Modular access point for wireless networking

• US 20040230671A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Douglas L. Rollins, Steven W. Price
• Original Assignee: Douglas L. Rollins, Steven W. Price
• Inventors: Price, Steven W., Rollins, Douglas L.
• Application Number:
  US10/871,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230671A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a computer system that implements a modular access point for clients on a wireless network. This modular access point provides the usual bridging functions to a wired network, such as an Ethernet or a Token Ring. In addition, the modular access point provides other services, such as a printer service, a facsimile service, or a firewall for connecting to a broadband connection. By providing these services within a modular access point, the present invention can reduce cost and can facilitate easier administration at the wireless network.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a network service from across a wireless network, the network service being implemented by a single processor that additionally implements a modular access point for the wireless network, comprising:

receiving a packet from a wireless client on the wireless network that has access to the modular access point;

determining if the packet is destined for a client on another segment;

if the packet is destined for a client on another segment, passing the packet to the other segment;

determining if the packet is directed to a service provided by the modular access point; and

if the packet is directed to a service provided by the modular access point, performing the service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the packet is destined for a client on another segment involves examining an Internet Protocol (IP) address and port number in a header of the packet and using the IP address and port number to determine a destination segment from one of, a Domain Name Server (DNS) table and an internal routing table.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provided by the modular access point includes a printer service for printing a content of the packet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provided by the modular access point includes a facsimile service for sending a content of the packet via facsimile.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provided by the modular access point includes a routing service for sending a content of the packet via a broadband network.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising controlling access to the broadband network through a firewall.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network conforms to Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the other segment uses one of, the Ethernet protocol and the Token Ring protocol.

9. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform a method for accessing a network service from across a wireless network, the network service being implemented by a single processor that additionally implements a modular access point for the wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving a packet from a wireless client on the wireless network that has access to the modular access point;

determining if the packet is destined for a client on another segment;

if the packet is destined for a client on another segment, passing the packet to the other segment;

determining if the packet is directed to a service provided by the modular access point; and

if the packet is directed to a service provided by the modular access point, performing the service.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein determining if the packet is destined for a client on another segment involves examining an IP address and port number in a packet header and determining a destination segment from one of, a DNS table and an internal routing table.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the service provided by the modular access point includes a printer service for printing a content of the packet.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the service provided by the modular access point includes a facsimile service for sending a content of the packet via facsimile.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the service provided by the modular access point includes a routing service for sending a content of the packet via a broadband network.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein access to the broadband network is controlled through a firewall.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the wireless network conforms to the IEEE 802.11 protocol.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the other segment uses one of, the Ethernet protocol and the Token Ring protocol.

17. An apparatus that facilitates accessing a network service from across a wireless network, the network service being implemented by a single processor that additionally implements a modular access point for the wireless network, comprising:

a receiving mechanism that is configured to receive a packet from a wireless client on the wireless network that has access to the modular access point;

a determining mechanism that is configured to determine if the packet is destined for a client on another segment;

a routing mechanism that is configured to route the packet to the other segment if the packet is destined for the client on another segment;

a determining mechanism that is configured to determine if the packet is directed to a service provided by the modular access point; and

a service mechanism that is configured to perform the service if the packet is directed to a service provided by the modular access point.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the determining mechanism is configured to determine if the packet is destined for a client on another segment by examining an IP address and port number in a header of the packet, and using the IP address and port number to determine a destination segment from one of, a DNS table and an internal routing table.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the service mechanism is configured to provide a printer service for printing a content of the packet by the modular access point.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the service mechanism is configured to provide a facsimile service for sending a content of the packet via facsimile by the modular access point.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the service mechanism is configured to provide a routing service for sending a content of the packet via a broadband network by the modular access point.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the service mechanism is configured to control access to the broadband network through a firewall.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the wireless network is configured to conform to the IEEE 802.11 protocol.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the other segment is configured to use one of, the Ethernet protocol and the Token Ring protocol.