JP2004140614A - Load distribution system for wireless lan access point - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a load distribution system which can be implemented between an unspecified wireless LAN (local area network) card-mounting PC and a wireless LAN access point. <P>SOLUTION: The load distribution is characterized in that, in the wireless LAN system, a means for broadcasting its number of connected terminals and current maximum number of connected terminals to other access points in the same group every time when one wireless terminal is connected to its access point and when a wireless terminal is released, and a means for increasing the maximum number of connected terminals if each access point in the same group has already reached the maximum number of connected terminals when connection is requested from a wireless terminal are provided. And also, it is characterized in that a means for decreasing the maximum number of connected terminals if the number of connected wireless terminals entirely becomes smaller than the maximum number of connected terminals by a predetermined number of terminals due to release of the wireless terminal, and a means for storing the number of connected terminals broadcast from other access points in the same group in correspondence with the access point and storing/updating the maximum number of connected terminals thus broadcast, are also provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wireless LAN system including a plurality of wireless LAN access points (hereinafter, simply referred to as access points), which is accessed from a plurality of wireless terminals, that is, a client personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a client PC) equipped with a wireless LAN card. The present invention relates to a method of equalizing the number of client PCs connected to an access point when wirelessly connecting to a point (hereinafter referred to as load distribution).
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, beacon signals emitted by a plurality of access points are transmitted together with information on the number of connected access points, and the client PC selects the most suitable access point to be connected based on the strength of the radio wave and the information. I was
However, the information to be put on the beacon signal and the algorithm for judging the optimum on the client PC side differ between the respective manufacturing and sales companies.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Load distribution can be realized only between a wireless LAN access point of a specific manufacturing and sales company and a PC equipped with a wireless LAN card by the same manufacturing and sales company. The function could not be realized.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless LAN access point load distribution method that realizes load distribution between wireless LAN cards of an unspecified number of manufacturing and sales companies with a simple configuration.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the method of the present invention is as follows.
A plurality of wired access points are grouped, and a wireless connection request can be sent to the grouped access points and each of the access points in one group, and the connection is permitted. In a wireless LAN system configured with a plurality of wireless terminals capable of wireless connection to an access point,
At the time of wirelessly connecting one of the wireless terminals to its own access point, and each time one wireless terminal is opened, the number of its own connections, the current maximum number of connections to other access points in the same group Means for broadcasting,
When a wireless terminal issues a connection request, if its own access point has reached the maximum number of connected devices and there is an access point that has not reached the maximum number of connected devices among other access points in the same group, Means for rejecting the connection request of
When there is a connection request from the wireless terminal, if all of the access points in the same group have reached the maximum number of connected devices, the access point that has made the connection request connects the wireless terminal and increases the maximum number of connected devices. Means for increasing the current number of connected devices, and broadcasting the current increased number of connected devices and the increased maximum number of connected devices to other access points in the same group,
When the number of connected wireless terminals of all access points in the same group is reduced by a predetermined number or more from the maximum number of connected terminals due to the release of the wireless terminals, each of the access points decreases the maximum number of connected terminals, and the number of connected terminals decreases. Means for broadcasting the number and the currently reduced maximum number of connected devices to other access points in the group, and storing the number of connected devices broadcast from other access points in the same group for each access point individually; Means for storing and updating the broadcasted maximum number of connections;
A load balancing method for a wireless LAN access point equipped with a.
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an access point showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an access point when the number of connected client PCs does not increase or decrease for a certain period of time from the access point within the same AP group. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of broadcasting the number of client PCs connected to the access point to access points of the same AP group. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of receiving broadcasts by client PCs. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an access point; FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an access point, and FIG. 6 stores the number of connected client PCs in a storage unit of the access point. 6 is a client PC connection number management table to be executed. In the drawings, the access point may be abbreviated as AP.
[0007]
1 is a cable, 100 is a switching hub, 10 is an access point, 11 is a storage unit for storing the maximum number of connected units, 12 is a storage unit for storing the minimum number of connected units, and 13 is connected to itself and other access points. A storage unit for the management table of the number of connected client PCs, 14 is a wired transmission / reception unit, 15 is a control unit for performing various controls, 16 is a wireless transmission / reception unit for wireless connection with the client PC, and 17 is an antenna for wireless communication with the client PC. , 20 denotes an access point, 30 denotes an access point, 41, 42, and 43 denote client PCs which are wireless terminals.
[0008]
Next, the operation will be described with reference to the operation flowcharts of FIGS.
(1) A plurality of access points for performing load distribution are grouped (hereinafter, referred to as an AP group), and a common group ID (hereinafter, referred to as a GID) is assigned to the group.
In the AP group, the minimum number of connected devices is determined to be, for example, five.
[0009]
(2) Each access point of the AP group determines the number of connected units including the group ID (GID) and the current maximum number of connected units at the same time when the client PC is connected and when the client PC is released. Broadcast to other access points in the group.
[0010]
(3) As shown in FIG. 2, when the number of connected APs in the AP group does not change for a certain period of time, the number of connected APs including the GID for the APs in the same AP group and the current maximum number of connected APs are determined. Broadcast.
[0011]
(4) When each access point in the AP group reaches the maximum number of connected devices, and there is another access point in the same AP group that does not reach the limit number of connected devices, it rejects a connection request to itself. As a result, the client PC that has made the connection request slides access to another access point, and consequently connects to an access point whose number has not reached the maximum number.
[0012]
(5) When the number of client PCs connected to each access point in the AP group reaches the maximum number of connections, each access point of the AP group increments the maximum number of connections by one and broadcasts the current maximum number of connections. .
[0013]
(6) When the access point releases the client PC at the request of the client PC, if all the access points in the group have a margin for the maximum number of connected devices of two or more, the maximum number of connected devices is reduced by −1, and the GID is reduced. And the current maximum number of connected devices to the other access points in the same AP group.
[0014]
(7) Using the above algorithm, load distribution of access points in the AP group is performed.
[0015]
(8) The condition is that all client PCs can wirelessly connect to access points in the same AP group. That is, the present invention can be executed in an environment where a client PC can send a wireless connection request to each access point in one group and can wirelessly connect to an access point whose connection is permitted.
[0016]
Since the minimum number of wireless terminals that do not perform load distribution to change the maximum number of wireless terminals connected to the individual access points of the same group is determined as five, the number of client PCs connected to all access points at present is four. If the number is within the range, the maximum number of connected devices is also five. However, in the control unit 15, even if the number of connected client PCs becomes less than three, the control is such that the maximum number of connected clients is not less than five. That is, if the number of client PCs connected to the access point is within the minimum number of connected PCs, satisfactory communication is possible without the need to distribute the load.
[0017]
FIG. 6 shows the client PC connection number management table of the storage unit 13 of the connection number management table of the client PC to which the own and other access points are connected in FIG. Assuming that 7, 6, and 7 client PCs are connected to the access points 10, 20, and 30, respectively, and the current maximum number of connected PCs is 7.
[0018]
Therefore, when the client PC makes a connection request to the access point 10 (101), the access point 10 has reached the maximum number of connections, and if there is another access point that has not reached the maximum number of connections, the connection is made. Refuse. Therefore, if the client PC sends a connection request to the access point 20, the number of access points 20 currently connected is six, and the maximum number of connected connection points has not been reached, so connection is possible. When the access point 20 connects the client PC that has made the request, the number of connected PCs becomes seven and the access point 20 rewrites the connected PC management table stored in its own storage unit 13. Also, the GID of the same group, the current number of connected client PCs of 7, and the current maximum number of connected client PCs of 7 are broadcast to access points of the same group. As shown in FIG. 3, the access points 10 and 30 of the same group that have received the broadcast notification update the connection number management table by changing the maximum connection number and the connection number of the broadcast source access point.
[0019]
Here, in the connection number management table, the number of client PCs connected to the access points 10, 20, and 30 is all seven, which is the maximum number of connections. Therefore, when a connection request comes from the new client PC to the access point 10 (101), the access is started. It is determined from the connection number management table that the other access points cannot reach the maximum number of connections because the maximum number of connections has been reached (103), and the storage unit 11 is rewritten so that the maximum number of connections is increased by one, and is changed to eight (8). 104). The access point 10 controls the connection of the client PC by the control unit 15 (105), and updates the number of connected client PCs of the access point 10 from seven to eight in the connection number management table of the storage unit 13 (106). ). Furthermore, the GID of the same group, the current number of connected client PCs of eight, and the current maximum number of connected client PCs of eight are broadcast to the access points of the same group (107).
[0020]
The access points 20 and 30 of the same group that received the broadcast update the maximum number of connected units of the storage unit 11 from seven to eight, and connect the number of client PCs of the access point 10 in the connected unit management table of the storage unit 13. To update.
The subtraction of the maximum number of connected computers is performed when the number of client PCs of all access points is reduced by two or more from the maximum number of connected computers. As described above, the present embodiment specifically describes, but the present invention does not imply these specific limitations.
[0021]
The access point broadcasts the number of connected wireless terminals and the current maximum number of connected terminals to access points in the same group even if the number of connected terminals does not change for a predetermined time.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the load distribution can be performed only between the wireless LAN access point of the same seller and the wireless terminal equipped with the wireless LAN card in the related art. Load distribution can be performed between wireless terminals equipped with a wireless LAN card.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an access point according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows the case where the number of connected client PCs does not increase or decrease for a certain period of time from the own AP and an access point in the same AP group. Flowchart showing the operation of broadcasting to points,
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of receiving a broadcast by a client PC; FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a part of a wireless LAN system including an access point in the same group and the client PC;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an access point.
FIG. 6 is a client PC connection number management table that stores the number of connected client PCs in the storage unit of the access point.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 cable,
10 access points,
11 storage unit for storing the maximum number of connected units,
12 storage unit for storing the minimum number of connected units,
13 a storage unit of a connection number management table of the client PC to which the own and other access points are connected,
14 wired transmission and reception unit,
15 control unit for performing various controls,
16 wireless transmission / reception units,
17 an antenna for wireless communication with a client PC,
20 access points,
30 access points,
41 Client PC
42 Client PC
43 Client PC
100 switching hub

Claims (3)

A plurality of wired access points are grouped, and a wireless connection request can be sent to the grouped access points and each of the access points in one group, and the connection is permitted. In a wireless LAN system configured with a plurality of wireless terminals capable of wireless connection to an access point,
At the time of wirelessly connecting one of the wireless terminals to its own access point, and each time one wireless terminal is opened, the number of its own connections, the current maximum number of connections to other access points in the same group Means for broadcasting,
When a wireless terminal issues a connection request, if its own access point has reached the maximum number of connected devices and there is an access point that has not reached the maximum number of connected devices among other access points in the same group, Means for rejecting the connection request of
When there is a connection request from the wireless terminal, if all of the access points in the same group have reached the maximum number of connected devices, the access point that has made the connection request connects the wireless terminal and increases the maximum number of connected devices. Means for increasing the current number of connected devices, and broadcasting the current increased number of connected devices and the increased maximum number of connected devices to other access points in the same group,
When the number of connected wireless terminals of all access points in the same group is reduced by a predetermined number or more from the maximum number of connected terminals due to the release of the wireless terminals, each of the access points decreases the maximum number of connected terminals, and the number of connected terminals decreases. Means for broadcasting the number and the currently reduced maximum number of connected devices to other access points in the group, and storing the number of connected devices broadcast from other access points in the same group for each access point individually; Means for storing and updating the broadcasted maximum number of connections;
A load distribution method for a wireless LAN access point, comprising: The maximum number of wireless terminals connected to the same group of access points individually is changed. The minimum number of connected devices that does not perform load balancing is changed in advance, so that the maximum number of connected terminals is not less than the minimum number of connected terminals. 2. The load balancing method for a wireless LAN access point according to claim 1, wherein: 2. The load on a wireless LAN access point according to claim 1, wherein the access point broadcasts the number of connected wireless terminals and the current maximum number of connected terminals to access points in the same group when the number of connected terminals does not change for a predetermined time. Distributed method.

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