Local area network with wireless client freedom of movement
First Claim
1. A network with wireless access capability comprising:
- a plurality of wireless access points;
at least one Ethernet aggregation switch, ones of said plurality of access points being connected to each said at least one Ethernet aggregation switch, each said Ethernet aggregation switch being virtual LAN (VLAN) aware and matching client traffic from connected said access points with access VLANs; and
a free-form virtual network switch passing client traffic between said access VLANs at each said connected Ethernet aggregation switch and appropriate core VLANs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network with wireless connectivity, a vehicle connected to and including the network and a method of managing network data flow. The network includes multiple wireless access points, each connected to an Ethernet aggregation switch. Each Ethernet aggregation switch is virtual local area network (VLAN) aware and matches client traffic from connected access points with access VLANs. A virtual network switch maintains an association table between access VLANs and core VLANs. The virtual network switch uses the association table to manage free-form client traffic between mobile stations at access VLANs at connected Ethernet aggregation switches and appropriate core VLANs. The vehicle, including the network, may be a train with access points located trackside connecting train passengers to a public network, e.g., the Internet. Wireless devices on the train may also connect to an on-board such network.
110 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A network with wireless access capability comprising:
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a plurality of wireless access points;
at least one Ethernet aggregation switch, ones of said plurality of access points being connected to each said at least one Ethernet aggregation switch, each said Ethernet aggregation switch being virtual LAN (VLAN) aware and matching client traffic from connected said access points with access VLANs; and
a free-form virtual network switch passing client traffic between said access VLANs at each said connected Ethernet aggregation switch and appropriate core VLANs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a wireless communications network, a method of managing data flow between mobile stations and remote destinations connected to said mobile stations, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) checking each received communications packet for a known address;
b) for each said received communications packet having a known address, determining if a previous port/virtual LAN correspondence has been changed for a device at said known address;
c) updating a port association table for each said communications packet wherein said port/virtual LAN correspondence is determined to have changed;
d) changing a virtual LAN tag for said each communications packet having an updated port/virtual LAN association; and
e) switching said each communications packet to an identified port. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14)
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13. A method as in claim II wherein if a received said communications packet is a packet from a mobile station and when in step a) said packet is determined not to be for a known address in step (c), an entry is made in said port association table for corresponding core and access virtual LAN and port assignments.
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15. A vehicle in wireless communication with a wireless network over access points located along a vehicle path of travel, said vehicle comprising:
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an on-board wireless LAN (WLAN) bridge connecting to pathside said access points;
an on-board network connected to said on-board WLAN bridge and on-board devices, said on-board devices connecting to a public network through said on-board network, said vehicle moving between reception areas of said pathside access points, client traffic being seamlessly routed between said public network and said on-board devices. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification