Application-specific airtime fairness in WLANS (wireless local access networks) based on time sensitivity of applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10986642-B2
Application number	US-201916454001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2019
Priority date	Dec 31, 2018
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

Network packets are pre-processed and stored in network queues based on time sensitivity and other factors. More specifically, a specific application associated with a specific session of the network packets locally at the access point is determined. An ATR is adjusted based on a priority of the application with respect to time sensitivity. Other factors include throughput capability of a wireless device.

First claim

We claim:

1. A computer-implemented method in an access point coupled to a plurality of wireless stations on a data communication network, the method for pre-processing adjustments in airtime fairness for improved packet prioritizing during packet processing, the method comprising:
storing a set of default priority parameters, including a default airtime fairness ratio (ATR), for network traffic on the data communication network;
receiving network packets, at a network interface of the access point, the network packets associated with a plurality of sessions for network applications executing on the plurality of stations, the network packets stored in a queue;
determining a specific application associated with a specific session of the network packets locally at the access point without deep packet inspection, the specific application determination based at least in part on a source IP address, a source port address, a destination IP address, a destination port address and a protocol;
adjusting the ATR on a per-application session basis, the adjustment based on time sensitivity of an application, and comprising:
making a first ATR adjustment responsive to detecting a time sensitivity of a first application to be high and a throughput of a first station to be low;
making a second ATR adjustment responsive to detecting a time sensitivity of a second application to be low and a throughput requirement of the second application to be high; and
making a third ATR adjustment responsive to detecting a time sensitivity of a third application to be low and a throughput requirement of the third application to be low;

queuing patents in time slots for processing based on the adjusted ATR;
processing network packets for the specific session of an application using packets in the queue; and
transmitting the network packets.

2. A non-transitory computer-readable medium to, when executed by a processor, perform a computer-implemented method for pre-processing adjustments in airtime fairness for improved packet prioritizing during packet processing, the method comprising:
storing a set of default priority parameters, including a default airtime fairness ratio (ATR), for network traffic on the data communication network;
receiving network packets, at a network interface of the access point, the network packets associated with a plurality of sessions for network applications executing on the plurality of stations, the network packets stored in a queue;
determining a specific application associated with a specific session of the network packets locally at the access point without deep packet inspection, the specific application determination based at least in part on a source IP address, a source port address, a destination IP address, a destination port address and a protocol;
adjusting the ATR on a per-application session basis, the adjustment based on time sensitivity of an application, and comprising:
making a first ATR adjustment responsive to detecting a time sensitivity of a first application to be high and a throughput of a first station to be low;
making a second ATR adjustment responsive to detecting a time sensitivity of a second application to be low and a throughput requirement of the second application to be high; and
making a third ATR adjustment responsive to detecting a time sensitivity of a third application to be low and a throughput requirement of the third application to be low;
queuing patents in time slots for processing based on the adjusted ATR;
processing network packets for the specific session of an application using packets in the queue; and
transmitting the network packets.

3. An access point coupled to a plurality of wireless stations on a data communication network, for pre-processing adjustments in airtime fairness for improved packet prioritizing during packet processing, the access point comprising:
a processor;
a network interface communicatively coupled to the processor; and
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and storing computer code that, when executed by the processor:
stores a set of default priority parameters, including a default airtime fairness ratio (ATR), for network traffic on the data communication network;
receives network packets, at a network interface of the access point, the network packets associated with a plurality of sessions for network applications executing on the plurality of stations, the network packets stored in a queue;
determines a specific application associated with a specific session of the network packets locally at the access point without deep packet inspection, the specific application determination based at least in part on a source IP address, a source port address, a destination IP address, a destination port address and a protocol;
adjusts the ATR on a per-application session basis, the adjustment based on time sensitivity of an application, and comprising:
making a first ATR adjustment responsive to detecting a time sensitivity of a first application to be high and a throughput of a first station to be low;
making a second ATR adjustment responsive to detecting a time sensitivity of a second application to be low and a throughput requirement of the second application to be high; and
making a third ATR adjustment responsive to detecting a time sensitivity of a third application to be low and a throughput requirement of the third application to be low;

queuing patents in time slots for processing based on the adjusted ATR;

processes network packets for the specific session of an application using packets in the queue; and
transmits the network packets.

Assignees

• Fortinet Inc

Inventors

• Chandra Sekhar Sumanth Gorajala
• Sun Zhiyong

Classifications

• H04W72/56

  based on priority criteria · CPC title

• H04W72/51 Primary

  based on terminal or device properties · CPC title

• H04L47/56 Primary

  implementing delay-aware scheduling · CPC title

• H04L47/803

  Application aware · CPC title

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title