Frequency beacon to broadcast allowed frequency

• US 20030181215A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cromer, Daryl Carvis, Locker, Howard Jeffrey, Jakes, Philip John, Ward, James Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,218,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/515
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A wireless communication network comprising: (1) a plurality of mobile devices each configured to receive a beacon being broadcasted within the network and determine based on information transmitted within the beacon whether the mobile device is supported within the network; and (2) one or more access devices configured to broadcast the beacon within the network. Each of the mobile devices has a transmitting mechanism for communicating with the one or more access device. However, only those mobile devices that are supported by the network respond to the receipt of the beacon. Thus, no transmission occurs from the mobile devices until the device is identified as being supported by the network. These mobile devices instantiating a communication path with the one or more access devices and request an authentication from the one or more access devices. In this manner, a handshake mechanism is established between the access devices and the mobile devices that are supported by the network. Unnecessary requests from illegal mobile devices that clutter up the air waves when attempting to establish a handshake within networks with which they are not compatible is substantially eliminated.

Claims

1. A wireless communication network comprising:

a plurality of mobile devices each configured to receive a beacon being broadcasted within said network and determine, based on information transmitted within said beacon, whether said mobile device is supported by said network; and

one or more access devices configured to broadcast said beacon within said network;

wherein said mobile device transmits within said network only if said mobile device is supported by said network.

2. The wireless communication network of claim 1, wherein said mobile device supported by said network comprises:

transmitting mechanism for communicating with said one or more access device; and

means, upon receipt of said beacon, for instantiating a communication path with said one or more access devices via said transmitting mechanism.

3. The wireless communication network of claim 2, wherein said instantiating step includes requesting an authentication from said one or more access devices.

4. The wireless communication network of claim 2, wherein said access devices further comprises a handshake mechanism for establishing a communication path with said mobile device that is supported by said network

5. The wireless communication network of claim 1, wherein said beacon comprises a plurality of network parameters from among frequency ranges, power levels, and channels supported by said network.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for generating and broadcasting said beacon utilizing an access device of said network.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for receiving a transmission of said request for authentication; and

means, responsive to said receipt, for completing said authentication of said client device.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for initiating a communication with said client device when requested.

6. A method for authenticating client devices within a wireless communication network, said method comprising:

receiving a broadcast of a beacon generated by one or more access devices of said network;

evaluating said beacon for characteristics indicating whether said client device is supported within said network; and

responsive to said client device being supported within said network, transmitting a request to said one or more access device for authentication.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising monitoring airwaves for said beacon.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said beacon comprises parameter values of which frequency ranges, power levels, and channels are supported by said network, said evaluating step comprising:

comparing said parameters supported by said network with parameters required for operation of said client device; and

initiating a communication with said one or more access devices only when a value of each operating parameter of said client device falls within said parameters supported by said network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said client device is set to a receiving mode during regular power on, said method further comprising resetting said client device to a transmit mode when said client device enters a low power state, wherein said client device does not enter into said transmit mode following regular power on unless said client device determines that it is supported by said network following the receipt of said beacon.

10. A system for authenticating client devices within a wireless communication network, said system comprising:

a receiver that receives a broadcast of a beacon generated by one or more access devices of said network;

means for evaluating said beacon for characteristics indicating whether said client device is supported within said network; and

means, responsive to said client device being supported within said network, for transmitting a request to said one or more access device for authentication.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising monitoring means for monitoring airwaves for said beacon.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said beacon comprises parameter values of which frequency ranges, power levels, and channels are supported by said network, said evaluating means comprising:

means for comparing said parameters supported by said network with parameters required for operation of said client device; and

means for initiating a communication with said one or more access devices only when a value of each operating parameter of said client device falls within said parameters supported by said network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said client device is set to a receiving mode during regular power on, said system further comprising means for resetting said client device to a transmit mode when said client device enters a low power state, wherein said client device does not enter into said transmit mode following regular power on unless said client device determines that it is supported by said network following the receipt of said beacon.

17. A client device for utilization within at least one of a plurality of wireless communication networks, said client device comprising:

a receiver that receives a broadcast of a beacon generated by one or more access devices of said network;

means for evaluating said beacon for characteristics indicating whether said client device is supported within said network; and

means, responsive to said client device being supported within said network, for transmitting a request to said one or more access device for authentication.

18. The client device of claim 17, further comprising monitoring means for monitoring airwaves for said beacon.

19. The client device of claim 18, wherein said beacon comprises information about parameters supported by said network, said evaluating means comprising:

means for comparing values of said parameters supported by said network with operating parameters required for operation of said client device; and

means for initiating a communication with said one or more access device only when a value of each of said operating parameters falls within said parameter values supported by said network.

20. The client device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for dynamically entering a receiving mode during regular power on; and

means for resetting said receiving mode to a transmit mode when said client device enters a low power state.

21. The client device of claim 17, further comprising a transmitter and logic associated therewith, wherein said transmitter only transmits within said network following a determination that operating parameter values of said client device are within the parameter values supported by said network.

22. An access device of a wireless communication network, said access device comprising:

a transmitter;

means for broadcasting via said transmitter a beacon indicating characteristics of said network utilized to determine which client devices among multiple possible types of client devices are supported by said network.

23. The access device of claim 22, further comprising input means for receiving data included within said beacon.

24. The access device of claim 22, further comprising means for generating said beacon.

25. The access device of claim 24, wherein said means for generating includes means for providing within said beacon information about which frequency ranges, power levels, and channels are supported by said network.

26. The access device of claim 24, wherein said means for generating said beacon includes means for initiating a generation of said beacon on a periodic basis.

27. The access device of claim 22, further comprising linking means for connecting to other components of said network.

28. The access device of claim 22, further comprising:

a receiver that receives transmissions of a request for authentication from one or more client devices located within said network; and

means, responsive to said receipt, for completing an authentication of said client device when said client device is supported by said network.

29. The access device of claim 28, further comprising means for initiating a communication with said client device when requested following said authentication.