Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing device determines a plurality of probability-based trajectories a mobile device could traverse through a plurality of access point (AP) cells within a given area depending on an entry point of the mobile device into the given area. A predictive dwell time may also be associated to each AP cell based on how long a mobile device is expected to remain within the respective AP cell. Based on i) current locations of mobile devices, ii) the plurality of probability-based trajectories a mobile device could traverse through the plurality of AP cells, and iii) the predictive dwell time of each AP cell, the computing device can compute a probability of mobile device density surpassing a potential flash crowd threshold within each AP cell at any given future time. In response, the computing device may then perform one or more mitigation actions.

Abstract: Predicting data throughput with a user device comprises a wireless system supported by wireless access points receiving signals from the user device. A wireless prediction system receives data from the wireless system, where the data comprises characteristics of the wireless access point, characteristics of communications with user computing devices, and data throughput statistics. The prediction system categorizes the received data based on one or more of a set of characteristics and determines a maximum data throughput capacity for each of the one or more wireless access points for each of the one or more set of characteristics. The system receives a request for a prediction of data throughput capacity for a particular wireless access point and, based on the characteristics of the particular wireless access point, determines an estimated data throughput capacity based on data throughputs of wireless access points having similar characteristics.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device in a network determines behavioral profiles of a plurality of nodes in the network. The behavioral profile for a particular node indicates whether the node is an occasional transmitter or a periodic transmitter. The device identifies similarly behaving nodes based on their behavioral profiles. The device assigns groups of the nodes to uplink transmission windows based on their behavioral profiles. The similarly behaving nodes that are periodic transmitters are assigned to the same uplink transmission windows and similarly behaving nodes that are occasional transmitters are assigned to different uplink transmission windows. The device controls the plurality of nodes to use their assigned uplink transmission windows via target wake time values sent to the plurality of nodes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a process determines how often client devices roam from a given access point (AP) to each particular neighbor AP of a plurality of neighbor APs of the given AP, and correspondingly determines a roaming distance from the given AP to each particular neighbor AP, the roaming distance being shorter for neighbor APs roamed to more often, and longer for neighbor APs roamed to less often, within a given interval. Successful but temporary roams to the plurality of neighbor APs may also be detected and removed from consideration in the roaming distance to that particular neighbor AP. The process then generates a proximity list of one or more of the neighboring APs having the shortest roaming distances, and feeds the proximity list to the given AP to cause the given AP to provide the proximity list to client devices for optimized client roaming.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a process determines how often client devices roam from a given access point (AP) to each particular neighbor AP of a plurality of neighbor APs of the given AP, and correspondingly determines a roaming distance from the given AP to each particular neighbor AP, the roaming distance being shorter for neighbor APs roamed to more often, and longer for neighbor APs roamed to less often, within a given interval. Successful but temporary roams to the plurality of neighbor APs may also be detected and removed from consideration in the roaming distance to that particular neighbor AP. The process then generates a proximity list of one or more of the neighboring APs having the shortest roaming distances, and feeds the proximity list to the given AP to cause the given AP to provide the proximity list to client devices for optimized client roaming.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device in a wireless network receives an association request sent by a node to associate with the network. The association request comprises a media access control (MAC) address of the node. The device obtains a serial number or manufacturer identifier of the node. The device establishes a secure connection between the node and the network using a temporal pre-shared key (PSK) based on the serial number or manufacturer identifier of the node. The device sends a second PSK to the node via the secure connection. The second PSK is unique in the network to the node and the node uses the second PSK for future communications with the network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device in a network determines behavioral profiles of a plurality of nodes in the network. The behavioral profile for a particular node indicates whether the node is an occasional transmitter or a periodic transmitter. The device identifies similarly behaving nodes based on their behavioral profiles. The device assigns groups of the nodes to uplink transmission windows based on their behavioral profiles. The similarly behaving nodes that are periodic transmitters are assigned to the same uplink transmission windows and similarly behaving nodes that are occasional transmitters are assigned to different uplink transmission windows. The device controls the plurality of nodes to use their assigned uplink transmission windows via target wake time values sent to the plurality of nodes.

Abstract: A mobility management entity (MME) controls an enterprise fabric. The MME receives from a mobile device via a cellular network a request to initiate an attach procedure. In response, the MME acquires from the mobile device a unique equipment identifier of the mobile device. The MME generates an enterprise identity for the mobile device based on the unique equipment identifier, and registers the enterprise identity in the enterprise fabric. The MME signals to a user plane function of the cellular network that the mobile device has been registered, to trigger the user plane function to acquire an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the mobile device based on the enterprise identity. The MME receives from the user plane function the acquired IP address. The MME sends to the mobile device, through the cellular network, an attach accept message that includes the acquired IP address for use by the mobile device.

Abstract: A network controller automatically identifies and addresses low performance access points (APs) by obtaining performance data of the APs that associates each AP with a performance metric. The controller clusters the first data points into a first set of groups based on the performance metric, and determines a length of time each AP is associated with each group to generate a second set of data points. The controller clusters the second data points into a second set of groups based on the percentage of time each AP is associated with each of the first set of groups. Each group in the second set of groups associates each AP with a relative performance level. The controller selects one of the second groups as a low performance group based on the relative performance level. The controller identifies a configuration change, and automatically executes the configuration change on the low performance APs.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing device determines a plurality of probability-based trajectories a mobile device could traverse through a plurality of access point (AP) cells within a given area depending on an entry point of the mobile device into the given area. A predictive dwell time may also be associated to each AP cell based on how long a mobile device is expected to remain within the respective AP cell. Based on i) current locations of mobile devices, ii) the plurality of probability-based trajectories a mobile device could traverse through the plurality of AP cells, and iii) the predictive dwell time of each AP cell, the computing device can compute a probability of mobile device density surpassing a potential flash crowd threshold within each AP cell at any given future time. In response, the computing device may then perform one or more mitigation actions.

Abstract: Predicting data throughput with a user device comprises a wireless system supported by wireless access points receiving signals from the user device. A wireless prediction system receives data from the wireless system, where the data comprises characteristics of the wireless access point, characteristics of communications with user computing devices, and data throughput statistics. The prediction system categorizes the received data based on one or more of a set of characteristics and determines a maximum data throughput capacity for each of the one or more wireless access points for each of the one or more set of characteristics. The system receives a request for a prediction of data throughput capacity for a particular wireless access point and, based on the characteristics of the particular wireless access point, determines an estimated data throughput capacity based on data throughputs of wireless access points having similar characteristics.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a request from a user equipment (UE) to access a wireless access network, wherein the UE is currently accessing one or more other wireless networks; determining by a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) whether a subscriber associated with the UE is authorized to access the wireless access network based, at least in part, on a profile for the subscriber; and communicating one of a wireless access rejection and a wireless access acceptance to the UE based on the determination. In some instances, the determining can include recovering the profile for the subscriber associated with the UE from a Subscriber Profile Repository (SPR) using an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) for the subscriber.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may determining, by a first communication device, whether one or more other communication devices are communicating wireless signals in a particular channel of an unlicensed band of the communication network; scheduling one or more Long Term Evolution Unlicensed (LTE-U) sub-frames within a frame schedule for a user equipment (UE) based, at least in part, on determining that one or more communication devices are communicating wireless signals in the particular channel; and communicating the one or more LTE-U sub-frames to the UE according to the frame schedule.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for a network device to receive a first notification message from a first wireless network operating via a first radio frequency protocol, where the notification message indicates a presence of a mobile device within a radio frequency coverage area of a first wireless access point in the first wireless network. A connection message is transmitted from the network device to the mobile device, where the connection message comprises information configured to initiate a connection of the mobile device to a second wireless network operating via a second radio frequency protocol when a radio frequency coverage area of a second wireless access point in the second wireless network is known to overlap the radio frequency coverage area of the first wireless access point in the first wireless network. The connection message may initiate mobile device connections or transfers between, e.g., macrocell, femtocell, and Wi-Fi networks, among other networks.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a request from a user equipment (UE) to access a wireless access network, wherein the UE is currently accessing one or more other wireless networks; determining by a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) whether a subscriber associated with the UE is authorized to access the wireless access network based, at least in part, on a profile for the subscriber; and communicating one of a wireless access rejection and a wireless access acceptance to the UE based on the determination. In some instances, the determining can include recovering the profile for the subscriber associated with the UE from a Subscriber Profile Repository (SPR) using an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) for the subscriber.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may determining, by a first communication device, whether one or more other communication devices are communicating wireless signals in a particular channel of an unlicensed band of the communication network; scheduling one or more Long Term Evolution Unlicensed (LTE-U) sub-frames within a frame schedule for a user equipment (UE) based, at least in part, on determining that one or more communication devices are communicating wireless signals in the particular channel; and communicating the one or more LTE-U sub-frames to the UE according to the frame schedule.

Abstract: Multi-operator networking techniques are provided for allowing two or more operators to share a wireless local area network (WLAN). In particular, mobile access gateway functionality is integrated in a wireless network controller of a WLAN that is accessible to first and second operators. Operator-specific tunnels are created through the network for each of the first and second operators that link a core network of each of the first and second operators with an associated client device. Packets are then forwarded between the core networks of the first and second operators and their associated client devices via the operator-specific tunnels.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying an access point joining a wireless controller in communication with a switch, establishing a control tunnel between the access point and the wireless controller, transmitting an address of the switch from the wireless controller to the access point, and requesting the switch to setup a data tunnel with the access point. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for a network device to receive a first notification message from a first wireless network operating via a first radio frequency protocol, where the notification message indicates a presence of a mobile device within a radio frequency coverage area of a first wireless access point in the first wireless network. A connection message is transmitted from the network device to the mobile device, where the connection message comprises information configured to initiate a connection of the mobile device to a second wireless network operating via a second radio frequency protocol when a radio frequency coverage area of a second wireless access point in the second wireless network is known to overlap the radio frequency coverage area of the first wireless access point in the first wireless network. The connection message may initiate mobile device connections or transfers between, e.g., macrocell, femtocell, and Wi-Fi networks, among other networks.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a discover message over a network; determining that the discover message is associated with an unauthenticated client (e.g., identifying a media access control (MAC) address); communicating a proxy binding update (PBU) having a binding type value set to a temporary status; and establishing a bidirectional tunnel for transporting traffic for the client.