WLAN background scanning
First Claim
1. Apparatus for providing wireless access via at least one of a plurality of channels comprising:
- at least one demodulation engine operable to receive radio frequency input on one of the channels; and
processing logic operable to control the demodulation engine to support communications on an active channel and contemporaneously scan at least one alternate channel, the processing logic being further operable to maintain a record indicative of detection of network device presence on a scanned alternate channel.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless access point is operable to execute background scans of alternate channels by tuning to the alternate channel for short periods of time, thereby generating sub-windows of data. The sub-windows are calculated to have timing and duration that avoid disruption of communications on the active channel. Multiple background scan sub-windows are used to assemble a virtual target window of the alternate channel, e.g., a 100 mSec window, during which any periodic beacon within range might be expected to be received. The data such as beacon information is employed to generate a table ranking the alternate channels in terms of viability for communications.
148 Citations
38 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for providing wireless access via at least one of a plurality of channels comprising:
-
at least one demodulation engine operable to receive radio frequency input on one of the channels; and
processing logic operable to control the demodulation engine to support communications on an active channel and contemporaneously scan at least one alternate channel, the processing logic being further operable to maintain a record indicative of detection of network device presence on a scanned alternate channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for providing wireless access via at least one of a plurality of channels comprising the steps of:
-
receiving radio frequency input on an active channel; and
contemporaneously scanning at least one alternate channel to maintain a record indicative of detection of network device presence on the scanned alternate channel. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
Specification