Intelligent association of nodes with PAN coordinator
First Claim
1. A wireless access point operative to communicate with a sensor node in a wireless network, the wireless access point comprising:
- one or more processors;
a memory;
a wireless network interface;
a wireless access point application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless access point to establish a wireless connection with a sensor node having a first connection parameter set;
select a second connection parameter set that enables the sensor node to associate with a second wireless network; and
transmit the second connection parameter to the sensor node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatuses, and systems directed to managing wireless node access to one or more wireless networks. According to one implementation of the present invention, a business logic application may function as a package tracking application to manage access to wireless access points in different WLANs along the route. A sensor node is initialized and configured with one or more connection parameter sets allowing it to associate with a given wireless network implemented by one or more access points. In one implementation, the sensor node is configured only to accept received wireless frames that it can properly decrypt using the currently-stored encryption key. Accordingly, until the sensor node comes within radio contact of a wireless access point or other wireless node configured with the same encryption key, it does not establish a wireless connection. When the sensor node and such a wireless access point associate, they may exchange encrypted information (e.g., data regarding the package) using an encryption key. Before the sensor node disassociates with the wireless access point, the wireless access point transmits a new connection parameter set to the sensor node. This new connection parameter set includes a network ID for another wireless network. In addition, the new connection parameter set also includes an encryption key and a frequency identifier. In one implementation, the sensor node re-initializes itself using the new connection parameter set information. This process may continue until the sensor node arrives at its final destination and, in this manner, the wireless networks with which the sensor node associates may be controlled.
87 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A wireless access point operative to communicate with a sensor node in a wireless network, the wireless access point comprising:
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one or more processors;
a memory;
a wireless network interface;
a wireless access point application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless access point to establish a wireless connection with a sensor node having a first connection parameter set;
select a second connection parameter set that enables the sensor node to associate with a second wireless network; and
transmit the second connection parameter to the sensor node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a wireless access point operative to communicate with a sensor node in a wireless network, a method comprising:
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establishing a wireless connection with a sensor node having a first connection parameter set;
selecting a second connection parameter set that enables the sensor node to associate with a second wireless network; and
transmitting the second connection parameter to the sensor node. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A wireless access point operative to communicate with a sensor node in a wireless network, the wireless access point comprising:
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means for establishing a wireless connection with a sensor node having a first connection parameter set;
means for selecting a second connection parameter set that enables the sensor node to associate with a second wireless network; and
means for transmitting the second connection parameter to the sensor node.
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11. A wireless node operative to communicate with a plurality of wireless access points in a wireless network, the wireless node comprising:
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one or more processors;
a memory;
a wireless network interface;
a wireless network application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless node to receive a connection parameter set that enables the sensor node to associate with a wireless network corresponding to the connection parameter set;
scan for the first wireless network; and
associate only with the wireless network corresponding to the connection parameter set. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a wireless client operative to communicate with a plurality of wireless access points in a wireless network, a method comprising:
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receiving a connection parameter set that enables the sensor node to associate with a wireless network corresponding to the connection parameter set;
scanning for the first wireless network; and
associating only with the wireless network corresponding to the connection parameter set. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A wireless client operative to communicate with a plurality of wireless access points in a wireless network, the wireless client comprising:
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means for receiving a connection parameter set that enables the sensor node to associate with a wireless network corresponding to the connection parameter set;
means for scanning for the first wireless network; and
means for associating only with the wireless network corresponding to the connection parameter set.
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Specification