UPGRADING MESH ACCESS POINTS IN A WIRELESS MESH NETWORK

• US 20080084855A1
• Filed: 10/05/2006
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rahman, Shahriar I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,634,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/342
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

A method, system, and logic for upgrading mesh points of a wireless mesh network. One method includes maintaining a mesh topology data structure containing information on the tree topology of a wireless mesh network. The method further includes using a tree-walking method to send an upgrade message to the root access point and to each other mesh point in the wireless mesh network until each mesh point has received the upgrade message. Receiving the upgrade message enables the receiving mesh point to upgrade according to the contents of the upgrade message without necessarily disrupting the mesh network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accepting new software for a controller of a wireless mesh network, the mesh network comprising a root access point and other mesh points, including one or more mesh access points, the root access point and the mesh points coupled by a wireless backhaul network, the root access point coupled to an active controller that controls the root access point and mesh access points, and to a standby controller capable of controlling the root access point and mesh access points;

updating one of the controllers with the accepted software while the other controller controls the root access point and mesh access points;

switching the root access points and the mesh access points of the mesh network to the updated controller; and

updating the non-updated controller with the accepted software while the updated controller controls the root access point and mesh access points.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein switching the root access point and mesh access points of the mesh network to the updated controller includes instructing the root access point and the mesh access points, one at a time to change over to be controlled by the updated controller until all the mesh points are controlled by the updated controller.

3. A method comprising:

maintaining a mesh topology data structure containing information on a tree topology of a wireless mesh network comprising mesh points, including a root access point and one or more other mesh points including at least one mesh access point, the root access point forming the root of the tree topology; and

using a tree-walking method to send an upgrade message to the root access point and to each other mesh point in the wireless mesh network until each mesh point has received the upgrade message,

wherein receiving the upgrade message enables the receiving mesh point to upgrade according to the contents of the upgrade message without necessarily disrupting the mesh network.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the upgrade message is for an upgrade wherein none of the receiving mesh points need to be rebooted, the method further comprising receiving an upgrade acknowledgement message from each mesh point that receives the upgrade message and upgrades as a result of the receipt.

5. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the upgrade message is for an upgrade wherein the receiving mesh points need to be rebooted, and wherein the using the tree-walking method to send the upgrade continues until all mesh points of the tree topology receive the upgrade message, the method comprising sending a message to the mesh points to reboot once all mesh points of the tree-topology have received the upgrade message.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the upgrade message includes a software upgrade message comprising new software for the mesh point, and wherein the sending of the upgrade message to a particular mesh point comprises downloading new software to the particular mesh point.

7. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the upgrade message includes a configuration upgrade message comprising one or more new configuration parameters for the mesh point.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the configuration parameters comprise channel change information.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the configuration parameters comprise one or more of power setting information and/or data rate information.

10. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the root access point and mesh access points are lightweight access points controlled by messaging to and/or from a controlled mesh point using a lightweight access point protocol, and wherein the upgrade message is a message in the lightweight access point protocol.

11. A method comprising:

sending an upgrade message to upgrade mesh points of a wireless mesh network, the mesh network comprising a root access point and one or more other mesh points including at least one mesh access point, the sending comprising sending the upgrade message to the root access point,

wherein the upgrade message to a mesh point includes a configuration upgrade message comprising one or more configuration parameters for the mesh point including one or more of channel change information, a power setting information, and/or data rate information, and

wherein the root access point is operable to send one or more action messages to each intended mesh point comprising the corresponding new configuration parameter or parameters, the sending of the action messages as a result of the root access point receiving the configuration upgrade message,

and wherein receiving the action message or messages enables the receiving mesh point to upgrade its configuration according to the contents of the configuration upgrade message without necessarily disrupting the mesh network.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the configuration parameters comprise channel change information.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the configuration parameters comprise one or more of power setting information and/or data rate information.

14. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the ACTION messages comprise IEEE 802.11h ACTION frames.

15. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution, and when executed operable to:

maintain a mesh topology data structure containing information on a tree topology of a wireless mesh network comprising mesh points, including a root access point and one or more other mesh points including at least one mesh access point, the root access point forming the root of the tree topology; and

use a tree-walking method to send an upgrade message to the root access point and to each other mesh point in the wireless mesh network until each mesh point has received the upgrade message,

wherein receiving the upgrade message enables the receiving mesh point to upgrade according to the contents of the upgrade message without necessarily disrupting the mesh network.

16. A system comprising:

a controller;

a root access point coupled to the controller; and

one or more other mesh points, including at least one mesh access point wirelessly coupled via a wireless mesh network to the root access point, the root access point and other mesh points forming a tree topology of mesh points in which the root access point is the root of the tree topology, the controller being operative to control operation of the wireless mesh network,

wherein the controller is further operative to maintain a mesh topology data structure containing information on the tree topology, and wherein the controller is further operative to initiate an upgrade of the mesh points, comprising using a tree-walking method to send an upgrade message to the root access point and to each mesh point in the wireless mesh network until each mesh point has received the upgrade message, and

wherein receiving the upgrade message enables the receiving mesh point to upgrade according to the contents of the upgrade message without necessarily disrupting the mesh network.

17. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the upgrade message is for an upgrade wherein the receiving mesh points need to be rebooted, and wherein the using of the tree-walking method to send the upgrade continues until all mesh points of the tree topology receive the upgrade message, the method comprising sending a message to the mesh points to reboot once all mesh points of the tree-topology have received the upgrade message.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the upgrade message includes a software upgrade message comprising new software for the mesh point, and wherein each mesh point is operative to wait for a message to reboot after receiving the new software, and further to reboot in response to receiving the message to reboot.

19. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the upgrade message includes a configuration upgrade message comprising one or more new configuration parameters for the mesh point.

20. A system comprising:

a controller;

a root access point coupled to the controller; and

one or more other mesh points, including at least one mesh access point wirelessly coupled via a wireless mesh network to the root access point, the root access point and other mesh points forming a tree topology of mesh points in which the root access point is the root of the tree topology, the controller being operative to control operation of the wireless mesh network,

wherein sending the controller is further operative to send a configuration upgrade message to the root access point, the configuration upgrade message comprising one or more configuration parameters for the mesh points of the mesh network,

wherein the root access point is operative to respond to receiving the configuration upgrade message, including upgrading according to the configuration parameters, sending an acknowledgement message to the controller, sending one or more action messages containing the one or more configuration parameters to each of its directly connected mesh points, waiting for acknowledgements from other mesh points of the mesh network, and sending an acknowledgement message to the controller corresponding to the received acknowledgements,

wherein each other mesh point is operative to respond to receiving the action messages, including;

upgrading according to the configuration parameters, sending an acknowledgement to its immediate parent in the tree topology, and

in the case that there are directly connected child mesh points, sending the one or more action messages to each of its directly connected child mesh points, waiting for acknowledgements from its child mesh points of the mesh network, and sending an acknowledgement to its controller corresponding to the received acknowledgements, and

wherein the upgrading according to the configuration parameters occurs without necessarily disrupting the mesh network.