Protocol for communication between access ports and wireless switches

• US 20050243737A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Dooley, John, Shiba, Mike, Scheve, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 7,639,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A wireless local area network includes access ports which communicate over a wired network with wireless switches which control the access ports and bridge data between portals in the access ports and another network. Code for operating the access ports and for configuring the portals is separately downloaded from the wireless switch. Where an access port includes more than one portal, separate ethernet addresses are assigned to the processor of the access port and to the portals for communications with the wireless switch. The protocol may provide separate sequence numbers for the communications and include a command field.

Claims

1. In a wireless local area network, wherein a wireless switch controls the operation of one or more access ports and manages data communications with said one or more access ports, and wherein said access ports include one or more portals for communicating data to other devices, an improved method for configuring said access ports, comprising:

downloading software from said wireless switch for operation of said access port;

signaling data from said access port representing the identification of said one or more portals of said access port; and

downloading data from said wireless switch to said access port to configure said one or more portals of said access port.

2. An access port configured according to the method of claim 1.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein selecting a wireless switch comprises selecting a wireless switch sending the PARENT message first received by said access port.

3. In a wireless local area network, wherein a wireless switch controls the operation of one or more access ports and manages data communications with said one or more access ports, and wherein at least one of said access ports includes an access port processor and a plurality of portals for communicating data to other devices, an improved method for data communications between said wireless switch and devices communicating with said portals, comprising:

providing separate network addresses corresponding to each of said access port and said portals;

communicating messages between said access port processor and said wireless switch using a network address corresponding to said access port; and

communicating messages between said portals and said wireless switch using network addresses assigned to said portals.

4. A method as specified in claim 3 further comprising assigning sequence numbers to data messages between said access port and said wireless switch, wherein separate series of sequence numbers are assigned to each of said access port processor and said plurality of portals.

5. A method as specified in claim 4 wherein said data messages have an ethernet format, including a first ethernet header and a second header, wherein said ethernet header includes said network address and wherein said second header includes said sequence number.

6. A method as specified in claim 5 wherein said second header includes a message length field.

7. A method as specified in claim 5 wherein said second header includes a command field identifying message direction and message type.

8. A method as specified in claim 6 wherein said second header includes a code field indicating a command code for processing data in the message.

9. A wireless local area network arranged to operate using the method of claim 3.

10. In a wireless local area network, wherein one or more wireless switches control the operation of one or more access ports and manage data communications with said one or more access ports, a method for initiating an association between an access port and a wireless switch, comprising:

configuring said wireless switches to selectively adopt access ports;

upon initiation of operation of an access port broadcasting a HELLO message identifying a MAC address of said access port;

responding to said Hello message with PARENT messages sent by wireless switches configured to adopt said access port, each said PARENT messages identifying a MAC address for said wireless switch; and

receiving said PARENT messages at said access port and selecting one of said wireless switches to adopt said access port.

12. An access port configured to carry out the method of claim 10.

13. In a wireless local area network, wherein a wireless switch controls the operation of one or more access ports and manages data communications with said one or more access ports, and wherein said access ports include one or more radio portals for communicating data to other devices, a method for selecting a channel of operation for a radio portals of at least one of said access ports, comprising:

sequentially monitoring each of a plurality of possible channels using said radio portal to detect beacon signals on said possible channels;

forwarding received beacon signals to a wireless switch controlling operation of said access port having said radio portal;

analyzing said received beacon signals using said wireless switch to select a channel for operation of said wireless portal; and

sending a configuration message from said wireless switch to said radio portal to configure said radio portal to operate on said selected channel.

14. A method as specified in claim 13 wherein said wireless switch sends a control message to said access port designating said possible channels.

15. A method as specified in claim 13 wherein said access ports send signal strength data to said wireless switch with said received beacon signals.

16. A method as specified in claim 15 wherein said access port sends said received beacon signals to said wireless switch using a signal format identifying a channel on which said beacon signal was received.