System and method of conforming wireless devices to worldwide regulations
First Claim
1. A method of conforming a wireless networking client product to a regulatory environment, the method comprising:
- passively scanning all frequencies at a first interval for a beacon;
if receiving a beacon, then extracting relevant information from the beacon and operating in one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode based on the relevant information; and
if not receiving a beacon, then operating in the ad hoc mode at a frequency acceptable in substantially all regulatory environments.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Countries or regions of the world can have different regulations governing wireless devices. A client product advantageously conforms to any regulatory environment, thereby allowing the client product to operate permissibly in any wireless network. The client product scans all frequencies at a predetermined interval for explicit information on regulationconformant methods of operation, including frequencies and output power levels. If the client product receives a beacon, then the client product extracts relevant information from the beacon. Based on the relevant information, the client product operates in either the infrastructure mode or the ad hoc mode. On the other hand, if the client product does not receive explicit information, the client product detects other types of information and implicitly derives methods of operation in both infrastructure and ad hoc modes that conform to local regulations.
73 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of conforming a wireless networking client product to a regulatory environment, the method comprising:
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passively scanning all frequencies at a first interval for a beacon;
if receiving a beacon, then extracting relevant information from the beacon and operating in one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode based on the relevant information; and
if not receiving a beacon, then operating in the ad hoc mode at a frequency acceptable in substantially all regulatory environments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An automatic startup process for a client product, the process ensuring permissible operation in an unknown regulatory environment, the process comprising:
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passively scanning all frequencies at a first interval for a beacon;
if an 802.11d beacon is found, wherein the 802.11d beacon indicates a regulatory domain, then determining whether the client product is set in one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode;
if set in the infrastructure mode, then associating in the infrastructure mode in a wireless network using the regulatory domain derived from the 802.11d beacon; and
if set in the ad hoc mode, then operating in the ad hoc mode in the wireless network using the regulatory domain derived from the 802.11d beacon. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A wireless device operational in an unknown regulatory environment, the wireless device including software for performing the following steps:
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passively scanning all frequencies at a first interval for a beacon;
if receiving a beacon, then extracting relevant information from the beacon and operating in one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode based on the relevant information; and
if not receiving a beacon, then operating in the ad hoc mode at a frequency acceptable in substantially all regulatory environments. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. Software for ensuring permissible operation of a wireless device in an unknown regulatory environment, the software comprising:
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code for passively scanning all frequencies at a first interval for a beacon;
code, if receiving a beacon, for extracting relevant information from the beacon and operating in one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode based on the relevant information; and
code, if not receiving a beacon, for operating in the ad hoc mode at a usable frequency in substantially all regulatory environments. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for ensuring permissible operation of a wireless device in an unknown regulatory environment, the system comprising:
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means for passively scanning all frequencies at a first interval for a beacon;
means, if receiving a beacon, for extracting relevant information from the beacon and operating in one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode based on the relevant information; and
means, if not receiving a beacon, for operating in the ad hoc mode at a usable frequency in substantially all regulatory environments.
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29. A method for conforming a client product to a regulatory environment, the client product having finished its initial startup, the method comprising:
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determining whether a regulatory domain is set;
if the regulatory domain is set, then using the regulatory domain and an associated conformance test limit as a temporary setting;
determining whether an active scan is permissible in the regulatory domain;
if permissible, then actively scanning in the regulatory domain;
if not permissible, then passively scanning in the regulatory domain;
based on the scanning, determining whether any beacon is detected;
if a beacon is detected, then resetting the regulatory domain if different and converting the temporary setting into a confirmed setting;
if no beacon is detected, then passively scanning foreign domains until a beacon is detected; and
associating in a wireless network based on the regulatory domain in the confirmed setting.
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Specification