JP6200391B2 - Access point control device, access point control method, and access point control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an access point control apparatus, an access point control method, and an access point control program for controlling an access point that relays between access points of a wireless LAN by a plurality of multi-hop transmissions in order to expand a service area of the wireless LAN.

  Conventionally, there is a technique of expanding a service area by relaying between access points (APs) of a wireless LAN in a mesh shape (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system that centralizes network settings in a server in order to expand a service area. In this system, control transmission / reception devices 21 and 22 are connected to all access points (AP) 31 and 32 constituting a wireless LAN network, respectively. And it comprises the server 10 which can control all the access points 31 and 32 by communicating with the transmission / reception apparatuses 21 and 22. FIG. A gateway between the wireless LAN network and another network is set as a gateway access point (GW-AP), and beacon signals are set to be transmitted from all access points so that other access points can be detected.

  Next, the configuration of the server 10 shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the server 10 shown in FIG. The receiving device 1 acquires AP peripheral received power information indicating the power of a beacon signal received from an access point other than the gateway access point (GW-AP), and stores it in the AP peripheral received power information storage device 2. The connection determination device 3 instructs all access points other than the gateway access point (GW-AP) to be connected to all access points whose reception power is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold L from the AP peripheral reception power information. Is transmitted via the transmission device 4.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of connecting each access point according to the conventional technique. When the threshold value L is −40 dBm, the received power is -40 dBm or more from the AP peripheral received power information at all access points (AP1, AP2, AP3, AP4) other than the gateway access points (GW-AP1, GW-AP2). Connect to all access points. That is, in the access point (AP1), it is the gateway access point (GW-AP1) and the access point (AP3) that have a reception power of −40 dBm or more, so they are connected. Similarly, in the access point (AP2), the reception power is −40 dBm or more because there are two gateway access points (GW-AP1, GW-AP2) and two access points (AP3, AP4). Connect with these. Similarly, the access points (AP3, AP4) are connected to an access point having a reception power of −40 dBm or more.

“Technology Trends of Wireless LAN Mesh Networks”, IEICE Journal, Vol. 92, no. 10, pp. 841-846, October 2009

  However, since the conventional access point determines the relay transmission path from the received power value obtained from the peripheral access point, a plurality of paths are formed. For this reason, there is a problem that redundant communication data is generated and relay traffic increases, or delay due to the number of relay hops increases. In addition, when there is a bias in traffic generated between each access point and a terminal that performs communication, there is a problem that communication data is discarded or delay increases at an access point where relay traffic is concentrated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an access point control device, an access point control method, and an access point control program capable of suppressing the formation of a plurality of redundant paths. Objective.

  The present invention provides an access point control apparatus that controls connection of the access point in a wireless LAN network that relays the access point by multi-hop, and collects received power information related to other access points received by the access point. Hop number determining means for determining the number of relay hops from the gateway access point to each access point using the received power information at all the access points except for the gateway access point, and from the access points having the same hop number A connection determination unit that determines connection candidates and determines the access points to be connected in order from an access point with few connection candidates, and the connection determination unit is already connected to the connection candidates when there are a plurality of connection candidates. Have Wherein the number of the access points of the access point and its subordinate connects to fewest connection candidate.

  The present invention provides an access point control apparatus that controls connection of the access point in a wireless LAN network that relays the access point by multi-hop, and collects received power information related to other access points received by the access point. Hop number determining means for determining the number of relay hops from the gateway access point to each access point using the received power information at all the access points except for the gateway access point, and from the access points having the same hop number Connection determining means for determining connection candidates and determining the access points to be connected in order from an access point with few connection candidates, and the connection determining means, when there are a plurality of connection candidates, Already connected The total traffic amount of the access point of the access point and its subordinate connected to the candidate is characterized by connecting the least connection candidate.

  The present invention relates to an access point control method performed by an access point control apparatus that controls connection of the access point in a wireless LAN network that relays the access point by multi-hop, and relates to another access point received by the access point Hop count determination step for collecting received power information and determining the number of relay hops from the gateway access point to each access point using the received power information at all the access points except the gateway access point, and the same hop A connection determination step of determining connection candidates from a plurality of access points, and determining the access points to be connected in order from the access points with the fewest connection candidates. In the connection determination step, the connection candidates include In the case of multiple, previously the number of the access points of the access point and its subordinate connected to the connection candidate is characterized by connecting the least connection candidate.

  The present invention relates to an access point control method performed by an access point control apparatus that controls connection of the access point in a wireless LAN network that relays the access point by multi-hop, and relates to another access point received by the access point Hop count determination step for collecting received power information and determining the number of relay hops from the gateway access point to each access point using the received power information at all the access points except the gateway access point, and the same hop A connection determination step of determining connection candidates from a plurality of access points, and determining the access points to be connected in order from the access points with the fewest connection candidates. In the connection determination step, the connection candidates include In the case of multiple, characterized in that the total traffic amount of the access point of the under and one connection candidate already with the access points connected to the connection candidate is connected to the fewest connection candidate.

  The present invention is an access point control program for causing a computer to function as the access point control device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine a relay transmission path without forming a plurality of redundant paths, and it is possible to obtain an effect that an increase in relay traffic can be prevented.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server 10 in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation example which connects each access point. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server 10 in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation example which connects each access point. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the system which performs the setting of a network intensively in a server in order to expand a service area. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server 10 shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example which connects each access point by a prior art.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, an access point control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the system configuration in the first embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 5, detailed description thereof is omitted here. A server capable of controlling all access points 31 and 32 by connecting control transmission / reception devices 21 and 22 to all access points 31 and 32 constituting the wireless LAN network and communicating with the transmission / reception devices 21 and 22, respectively. 10. However, in the first embodiment, the configuration of the server 10 is different as shown in FIG.

  When the configuration of the server 10 is described with reference to FIG. 1, the well-known functions and configurations that the server 10 normally has are omitted from the description and illustration of the configurations unless directly related to the description of the present invention. To do. However, the configuration of the server 10 in FIG. 1 is different as described below.

  The server 10 in the first embodiment controls access point connection using a method that does not require traffic information. Here, the gateway of the wireless LAN network and the other network is the gateway access point (GW-AP), and the relay allowable hop count from the gateway access point (GW-AP) is m, and all the access points can be detected. A setting is made so that a beacon signal is transmitted from the access points 31 and 32.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the server 10. In this figure, the same parts as those of the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. The server 10 shown in this figure is different from the conventional server 10 in that a hop number determination device 5 is provided.

  The receiving device 1 acquires AP peripheral received power information from an access point other than the gateway access point (GW-AP) and stores it in the AP peripheral received power information storage device 2. The hop count determination device 5 is an access point having at least one gateway access point (GW-AP) whose received power is equal to or higher than the threshold L1 from the AP peripheral received power information, and is an access point other than the gateway access point (GW-AP). Is determined as H1-AP.

  Further, it is an access point having one or more access points (H1-AP) whose received power is equal to or higher than the threshold L2 from the AP peripheral received power information, and other than the gateway access point (GW-AP) and the access point (H1-AP). The access point is determined as H2-AP.

  Then, the access point having at least one access point (H (m−1) -AP) whose received power is equal to or higher than the threshold value Lm from the AP peripheral received power information, the gateway access point (GW-AP) and the access point (Hn) An access point other than AP (n = 1,..., M−1)) is determined as Hm-AP.

  The connection determination device 3 uses an access point (H (m−1) -AP) whose reception power is equal to or greater than the threshold Lm from the AP peripheral reception power information and the number of hops of each access point (Hm-AP) as a connection candidate. An instruction to connect to connection candidates is transmitted via the transmission device 4 in order from the access point (Hm-AP) with few candidates. When there are a plurality of connection candidates, a command to connect to a connection candidate with the smallest number of already connected access points (Hm-AP) is transmitted from the transmission device 4.

  Next, the connection determining device 3 determines the access point (H (H (m (1) -AP)) whose received power is equal to or greater than the threshold L (m-1) from the AP peripheral received power information and the number of hops. m-2) -AP) is used as a connection candidate, and an instruction to connect to the connection candidate is transmitted via the transmission device 4 in order from H (m-1) -AP with few connection candidates. When there are a plurality of connection candidates, the number of access points (H (m-1) -AP) already connected and the number of access points (Hm-AP) under the access point (H (m-1) -AP) A command to connect to the connection candidate with the least number is transmitted from the transmission device 4.

  Next, the connection determination device 3 sets a gateway (GW-AP) whose reception power is equal to or greater than the threshold L1 from the AP peripheral reception power information and the number of hops of each access point (H1-AP) as a connection candidate, and there are few connection candidates. A command for connecting to a connection candidate is transmitted via the transmission device 4 in order from the access point (H1-AP). When there are a plurality of connection candidates, the access point (H1-AP) that is already connected and the access points under the access point (H1-AP) (Hn-AP (n = 2, 3,..., M)) A command to connect to the connection candidate with the smallest number is transmitted from the transmission device 4.

  This operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of connecting each access point. Here, assuming that the number of allowable relay hops is 2, threshold L1 is −40 dBm, and threshold L2 is −40 dBm, the access points that become H1-AP are the access point (AP1) and the access point (AP2). Also, the access points to be H2-AP are an access point (AP3) and an access point (AP4).

  First, among the access points (H2-AP), an access point (AP4) with few access points (H1-AP) as connection candidates is connected to the access point (AP2) (FIG. 2 (1)). Next, the access point (AP3) is connected to the access point (AP1) with few connected access points (H2-AP) (FIG. 2 (2)).

  Next, of the access points (H1-AP), the access point (AP1) with few GW-APs as connection candidates connects to the gateway access point (GW-AP1) (FIG. 2 (3)). Next, the access point (AP2) connects to the gateway access point (GW-AP2) with few connected access points (H1-AP) (FIG. 2 (4)).

  In this way, the server 10 determines the number of relay hops from the gateway access point (GW-AP) to each access point, and connects only one access point from an access point with a large number of relay hops. No increase in relay traffic can be suppressed. Further, since the number of relay hops is also limited, the delay does not increase.

  In particular, a method that does not require traffic information is an effective method even when there is no traffic information, such as immediately after the construction of a wireless LAN network. For this reason, it is possible to operate the wireless LAN network by a method that does not require traffic information, and switch to a method that uses the traffic information after accumulating the traffic information.

Second Embodiment
Next, an access point control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the system configuration in the second embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 5, detailed description thereof is omitted here. A server capable of controlling all access points 31 and 32 by connecting control transmission / reception devices 21 and 22 to all access points 31 and 32 constituting the wireless LAN network and communicating with the transmission / reception devices 21 and 22, respectively. 10. However, in the second embodiment, the configuration of the server 10 is different as shown in FIG.

  The server 10 in the second embodiment controls access point connection using traffic information. Here, the gateway of the wireless LAN network and the other network is the gateway access point (GW-AP), and the relay allowable hop count from the gateway access point (GW-AP) is m, and all the access points can be detected. A setting is made so that a beacon signal is transmitted from the access points 31 and 32.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the server 10 according to the second embodiment. In this figure, the same parts as those in the apparatus shown in FIG. The server 10 shown in this figure is different from the server 10 shown in FIG. 1 in that an AP traffic information storage device 6 is further provided.

  The receiving device 1 acquires AP peripheral received power information from an access point other than the gateway access point (GW-AP) and stores it in the AP peripheral received power information storage device 2. In addition, the receiving device 1 acquires AP traffic information, which is the total traffic amount between the access point and the terminal, from all access points, and stores it in the AP traffic information storage device 6.

  The hop number determination device is an access point having one or more gateway access points (GW-AP) whose received power is equal to or higher than the threshold L1 from the AP peripheral received power information, and sets access points other than the gateway access point (GW-AP). Determine H1-AP.

  Further, it is an access point having one or more access points (H1-AP) whose received power is equal to or higher than the threshold L2 from the AP peripheral received power information, and other than the gateway access point (GW-AP) and the access point (H1-AP). The access point is determined as H2-AP.

  Then, the access point having at least one access point (H (m−1) -AP) whose received power is equal to or higher than the threshold value Lm from the AP peripheral received power information, the gateway access point (GW-AP) and the access point (Hn) An access point other than AP (n = 1,..., M−1)) is determined as Hm-AP.

  The connection determination device 3 uses an access point (H (m−1) -AP) whose reception power is equal to or greater than the threshold Lm from the AP peripheral reception power information and the number of hops of each access point (Hm-AP) as a connection candidate. An instruction to connect to connection candidates is transmitted via the transmission device 4 in order from the access point (Hm-AP) with few candidates. When there are a plurality of connection candidates, a command to connect to a connection candidate having the smallest total traffic volume of one connection candidate and an access point (Hm-AP) already connected to the connection candidate is transmitted from the AP traffic information. It is transmitted from the device 4.

  Next, the connection determining device 3 determines the access point (H (H (m (1) -AP)) whose received power is equal to or greater than the threshold L (m-1) from the AP peripheral received power information and the number of hops. m-2) -AP) is set as a connection candidate, and a command for connecting to the connection candidate is transmitted from the transmission device 4 in order from an access point (H (m-1) -AP) with few connection candidates. When there are a plurality of connection candidates, from the AP traffic information, one connection candidate, an access point (H (m−1) -AP) that is already connected to the connection candidate, and its access point (H (m−1) ) -AP) A command to connect to the connection candidate with the smallest total traffic volume of the access point (Hm-AP) under the control is transmitted from the transmission device 4.

  Next, the connection determination device 3 uses, as connection candidates, gateway access points (GW-APs) whose received power is equal to or greater than the threshold L1 from the AP peripheral received power information and the number of hops of each access point (H1-AP). A command to connect to connection candidates is transmitted from the transmission device 4 in order from the access point (H1-AP) with the least number of access points. When there are a plurality of connection candidates, from the AP traffic information, one connection candidate, an access point (H1-AP) that is already connected to the connection candidate, and an access point (Hn) under the access point (H1-AP) A command for connecting to a connection candidate with the smallest total traffic amount of AP (n = 2, 3,..., M)) is transmitted from the transmission device 4.

  This operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of connecting each access point. Here, if the relay allowable hop count is 2, threshold L1 is −40 dBm, and threshold L2 is −40 dBm, H1-AP becomes an access point (AP1) and an access point (AP2). H2-AP is an access point (AP3) and an access point (AP4).

  First, of the access points (H2-AP), an access point (AP4) with few access points (H1-AP) as connection candidates is connected to the access point (AP2) (FIG. 4 (1)). Next, the access point (AP3) connects to the access point (AP2) with the smallest total traffic volume (AP1: 20, AP2: 10 + 3) (FIG. 4 (2)).

  Next, of the access points (H1-AP), an access point (AP1) with few gateway access points (GW-AP) as connection candidates is connected to the gateway access point (GW-AP1) (FIG. 4 (3)). . Next, the access point (AP2) connects to the gateway access point (GW-AP2) having the smallest total traffic volume (GW-AP1: 10 + 20, GW-AP2: 15) (FIG. 4 (4)).

  In this way, the server 10 determines the number of relay hops from the gateway access point (GW-AP) to each access point, and connects only one access point from an access point with a large number of relay hops. No increase in relay traffic can be suppressed. Further, since the number of relay hops is also limited, the delay does not increase. Furthermore, since the relay traffic is distributed by using the traffic information, the frequency at which communication data is discarded or the delay increases is reduced.

  As described above, in a server that controls a plurality of access points (APs) constituting a wireless LAN mesh network, received power information regarding other access points is received from each access point, and the gateway is based on the received power information. Determine the number of relay hops from the access point to each access point. For access points with the same number of relay hops, determine the access point that is the connection destination in order from the access point with the fewest access points as connection candidates. The command to connect with the access point of the connection destination was transmitted. Then, when there are a plurality of connection candidate access points for one access point, among the plurality of connection candidate access points, the connection destination access point that has already been determined and its connection point are determined. The access point with the smallest total number of subordinate access points is determined as the connection destination.

  According to this configuration, a relay transmission path can be determined without forming a plurality of redundant paths, and an increase in relay traffic can be prevented.

  You may make it implement | achieve the server 10 in embodiment mentioned above with a computer. In that case, a program for realizing this function may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on this recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” dynamically holds a program for a short time like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a volatile memory inside a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case may be included and a program held for a certain period of time. Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system. It may be realized using hardware such as PLD (Programmable Logic Device) or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention has been described with reference to drawings, the said embodiment is only the illustration of this invention, and it is clear that this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. is there. Therefore, additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications of the components may be made without departing from the technical idea and scope of the present invention.

  A relay transmission path can be determined without forming a plurality of redundant paths, and can be applied to applications where it is essential to prevent an increase in relay traffic.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Server, 1 ... Receiving device, 2 ... AP peripheral received power information storage device, 3 ... Connection determining device, 4 ... Transmitting device, 5 ... Hop number determining device, 6 ... AP traffic information storage device, 21, 22 ... Transmission / reception device, 31, 32 ... Access point

Claims (5)

In a wireless LAN network that relays access points by multi-hop, an access point control device for controlling connection of the access points,
Number of relay hops from the gateway access point to each access point using the received power information at all the access points except the gateway access point by collecting received power information regarding other access points received by the access point Hop number determination means for determining
Connection determining means for determining connection candidates from the access points of the same hop number, and determining the access points to be connected in order from the access points with the fewest connection candidates,
The connection determination means includes
When there are a plurality of connection candidates, the access point control apparatus connects to the connection candidate having the smallest number of the access points already connected to the connection candidate and the access points under the access point. In a wireless LAN network that relays access points by multi-hop, an access point control device for controlling connection of the access points,
Number of relay hops from the gateway access point to each access point using the received power information at all the access points except the gateway access point by collecting received power information regarding other access points received by the access point Hop number determination means for determining
Connection determining means for determining connection candidates from the access points of the same hop number, and determining the access points to be connected in order from the access points with the fewest connection candidates,
The connection determination means includes
When there are a plurality of connection candidates, a connection candidate is connected to a connection candidate with the smallest total traffic volume of the access point already connected to the connection candidate and the access point under the connection candidate. Access point controller. In a wireless LAN network that relays access points by multi-hop, an access point control method performed by an access point control device that controls connection of the access points,
Number of relay hops from the gateway access point to each access point using the received power information at all the access points except the gateway access point by collecting received power information regarding other access points received by the access point Hop number determination step for determining
A connection determination step of determining connection candidates from the access points having the same number of hops, and determining the access points to be connected in order from an access point having a small number of connection candidates;
In the connection determination step,
When there are a plurality of connection candidates, an access point control method comprising: connecting to the connection candidate having the smallest number of the access points already connected to the connection candidate and the access points under the access point. In a wireless LAN network that relays access points by multi-hop, an access point control method performed by an access point control device that controls connection of the access points,
Number of relay hops from the gateway access point to each access point using the received power information at all the access points except the gateway access point by collecting received power information regarding other access points received by the access point Hop number determination step for determining
A connection determination step of determining connection candidates from the access points having the same number of hops, and determining the access points to be connected in order from an access point having a small number of connection candidates;
In the connection determination step,
When there are a plurality of connection candidates, a connection candidate is connected to a connection candidate with the smallest total traffic volume of the access point already connected to the connection candidate and the access point under the connection candidate. Access point control method.   An access point control program for causing a computer to function as the access point control device according to claim 1.

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