Abstract: A method includes determining a subset, of a set of access points, that a client device is likely to roam to from a first access point in the set of access points; transmitting to each of the subset of access points, without transmitting to a second access point in the set of access points that is not included in the subset, information associated with the client device; wherein the information associated with the client device is used by the client device or by the third access point during (a) an association process for the client device associating with the third access point or (b) an authentication process for the authentication of the client device by the third access point.

Abstract: A method includes steering client devices to access points that potentially increase capacity of communications using beamformed transmissions. In particular, this includes determining the best access points for beamforming to a particular client or a group of clients in the network for an improved throughput performance in the deployment or a subset of access points.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a network device and method for advertising channel load. The disclosed network device aggregates a number of clients that are associated with the network device on a specific wireless communication channel, and advertises the aggregated number to a client on the specific wireless communication channel. Further, the network device can receive aggregated load information on the specific wireless communication channel from another management network device, and further aggregates the load information across multiple wireless networks operating on the same wireless communication channel and coupled to different management network devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a network device and method for advertising channel load. The disclosed network device aggregates a number of clients that are associated with the network device on a specific wireless communication channel, and advertises the aggregated number to a client on the specific wireless communication channel. Further, the network device can receive aggregated load information on the specific wireless communication channel from another management network device, and further aggregates the load information across multiple wireless networks operating on the same wireless communication channel and coupled to different management network devices.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system and computer-readable storage medium for storage of software directed to the management of associations between network devices is described. The computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one hardware processor on a network device, causes performance of operations, comprising: (1) determining a desired operating state for a client device under analysis, the client device being associated with a first network device of a plurality of network devices; (2) detecting if a triggering event has occurred based on a comparison of the desired operating state for the client device under analysis to an actual operating state for the client device under analysis; and (3) in response to detecting that the triggering event has occurred, causing the client device to wirelessly connect to a second network device of the plurality of network devices in lieu of the first network device.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a network device and/or method for computing coverage set and resource allocations in wireless networks. The disclosed network device receives a radio frequency subdomain and a coverage set for the radio frequency subdomain in a wireless network. Furthermore, the disclosed network device selects a capacity mode or a coverage mode as an operating mode of the radio frequency subdomain in response to a measure of network activity satisfying a predetermined condition. In addition, the disclosed network device performs radio resource management in the radio frequency subdomain based on the selected operating mode.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and network device for enforcing uplink airtime fairness in wireless local area networks. The disclosed network device receives usage limits associated with transmissions from one or more client devices. The client devices transmit packets to the network device via one or more uplink wireless mediums. The disclosed network device further collects wireless medium usage times associated with the client devices, and calculates a size for transmission windows corresponding to the client devices based on the wireless medium usage times and the usage limits. The transmission windows can be TCP advertisement windows whose size determines a rate of transmissions permitted over the wireless medium. Then, the disclosed network device sets the transmission window to the calculated size.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a network device and/or method for computing coverage set and resource allocations in wireless networks. The disclosed network device selects a radio frequency subdomain in a wireless network, and further determines a coverage set for the selected radio frequency subdomain. The coverage set includes a subset of access nodes in the selected radio frequency domain. Moreover, a respective access node in the radio frequency subdomain satisfies one of (a) the respective access node is a member of the coverage set, and (b) the respective access node is covered by at least one member of the coverage set with a signal strength stronger than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for optimizing revenue for an operator of a network comprises receiving control information by a network device. The control information includes a first airtime representing an amount of airtime used for wireless data transmissions to a first group of network devices. The method further involves an operation of computing an airtime allocation for the first group of network devices based on the first airtime and lease rates. The lease rates are prices per unit of airtime to be paid by an operator associated with one or more of the network devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a network device and method for advertising channel load. The disclosed network device aggregates a number of clients that are associated with the network device on a specific wireless communication channel, and advertises the aggregated number to a client on the specific wireless communication channel. Further, the network device can receive aggregated load information on the specific wireless communication channel from another management network device, and further aggregates the load information across multiple wireless networks operating on the same wireless communication channel and coupled to different management network devices.

Abstract: Infrastructure-based client management uses synthesized beacon reports to effect client association with APs in a wireless digital network. Beacon reports are synthesized by having a plurality of APs in the network collect client reports and send those reports to a report process on the network. The report process accumulates client reports from the plurality of APs and selects one or more candidate APs to support a client. Selection may be made on reported SNR, AP loading, channel loading, AP characteristics, or a combination. The report process may produce blacklists and optionally whitelists for use by APs to use in processing client probe and connection requests.

Abstract: Herein, a method directed to receiving, by a network device, client density data of a first access node in a plurality of access nodes in a network. Also, the network device receives client density data of a second access node in the plurality of access nodes. The network device determines whether the client density data of the first access node overlaps with the client density data of the second access node. In response to the received client density data of the first access node overlapping with the received client density data of the second access node, the network device identifies the first access node and the second access node as members of a virtual radio frequency (RF) neighborhood, wherein the virtual RF neighborhood comprises a subset of a RF neighborhood. Each member of the virtual RF neighborhood is capable of receiving beacons from other members of the virtual RF neighborhood.

Abstract: Client balancing in a wireless digital network comprising a plurality of access nodes connected to a controller. Access nodes collect client density information and periodically report that client density information to the controller. The controller uses the client density information from the access nodes to compute Virtual RF Neighborhoods, identifying Virtual RF neighboring access nodes. Two access nodes are Virtual RF neighbors if a client which can connect to one access node can also connect to the other access node. The controller then identifies which nodes are overloaded by comparing the client loading of a target access node to the client loading of its Virtual RF neighbors. If an access node is identified as overloaded and selected for client balancing on a particular channel, it will initially refuse new association requests from client devices on that channel.

Abstract: Client balancing in a wireless digital network comprising a plurality of access nodes connected to a controller. Access nodes collect client density information and periodically report that client density information to the controller. The controller uses the client density information from the access nodes to compute Virtual RF Neighborhoods, identifying Virtual RF neighboring access nodes. Two access nodes are Virtual RF neighbors if a client which can connect to one access node can also connect to the other access node. The controller then identifies which nodes are overloaded by comparing the client loading of a target access node to the client loading of its Virtual RF neighbors. If an access node is identified as overloaded and selected for client balancing on a particular channel, it will initially refuse new association requests from client devices on that channel.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for detecting hidden wireless routers that constitute security threats in telecommunications networks that comprise a wireless network portion and a wireline network portion. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the invention, a test station is used in the wireless portion of a network to detect the presence of a hidden wireless router. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a test server is used in the wireline portion of the network in order to detect packets that are illegitimately routed from the wireless portion to the wireline portion of the network through the hidden wireless router.