Wireless network system software protocol

• US 20020196763A1
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Proxim Wireless Corporation
• Original Assignee: Proxim Wireless Corporation
• Inventors: Peng, Terry L., Reynolds, Russell R.
• Application Number:
  US10/155,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20020196763A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A wireless LAN uses wireless communication servers and access points. When an access point is added to the wireless LAN, it sends a request to a master wireless communication server. The master wireless communication server indicates its presence and the application point can request a registration with a wireless communication server. The master wireless communication server selects a specific wireless communication server to interact with the access point. The access point then tunnels data back and forth between the access point and the selected wireless communication server.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in an access-point, sending a registration request to master wireless communication server of the wireless communication servers connected to a wireless LAN;

in the master wireless communication server, assigning a selected wireless communication server from the wireless communication servers connected to a wireless LAN for the access-point; and

tunneling data communications between the access point and the selected wireless communication server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tunneling between the access point and the selected wireless communication server is implemented by encapsulating the first communication packet into a communication packet directed to the selected wireless communication server.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication server stores status information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the status information includes an access point list indicating the associations between the access points and the wireless communication servers.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein after a selected wireless communication server is assigned to an access point, the selected wireless communication server sends a message to the access point indicating that the registration for the access point is granted.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising in the wireless communication server, connected to the wireless LAN, selecting a master wireless communication server from the wireless communication servers connected to the LAN.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication server implements a management protocol.

8. A method comprising:

automatically selecting a master wireless communication server from the wireless communication servers connected to a wireless LAN;

after connecting an access point to the wireless LAN, automatically registering the access point with the master wireless communication server;

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the tunneling of data communications between the access point and the selected wireless communication server comprises encapsulating a first type of packet into a second type of packet, the second type of packet being addressed to the wireless communication server.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the wireless communication server contains status information for the system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the wireless communication servers store an access point list showing the association between access points and wireless communication servers.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the selected wireless communication server sends a signal to the access point indicating the registration of the access point to that selected wireless communication server.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising a step of selecting a wireless communication server from the wireless communication servers connected to the wireless LAN.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the wireless communication server implements a management protocol.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the wireless communication server implements a management protocol.