Load balance for dual interface automotive wi-fi controllers for p2p devices

Abstract

A method includes receiving at a wireless access point a first probe request from a first client device requesting connection with the wireless access point via a first frequency band, queueing the first client device in response to an indication that the first client device supports connection via the second frequency band, and in response to receiving at the wireless access point a second probe request from the first client device requesting connection with the wireless access point via the second frequency band, establishing a connection between the wireless access point and the first client device using the second frequency band.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for communicating with a client device, the method comprising:
 receiving a probe request from the client device;   if the probe request indicates a preferred frequency band, establishing a wireless connection with the client device over the preferred frequency band;   if the probe request indicates a non-preferred frequency band, determining if the client is on a block list;   if the client is on the block list, ignoring the probe request;   if the client is not on the block list, determining if a selection of frequency bands is automatic;   if the selection of frequency bands is automatic, adding the client to the block list and ignoring the probe request; and   if the selection of frequency bands is not automatic, establishing a wireless connection with the client device over the non-preferred frequency band.   
     
     
         22 . The method for communicating with a client device of  claim 21 , further comprising, comparing a timer value for the block list to a threshold, and if the timer value for the block list exceeds a threshold, establishing the wireless connection with the client device over the non-preferred frequency band. 
     
     
         23 . The method for communicating with a client device of  claim 21 , wherein the preferred frequency band is 5 Ghz. 
     
     
         24 . The method for communicating with a client device of  claim 21 , wherein the non-preferred frequency band is 2.4 Ghz. 
     
     
         25 . The method for communicating with a client device of  claim 21 , wherein the preferred frequency band is greater than the non-preferred frequency band. 
     
     
         26 . The method for communicating with a client device of  claim 21 , wherein establishing the wireless connection with the client device over the preferred frequency band includes transmitting a probe response to the client device. 
     
     
         27 . The method for communicating with a client device of  claim 21 , wherein adding the client to the block list comprises adding a media access control (MAC) address of the client device to the block list by storing a hash of the MAC address. 
     
     
         28 . The method for communicating with a client device of  claim 21 , wherein the client device is capable of communicating via the preferred frequency band and the non-preferred frequency band. 
     
     
         29 . The method for communicating with a client device of  claim 21 , wherein the client device incapable of communicating via the preferred frequency band. 
     
     
         30 . An access point (AP) comprising:
 a first antenna for communication over a first frequency;   a second antenna for communication over a second frequency;   a dual-band radio device coupled to the first and second antennas;   a processing unit coupled to the dual-band radio device;   a memory coupled to the processing unit, the memory for storing instructions for the processing unit, the instructions for:
 receiving a probe request from a client device by either the first antenna or the second antenna, 
 if the probe request indicates a first frequency band, establishing a wireless connection with the client device over the first frequency band, 
 if the probe request indicates a second frequency band, determining if the client is on a block list, the block list stored in the memory, 
 if the client is on the block list, ignoring the probe request, 
 if the client is not on the block list, determining if a selection of frequency bands is automatic, 
 if the selection of frequency bands is automatic, adding the client to the block list and ignoring the probe request, and 
 if the selection of frequency bands is not automatic, establishing a wireless connection with the client device over the second frequency band. 
   
     
     
         31 . The access point of  claim 30  further comprising a Bluetooth module coupled to the dual-band radio device, the Bluetooth module for communicating with Bluetooth devices over the second frequency. 
     
     
         32 . The access point of  claim 30 , wherein adding the block list stored in the memory includes adding a media access control (MAC) address of the client device to the block list by storing a hash of the MAC address. 
     
     
         33 . The access point of  claim 30 , wherein the first frequency band is greater than the second frequency band. 
     
     
         34 . The access point of  claim 30 , wherein establishing the wireless connection with the client device over the first frequency band includes transmitting a probe response to the client device. 
     
     
         35 . The access point of  claim 30 , wherein the processing unit is for comparing a timer value for the block list to a threshold value stored in the memory and if the timer value exceeds the threshold value, establishing the wireless connection with the client device over the second frequency band. 
     
     
         36 . A system, comprising:
 a client device;   an access point, the access point including:
 a dual-band radio device coupled to a first antenna for communicating via a first frequency band and second antenna for communicating via a second frequency band; 
 a processing unit coupled to the dual-band radio device, the processing device for 
 establishing a wireless connection with the client device over the first frequency band if a probe request received by at least the first antenna or the second antenna indicates the first frequency band; 
 establishing a wireless connection with the client device over the second frequency band if the probe request received by at least the first antenna or the second antenna indicates the second frequency band and the client device is not on a block list stored in a memory coupled to the processing unit or a time-out value for the block list has been reached. 
   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  further comprising at least two additional client devices, wherein each of the client device and the at least two additional client devices is wireless connected to the access point and wherein each of client device and the at least two additional client devices includes one or more of a single-band Wi-Fi device, a dual-band Wi-Fi device, and Bluetooth device.