WO2015084151A1

WO2015084151A1 - Method and system for access point load balancing

Info

Publication number: WO2015084151A1
Application number: PCT/MY2014/000172
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nazri Bin Mustafa MOHD; Rizal Bin Ahmad Bokhari Ahmad; Aminudin Bin Mohd Khalid Mohd
Original assignee: Mimos Berhad
Priority date: 2013-12-06
Filing date: 2014-06-10
Publication date: 2015-06-11

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and a system for access point load balancing in wireless networks. The system includes an access point, at least two routing agents; and at least two routing table updaters for updating information provided by routing agents, wherein the routing table information is broadcasted to the access point for load balancing at the access point between different ISP.

Description

Method and System for access point load balancing

Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to communication networks and, more particularly, to wireless communication networks .

Background of the Invention

Wireless communication networks for providing links to mobile stations are well known in the art. Wireless LANs have become popular in the home due to ease of installation, and in commercial complexes offering wireless access to their customers; often for free. A wireless local area network (WLAN) links two or more devices using some wireless distribution method (typically spread-spectrum or OFDM radio), and usually providing a connection through an access point to the wider Internet. This gives users the mobility to move around within a local coverage area and still be connected to the network.

Enterprise WLAN AP depends on centralized internet connection. WLAN AP is only a part of a larger enterprise. Usually an enterprise WLAN AP can only utilize single gateway as its default route to Internet service provider (ISP). It has no ability to have back-up or alternative hops to internet even when the area is served by many ISPs.

Single internet connection is not adequate to support users of high bandwidth internet demand as well as for backup purposes during peak period. It becomes even worse when the backhaul connection is operating at low speed.

While multiple internet connection is possible at gateway router, it has limitation since it is located in server room, where 3G and LTE connections are limited. Therefore, it cannot benefit from these types of ISPs.

In view of the above there is a continuing need in the art to provide a network with reduced congestion.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of access point load balancing in a wireless network. The method comprising the steps of tracking routing information updates from at least two routing agents and updating the access point; receiving a current bandwidth information and a current processing load from the at least two routing agent as the routing information; and determining a next-hop based on the routing information wherein the next hop is set at priority in a access point routing table for load balancing at access point .

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a system for access point load balancing in a wireless network. The system comprises an access point; at least two routing agents; and at least two routing table updaters for updating information provided by routing agents; wherein the routing table information is broadcasted to the access point for load balancing at the access point between different ISP.

In an advantageous aspect, the present invention provides reliable internet connection at WLAN AP by introducing at least one Ad-hoc routing agent.

In another advantageous aspect, the present invention introduces Fail-over feature by using multi-homed WLAN AP, thereby providing alternative path via multiple Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description oner, read with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a flowchart of the method of access point load balancing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention .

Fig. 2a shows a flow diagram of data packet routing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2b shows selection of best path in the wireless network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2c shows flowchart of determining load for appropriate load balancing at access point in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows a system of access point load balancing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying in drawings.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a system for access point load balancing in wireless networks . Referring to Fig. 1, a method 100 for access point load balancing is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method comprising the step S110 for tracking routing information updates from at least two routing agents and updating the access point. In 3120, receiving a current bandwidth information and a current processing load from the at least two routing agent as the routing information. In S130, determining a next-hop based on the routing information, where the next hop is set at priority in a access point routing table for load balancing at access point .

In an embodiment, one of the routing agents is a main routing agent (MRA) (310) as shown in Fig 3. In an embodiment, other routing agent is an Ad-hoc routing agent (ARA) (320) as shown in Fig.3.

Referring to Fig. 2a, in S210, WLAN receive outbound data packet from client. In s220 WLAN A? aecermmes r.exr. nop from current routing table. In S230, it is checked whether routing agent is MRA or ARA. In S240 if the next hop is a MRA IP address, a data packet is routed to MRA via network interface towards MRA hardware network interface. In S250, if the next hop is an ARA IP address, a targeted ARA MAC address is determined and in S260 the data packet is broadcasted to the WLAN access point.

In an embodiment, a routing information cost is calculated for determining the routing information.

In an embodiment, the at least two routing agents are main routing agent (MRA) and Ad-hoc routing agent (ARA) .

Fig. 2b shows the flow steps 200b for selection of best path in the wireless network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For selection of best path a request is made to WLAN AP, the AP selects the best next hop based on bandwidth information and current processing load information and routes data packets accordingly over internet. The AP utilizes a plurality of routing agents for transferring the data packets depending on the availability based on the load on the routing agents.

Fig. 2c shows flowchart of determining load for appropriate load balancing at access point in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. I 52^Ί0 user request is monitored. In S280 it is checked if new request has been made and in case a request is made, in 3290 routing agent load is monitored. In S295 it is checked if load is high or low. If load is high in S295a a shift is made to one of the plurality of routing agent else if load is low, in S295b user request is forwarded to routing agent. The routing agent may be Main routing agent ( RA) or an ad-hoc routing agent (ARA) .

Referring to Fig. 3, a system 300 for access point load balancing is shown in accordance with an embodiment. The system 300 includes an MRA 310, a main ISP 310a, at least one ARA 320, at least one ISP corresponding to ARA 320a, a plurality of clients 330, and an access point 340.

In an embodiment, the MRA 310 has a direct connection to access point 340 for managing load balancing in case of a plurality of access points where access points route packets to MRA.

In an embodiment, the MRA 310 is directly connected to ISP 310a via a network interface residing in the MRA 310. In an embodiment, the at least one ARA 320 has a direct connection to access point 340 for managing load balancing in case of a plurality of access points where access point sets correct MAC address and SSIP and broadcasts packet to ARA. In an embodiment, the at least one ARA 320 is directly connected to ISP 320a via a network interface residing in the ARA 320. ARA and MRA have routing agent manager running as background process. The routing agent manager sends updates on their current bandwidth and processing load to access point. The access points sets priority and deletes old entry in routing table .

The MRA 310 and ARA 320 routing table configuration includes a static route to access point. The MRA routing table includes default route to its gateway of last resort. The access point 340 configuration includes link state routing to ARA subnet and MRA along with static route to client subnet .

In the system 300, gateway as MRA provides its link-state information/cost and current load. The ARA 320 provides alternative route to internet with each ARA 320 providing link-state information/cost and currer.: load - D access point.

Each network component bas its own rou ing agent '310, 320⁾ .

Access point 340 routes data packet via the best ISP 320a based on the provided link-state information. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered as merely illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description and drawings, and all changes which come within therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A system for access point load balancing in a wireless network, the system comprising;

an access point;

at least two routing agents; and

at least two routing table updaters for updating information provided by routing agents;

wherein the routing table information is broadcasted to the access point for load balancing at the access point between different ISP.

The system as claimed in claim I, wherein the at least two routing agents are main routing agent ( MRA ; and Ad- hoc routing agent (ARA) .

The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein MRA a direct connection to access point for managing load balancing in case of a plurality of access points where access points route packets to MRA, and wherein ARA is directly connected to ISP via a network interface residing in the ARA.

The system as claimed in claim 3, where

directly connected to ISP via a network

residing in the MRA; and wherein ARA is connection to access point for managing load balancing in case of a plurality of access points where access point sets correct MAC address and SSIP and broadcasts packet to ARA.

5. A method (100) of access point load balancing in a wireless network, the method (100) comprising the steps of:

tracking (110) routing information updates from a routing agent and updating the access point;

receiving (120) a current bandwidth information and a current processing load from the routing agent as the routing information; and

determining (130) a next-hop based on the routing information wherein the next hop is set at priority in a access point routing table for load balancing at access point .

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the routing agent is a main routing agent (MRA) .

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the routing agent is an Ad-hoc routing agent (ARA) . 8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein if the next hop is a MRA IP address (240) , a data packet is routed to MRA via network interface towards MRA hardware network interface .

The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein if the next hop is an ARA IP address (250), a targeted ARA MAC address is determined and the data packet is broadcasted (260) to the LAN access point.

10. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a routing information cost is calculated for determining the routing information.