Troubleshooting link and protocol in a wireless network

• US 20070197206A1
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stephenson, David, Olson, Timothy, Patil, Jeevan, O'Hara, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,040,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0836 to enhance reliability, e.g. reduce downtime
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/344 Out-of-band transfers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and systems directed to facilitating troubleshooting wireless connectivity issues in a wireless network. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, either a diagnostic supplicant in the wireless client or a diagnostic manager initiates a troubleshooting protocol between the diagnostic supplicant and the diagnostic manager over a diagnostic link in response to one or more events. In one embodiment, after the diagnostic supplicant establishes a link to a diagnostic manager via a diagnostic link, the diagnostic supplicant generates and transmits a problem report to the diagnostic manager. The problem report initiates a troubleshooting protocol between the diagnostic manager and the diagnostic supplicant.

Claims

1. A wireless client, comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory;

a network interface;

a diagnostic supplicant application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless client to;

establish a connection to a diagnostic manager over a diagnostic link; and

exchange diagnostic information with the diagnostic manager.

2. The wireless client of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic supplicant application further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless client to:

collect radio frequency (RF) measurement data in response to an RF measurement data request from the diagnostic manager; and

transmit the RF measurement data to the diagnostic manager.

3. The wireless client of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic supplicant application further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless client to:

gather network data during execution of a diagnostic protocol.

4. The wireless client of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic supplicant application further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless client to:

perform one or more diagnostic tests.

5. The wireless client of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic supplicant application further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless client to:

generate a problem report; and

transmit the problem report to the diagnostic manager.

6. The wireless client of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic supplicant application further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless client to:

transmit client detail data in response to client detail request from the diagnostic manager.

7. The wireless client of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic link is implemented as at least one of a wired connection, a physical channel, a multiplex channel, an existing wireless local area network (WLAN) channel, and a peer channel.

8. The wireless client of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic link is implemented across at least the following nodes:

a peer wireless client; and

a wireless access point operative to communicate with a second wireless client.

9. In a wireless client, a method comprising:

establishing, at the wireless client, a connection to a diagnostic manager over a diagnostic link; and

exchanging diagnostic information with the diagnostic manager.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

collecting radio frequency (RF) measurement data in response to an RF measurement data request from the diagnostic manager; and

transmitting the RF measurement data to the diagnostic manager.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising gathering network data during execution of a diagnostic protocol.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising perform one or more diagnostic tests.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

generating a problem report; and

transmitting the problem report to the diagnostic manager.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising transmitting client detail data in response to client detail request from the diagnostic manager.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the diagnostic link is implemented as at least one of a wired connection, a physical channel, a multiplex channel, an existing wireless local area network (WLAN) channel, and a peer channel.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the diagnostic link is implemented across at least the following nodes:

a peer wireless client; and

a wireless access point operative to communicate with a second wireless client.

17. A wireless client comprising:

means for establishing a wireless connection with a wireless network;

means for establishing a connection to a diagnostic manager over a diagnostic link; and

means for exchanging diagnostic information relating to the wireless connection with the diagnostic manager.

18. A 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

support a diagnostic link between a diagnostic supplicant of a wireless client and a diagnostic manager in response to an event;

advertise one or more access parameters of the diagnostic link; and

forward messages between the diagnostic supplicant and the diagnostic manager.

19. The wireless access point of claim 18 wherein the one or more access parameters are included in wireless management frames transmitted by the wireless access point.

20. The wireless access point of claim 18 wherein the one or more access parameters comprise one or more of a service set identifier (SSID), a basic service set identifier (BSSID), and an IP address.

21. The wireless access point of claim 18 wherein the diagnostic link is implemented as a dedicated RF channel configured with one or more of increased transmit power and a lowered data rate.

22. In a wireless access point, a method comprising:

supporting a diagnostic link between a diagnostic supplicant of a wireless client and a diagnostic manager;

advertising one or more access parameters of the diagnostic link in wireless management frames; and

forwarding messages between the diagnostic supplicant and the diagnostic manager.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the one or more access parameters comprise one or more of a service set identifier (SSID), a basic service set identifier (BSSID), and an IP address.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the diagnostic link is implemented as a dedicated RF channel configured with one or more of increased transmit power and a lowered data rate.

25. A wireless access point comprising:

means for supporting a diagnostic link between a diagnostic supplicant of a wireless client and a diagnostic manager in response to an event;

means for advertising one or more access parameters of the diagnostic link in wireless management frames; and

means for forwarding messages between the diagnostic supplicant and the diagnostic manager.

26. A diagnostic apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory;

a network interface;

a diagnostic management application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the central controller to;

exchange diagnostic data with one or more diagnostic supplicants of corresponding wireless clients over a diagnostic link;

perform one or more diagnostic tests; and

transmit diagnostic information to the wireless clients based on the diagnostic tests.

27. The diagnostic apparatus of claim 26 wherein, to perform one or more diagnostic tests, the diagnostic management application further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the central controller to:

transmit a radio frequency (RF) measurement data request to the diagnostic supplicant and to one or more elements in a wireless network; and

receive RF measurement data from the diagnostic supplicant and the one or more elements in the wireless network.

28. The diagnostic apparatus of claim 26 wherein the diagnostic link is implemented as at least one of a wired connection, a physical channel, a multiplex channel, an existing WLAN channel, and peer channel.

29. The diagnostic apparatus of claim 26 wherein the diagnostic apparatus generates and transmits a completion report to the one or more diagnostic supplicant, wherein the completion report provides at least one of results from a troubleshooting protocol and a recommendation.

30. In a diagnostic apparatus, a method comprising:

exchanging diagnostic data with one or more diagnostic supplicants of corresponding wireless clients over a diagnostic link;

performing one or more diagnostic tests; and

transmitting diagnostic information to the wireless clients based on the diagnostic tests.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising transmitting a request of a diagnostic client to perform one or more diagnostic tests.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the performing further comprises:

transmitting a radio frequency (RF) measurement data request to the diagnostic supplicant and to one or more elements in a wireless network; and

receiving RF measurement data from the diagnostic supplicant and the one or more elements in the wireless network.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein the diagnostic link is implemented as at least one of a wired connection, a physical channel, a multiplex channel, an existing WLAN channel, and peer channel.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein the diagnostic apparatus generates and transmits a completion report to the one or more diagnostic supplicant, wherein the completion report provides at least one of results from a troubleshooting protocol and a recommendation.

35. A diagnostic apparatus comprising:

means for exchanging diagnostic data with one or more diagnostic supplicants of corresponding wireless clients over a diagnostic link;

means for performing one or more diagnostic tests; and

means for transmitting diagnostic information to the wireless clients based on the diagnostic tests.