Wireless access point network and management protocol

• US 20050201342A1
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: East West Bank (East West Bancorp Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: East West Bank (East West Bancorp Incorporated)
• Inventors: Higgins, James A., Eastman, Brock, Wilkinson, Randy
• Application Number:
  US10/983,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20050201342A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/382 for resource allocation, admission control or handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless internet access network includes one or more relay points each configured for wireless communication with at least one other relay point or a gateway, or both. One or more computer premise equipment (CPE) points are configured for wireless communication with at least one of the relay points or another CPE point, or both. The computer premise equipment points comprise wireless access points that are configured for wireless communication with one or more wireless network access devices. The wireless access points include a wireless communications protocol configured for permitting the wireless network access devices to thereby connect to the network and communicate with other devices.

Claims

1. A wireless internet access network, comprising:

(a) one or more relay points each configured for wireless communication with at least one other relay point or a gateway, or both; and

(b) one or more computer premise equipment (CPE) points each configured for wireless communication with at least one of the relay points or another CPE point, or both; and

(c) wherein each of the computer premise equipment points comprises a wireless access point that is configured for wireless communication with one or more wireless network access devices.

2. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein each cpe point that comprises a wireless access point comprises a wireless communications protocol configured for permitting said wireless network access devices to thereby connect to the network and communicate with another device.

3. The wireless network of claim 2, wherein the protocol comprises a network signature beacon module for providing a wireless signal packet permitting the access point to ensure that it is connected to the network.

4. The wireless network of claim 3, wherein the network signature beacon module further provides a distribution service for the wireless network access devices to receive.

5. The wireless network of claim 4, wherein the protocol further comprises a status updates module for receiving network, relay point or access point information, or combinations thereof, and sending a name-value pair report to a central monitoring system.

6. The wireless network of claim 5, wherein the protocol further comprises a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

7. The wireless network of claim 6, wherein the network signature beacon module, status updates module and command interface module are configured to communicate via separate ports.

8. The wireless network of claim 5, wherein the name-value pair report comprises access point environment information.

9. The wireless network of claim 4, wherein the protocol further comprises a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

10. The wireless network of claim 9, wherein the command interface module comprises an authorization process module.

11. The wireless network of claim 9, wherein the command interface is configured to communicate one or more commands for triggering a channel change or send a status update, or both.

12. The wireless network of claim 4, further comprises a communications packet authentication module

13. The wireless network of claim 4, further comprising an encryption module for encrypting messages that are communicated wirelessly between points of the network.

14. The wireless network of claim 13, wherein the encryption module comprises an error detection module.

15. The wireless network of claim 13, wherein the encryption module comprises a cipher block chaining symmetric algorithm generating module that is configured to protect against message insertion techniques.

16. The wireless network of claim 13, wherein the encryption module comprises a key and initialization vector generating module.

17. The wireless network of claim 16, wherein the key and initialization vector generating module is configured to permit key pre-sharing.

18. The wireless network of claim 13, wherein the protocol further comprises a status updates module for receiving network, relay point or access point information, or combinations thereof, and sending a name-value pair report to a central monitoring system.

19. The wireless network of claim 18, wherein the protocol further comprises a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

20. The wireless network of claim 13, wherein the protocol further comprises a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

21. The wireless network of claim 4, wherein the network signature beacon module comprises a network beacon validity determination module.

22. The wireless network of claim 4, wherein the signal packet provided by the network signature beacon module comprises network, access point or relay point information, or one or more authentication parameters, or combinations thereof;

23. The wireless network of claim 4, wherein the network signature beacon module is configured to permit propagation of an automatic change of channel.

24. The wireless network of claim 3, wherein the protocol further comprises a status updates module for receiving network, relay point or access point information, or combinations thereof, and sending a name-value pair report to a central monitoring system.

25. The wireless network of claim 24, wherein the protocol further comprises a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

26. The wireless network of claim 3, wherein the protocol further comprises a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

27. The wireless network of claim 2, wherein the network signature beacon module further provides a distribution service for the wireless network access devices to receive.

28. The wireless network of claim 27, wherein the network signature beacon module comprises a network beacon validity determination module.

29. The wireless network of claim 27, wherein the signal packet provided by the network signature beacon module comprises network, access point or relay point information, or one or more authentication parameters, or combinations thereof;

30. The wireless network of claim 27, wherein the network signature beacon module is configured to permit propagation of an automatic change of channel.

31. The wireless network of claim 27, further comprises a communications packet authentication module

32. The wireless network of claim 27, wherein the protocol further comprises a status updates module for receiving network, relay point or access point information, or combinations thereof, and sending a name-value pair report to a central monitoring system.

33. The wireless network of claim 32, wherein the protocol further comprises a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

34. The wireless network of claim 27, wherein the protocol further comprises a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

35. The wireless network of claim 34, wherein the command interface module comprises an authorization process module.

36. The wireless network of claim 34, wherein the command interface is configured to communicate one or more commands for triggering a channel change or send a status update, or both.

37. One or more storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of operating a wireless access point for permitting communications between a wireless network access device and another device having network access capability over a triply wireless network that includes one or more relay points each configured to communicate wirelessly with at least one other relay point or a gateway, or both, and one or more computer premise equipment (CPE) points that each comprise at least one of the wireless access points and are each configured for wireless communication with at least one of the relay points or another CPE point, or both, the method comprising:

(a) providing a signal packet permitting the wireless access point to ensure that it is connected to the network; and

(b) providing a distribution service for the wireless network access devices to receive.

38. The one or more storage devices of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises:

(c) receiving network, relay point or access point information, or combinations thereof;

(d) sending a name-value pair report to a central monitoring system; and

39. The one or more storage devices of claim 38, wherein the name-value pair report comprises access point environment information.

40. The one or more storage devices of claim 39, wherein the access point environment information comprises information regarding noise, number of children, parent RSSI, current transmit power, parent speed test results or statistical information used for logging, or combinations thereof.

41. The one or more storage devices of claim 39, wherein the access point environment information is usable by the parent to make decisions about adjusting transmit power or channel change, or both.

42. The one or more storage devices of claim 38, wherein the method further comprises:

(e) receiving authentication parameters,

(f) accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and

(g) executing the command.

43. The one or more storage devices of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises:

(c) receiving authentication parameters,

(d) accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and

(e) executing the command.

44. The one or more storage devices of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises authenticating a communications packet.

45. The one or more storage devices of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises encrypting messages that are communicated wirelessly between points of the network.

46. The one or more storage devices of claim 45, wherein the method further comprises error detecting.

47. The one or more storage devices of claim 45, wherein the method further comprises generating a cipher block chaining symmetric algorithm that is configured to protect against message insertion techniques.

48. The one or more storage devices of claim 45, wherein the method further comprises generating a key and initialization vector.

49. The one or more storage devices of claim 48, wherein the key and initialization vector generating permits key pre-sharing.

50. The one or more storage devices of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises validity determining.

51. The one or more storage devices of claim 37, wherein the provided signal packet comprises information about the network, an access point or a relay point, or combinations thereof, or one or more authentication parameters, or both;

52. The one or more storage devices of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises automatically changing channel.

53. The one or more storage devices of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises authorization processing.

54. The one or more storage devices of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises communicating one or more commands for triggering a channel change or sending a status update, or both.

55. A method of operating a wireless access point for permitting communications between a wireless network access device and another device having network access capability over a triply wireless network that includes one or more relay points each configured to communicate wirelessly with at least one other relay point or a gateway, or both, and one or more computer premise equipment points that each comprise at least one of the wireless access points and are each configured for wireless communication with at least one of the relay points or another CPE point, or both, the method comprising:

(a) providing a signal packet permitting the wireless access point to ensure that it is connected to the network; and

(b) providing a distribution service for the wireless network access devices to receive.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

(c) receiving network, relay point or access point information, or combinations thereof;

(d) sending a name-value pair report to a central monitoring system; and

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the name-value pair report comprises access point environment information.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the access point environment information comprises information regarding noise, number of children, parent RSSI, current transmit power, parent speed test results or statistical information used for logging, or combinations thereof.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein the access point environment information is usable by the parent to make decisions about adjusting transmit power or channel change, or both.

60. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

(e) receiving authentication parameters,

(f) accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and

(g) executing the command.

61. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

(c) receiving authentication parameters,

(d) accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and

(e) executing the command.

62. The method of claim 55, further comprising authenticating a communications packet.

63. The method of claim 55, further comprising encrypting messages that are communicated wirelessly between points of the network.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising error detecting.

65. The method of claim 63, further comprising generating a cipher block chaining symmetric algorithm that is configured to protect against message insertion techniques.

66. The method of claim 63, further comprising generating a key and initialization vector.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the key and initialization vector generating permits key pre-sharing.

68. The method of claim 55, further comprising validity determining.

69. The method of claim 55, wherein the provided signal packet comprises information about the network, an access point or a relay point, or combinations thereof, or one or more authentication parameters, or both;

70. The method of claim 55, further comprising automatically changing channel.

71. The method of claim 55, further comprising authorization processing.

72. The method of claim 55, further comprising communicating one or more commands for triggering a channel change or sending a status update, or both.

73. A communications protocol for a wireless network that includes customer premise equipment (CPE) points connected wirelessly to one or more relay points or other CPEs, and also permitting wireless access devices to connect wirelessly to the network, the protocol permitting the wireless network access devices to connect to the network and communicate with another network-accessible device.

74. The communications protocol of claim 73, comprising a network signature beacon module that provides a wireless signal packet permitting the access point to ensure that it is connected to the network.

75. The communications protocol of claim 74, wherein the network signature beacon module further provides a distribution service for the wireless network access devices to receive.

76. The communications protocol of claim 75, further comprising a status updates module for receiving network, relay point or access point information, or combinations thereof, and sending a name-value pair report to a central monitoring system.

77. The communications protocol of claim 76, further comprising a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

78. The wireless network of claim 77, wherein the network signature beacon module, status updates module and command interface module are configured to communicate via separate ports.

79. The communications protocol of claim 76, wherein the name-value pair report comprises access point environment information.

80. The communications protocol of claim 75, further comprising a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

81. The communications protocol of claim 80, wherein the command interface module comprises an authorization process module.

82. The communications protocol of claim 80, wherein the command interface is configured to communicate one or more commands for triggering a channel change or send a status update, or both.

83. The communications protocol of claim 75, further comprises a communications packet authentication module

84. The communications protocol of claim 75, further comprising an encryption module for encrypting messages that are communicated wirelessly between points of the network.

85. The communications protocol of claim 84, wherein the encryption module comprises an error detection module.

86. The communications protocol of claim 84, wherein the encryption module comprises a cipher block chaining symmetric algorithm generating module that is configured to protect against message insertion techniques.

87. The communications protocol of claim 84, wherein the encryption module comprises a key and initialization vector generating module.

88. The communications protocol of claim 87, wherein the key and initialization vector generating module is configured to permit key pre-sharing.

89. The communications protocol of claim 84, further comprising a status updates module for receiving network, relay point or access point information, or combinations thereof, and sending a name-value pair report to a central monitoring system.

90. The communications protocol of claim 89, further comprising a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

91. The communications protocol of claim 84, further comprising a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

92. The communications protocol of claim 75, wherein the network signature beacon module comprises a network beacon validity determination module.

93. The communications protocol of claim 75, wherein the signal packet provided by the network signature beacon module comprises network, access point or relay point information, or one or more authentication parameters, or combinations thereof;

94. The communications protocol of claim 75, wherein the network signature beacon module is configured to permit propagation of an automatic change of channel.

95. The communications protocol of claim 74, further comprising a status updates module for receiving network, relay point or access point information, or combinations thereof, and sending a name-value pair report to a central monitoring system.

96. The communications protocol of claim 95, further comprising a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

97. The communications protocol of claim 95, further comprising a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

98. The communications protocol of claim 94, wherein the network signature beacon module further provides a distribution service for the wireless network access devices to receive.

99. The communications protocol of claim 98, wherein the network signature beacon module comprises a network beacon validity determination module.

100. The communications protocol of claim 98, wherein the signal packet provided by the network signature beacon module comprises network, access point or relay point information, or one or more authentication parameters, or combinations thereof;

101. The communications protocol of claim 98, wherein the network signature beacon module is configured to permit propagation of an automatic change of channel.

102. The communications protocol of claim 98, further comprising a communications packet authentication module

103. The communications protocol of claim 98, further comprising a status updates module for receiving network, relay point or access point information, or combinations thereof, and sending a name-value pair report to a central monitoring system.

104. The communications protocol of claim 103, further comprising a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

105. The communications protocol of claim 98, further comprising a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

106. The communications protocol of claim 105, wherein the command interface module comprises an authorization process module.

107. The communications protocol of claim 110, wherein the command interface is configured to communicate one or more commands for triggering a channel change or send a status update, or both.

108. The communications protocol of claim 73, comprising a network signature beacon module that provides a distribution service for the wireless network access devices to receive.

109. The communications protocol of claim 108, further comprising a status updates module for receiving network, relay point or access point information, or combinations thereof, and sending a name-value pair report to a central monitoring system.

110. The communications protocol of claim 109, further comprising a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

111. The communications protocol of claim 109, wherein the name-value pair report comprises access point environment information.

112. The communications protocol of claim 108, further comprising a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

113. The communications protocol of claim 112, wherein the command interface module comprises an authorization process module.

114. The communications protocol of claim 112, wherein the command interface is configured to communicate one or more commands for triggering a channel change or send a status update, or both.

115. The communications protocol of claim 108, further comprises a communications packet authentication module

116. The communications protocol of claim 108, further comprising an encryption module for encrypting messages that are communicated wirelessly between points of the network.

117. The communications protocol of claim 116, wherein the encryption module comprises an error detection module.

118. The communications protocol of claim 116, wherein the encryption module comprises a cipher block chaining symmetric algorithm generating module that is configured to protect against message insertion techniques.

119. The communications protocol of claim 116, wherein the encryption module comprises a key and initialization vector generating module.

120. The communications protocol of claim 119, wherein the key and initialization vector generating module is configured to permit key pre-sharing.

121. The communications protocol of claim 116, further comprising a status updates module for receiving network, relay point or access point information, or combinations thereof, and sending a name-value pair report to a central monitoring system.

122. The communications protocol of claim 121, further comprising a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

123. The communications protocol of claim 116, further comprising a command interface module for receiving authentication parameters, accepting and authenticating a command-value pair, and executing the command.

124. The communications protocol of claim 108, wherein the network signature beacon module comprises a network beacon validity determination module.

125. The communications protocol of claim 108, wherein the signal packet provided by the network signature beacon module comprises network, access point or relay point information, or one or more authentication parameters, or combinations thereof;

126. The communications protocol of claim 108, wherein the network signature beacon module is configured to permit propagation of an automatic change of channel.