Patent ID: 7336960

Claim:
A machine-implemented method, comprising: receiving, from a first access node in a plurality of access nodes, a request to provide service to a wireless client, wherein each of said plurality of access nodes is configured to provide wireless service to one or more clients; selecting, from among a plurality of stored policies, a first access policy applicable to said first access node; wherein said first access policy comprises, at least in part, one or more rules about whether to allow said first access node to provide service to said wireless client based on how many other wireless clients are being serviced by a set of access nodes associated with said first access node; determining whether to allow said first access node to provide service to said wireless client based on said first access policy; upon determining that said first access policy allows said first access node to provide service to said wireless client, transmitting a first message, to said first access node, that instructs said first access node to provide service to said wireless client; and upon determining that said first access policy does not allow said first access node to provide service to said wireless client, transmitting a second message, to said first access node, that instructs said first access node to deny service to said wireless client.