Byteless CTS for passive load balancing in 802.11 networks

Abstract

Abstract Load balancing in 802.11 networks is aimed at distributing traffics among access points (APs) to avoid overloaded access. Existing works may be classified into passive and active algorithms depending on the Ethernet changes in the user side. Since Ethernet 802.11 has been installed in millions of computers, changes in these user premises are not preferred. Software intervention on manufactured access points should also be kept as minimum as possible. Therefore, this work proposes a passive load balancing algorithm that transmitting byteless clear to send (CTS) signal in response to a request to send (RTS) sent by unwanted users when AP experiences overloaded. This method causes excessive users will passively be encouraged to find an alternative AP. There is no Ethernet change on the user side. Minor improvement is required in AP software to determine whether overload or not, and to decide which node(s) receiving byteless CTS. Evaluations show that average throughput to all connected users decreases as unwanted users failed to transmit. However, the average throughput to prioritized users increases significantly.