Scheme and algorithm to form direct links

• US 20060073847A1
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Pirzada, Fahd, Quinn, Liam B., Roesle, Chad P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,570,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/10 between terminal device and access point, i.e. wireless air interface

Abstract

In a wireless network having an access point (AP) station and a first client station communicating over a selectable channel, the first client station includes a memory operable to store parameters corresponding to a mode of operation of the first client station. Infrastructure parameters correspond to an infrastructure mode and ad-hoc parameters correspond to an ad-hoc mode. The first client station includes a control device operable to switch the mode of operation in response to a request. The control device switches the first client to operate in the ad-hoc mode using the selectable channel while maintaining association with the AP in the infrastructure mode. Switching the mode includes writing the infrastructure parameters to the memory and reading the ad-hoc parameters from the memory.

Claims

1. A wireless network system having an access point (AP) station and a first client station communicating over a selectable channel, the first client station comprising:

a memory operable to store parameters corresponding to a mode of operation of the first client station, wherein first parameters correspond to a first mode and second parameters correspond to a second mode; and

a control device operable to switch the mode of operation in response to a request, wherein the control device switches the first client to operate in the second mode using the selectable channel while maintaining association with the AP in the first mode, wherein switching the mode includes writing the first parameters to the memory and reading the second parameters from the memory.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first parameters are infrastructure parameters, wherein the second parameters are ad-hoc parameters, wherein the first mode is an infrastructure mode, and wherein the second mode is an ad-hoc mode.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein operation in the first mode enables communication between the AP and the first client station using the selectable channel and operation in the second mode enables a direct communication between the first client station and a second client station using the selectable channel.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second client station is located within a communicable range of the first client station, wherein the first and second client stations are configured to be substantially similar.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein operation in the first mode disables a direct communication between the first and second client stations.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the control device switches from the second mode to the first mode by reloading the first parameters saved in the memory, the switch occurring in response to a completion of a direct communication between the first and second client stations.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the second client station is included in the network.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the second client station is excluded from the network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first parameters include service set identifier (SSID), operating mode, transmit rate, channel, receiver media access control (MAC) address, beacon interval, and security, wherein the operating mode is set as the first mode.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second parameters include service set identifier (SSID), operating mode, transmit rate, channel, receiver media access control (MAC) address, beacon interval, and security, wherein the operating mode is set as the second mode.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device reads initial values for the second parameters from the memory, wherein the loading of the initial values enables the second mode.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the AP is in compliance with the IEEE 802.11 wireless networking standard.

13. A method for mode switching in a wireless network including an access point (AP) station and a first client station communicating over a selectable channel, the method comprising:

operating the first client station in a first mode;

detecting a request to switch to a second mode;

switching the first client station to operate in the second mode while maintaining association with the AP in the first mode, wherein the switching includes saving first parameters describing the first mode and loading second parameters describing the second mode;

communicating with a second client station using the selectable channel;

restoring the first client station to operate in the first mode in response to a completion of the communicating, wherein the restoring includes reloading the first parameters.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first parameters are infrastructure parameters, wherein the second parameters are ad-hoc parameters, wherein the first mode is an infrastructure mode, and wherein the second mode is an ad-hoc mode.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the AP is in compliance with the IEEE 802.11 wireless networking standard.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein operating in the first mode disables a direct communication between the first and second client stations.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the second client station is located within a communicable range of the first client station, wherein the first and second client stations are configured to be substantially similar.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein operating in the first mode enables communication between the AP and the first client station using the selectable channel.

19. An information handling system (IHS) comprising:

a processor;

a communications device coupled to the processor and operable to communicate via a selectable channel with a wireless network having an access point (AP) station; and

a memory coupled to the processor and the communications device, wherein the memory is operable to store parameters corresponding to a mode of operation of the communications device, wherein first parameters correspond to a first mode and second parameters correspond to a second mode;

wherein the communications device is operable to switch the mode of operation in response to a request from the processor, wherein the communications device switches the mode to operate in the second mode using the selectable channel while maintaining association with the AP in the first mode, wherein switching the mode includes writing the first parameters to the memory.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first parameters are infrastructure parameters, wherein the second parameters are ad-hoc parameters, wherein the first mode is an infrastructure mode, and wherein the second mode is an ad-hoc mode.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the AP is in compliance with the IEEE 802.11 wireless networking standard.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein operation in the first mode enables communication between the AP and the communications device using the selectable channel and operation in the second mode enables a direct communication between the communications device and a second IHS using the selectable channel.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor switches the mode of operation of the communications device from the second mode to the infrastructure mode by reloading the first parameters saved in the memory, the switch occurring in response to a completion of a direct communication between the communications device and the second IHS.