Method and apparatus to intelligently perform scanning and assist scanning by profiling scanning history

• US 20060142004A1
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: He, Haixiang, Engwer, Darwin A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/008375 based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a method involves determining whether a wireless connection between a first access point and a wireless station has failed. If so, a partial scanning process is conducted only on a subset of communication channels over which data is transmitted by access points neighboring the first access point. The subset of communication channels, inclusive of zero, is determined by analysis of a scanning history database.

Claims

1. A database stored within a storage medium of a wireless station and including a plurality of entries, each entry being accessible by logic to establish an alternative wireless connection with the wireless station when a current wireless connection between the wireless station and an access point has failed and comprising:

an identifier to identify a specific access point corresponding to the entry; and

a plurality of scanning results associated with the specific access point, the scanning results being information acquired from the specific access point during a prior scanning operation.

2. The database of claim 1, wherein the plurality of scanning results includes capabilities of the specific access point.

3. The database of claim 1, wherein the plurality of scanning results includes a channel number to identify a communication channel over which the specific access point transmits information to the wireless station.

4. The database of claim 3, wherein the plurality of scanning results further includes a signal strength value to identify measured signal strength of signal transmissions received by the wireless station from the specific access point.

5. The database of claim 4, wherein the plurality of scanning results further includes a measured value to indicate a percentage of time that the specific access point is either operational or non-operational.

6. The database of claim 1, wherein the plurality of scanning results further includes location information to identify a geographical position of the specific access point.

7. The database of claim 1, wherein each entry further comprises information to identify a likelihood that an access point will be selected over other access points when transitioning from a specific access point.

8. A method comprising:

determining whether a wireless connection between a first access point and a wireless station has failed; and

conducting a partial scanning process on only a subset of communication channels over which data is transmitted by access points neighboring the first access point, the subset of communication channels being determined by analysis of a scanning history database.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the conducting of the partial scanning process includes scanning only neighboring access points listed in the scanning history database as reachable.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the conducting of the partial scanning process includes scanning only neighboring access points that have recently provided signals with a signal strength level above a predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

identifying a neighboring access point of the access points that provides an acceptable wireless connection with the wireless station; and

associating by the wireless station with the neighboring access point.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising recording within the scanning history database that the neighboring access point was chosen as a substitute for the first access point.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the conducting of the partial scanning process includes conducting a scan of a first communication channel identified by the scanning history database as being used by a second access point neighboring the first access point.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the conducting of the partial scanning process further includes conducting a scan of a second communication channel identified by the scanning history database as being used by a third access point neighboring the first access point.

15. A method comprising:

scanning a plurality of communication channels by a wireless station, the plurality of communication channels being used to transmit data from access points of a wireless network;

storing data obtained from each scan of the plurality of communication channels into a scanning history database;

associating with a first access point of the access points;

determining whether a wireless connection with the first access has failed; and

if so,

partially scanning only a subset of the plurality of communication channels selected based on an analysis of the data stored within the scanning history database.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the data stored within the scanning history database includes information pertaining to one or more of the following:

(1) capabilities of each of the access points, (2) security policies supported by each of the access points, and (3) whether each of the access points is reachable by the wireless station.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein prior to partially scanning the subset of the plurality of communication channels, the method further comprises selecting access points based on usage history being a likelihood that an access point of a first group of access points will be selected over an access point of a second group of access points, the first and second groups of access points collectively forming the access points.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the partially scanning of the subset of the plurality of communication channels includes scanning at least one communication channel used by an access point of the access points transmitting signals above a predetermined threshold.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the partially scanning of the subset of the plurality of communication channels includes scanning at least two communication channels used by a second and third access point of the access points having a closest geographical proximity to the first access point.

20. A method comprising:

scanning a plurality of communication channels by a wireless station, the plurality of communication channels being used to transmit data from access points of a wireless network;

storing data obtained from each scan of the plurality of communication channels into a scanning history database; and

associating with a first access point of the access points based on information within the scanning history database.