Virtual network connectivity for devices in wireless LAN networks

• US 20040203609A1
• Filed: 04/11/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Tonse, Sudhir, Mishra, Meeta, Degwekar, Anil A., Rajagopal, Sridhar M., Sameer, K.P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,158,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

An access point in a wireless network is connected to wireless devices. When any of the devices becomes inaccessible, the device sends a notification to the access point to indicate the inaccessibility. The access point then receives and stores incoming messages that are destined for the device. The access point forwards the messages to the device when the device is ready to receive the message.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a message addressed to a device on a network;

determining if the device is accessible;

storing the message in storage media if the device is not accessible; and

forwarding the message to the device after the device becomes accessible.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a signal from the device, the signal indicating that the device has become accessible.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising, after receiving the signal, sending a beacon to the device to determine whether the device is ready to receive the message.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a notification from the device, the notification indicating that the device has become inaccessible.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the network is a wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

discarding the message if the message has been stored in the storage media longer than an age limit.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, storing, and forwarding multiple messages.

8. A system comprising:

storage media;

an access point that is coupled to a plurality of devices, the access point being adapted to;

determine if any of the devices is inaccessible; and

buffer messages intended for the inaccessible device to the storage media; and

a network to connect the access point to the plurality of devices.

9. The system as in claim 8, wherein the access point is a software application executable by a computer.

10. The system as in claim 8, wherein the network is a wireless network.

11. The system as in claim 8, wherein the device sends a signal to the access point when the device has become accessible.

12. The system as in claim 11, wherein the access point, after receiving the signal, sends a beacon to the device to determine whether the device is ready to receive the messages.

13. The system as in claim 12, wherein the access point forwards the messages to the device if the device is ready to receive the messages.

14. The system as in claim 8, wherein the device sends a notification to the access point before the device becomes inaccessible.

15. The system as in claim 8 further comprising a memory location accessible by the access point, the memory location keeping a status of accessibility for each of the plurality of devices.

16. The system as in claim 8, wherein the size of the storage media allocated to the access point is adjustable based on the number of devices connected to the access point.

17. The system as in claim 8, wherein the size of the storage media allocated to the access point is adjustable based on a time period for which the access point holds the messages.

18. The system as in claim 17, wherein the access point discards a buffered message if the buffered message has been stored in the storage media longer than the time period.

19. A computer program product residing on a computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing the computer to:

receive a message addressed to a device on a network;

determine if the device is accessible;

store the message in storage media if the device is not accessible; and

forward the message to the device after the device becomes accessible.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising instructions for causing the computer to receive a signal from the device, the signal indicating that the device has become accessible.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 further comprising instructions for causing the computer to send a beacon to the device, after receiving the signal, to determine whether the device is ready to receive the message.

22. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising instructions for causing the computer to receive a notification from the device, the notification indicating that the device has become inaccessible.

23. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising instructions for causing the computer to discard the message if the message has been stored in the storage media longer than an age limit.

24. A method comprising:

determining that a device on a network is not accessible by an access point;

buffering messages intended for the device in a storage media accessible by the access point.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the network is a wireless network.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising transmitting the buffered messages after the device becomes accessible.

27. The method of claim 24 further comprising discarding a buffered message if the buffered message has been stored in the storage media longer than an age limit.