Indirect command pathways between an end point device and a target access point via a secondary access point

• US 20070109992A1
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James
• Application Number:
  US11/494,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20070109992A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• 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 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

An end point device that interacts with a first access point using a first radio and via a first direct pathway. The end point device interacts with at least a second access point using a second radio and via a second direct pathway. The end point device sends multimedia information packets and command packets meant for the first access point via the first direct pathway and using the second radio respectively. The first access point and the second access point are communicatively coupled via a plurality of communicatively incompatible packet switched data networks. The command packets reach the first access point traveling via the second direct pathway, the second access point and the plurality of packet switched data networks. The first access point responds to the command packets by causing a change in performance of the first radio and performance of the first direct pathway. The first access point sends a second command packet to the end point device via the second access point instead of sending via the first direct pathway. The second command packet triggers the end point device to respond by effectuating a change in interaction of the end point device with the first access point. The end point device follows two mutually incompatible protocols for communication along the first direct pathway and the second direct pathway.

Claims

1. A communication infrastructure supporting packet switched communications, the communication infrastructure comprising:

a backbone network supporting packet switched communication;

a first wireless area network operating pursuant to a first wireless protocol;

a second wireless area network operating pursuant to a second wireless protocol;

a first access point, communicatively coupled to the backbone network, that manages the first wireless area network;

a second access point, communicatively coupled to the backbone network, that manages the second wireless area network;

an end point device that has both first radio circuitry that uses the first wireless protocol and second radio circuitry that uses the second wireless protocol, the first radio circuitry establishing a direct data pathway via the first wireless area network and the first access point, the second radio circuitry establishing an indirect command pathway between the first access point and the second radio circuitry of the end point device, and the indirect command pathway flowing via the second wireless area network, the second access point, and the backbone network; and

the end point device and first access point exchange a command via the indirect command pathway.

2. The communication infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the exchange of the command comprising delivering the command from the end point device to the first access point via the indirect command pathway.

3. The communication infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the command is delivered from the first access point to the end point device via the indirect command pathway.

4. The communication infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the command relates to secure communication exchanges via the direct data pathway.

5. The communication infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the command comprising a protocol adjustment command.

6. The communication infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the command relates to the direct data pathway.

7. The communication infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the command relates to end point device association.

8. The communication infrastructure of claim 1, wherein the command relates to testing.

9. End point device circuitry in a communication infrastructure, the communication infrastructure further including a backbone network, a first access point and a second access point, the first access point and the second access point are coupled to the backbone network, the end point device circuitry comprising:

first radio circuitry that communicates with the first access point using a first packet switched communication protocol;

second radio circuitry that communicates with the second access point using a second packet switched communication protocol;

processing circuitry, communicatively coupled to the first radio circuitry and the second radio circuitry;

the processing circuitry establishes a direct data pathway to the backbone network via the first radio circuitry and the first access point; and

the processing circuitry exchanges a command with the first access point via an indirect command pathway, the indirect command pathway flowing from the second radio circuitry to the first access point via the second access point and the backbone network.

10. The end point device circuitry of claim 9, wherein the command relates to secure communication exchanges via the direct data pathway.

11. The end point device circuitry of claim 9, wherein the command comprising a protocol adjustment command.

12. The end point device circuitry of claim 9, wherein the command relates to hand over.

13. The end point device circuitry of claim 9, wherein the command relates to access point association.

14. The end point device circuitry of claim 9, wherein the command relates to testing.

15. The end point device circuitry of claim 9, wherein the command relates to load balancing.

16. Access point circuitry in a packet switched communication infrastructure, the communication infrastructure having a backbone network, an first end point device, a second end point device and a secondary access point, the access point circuitry comprising:

upstream communication interface circuitry coupled to the backbone network;

downstream communication interface circuitry coupled to the first end point device;

processing circuitry that maintains a direct data pathway between the first end point device and the second end point device by communicating data between the downstream communication interface circuitry and the upstream communication interface circuitry; and

the processing circuitry, while maintaining the direct data pathway, exchanges a command with the first end point device via an indirect command pathway, the indirect command pathway flowing via the upstream communication interface circuitry, the backbone network and the secondary access point.

17. The access point circuitry of claim 16, wherein the command relates to secure communication exchanges via the direct data pathway.

18. The access point circuitry of claim 16, wherein the command comprising a protocol adjustment command.

19. The access point circuitry of claim 16, wherein the command relates to hand over.

20. The access point circuitry of claim 16, wherein the command relates to end point device association.

21. The access point circuitry of claim 16, wherein the command relates to testing.

22. The access point circuitry of claim 16, wherein the command relates to load balancing.

23. A method performed by a first end point device in a communication infrastructure, the communication infrastructure comprising a first access point, a second access point, and a backbone network, the method comprising:

establishing a direct data pathway between the first end point device and a second end point device via the first access point and the backbone network;

exchanging data with the second end point device via the direct data pathway;

establishing an indirect command pathway between the first access point and the first end point device via the second access point and the backbone network; and

exchanging a command with the first access point via the indirect command pathway.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the exchanging of the command comprising delivery of the command to the first access point via the indirect command pathway.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the exchanging of the command comprising receiving of the command from the first access point via the indirect command pathway.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising servicing the command received from the first access point via the indirect command pathway.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the command relates to the direct data pathway.