Increasing link capacity via traffic distribution over multiple WI-FI access points

Abstract

A method and system for combining the bandwidth available to a user communications device from multiple access points by switching output requests and corresponding replies to such requests among a plurality of such access points. In the simplest implementation the switching can be on a round-robin basis, but the switching can be enhanced to prioritize and use quality of service requirements associated with each output request, and also to measure congestion at each access point and base switching upon the congestion level. The invention operates by generating subset ISO communication stacks for each available access point, preferably the subset from the IP layer to the data control link, and switching between these stacks.

1 . A method for distributing device communications traffic over multiple access points, comprising: 
 identifying a plurality of access points available to the device;    instantiating a subset of an OSI communication stack for each identified access point; and    directing output requests from the device to one of said plurality of access points so as to make available to the device a total bandwidth that is greater than is available from the respective access points separately.    
   
   
       2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said directing is based on a round-robin sequence of said access points.  
   
   
       3 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising assigning priority levels to each of said output requests according to a quality of service requirement of said respective output request, wherein said directing is based on said quality of service requirement.  
   
   
       4 . A method as in  claim 3 , further comprising monitoring a congestion level of each access point, and wherein said directing is based on the congestion level.  
   
   
       5 . A method as in  claim 4 , wherein said directing assigns higher priority output requests to least congested access points.  
   
   
       6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein each access point is accessed by a separate adapter in said device.  
   
   
       7 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of access points is accessed by a multi-point adapter and said device is one of i) a personal digital assistant or ii) a cellular phone operated on a cellular network.  
   
   
       8 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said subset of an OSI communication stack extends from a TCP/UDP level to a data link control.  
   
   
       9 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said subset of an OSI communication stack extends from an IP level to a data link control.  
   
   
       10 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said subset of an OSI communication stack extends from a network driver to a data link control.  
   
   
       11 . A system for distributing device communications traffic over multiple access points, comprising: 
 means for identifying a plurality of access points available to the device;    means for instantiating a subset of an OSI communication stack for each identified access point; and    means for directing output requests from the device to one of said plurality of access points so as to make available to the device a total bandwidth that is greater than is available from the respective access points separately.    
   
   
       12 . A system as in  claim 11 , wherein said directing means is based on a round-robin sequence of said access points.  
   
   
       13 . A system as in  claim 11 , further comprising means for assigning priority levels to each of said output requests according to a quality of service requirement of said respective output request, wherein said directing means uses said quality of service requirement.  
   
   
       14 . A system as in  claim 13 , further comprising means for monitoring a congestion level of each access point, and wherein said directing means uses the congestion level.  
   
   
       15 . A system as in  claim 14 , wherein said directing means assigns higher priority output requests to least congested access points.  
   
   
       16 . A system as in  claim 11 , wherein each access point is accessed by a separate adapter in said device.  
   
   
       17 . A system as in  claim 11 , wherein each of said plurality of access points is accessed by a multi-point adapter and said device is a personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       18 . A system as in  claim 11 , wherein said subset of an OSI communication stack extends from a TCP/UDP level to a data link control.  
   
   
       19 . A computer implemented system for distributing device communications traffic over multiple access points, comprising: 
 first computer code for identifying a plurality of access points available to the device;    second computer code for instantiating a subset of an OSI communication stack for each identified access point; and    third computer code for directing output requests from the device to one of said plurality of access points so as to make available to the device a total bandwidth that is greater than is available from the respective access points separately.    
   
   
       20 . A computer implemented system as in  claim 19 , further comprising fourth computer code for assigning priority levels to each of said output requests according to a quality of service requirement of said respective output request, wherein said third computer code for directing is based on said quality of service requirement.