Method and apparatus for providing radio configuration parameters to mobile access points

• US 20060133332A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Achanta, Murali
• Application Number:
  US11/016,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20060133332A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition

Abstract

Method and apparatus for automatically configuring access points are disclosed. A wired interface is configured to detect the presence of a wireless access point on a network. The wired interface then embeds radio configuration parameters in a message and sends said message to the access point. The message may be encoded as a DHCP message, and may be provided to the access point in response to a request from the access point for an IP address. Parameters such as transmit power level, country code, and reserved channels may be sent to the access point, and the access point may then be configured itself in accordance with the parameters at startup.

Claims

1. A method for automatically configuring an access point, said method comprising:

detecting, by a wired interface, the presence of a wireless access point on a network;

embedding, by said wired interface, radio configuration parameters in a message; and

sending said message to said access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said message comprises a DHCP response.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said DHCP response contains an indication that said message contains radio configuration parameters.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said message is provided to said wireless access point responsive to a request for an IP address.

5. An apparatus for automatically configuring an access point comprising:

a wired interface network management device, said device configured to;

detect the presence of a wireless access point on a network;

embed radio configuration parameters in a message; and

send said message to said access point.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said message comprises a DHCP response.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said DHCP response contains an indication that said message contains radio configuration parameters.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said message is provided to said wireless access point responsive to a request for an IP address.

9. An apparatus for automatically configuring an access point comprising:

means for detecting the presence of a wireless access point on a network;

means for embedding radio configuration parameters in a message; and

means for sending said message to said access point.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said message comprises a DHCP response.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said DHCP response contains an indication that said message contains radio configuration parameters.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said message is provided to said wireless access point responsive to a request for an IP address.