Selective probe-response suppression based on snr

Abstract

An access point that selectively provides a probe response is described. During operation, the access point may receive a probe request associated with an electronic device. In response, the access point may selectively provide the probe response based at least in part on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) associated with the probe request and a threshold value. For example, the probe response may be provided when the SNR is greater than the threshold value, and otherwise the probe request may be discarded or ignored. Moreover, the access point may dynamically determine the threshold value based at least in part on: one or more other access points that are in wireless communication range of the access point; SNRs associated with the one or more other access points; and/or an estimated wireless coverage provided by the one or more other access points.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An access point, comprising:
 an antenna node configured to couple to an antenna; and   an interface circuit, coupled to the antenna node, configured to wirelessly communicate with an electronic device, wherein the access point is configured to:
 receive information specifying one or more signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) in a band of frequencies of one or more access points, where the one or more access points are proximate to the access point; 
 assigning the one or more access points to access-point classes based at least in part on the one or more SNRs; and 
 determining a threshold for a given access-point class in the access-point classes based at least in part on a number of access points assigned to the given access-point class, wherein the access point is configured to selectively provide a probe response in response to a probe request associated with the electronic device based at least in part on the threshold. 
   
     
     
         2 . The access point of  claim 1 , wherein the information is received from the one or more access points. 
     
     
         3 . The access point of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the information comprises performing a scan of the band of frequencies. 
     
     
         4 . The access point of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold is based at least in part on a maximum SNR in the given access-point class. 
     
     
         5 . The access point of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold is based at least in part on range of SNRs in the given access-point class. 
     
     
         6 . The access point of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold is based at least in part on a client-adjustment value associated with the electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The access point of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold is different when the access point is located proximate to an edge of a desired coverage area than when the access point is located away from the edge of the desired coverage area. 
     
     
         8 . The access point of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold is determined based at least in part on an estimated wireless coverage provided by the one or more other access points. 
     
     
         9 . The access point of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold increases when the number of the access points increases, and the threshold decreases when the number of access points decreases. 
     
     
         10 . The access point of  claim 1 , wherein the selective providing of the probe response is based at least in part on a comparison of an SNR of the probe request and the threshold. 
     
     
         11 . The access point of  claim 10 , wherein the probe response is selectively provided when the SNR of the probe request is greater than the threshold, and the probe response is not provided when the SNR of the probe request is less than the threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The access point of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more access point proximate to the access point comprise the one or more access points within wireless range of the access point. 
     
     
         13 . The access point of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold is determined based at least in part on a scan cycle time associated with the band of frequencies; and
 wherein the scan cycle time corresponds to a number of channels to scan and a scan interval between two scans.   
     
     
         14 . The access point of  claim 1 , wherein, after providing the probe response, the access point is configured to store an identifier of the electronic device and a time when the probe response was provided; and
 wherein, when the access point subsequently receives a second probe request associated with the electronic device within a time interval of providing the probe response, the access point is configured to not provide a second probe response.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in conjunction with an access point, the computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed by the access point, causes the access point to selectively provide a probe response by performing one or more operations comprising:
 receiving information specifying one or more signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) in a band of frequencies of one or more access points, where the one or more access points are proximate to the access point;   assigning the one or more access points to access-point classes based at least in part on the one or more SNRs; and   determining a threshold for a given access-point class in the access-point classes based at least in part on a number of access points assigned to the given access-point class, wherein the access point selectively provides a probe response in response to a probe request associated with an electronic device based at least in part on the threshold.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the information is received from the one or more access points. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein receiving the information comprises performing a scan of the band of frequencies. 
     
     
         18 . A method for determining a threshold, wherein the method comprises:
 by an access point:   receiving information specifying one or more signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) in a band of frequencies of one or more access points, where the one or more access points are proximate to the access point;   assigning the one or more access points to access-point classes based at least in part on the one or more SNRs; and   determining the threshold for a given access-point class in the access-point classes based at least in part on a number of access points assigned to the given access-point class, wherein the access point selectively provides a probe response in response to a probe request associated with an electronic device based at least in part on the threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the information is received from the one or more access points. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein receiving the information comprises performing a scan of the band of frequencies.