STA) performance as well as analyzing (e.g., machine learning, etc.) to determine network parameters that will optimize network performance The Cloud-Server may then apply these network parameters to the relevant CSDs in order to improve per client and per network performance.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for optimizing a mesh network by cloud computing. A cloud network controller may receive from multiple access points (APs) in a mesh network information related to channel quality based on measurements taken by the APs. Based on this information, the cloud network controller may forecast one or more optimal channels based on the information related to channel quality. The cloud network controller my then send to the multiple APs a message including a recommendation to switch to the one or more optimal channels based on the forecasting. The AP may then make a decision to carry out the recommended channel switch.

Abstract: A wireless device, for operation within a wireless network, the wireless device comprising: a RF transmitter, a RF receiver, and processing circuitry, where the RF transmitter sends a radar-detected message or a channel-switch announcement message to other wireless devices in the wireless networks. The other wireless devices receive the radar-detected message and abandon radar-detected channels designated in the radar-detected message. The other wireless devices also receive the channel-switch announcement message and switch to radar-free channels designated in the channel-switching message.