US-12621683-B2 - Method of automatically selecting role for wireless access points in a multiple access point network

Abstract

The proposed invention introduces a method for automatically selecting roles for Wi-Fi Access Points in a multi-AP network. It is designed for Wi-Fi Access Points that support LAN connections and adhere to the Wi-Fi EasyMesh standard published by the Wi-Fi Alliance. The method relies on the distinctive characteristics of each role to accurately determine the appropriate role for each Access Point. This innovation streamlines deployment, saving time, enhancing efficiency, and eliminating human errors.

Inventors

• Dinh Dung Bui
• Uy Hoang Tran
• Trung Hieu Pham
• Hung Duy Ho

Assignees

• VIETTEL GROUP

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240131

Priority Date

20230131

Claims (1)

1. 1 . A method of automatically selecting role for wireless access-points in a Multi-Access Point (MAP) network, comprising: a first phase: initial phase step 1: verify if a device has an assigned role; if the role is assigned, the process is complete; otherwise, proceed to the next step; step 2: initialize a cycle (referred to as TO) with a pre-set period (P0) for sending an “ieee1905 AP-autoconfiguration request message”; step 3: check an Internet connection; if the device has no Internet access, wait for a pre-set time (P1 seconds) and recheck; otherwise, proceed to step 4; step 4: initialize a timer (referred to as T1) with a pre-set duration of P2 seconds if the timer has not started; if the timer has already started, wait for P1 seconds and return to step 3; a second phase: event processing phase: step 1: handle events of timer T1; if T1 is ongoing or not started yet, proceed to step 2; otherwise, move to step 3; step 2: check a type of “ieee1905” messages; if an incoming message is “ieee1905 AP-autoconfiguration response message,” proceed to step 2a; else if an incoming message is “ieee1905 AP-autoconfiguration request message,” proceed to step 2b; else if the incoming message is neither of these two, return to step 1; step 2a: stop T1 and T0, then assign the device to an agent role and unblock Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) messages for its Local Area Network (LAN) side; step 2b: update a Media Access Control (MAC) address included in the “ieee1905 AP-autoconfiguration request message” to a MAC database of devices in the MAP network; if the MAC address does not exist in the MAC database, then return to step 1; step 3: assign a role based on MAC address; the device compares its address with the MAC addresses of other devices stored in the MAC database established in step 2b; the device configures itself as a controller if its MAC has the highest value; otherwise, its role is set to agent; upon completing role selection, the device allows ICMP messages to pass through from the LAN side.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of automatically selecting a role for Wi-Fi Access Points in a Multiple Access Point (Multi-AP) network. This invention applies to Wi-Fi Access Points supporting LAN connections as well as those following the Wi-Fi EasyMesh standard published by the Wi-Fi Alliance. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A Multi-AP network is a system of access-point devices (AP) that support control protocols to enable onboarding, provisioning, control, and management of devices in a Wi-Fi network. The purpose of a Multi-AP network is to enhance coverage, ensure a quality connection, and simplify deployment. A Multi-AP network (MAP network) may comprise numerous devices but consists of two types of logical entities: one Multi-AP Controller (Controller) and one or more Multi-AP Agents (Agent). The Controller implements the logic for controlling the fronthaul APs and backhaul links in the Multi-AP network. Additionally, the Controller provides onboarding functionality to onboard and provision Multi-AP devices onto the network. An Agent executes commands received from the Controller, reporting measurements and capabilities data for fronthaul APs, clients, and backhaul links to a Controller or other Agents. The deployment process for a Multi-AP network following the Wi-Fi EasyMesh standard often includes the following steps: Step 1: Select a role for Multi-AP devices.Step 2: Perform onboarding between the new one and an existing device in the mesh network.Step 3: After completing the process of joining all devices to the Multi-AP network, administrators can set up configurations for the network, such as WAN/Wireless configuration.Step 4: Move the devices to the designated location. A problem arises when setting up a device, as it requires accessing its administration web or using a specific mobile application to select a role. This method is inefficient, and the issue becomes more serious when dealing with a large number of devices. Additionally, this manual approach is prone to errors resulting from human actions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 depicts an example of a Multi-AP network commonly deployed in a real environment. FIG. 2 depicts a Multi-AP network with only one MAP device connected to a gateway. FIG. 3 depicts a Multi-AP network with more than one MAP device connected to a gateway. FIG. 4 depicts a Multi-AP network during the onboarding of APs without any uplink connection. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the initial phase of the process of automatic role selection in a Multi-AP network. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the event handling for automatic role selection in a Multi-AP network. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention proposes a method for automatically setting up roles for devices in a MAP network. An administrator needs to connect Ethernet cables for devices intending to join a MAP network, and then the devices will automatically select the correct role. Finally, the administrator only needs to configure network information and move devices to appropriate locations to complete the setup process. The deployment of this invention is limited to end-users who prefer to use the Internet. In other cases, this solution may not be suitable, so administrators could resort to the old manual configuration method via a WEB UI or mobile application. However, AP products are often designed for Internet end-users in practical applications. To achieve the goal of automatic role selection, each role must possess unique features for differentiation. The key characteristics of each role are described as follows: Controller: There is a single controller in a given MAP network.The controller consistently functions as a routing role, essentially operating as a router capable of connecting to the Internet. Agent: There are one or more agents in a MAP network.Agents cannot connect to the Internet without joining a MAP network.If the device receives an “ieee1905 AP-autoconfiguration response message,” it assumes the role of an agent. The “ieee1905 AP-autoconfiguration search/response message” is defined in the IEEE 1905 standard and is employed to search for a registrar. In the Wi-Fi EasyMesh standard, these messages serve the purpose of Agents finding a Controller. To assign a role to a device, it can rely on the aforementioned indicators. The application of the invention is limited to a MAP network with an onboarding phase using Ethernet cables, providing Internet access for end-users. The deployment model in the practical environment is illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4. The devices in the models support connection interfaces, including WAN (a wide area network) port, LAN (a local area network) port, and wireless, following ieee802.11 standards. In this embodiment, we consider devices connecting to the WAN port of a device as uplink devices. Conversely, devices connecting to the LAN side of a device are co