CN1689348A - Method and system for optimal load balancing in a hybrid wired/wireless network - Google Patents

Abstract

The aspect of the present invention can provide a system and a method for load balancing in a hybrid wired / wireless local area network. The method used for load balancing in the hybrid wired / wireless local area network can include five steps: (1) step (926): A query message is received from an access device via at least one of multiple access points; (2) step (928): At least one or more access points within the working range of the access device can interpret the query message; (3) step (932): The query message is responded, and loads on one or more access points can be determined; (4) step (934): The access device can receive the determined loads of one or more access points; (5) step (936): The access device can choose an access point with the least load to provide services.

Description

The method and system that mixes optimal load balancing in the wire/radio network

The cross reference of related application/combination by reference

The application relates to, requires priority and requirement to benefit from:

Sequence number is 60/433,162 U.S. Provisional Patent Application, and its name is called " method and system that mixes optimal load balancing in the wire/radio network ", and submits on December 13rd, 2002;

Sequence number is 60/411,261 U.S. Provisional Patent Application, and its name is called " communication system software and agreement ", and submits on September 17th, 2002;

Sequence number is 60/411,301 U.S. Provisional Patent Application, and its name is called " being used to provide the integrated switch of extensibility and the method and system of wireless topology ", and submits on September 17th, 2002; And

Sequence number is 60/435,984 U.S. Provisional Patent Application, and its name is called " communication system in WLAN (wireless local area network) and method ", and submits on December 20th, 2002.

Above-mentioned application by reference with it intactly in conjunction with in this application.

Invention field

The application's embodiment relates generally to local area network (LAN), and more specifically, the application relates to the system and method that mixes optimal load balancing in wired/wireless lan (wlan).

Background of invention

Open System Interconnection (OSI) model that the exploitation International Organization for Standardization is issued to set up standardization for connecting different types of computer and communication system.Osi model has been described by the information flow of network medium from the software application of software application to the second computer system of first computer system.Fig. 1 a is the block diagram 100 of osi model.With reference to figure 1a, osi model has seven tangible functional layers, and it comprises: application layer 114 (7 layers), presentation layer 112 (6 layers), session layer 110 (5 layers), transport layer 108 (4 layers), network layer 106 (3 layers), data link layer 104 (2 layers), physical layer 102 (1 layer).Physical layer 102 further comprises physical layer convergence process (PLCP) sublayer 102b, physical layer medium dependent 102a.Data link layer 104 also can comprise medium access control (MAC) layer 104a.

Generally speaking, each osi layer is described some task, and these tasks are also final by interface layer for convenience to be essential by network transmission information.However, osi model is not described any specific realization of each layer.Generally handle network control and data for the 1st to the 4th layer of OSI and send and receive, be commonly referred to as the ad-hoc network service.Handle application problem, be commonly referred to as application service for 5 to 7 layers.Every layer of specific function depends on factors such as the necessary standard of realization such as agreement and/or interface requirement or certain layer and changes.For example, Ethernet protocol can provide collision detection and carrier sense in physical layer.The 1st layer be that physical layer 102 is responsible for handling that all that be used to be connected to Media Interface Connector are electric, optics, photoelectron and mechanical requirements.It should be noted that physical layer 102 can make things convenient for the transmission of the signal of telecommunication of representative information bit stream.Physical layer 102 also can provide such as coding, decoding, synchronously, clock and data recovery and the transmission of bit stream and the service of reception.

The service that PLCP layer 102b can be configured to physical layer 102 is provided is adapted to and is mapped to the function that particular device PMD sublayer 102a is provided.Particularly, PLCP layer 102b is applicable to being mapped to suitable bag and/or frame format with PHY sublayer service data cell (PDSUs), and this bag and/or frame format are essential for the communication service that provides via physical medium between two or more communication entities.Pmd layer 102a regulation practical methods and/or agreement, this method and/or agreement can be used for receiving and transmission via physical medium.Media access control sublayer 104a is applicable to providing, and for example, the driver of any necessity can use this driver to insert function and service that PLCP sublayer 102b provides.Correspondingly, more high-rise service is applicable to the service that utilizes media access control sublayer 104a to provide, and this service seldom or do not rely on PMD sublayer 102a.

802.11 be the cover standard by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) promulgation, it is provided for the MAC of osi model and the communication standard of physics (PHY) layer.801.11 standard also is provided for communication standard wired and WLAN (wireless local area network) (WLANs).More specifically, 802.11 standard codes are used for five types the physical layer of WLANs.These physical layers comprise: frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS), Direct swquence spread spectrum (DSSS), infrared ray (IR) communication, two-forty Direct swquence spread spectrum (HR-DSS) and OFDM (OFDM).802.11 standard also provides PLCP frame format for the PHY layer of each regulation.

In in the past 10 years, for the demand of high data rate that support to use (for example stream audio and stream video) seen ethernet speed just from about 1-2 MBPS (Mbps) rise to 10Mbps, to 100Mbps, to 1 Gigabits per second (Gbps), to 10Gbps.At present, many standards are arranged in standard at this cover, i.e. 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g, it is applicable to the convenient demand that improves data rate.For example, 802.11g standard provides the maximum data rate of about 54Mbps on the emittor/receiver scope of 19 meters (m) of 2.4GHz in the frequency range of 2.4835GHz, for example, 802.11b standard provides the maximum data rate of about 11Mbps on the emittor/receiver scope of 57 meters (m) of 2.4GHz in the frequency range of 2.4835GHz, at last, for example, the 802.11a standard goes for providing in the segmentation bandwidth of the 300MHz from 5.150GHz to 5.350GHz and from 5.725GHz to 5.825GHz the maximum data rate of about 54Mbps on the emittor/receiver scope of 12 meters (m).

802.11 standard forms the basis of other standards in this cover standard, and 802.11b, 802.11a provide different expansions and new feature with the 802.11g standard for its previous standard.However, exist for certain general building block for all standards in this cover standard, for example, all standards are used Ethernet protocol and are used conflict to avoid csma (CSMA/CA) in this cover standard.

CSMA/CA uses simple negotiation scheme that access to communication media is provided.If the transmission entity wishes message transmission is arrived receiving entity, the transmission entity can be monitored the communication media that is used for communication service.Under the occupied situation of communication media, the transmission entity may stop transmission and attempt transmitting at follow-up time.Under the situation that communications does not take, transmitting entity so can send information by communication media.However, may exist two or more transmission entities to listen to the situation that communication media does not take and attempt transmission at synchronization.For avoiding conflict and retransmitting, can use, for example CSMA/OR or be ready for sending (RTS) and clear to send (CTS) communication plan.Correspondingly, whenever transmission equipment intercept communications medium does not have when occupied, then transmission equipment can send preparation and send to one or more receiving equipments to send message.After receiving the preparation that sends message, receiving equipment can send clear to send message.In case transmission equipment receives clear to send message, transmission equipment can be initiated to the digital delivery of receiving equipment.In case receive bag or frame from transmission equipment, receiving equipment can be confirmed this received frame.

802.11b standard, so-called Wi-Fi (it represents Wireless Fidelity), backwards-compatible with its previous standard 802.11, though 802.11 use in two kinds of modulation formats, comprise the Direct swquence spread spectrum (DSS) and the frequency hopping spread-spectrum (11 bit Barker sequence) that use the difference binary phase shift keying, 802.11b use the more high data rate form of the DSS that is called complementary code keying (CCK), CCK allows higher data rate, and more insensitive to the disturbing effect of propagating interference, PSK such as multichannel.

802.11a utilize OFDM (QFDM) modulation/coding scheme, this scheme provides the maximum data rate of 54Mbps.OFDM is a kind of digital modulation technique, and this technology is divided into several narrow band channels with a signal, and wherein each channel has different frequencies.Arrange each narrow band channel so that in the data flow crosstalk effect between channel and the symbol minimize.

Owing to be designed to the device that 802.11a provides support is operated in 5.150GHz on 5.350GHz and the frequency range from 5.725GHz to 5.825GHz, the 802.11a device can not with the device co-operation with 802.11b (this standard definition is worked in 2.4 to 2.4835GHz frequency band) standard operation.A major defect is the company that has made an investment in 802.11b device and infrastructure, if there are not a large amount of expenses, and their network of may being unwilling to upgrade.

Exploitation is as the 802.11g standard of the expansion of 802.11b standard.802.11g can use and OFDM modulation scheme like the 802.11a standard class and the transfer rate suitable with the 802.11a standard.Because the device of compatible 802.11g is operated in the electromagnetic spectrum part identical with the device of compatible 802.11b, the backwards-compatible existing 802.11b WLAN infrastructure of 802.11g.Because the backwards-compatible 802.11b of 802.11g, the radio card that 802.11b is followed in expectation can directly be connected with the access point of following 802.11g, and same, the radio card of following 802.11g can directly be connected with the access point of following 802.11b.

In addition, though the equipment work of compatible 802.11g at 2.4GHz in the frequency range of 2.4835GHz, typical transmission signals uses the bandwidth (approximately be total assigned bandwidth 1/3rd or 30%) of approximate 22MHz.This numerical limitations with the non-overlapped channel that the 802.11g access point uses is individual three (3).Similarly situation is present in 802.11b.Therefore, many channel allocation that are associated with the 802.11b standard and frequency reuse plan can be intrinsic in 802.11g.

RF disturbs the additional operations problem that may propose 802.11b and 802.11g device, and 802.11b and 802.11g device are designed to be operated in the 2.4GHz part of electromagnetic spectrum.The 2.4GHz of frequency spectrum partly is unwarranted zone, and this portions of the spectrum has been used a period of time and has been full of potential jamming equipment.In these devices some comprise cordless telephone, microwave oven, intercom system and miniature monitor.Other potential jamming equipments may be bluetooth equipments.Correspondingly, disturb the interference problem that has proposed 802.11b and 802.11g standard.

Use three non-overlapped channels to compare with 802.11b, the device of compatible 802.11a uses eight non-overlapped channels.Therefore, the 802.11a access point can be with disposing by for example more intensive than the device of compatible 802.11b mode.For example, can dispose maximum 12 access points (each access point has different dividing frequencies) in the given area and not cause that cochannel disturbs.Therefore, 802.11a is that very important zone is particularly useful for the throughput with intensive user's population and increase especially in the process that overcomes some problems that are associated with channel allocation.However, the high frequency of operation of 802.11a causes more decay, and this causes the more casual labourer on the given data rate to make scope.Because need a large amount of access points to serve given coverage, this may significantly increase deployment cost.

In using a cover 802.11 agreements the mixing of one or more agreements wired/Radio Network System in, the flowability of whole network access equipment may be that conventional switch and switch propose an additional difficult problem.Because access device changes their access points to network continuously, conventional switch may not have ability control other the network equipment and/or entity the seamless of whole network to be provided and effectively to communicate by letter.In order to meet consumers' demand, network system must keep certain quality and lowest service standard.For example, when the user attempted or initiates to connect, they may be desirably in time of 99.9% connect at least.In addition, when the user was busy with voice call, they may wish to accept the minimum delay of several microseconds.Yet, operation appreciable impact client's satisfaction and loyalty outside the scope that can accept standard.However, in the continually varying network, it is challenging keeping the standard of can accepting.In addition, particularly in the network system that can handle jumbo access device business, conventional switch may not have necessary resource effectively to be guaranteed and keeps the standard of can accepting.In addition, because access device can move continuously at whole network, owing to block, various network device may become bottleneck, and other network equipment with available capability keeps not being fully utilized.

By with this system with in remainder of the present invention, set forth in conjunction with the accompanying drawings more of the present invention aspect compare, for a person skilled in the art, other limitation and shortcoming conventional and conventional method will become apparent.

Summary of the invention

Aspect of the present invention can be provided for mixing the system and method for load balancing in wired/WLAN (wireless local area network).Be used for mixing wired and/method of WLAN (wireless local area network) load balancing can comprise by in a plurality of access points at least one and receive the step of the query messages of access device.In response to this query messages, determine the load on one or more access points and the load of determining sent to access device from one or more access points.The one or more access points that are positioned at the working range of access device can interprets queries message.Can provide service by the access point that access device is selected to have minimum load.

This method can further include query messages is sent to the switch of use communication protocol message and receives at least one query messages by this switch from one or more access points.Correspondingly, can determine load on one or more access points.Can the access point of one or more use communication protocol message will be sent to corresponding to the information of determining load.Then can be with the redistribution of the load on one or more access points so that rational load Distribution to be provided between access point.

Another embodiment of the present invention can provide machine readable memory, and storage thereon has the computer program of at least one code segment, and above-mentioned at least one code segment is used to the switch that mixes in wired/WLAN (wireless local area network) that network management is provided.Can carry out at least one code segment by machine is used to make machine to finish above steps.

An alternative embodiment of the invention can be provided for mixing the system of load balancing in wired/WLAN (wireless local area network).The system that is used for load balancing can comprise at least one receiver, and this receiver is applicable at least one query messages by at least one the reception access device in a plurality of access points.At least one controller applicable to determine in response to described at least one query messages in a plurality of access points each on load.At least one transmitter sends to access device applicable to the load that will determine from one or more access points.Controller also may have the ability of selecting an access point from a plurality of access points (this access point may have minimum load).

Controller is also applicable to being the one or more access point interprets queries message that are arranged in the access device working range.Access device also can select to have the access point of minimum load.Transmitter is applicable to query messages is sent to the switch that uses communication protocol message from one or more access points.The receiver that is associated with switch is applicable to receiving query messages.Controller can be configured to the load on definite one or more access points.Controller also has and will send to the ability of the access point of one or more use communication protocol message corresponding to the information of determining load.As long as there is out-of-proportion load between access point, controller is applicable to load is redistributed between access point.This controller can be Bandwidth Management controller, service quality controller, load balancing controller, conversation controller, processor and network management control device.

By the following description and drawings, will understand these and other advantages of the present invention, aspect and novel features and the details of illustrated embodiment of the present invention more all sidedly.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 a is the block diagram of osi model;

Fig. 1 b is a block diagram, shows the general PLCP frame of 802.11 definition;

Fig. 1 c is a block diagram, shows the employed PLCP frame of frequency hopping spread-spectrum of 802.11 definition;

Fig. 1 d is a block diagram, shows the Direct swquence spread spectrum of 802.11 definition and the PLCP frame of two-forty Direct swquence spread spectrum;

Fig. 1 e is a block diagram, shows the PLCP frame of the OFDM of 802.11 definition;

Fig. 2 is the block diagram that is used for the example system of network management according to an embodiment of the invention in WLAN (wireless local area network);

Fig. 3 is the block diagram that has according to an embodiment of the invention as the exemplary enterprise wireless lan of the switch of edge manager;

Fig. 4 is as shown in Figures 2 and 3 the block diagram of exemplary switch according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is the block diagram that is used for the exemplary exchange system of Bandwidth Management according to an embodiment of the invention in WLAN (wireless local area network);

Fig. 6 is according to an embodiment of the invention about the block diagram of the exemplary session control procedure of Fig. 5, can use this session control process by the switching system that is used for network management;

Fig. 7 is according to an embodiment of the invention about the block diagram of the example load balancing procedure of Fig. 6, can use this load balancing process by the switching system that is used for network management;

Fig. 8 is according to an embodiment of the invention about the block diagram of the exemplary QoS start-up course of Fig. 8, can use this QoS start-up course by the switching system that is used for network management;

Fig. 9 a is the flow chart that is used for the illustrative steps of load balancing according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9 b is the flow chart that is used for the illustrative steps of load balancing according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the present invention

Aspects of the present invention can be provided for mixing the system and method for load balancing in wired/WLAN (wireless local area network).The method that is used for mixing wired/WLAN (wireless local area network) load balancing can comprise by in a plurality of access points at least one receive the step of query messages from access device.In response to this query messages, can determine the load on one or more access points, and can receive on one or more access points fixed load really by access device, the one or more access points that are positioned within the working range of access device can be explained this query messages, can provide service by the access point that access device is selected to have minimum load.

Fig. 1 b is a block diagram 120, shows the general PLCP frame of 802.11 definition.With reference to figure 1b, it illustrates header 122, PLCP head 124, MAC data 126 and CRC 128.Header 122 can comprise (SYNC) data 122a and synchronization delimitation symbol 122b synchronously.PLCP head 124 can comprise, for example PLCP signal field (PSF) 124a, service data 124b, length 124c and other fields.Header 122 can be relevant with PHY.SYNC data 122a can comprise unique bit stream, and this bit stream is applicable to the signal timing parameter that starts this class such as frame.SYNC data 122a is used for bit synchronous and demodulation.SYNC delimiter 122b provides frame timing information and delimits applicable to the afterbody for synchronizing information.PLCP head 124 can be suitable for comprising the information that is used for frame decoding.For example, PSF 124a is applicable to comprising communication data rate information.General preservation service data 124b, but can use service data 124b that application specific functionality is provided.Length 124c is applicable to the length of indication MAC data 126.In this, can represent length 124c with the transmission MAC 126 required times of data.

Fig. 1 c is a block diagram 130, shows the employed PLCP frame of 802.11 defined frequency hopping spread-spectrums.With reference to figure 1c, it illustrates SYNC data 132, PLCP head 134 and PSDU 136.PLCP head 134 can comprise, for example, and PSDU length word (PLW) 134a, PLCP signaling field (PSF) 134b, head error checking and correction field or CRC 134c and other fields.The quantity of eight hytes that PLW 134a comprises in can regulation PSDU 136.PSF 134 can be that length is 4 bits and can be used to indicate communication data rate.

Fig. 1 d is a block diagram 140, shows the PLCP frame of 802.11 defined Direct swquence spread spectrums and two-forty Direct swquence spread spectrum (HR-DSS).With reference to figure 1d, it illustrates header 142, PLCP head 144 and MPDU 146.Header 142 can comprise (SYNC) data 142a and synchronization delimitation symbol 142b synchronously.PLCP head 144 can comprise PLCP signal field (PSF) 144a, service data 144b, length 144c and crc field 144d.With the SYNC data 132a of frequency hopping spread-spectrum is that 8 bits are compared, and SYNC data 142a can be 128 bits.CRC 144d is 16 bits, and it is similar to the CRC 134c that is used for the frequency hopping spread-spectrum.

Fig. 1 e is a block diagram 150, and the PLCP frame of the OFDM of 802.11 definition is shown.With reference to figure 1e, it illustrates header 152, PLCP head 154 and PSDU 156, afterbody 158 and fills 160.Header 152 can comprise (SYNC) data 152a and synchronization delimitation symbol 152b synchronously.PLCP head 154 can comprise length 154a, PLCP signal field (PSF) 154b, reserved field 154c, parity check 154d, afterbody 154e and service 154f.Length 154a is 12 bit fields, and it is applicable to the length of indication frame.PSF 154b is 4 bit fields, can indicate the modulation scheme of use and relevant PSDU encoding rate thereof.For example, standard uses binary one 011 to represent 6Mbps, and 1111 represent 9Mbps, and 1010 represent 12Mbps, 1110 represent 18Mbps, and 1001 represent 24Mbps, and 1011 represent 36Mbps, 1000 represent 48Mbps, last, and the maximum standardization speed of 1100 representatives is 54Mbps.Reserved field 154c is 1 bit field, and in order to keep this field in the future using, this field is also applicable to the use of application-specific.Parity fields 154d can indicate odd parity.Tail field 154e is 6 bit fields.Service field 154f is 16 bit fields, and it is applicable to the indication COS.

In typical WLAN (wireless local area network), especially become in whole network when mobile when access device, channel capacity can promptly change in time.For example, when the distance from the access device to the access point increased or reduces owing to mobility, channel capacity finally was that channel throughput can change with separating with the access point associating because of access device.According to one embodiment of present invention, provide switch to make things convenient for network management between the one or more and/or access point in a plurality of access devices and/or other switches.Switch can use communication protocol, and this communication protocol is controlled and management, exchange filtering transmission, Bandwidth Management and session control and the such work of management such as load balancing service quality (QoS) applicable to convenient.

With reference to the work that mixes load balancing in the wire/wireless, mixing wire/wireless (wherein because the mobility of access device, network capacity can change rapidly in time) in, some access points can be flooded by business, and other access points then can be in use.Correspondingly, one aspect of the present invention provides method and system, and it is applicable to making load reach best balanced between the access point that mixes wired/WLAN.The task of load balancing can be the part of network management activities, one or more activities during this network management activities can comprise below the execution, these activities include, but are not limited to QoS management, Bandwidth Management (comprise tracer band use and distribution and redistribute bandwidth to satisfy user and/or client's demand).The management of these activities can be directly or is related to the mobility and the operability of whole wired, WLAN or the combination of the two indirectly.

Fig. 2 is the block diagram that is used for the example system of network management according to an embodiment of the invention in WLAN (wireless local area network).With reference to figure 2, it shows the first networking territory 214 and the second networking territory 234.The first networking territory 214 can comprise switch 202, access point 204,206,208,210,212, and each in the access point 204,206,208,210,212 can be coupled to switch 202.The second networking territory 234 can comprise switch 222 and access point 224,226,228,230,232, and each in the access point 224,226,228,230,232 can be coupled to switch 222.Switch 222 can be by any one or a plurality of switch 202 that is coupled in the wired and wireless medium.Though illustrate, at least some access points within any one in networking territory 214,234 can be coupled to each other.Even so, can provide channel many reality and/or virtual with convenient communicating by letter with access point and switch.Although the networking entity that networking territory 214 and 234 is illustrated as separating, the present invention is so restriction not.Therefore, networking territory 214,234 can be the part of single networking entity, but can represent the separation security domain in single networking entity.

In operation, any one in the switch 202,222 or a plurality of applicable to network management relevant information and parameter are sent to networking territory 214,234 any one a plurality of in access point any one or a plurality of.In one embodiment of the invention, for example, switch 202 is applicable to being delivered to load-balancing information access point 206, and vice versa.Similarly, switch 202 applicable to the network management relevant information is sent to access point 204,208,210,214 any one or a plurality of, vice versa.Similarly, switch 222 applicable to the load balancing relevant information is delivered in the access point 224,226,228,230,232 any one or a plurality of, vice versa.Can be by access point working load equalization information to distribute effectively, to distribute and/or to redistribute the system resource that is used to connect and/or separate access device.

In another aspect of the present invention, switch 202,222 is applicable to the access point of communication protocol provides for example load balancing activity in order for example to use.Correspondingly, by adjusting one or more switches and using for example one or more access points of communication protocol, can manage some activities such as load balancing, broadband control, broadband management, roaming and handing-over.Even so, can configuration switch, for example switch 222, in these activities of execution, can be the rule that access point 224,226,228,230,232 adopts to establish, these rules can be generalized to access point 204,208,210,214,224,226,228,230,232 from switch 222,202 and use, for example communication protocol.Priorization and data processing for example can be based upon on the basis of acceptable value of stand-by period and broadband use value.For example, can and handle preferential so that the stand-by period minimizes for the highest formation of IP phone call distribution, control for example can comprise finishing and the sort ofly can limit and control the activity that effective bandwidth is used by the access device of special access device or certain type.Can control these and other tasks by the switch that uses communication protocol.Though can independently be carried out such as control, QoS management and this class activity of Bandwidth Management by load balancing, according to an aspect of the present invention, information can change to guarantee optimal load balancing between these different activities.

In operation, any one in any one or a plurality of networkings territory or a plurality of access point can be delivered in the switch 202,222 these information and parameter one or more applicable to the load of determining various relevant informations and parameter.In one embodiment of the invention, for example, access point 206 is backcrossed applicable to the load of obtaining various relevant informations and with the information transmission of obtaining and is changed planes 202.Similarly, any one of access point 204,208,210,214 or a plurality of load that can obtain various relevant informations and parameter, and the information that this obtains passed to switch 202.In another aspect of this invention, any one of access point 224,226,228,230,232 or a plurality of load that can obtain various relevant informations and parameter, and this is obtained information be delivered to switch 222.

In another embodiment of the present invention, any one of access point 224,226,228,230,232 or a plurality ofly can obtain the various relevant information and the load of parameter, and the information of obtaining is delivered to switch 202 by switch 222.This may be useful especially in for example roaming condition or handing-over situation.In roaming and joining two kinds of situations (wherein special access equipment is being roamed or is being switched to networking territory 214 from networking territory 234), before the permission access device obtained service from the networking territory, the bandwidth of obtaining the relevant information that belongs to the territory 214 that networks may be favourable.In the case, switch 222 can be initiated the bandwidth of the relevant information of query requests from switch 202.Therefore, switch 214 can be from the bandwidth and/or the load of the one or more request relevant informations the access point 204,206,208,210,212.In case switch 202 is from the bandwidth of these access points reception information, it just can communicate information to switch 222.Therefore, switch 222 can depend on the load of relevant information and/or determine that from the bandwidth that switch receives handing-over still is to allow roaming.

Based on the QoS of the relevant information that receives from one or more access devices or switch, switch is applicable to forcing the access device roaming.For example, when switch determined that bandwidth or channel capacity are not enough to provide I to accept QoS, switch was applicable to dynamically forcing existing and/or initiate access device roaming so.In one aspect of the invention, can keep being forced to the tabulation of the equipment of roaming.Therefore, provide I to accept QoS if switch defines enough channel capacities, so switch applicable to signal or notify list on equipment to attempt the service of setting up again and to allow to insert this service by network was provided.In this, any one in the switch 202,222 or a plurality of applicable to definite total effective bandwidth or be used for a plurality of access points/or any one of switch or a plurality of loads.Therefore, switch 202 and/or 222 can provide channel/frequency management and service QoS management quality so that be optimally distributed load and the use of optimization bandwidth of access device.

In another embodiment of the present invention, load based on various relevant informations, can and strengthen inserting prioritisation scheme by any one or a plurality of employing of switch 202,222, this prioritisation scheme can comprise, foundation is used for the priority of all-network business, promise is from all clients' priorization business, and/or promise is from the priorization business of some clients that select such as the client who trusts.In another aspect of this invention, switch 202,222 is applicable to some load management activity is provided for access point.Therefore, can be by access point management such as bandwidth control, Bandwidth Management, bag priorization and processing and service type queuing some activities like this.

However, switch can be by access point employed rule in these activities of execution, so that keep the minimum at least grade of service accepted applicable to setting up.Priorization and data processing can be based on the acceptable values of for example stand-by period and bandwidth availability.For example, preferential for IP phone call distribution the highest formation and processing so that the stand-by period minimum.Control for example can comprise by special access device or certain type the access device restriction and the work of control effective bandwidth utilization rate.Therefore, the bandwidth that can distribute liberally in the middle of the access device is accepted the grade of service to guarantee at least I.

According to an aspect of the present invention, switch can use communication protocol (MP) to think a plurality of access devices in the enterprise wireless lan (WAN) or one or more communication services that enhancing is provided of mobile station.Except that common wlan device communication (such as authentication, authentication, cipher key change, beacon broadcast or the like), it is not the complementary network characteristics of management that is offered its client by WLAN that the communication of enhancing can provide at present.These supplementary features can include, but are not limited to: Service Quality Management, Bandwidth Management, access control, load balancing and network management.Except that switch, can use other enterprise wlan equipment of communication protocol message affairs to include, but are not limited to: WAP (wireless access point), enterprise switch and radio station.These equipment can be the communication protocol that some example starts, to utilize new network management features.

According to an aspect of the present invention, can provide the example WLAN architecture.In the enterprise wireless lan environment, wireless device can be placed on the edge of network.Can wireless device be connected or be coupled to enterprise network via one or more access points, access point can be again, the edge device of wired lan for example, and these access points can be connected to LAN via switch.These switches can be referred to as wireless LAN exchange, and in some example, not only can carry out the 2nd layer of exchange, and applicable to being used as the wireless edge manager.They also can provide additional Network Management Function, such as load balancing, Bandwidth Management, access control, firewall functionality, professional maintaining secrecy and Service Quality Management etc.

Fig. 3 has according to the block diagram 300 of embodiments of the invention as the exemplary enterprise wireless lan of the switch of edge manager.With reference to figure 3, it illustrates LAN (LAN) 302, certificate server 304, switch 306,308, access point (APs) 310,312,314,316,318,320 and access device 322,324,326,328,330,332,334,336,338.Will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to enterprise wlan.The present invention can be applied to wired lan, WLAN and combination in any thereof.

Wireless transmission between access device or client and the access point or communication may be safe.This may also be reliable for the wired connection between any and switch 306,308 of access point 310,312,314,316,318,320.Switch 306,308 and access point 310,312,314,316,318,320 are applicable to for example using Ethernet protocol to communicate by letter.From the viewpoint of switch, switch can be the conventional layer 2 frame of exchange., in switch, WLAN and the intelligent understanding of management thereof mainly are in the software.Even so, the present invention is not limited to this respect.

Fig. 4 be according to an embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 the block diagram 400 of exemplary switch 402.With reference to figure 4, switch 402 can comprise processor 410, transmitter 404, receiver 406, generator 408 and controller 412.Controller 412 can comprise QoS controller 414, strip width controller 422, load balancing controller 416, conversation controller 418 and network management control device 420.The assembly of transmitter 404, receiver 406, generator 408 and controller 412, i.e. QoS controller 414, load balancing controller 416, conversation controller 418 and network management control device 420, can each be coupled to processor 410.

The assembly of switch 402 can comprise suitable circuit and/or can carry out the software of diverse network management function, including, but not limited to, load balancing, QoS management, Bandwidth Management, session management and control.However, though the assembly of switch 402 is illustrated independently, the present invention is not limited to this respect.For example, utilize the software and/or the logic that are fit to, can only realize generator function 408 by processor 422.Similarly, can be integrated and by processor 410 use suitable logic and/or software carry out in Bandwidth Management, QoS management, load balancing, session management and control and the network management any one or a plurality of.

In operation, transmitter 404 is applicable to sending first communication protocol message between first switch and first access point, and receiver 406 is applicable to receiving second communication protocol message from first access point and first switch.In response to the transmission of first communication protocol message, can receive second communication protocol message.Controller 412 applicable to for use the one the second and/or third communication protocol message in any one or a plurality of one or more devices allocation system resources.These equipment can include, but are not limited to first switch, second switch, first access point, second access point, and one or more access device.Can distribute these system resources can accept the grade of service to guarantee to keep at least minimum.

Generator 408 is applicable to producing first communication protocol message by first switch.Receiver 406 is applicable to by second switch and receives the second communication protocol message.Processor 410 be applicable to control transmitter 404, receiver 406, controller 412 and generator 408.Processor 410 can use one or more communication protocol message with control transmitter 404, receiver 406, generator 408, strip width controller 422, QoS controller 414, load balancing controller 416, conversation controller 418 and network management control device 420.

According to an aspect of the present invention, switch is applicable to by using communication protocol to make things convenient for network management, comprises the activity such as QoS management and Bandwidth Management.Communication protocol can be used the one or more agreements that are associated with devices communicating agreement (DCP) umbrella (DCPU).The communication protocol that switch uses is applicable to that the known port quantity of the framework defined that uses the devices communicating agreement goes up operation in transmission control protocol (TCP) or User Datagram Protoco (UDP) (UDP), under the DCP umbrella, may there be several sub-protocols of stipulating with other product co-operation for convenience.Some of these products can including, but not limited to, cable modem and Cable Modem Terminal System (CMTS) device.The communication protocol of being used by switch is applicable to the necessary agreement that comprises under the DCP, conveniently to be used for the communication of wired and/or wlan device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, switch can use communication protocol with convenient diverse network management activity between various wireless networking gears and/or client.In one embodiment of the invention, WLAN switch 306,308 one or more are applicable to one or more communication of using communication protocol to come access point 310,312,314,316,318,320 among convenient and Fig. 3.Can include, but are not limited to control, configuration and state information and the client sessions information of equipment in the information of two such exchanged between equipment.In this information at least some can be used for load balancing, and control information can comprise, for example, and the signaling information that can transmit in frequency band or outside the frequency band.

Switch can use the communication protocol that comprises a plurality of type of messages.According to an aspect of the present invention, switch can use the message that comprises six kinds or the communication protocol of type of message.However, the really not so restriction of the present invention.These message and their purposes can be as follows:

AP_ situation: from AP to the switch or AP

Can use the AP_ condition message with indication, for example, the client's of access point capacity, allocated bandwidth, connection quantity, signal strength signal intensity, power level or the like.

AP_ configuration: from the switch to AP

The AP_ configuration messages can be used for configuring access point to adapt to the client.This can include but not limited to, 802.11e QoS, security information or the like.

Switch _ situation: from switch-to-switch

Switch _ condition message can be used for indicating getting in touch of switch and one or more clients.This can include but not limited to, client sessions information, access control, qos parameter or the like.

Switch _ configuration: from switch-to-switch

Switch _ configuration messages can be used for disposing such as the such switch of WLAN switch to adapt to the client.This can be including, but not limited to, access control, QoS configuration or the like.

Client _ situation: from AP to the switch

Client _ condition message can be used to indicate client's information.This can be including, but not limited to, authenticated client, relevant MAC Address, session situation, link position or the like.

Equipment _ discovery: any equipment is to any equipment

In the client/server mode of network service, device discovery messages can be used finding the client or to be used finding server by the client by switch and/or server, and this message can be broadcast to some or all equipment in the subnet to draw response from expection equipment.

In each above-mentioned type of message, message can comprise, for example four message subtype-requests, data, warning and affirmations.The request and the type of message/subtype of data are to can representative data request and the corresponding response of data own.Warning and the subtype confirmed are to can representative data and the automatic transmission of affirmation.In addition, can there be two conventions using in the message sequence.Therefore, if the message sequence is thereafter the reciprocal transmission of data (data) with request (req) beginning.Similarly, if the message sequence is transmitted beginning with pre-the sending out of data (alert, warning), be thereafter to confirm (ack).According to an aspect of the present invention, can adopt one or more type of messages and/or subtype to make things convenient for Bandwidth Management.

The U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 10/607 that is entitled as " mixing communication system and method in wired/WLAN (wireless local area network) " that on June 26th, 2003 submitted to, 094 discloses according to an embodiment of the invention and can by reference this patent application intactly be combined in herein by the communication protocol of switch use.Herein disclosed is according to an embodiment of the invention can be by the exemplary effective field and the son field that are used for different communication protocol message of switch use.In addition, the U.S. Patent Application Serial Number of submitting on September 9th, 2003 that is entitled as " mixing the method and system that intelligent exchange is provided in wired/WLAN (wireless local area network) " _ _ _ _ (agent's recording mechanism 14178US02) disclose according to an embodiment of the invention and can by reference this patent application intactly be combined in herein by the communication protocol of switch use.Switch disclosed herein is applicable to using communication protocol that network management is provided according to one embodiment of present invention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, switch can comprise the network management control device, this network management control device can be configured to the useful information that is used for network management and can be provided for load balancing.In this, communication protocol is sent to new tie point with networking monitoring and/or status message (such as SNMP and rmon statistic data) from old annex or tie point to switch applicable to for example using.In this, switch configuration can be started the ad-hoc location management of some client at least and/or the network equipment for using communication protocol.In this, switch can send to client-related information the centralized management entity, and this centralized management entity is known the position of diverse access point in the network and/or switch.Information can be propagated into for example QoS controller, strip width controller and/or load balancing controller.Correspondingly, can make subsequently and allowing or not allowing from the decision of the access of some position so that make the bandwidth usage maximization, make the load balancing in the network and/or the QoS of appointment is provided.

For example, the information that belongs at least some clients that detect can be sent to switch.Correspondingly, load balancing manager and/or the controller that is arranged in switch can use this information to realize the pay(useful) load equilibrium.In this, the load balancing controller can comprise applicable to receiving and inserting different customer informations and realize the suitable circuit and/or the software of pay(useful) load equilibrium.Parameter such as signal strength signal intensity, access rank and device type can be indicated the information that is used to realize optimal load balancing.Can between load balancing manager and one or more access point and/or switch, transmit the client relevant/irrelevant information to be to guarantee that inserting the client can receive the acceptable grade of service.In case the load balancing manager is determined optimum load configuration, can use communication protocol message that new client and/or access point relevant information are sent to diverse access point in the network.

In another embodiment of the present invention, switch can comprise the QoS controller, this QoS controller can be configured to use communication protocol that qos parameter is sent to new switch ports themselves with convenient roaming from original switching machine port.One or more switches in the network are applicable between the convenient diverse access point in identical network or the roaming between the heterogeneous networks.This QoS that for example may influence for the downstream traffic of roaming client or access device appointment handles.In this, switch can be eliminated needs for the distribution management interface applicable to using one or more communication protocol message to transmit different relevant centralized management automatically, thereby the communication system of enhancing more is provided.

In another embodiment of the present invention, roaming for convenience, switch is applicable to using communication protocol that qos parameter is sent to new access point from old access point.This can influence the upstream business from client to the access point.In this, switch can use one or more communication protocol message that QoS and load parameter are sent to new access point from old access point.Because the processing of this QoS and load parameter can be similar to the processing of client's business, communication protocol can be used for providing seamless roam, and this seamless roam can provide the higher grade of service accepted.

Fig. 5 is the block diagram 500 that is used for the exemplary exchange system of WLAN (wireless local area network) network management.With reference to figure 5, it shows CPU piece 502 and switching fabric piece 804.CPU piece 502 can comprise service quality (QoS) controller block 506, Bandwidth Management controller block 520, load balancing controller block 508, conversation controller piece 510 and network management control device piece 512, switching fabric piece 504 can comprise filtering engine block 514, and CPU piece 502 is applicable to being connected with switching fabric piece 504.One or more QoS controller blocks 506, load balancing controller block 508, conversation controller piece 510 and network management control device piece 512 can be directly connected to filtering engine block 514.

In operation, can the signaling packet of selecting be sent to one or more QoS controller block 506, Bandwidth Management controller block 520, load balancing controller block 508, conversation controller piece 510 and the network management control piece 512 from switching fabric piece 504.Management agreement message can be used for making things convenient for the communication between one or more in switching fabric piece 504 and Bandwidth Management controller block 520, QoS controller block 506, load balancing controller block 508, conversation controller piece 510 and the network management control piece 512.The signaling packet of selecting can include, but are not limited to VoIP bag and Streaming Media bag (comprising speech, video and data).Filtering engine block 514 is applicable to one or more information that receive of filtering from QoS controller block 506, Bandwidth Management controller block 520, load balancing controller block 508, conversation controller piece 510 and network management control piece 512.In this, filtering engine block 514 is applicable to the filter communications protocol message, and this communication protocol message is used to control function of exchange, Network statistical message, second layer address updating message and filters updating message.This filtration updating message can include, but are not limited to QoS message, bandwidth management messages, access control message and load balancing message.

According to one embodiment of present invention, the session control process is applicable to managing and control at least one customer database and session information for some or all validated users.In one embodiment of the invention, be used for the switching system of network management applicable to the session management information that is provided for Bandwidth Management.The session management process can be configured to strengthen access control based on for example client sessions, subnet, network management-application and switch ports themselves.Access control can be used for making things convenient for QoS management, Bandwidth Management and the load balancing at least a portion network.The session control process is may command and management exchange intelligence and determine bandwidth availability so that convenient activity such as roaming also.

Fig. 6 is according to an embodiment of the invention about the block diagram 600 of the exemplary session control procedure that can be used by the network management switching system among Fig. 5.With reference to figure 6, it illustrates session control process 602, and this process has customer database 604, access control lists (ACL) database 606, session control manager 608 and VoIP starter 610.One or more interfaces are applicable to the communication that provides between session manager 608 and customer database 604 and the ACL database 606.Session manager 608 can comprise at least one interface, and this interface is communicated by letter applicable to convenient and VoIP starter 610.

ACL applicable to based on frame (for example ethernet frame) but in recognition property filter professional, can be based on the agreement of data source, purpose or MAC Address, use and different specific protocol option (such as FTP, TFTP, HTTP and SNMP) filtering data.

In operation, communication protocol message, the second layer upgrade and filter and upgrade session control manager 608 applicable to for example handling.Session control manager 608 is applicable to from one or more customer databases 604 and ACL database 606 reception information.VoIP starter 610 is applicable to handling the voip signaling bag, and VoIP starter 610 is also applicable to different measured voip signaling bag decodings and with filter priorization being set.Information from session control manager 608 can be sent to Bandwidth Management controller 520, QoS controller 506, load balancing controller 508 and network management control device 512, as shown in Figure 5.

In one embodiment of the invention, switching system 602 can comprise the load balancing process, and this process is applicable to obtaining the access point load from for example QoS management process and Bandwidth Management process.The network management process can include, but are not limited to SNMP, RMON, RMON2 and MIB.The load balancing process is applicable to being retained in access point database in for example a plurality of access point thesauruss, and the load balancing process can comprise necessary intelligence, is used to determine load Distribution.

Access point database can be by the one or more accesses in QoS controller 506 shown in Figure 5, Bandwidth Management controller 520, load balancing controller 508 and the network management control device 512.In addition, Bandwidth Management controller 520 applicable to from session control manager 608 and/or load balancing process solicited message with convenient activity such as Bandwidth Management.Load balancing can be optimized total bandwidth and can provide smart client to connect by access device.

Fig. 7 is according to an embodiment of the invention about the block diagram 700 of the example load balancing procedure that can be used by the switching system that is used for network management of Fig. 6.With reference to figure 7, it shows the load balancing process 702 with access point database 702 and load balancing manager 706.At least one interface is applicable to the communication that provides between access point database 704 and the load balancing manager 706, and load balancing manager 706 is applicable to comprising at least one interface, and this interface can make things convenient for and the communicating by letter of network management process.

In operation, load balancing manager 706 upgrades applicable to handling communication protocol message, second layer renewal and filtering.Load balancing manager 706 can receive the network statistics data from one or more network management processes.Can be used to make the load balancing decision by the information of load balancing manager 706 uses from access point database 704.

In one embodiment of the invention, the switching system that is used for network management can comprise load balancing, and it is applicable to the behavior of control and the warning of management such as business, measurement filtering and protocol configuration.In this, the QoS start-up course for example based on the configuration of 8012.11e, can send to access point applicable to management with this configuration.The VoIP starter is applicable to will priorization being set based on the voip signaling bag decoding of various criterion and with filter.

Fig. 8 is the block diagram 800 about the exemplary QoS start-up course of Fig. 8 according to the embodiment of the invention, can use this QoS start-up course to be used for network management by switching system.With reference to figure 8, it shows QoS start-up course 802, and this process has QoS policy-database 804, QoS manager 806 and VoIP starter 808.At least one interface is applicable to the communication that is provided between QoS policy-database 804 and the QoS manager 806.QoS manager 806 is applicable to comprising at least one interface, and this interface can make things convenient for and for example communicating by letter of VoIP starter 808.

In operation, QoS manager 806 is applicable to handling for example communication protocol message and filtering renewal.QoS manager 806 can send to voip signaling information VoIP starter 808806 and receive voip signaling information from VoIP starter 808806 and be used to make the relevant decision of QoS.In some examples, the relevant information that relates to QoS management can be used for Bandwidth Management.Correspondingly, with reference to figure 4, Bandwidth Management controller 412 is applicable to receiving relevant qos-related information from QoS controller 414.

In one aspect of the invention, QoS controller 414, load balancing controller 416, conversation controller 418, network management control device 420 and/or Bandwidth Management controller 412 are applicable to and transmit and/or the stored data base information in the database 424 for example.In this, the QoS controller is stored in the database 424 applicable at least some qos-related informations that it is relevant.Correspondingly, whenever needs are arranged, load balancing controller 416 can insert database 424 and the retrieval any qos-related information relevant with Bandwidth Management.

In another aspect of this invention, in some examples, load balancing controller 416 is applicable to the load information of being correlated with from 422 requests of Bandwidth Management controller and/or from QoS controller request QoS.Load balancing for convenience whenever needs are arranged, can ask to be positioned at the real time information of database 424 from QoS controller 414 or strip width controller 422.In addition, by this mechanism, load balancing controller 416 also is applicable to from conversation controller 418, network management control device 420 and/or database 424 requests and receives relevant information.Can realize the load balancing process in the mode that is fit to, and the load balancing process may take place in real time.

Fig. 9 a is the flow chart 900 that is used for the illustrative steps of load balancing according to an embodiment of the invention.With reference to figure 9a, after set up procedure 902, in step 904, access point can receive query messages from access device.In step 906, each access point can be explained this query messages.In step 908, each access point can be determined the load on it.In step 910, each access point can send to load information this inquiry access device.In step 912, this inquiry access device can select to have the access point of minimum load so that service to be provided.After step 912, illustrative steps finishes with step 914.

Fig. 9 b is the flow chart 920 that is used for the illustrative steps of load balancing according to an embodiment of the invention.With reference to figure 9b, after set up procedure 922, in step 924, access device can broadcast query message.In step 926, each access point within the working range of this inquiry access device can receive this query messages.In step 928, each access point can be explained this query messages.In step 930, each access point can send to switch with load information.In step 932, switch can be determined load and the definite optimal load balancing assembled on the access point.In step 934, switch can send to access point with load information, and these access points can be with their load redistribution.In step 936, access device can select to have the access point of minimum load so that service to be provided.After step 936, illustrative steps finishes with step 938.

However, illustrative steps illustrates in Fig. 9 a and Fig. 9 b, will be appreciated that, under the prerequisite that does not break away from protection scope of the present invention, can increase, replaces or make its optional other steps.With reference to figure 9a, for example, step 904 can be an optional step.In this, access point and/or switch are applicable to for example using communication protocol message that QoS information is sent to switch with dynamical fashion.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, relevant with the modulation scheme of using, the one or more PLCP frames shown in Fig. 1 b, Fig. 1 c, Fig. 1 d and Fig. 1 e are used to provide according to the employed information of communicating by letter of different embodiments of the invention applicable to comprising.In addition, according to embodiments of the invention, the PLCP frame is applicable to any one or the information of a plurality of operator schemes that transmits in access point and/or the employed 801.11a of access device, 802.11b and the 802.11g operator scheme.

Correspondingly, the combination of available hardware, software or hardware and software realizes the present invention.Can be in a computer system realize the present invention in the mode that distributes in a concentrated manner or when different elements is dispersed on the computer system of several interconnection.The computer system of any kind of or other are applicable to that other device of carrying out methods described herein all is fit to.The typical combination of hardware and software can be the general-purpose computing system with computer program, and when loading and carrying out described computer program, this computer program control computer system is so that this computer system is carried out method as herein described.

Also can be with in the embeddeding computer program product of the present invention, computer program comprises the feature that all can realize methods described herein, when loading computer program in computer, it can carry out methods described herein.Computer program herein means any expression formula with the instruction set of any language, code or symbolic representation, and this instruction set is used to make the system with information processing capability directly or below to carry out specific function after one or two of two processes: a) be transformed into other Languages, code or symbol; B) duplicate with different material form.

However, under the prerequisite that does not break away from spirit of the present invention or determinant attribute, present invention disclosed herein and invention configuration can realize with other form.Correspondingly, should be with reference to claim once but not the specification in the preamble, claim has shown protection scope of the present invention.In this, setting forth in following claim, above-mentioned specification only is the mode by example, rather than is used for by any way restriction the present invention.

Though described the present invention, person of skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications may be made under the condition that does not break away from protection range of the present invention and available equivalents replaces in conjunction with some embodiment.In addition, under the condition that does not break away from protection scope of the present invention, can make some modifications so that special circumstances or material are applicable to teaching of the present invention.Therefore, the present invention is not limited to disclosed specific embodiment, but the present invention will comprise that all fall into the embodiment of claim protection range.

Claims (26)

1. be used for providing the method for load balancing at the wired/wireless local networking of mixing, described method comprises:

Receive at least one query messages by in a plurality of access points at least one from access device;

In response to described at least one query messages, determine the load on each of described a plurality of access points;

Described each described definite load of described a plurality of access points is sent to described access device.

2. method according to claim 1 comprises further by in described a plurality of access points at least one and explains described at least one query messages that described access point is positioned at the working range of described access device.

3. method according to claim 2 further comprises from described a plurality of access points with minimum load and selects access point.

4. method according to claim 3 further comprises by described access device and selects to have the described access point of minimum load so that service to be provided.

5. method according to claim 1 further comprises:

With at least one query messages of described reception from a plurality of access points described at least one send to the switch that uses communication protocol message; And

Receive described at least one query messages by described switch.

6. method according to claim 2 further comprises at least one load of determining on the described a plurality of access points of at least a portion.

7. method according to claim 6 further comprises and uses communication protocol message will send to the described a plurality of access points of at least a portion corresponding to the information of described definite load.

8. method according to claim 7 is characterized in that: further comprise the load redistribution on the described a plurality of access points of described at least a portion.

9. machine readable memory, store computer program thereon, described computer program has at least one code segment, be used for providing load management in the wired/WLAN (wireless local area network) of mixing, can be used to make described machine to finish described step by described at least one code segment that described machine is carried out, comprise:

Receive at least one query messages by in a plurality of access points at least one from access device;

In response to described at least one query messages, determine the load on each of described a plurality of access points;

Described each described definite load of described a plurality of access points is sent to described access device.

10. machine readable memory according to claim 9 further comprises code, and at least one that is used for by described a plurality of access points explained described at least one query messages, and described access point is positioned at the working range of described access device.

11. machine readable memory according to claim 10 further comprises code, is used for selecting access point from the described a plurality of access points with minimum load.

12. machine readable access device according to claim 11 further comprises code, is used for selecting to have the described access point of minimum load so that service to be provided by described access device.

13. machine readable memory according to claim 9 further comprises code, is used for:

With at least one query messages of described reception from a plurality of access points described at least one send to the switch that uses communication protocol message; And

Receive described at least one query messages by described switch.

14. machine readable memory according to claim 10 further comprises code, is used for determining at least one load at least a portion of described a plurality of access points.

15. machine readable memory according to claim 14 further comprises code, is used for the information corresponding to described definite load is sent at least a portion of a plurality of access points of described use communication protocol message.

16. machine readable memory according to claim 15 further comprises code, is used for load redistribution described at least a portion at described a plurality of access points.

17. be used for providing at wire/wireless local hybrid network the system of network management, described system comprises:

At least one receiver, it is applicable to by in a plurality of access points at least one and receives at least one query messages from access device;

At least one controller, it is applicable to that load on each that determine in described a plurality of access points is to respond described at least one query messages;

At least one transmitter, it is applicable to the described definite load of each described in the described access point is sent to described access device.

18. system according to claim 17, wherein, described at least one controller is applicable to by in described a plurality of access points at least one explains described at least one query messages, and described access point is positioned at the working range of described access device.

19. system according to claim 18, wherein, described at least one controller is applicable to from the described a plurality of access points with minimum load selects access point.

20. system according to claim 19, wherein, described at least one controller is applicable to by described access device selects to have the described access point of minimum load so that service to be provided.

21. system according to claim 17, wherein, described at least one transmitter be applicable to at least one query messages of described reception from a plurality of access points described at least one send to the switch that uses communication protocol message.

22. system according to claim 17, wherein, described at least one receiver is applicable to by described switch and receives described at least one query messages.

23. system according to claim 18, wherein, described at least one controller is applicable at least one load at least a portion of determining described a plurality of access points.

24. system according to claim 23, wherein, described at least one controller is applicable to the information corresponding to described definite load is sent at least a portion in a plurality of access points of described use communication protocol message.

25. system according to claim 24, wherein, described at least one controller is applicable on load redistribution described at least a portion in described a plurality of access points.

26. system according to claim 23, wherein, described at least one controller is Bandwidth Management controller, service quality controller, load balancing controller, conversation controller and network management control device.

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