Methods and improvements for joining wireless mesh networks
First Claim
1. A method of joining a first wireless mesh network (“
- first network”
) with a second wireless mesh network (“
second network”
), wherein the first network includes a first-network controller and a plurality of first-network nodes, and wherein the second network includes a second-network controller and a plurality of second-network nodes, the method comprising;
the first-network controller receiving from a given first-network node a first message, the first message indicating that the given first-network node received a first signal from a given second-network node;
responsive to receiving the first message, the first-network controller (i) validating the second network and (ii) responsive to validating the second network, (a) directing the given first-network node to enter a first bridging mode and (b) providing the given first-network node with first bridging data that includes a security key for communications between the given first-network node and the given second-network node;
the second-network controller receiving from the given second-network node a second message, the second message indicating that the given second-network node received a second signal from the given first-network node;
responsive to receiving the second message, the second-network controller (i) validating the first network and (ii) responsive to validating the first network, (a) directing the given second-network node to enter a second bridging mode and (b) providing the given second-network node with second bridging data that includes the security key; and
the given first-network node and the given second-network node associating with each other using the security key, thereby allowing communications to securely pass between the first network and the second network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and improvements for joining wireless mesh networks are provided. In one embodiment, a controller in each network receives a message from a node in its respective network, the message indicating that the respective nodes each received a signal from a node in the other network. Each controller, in response to receiving the respective messages, validates the other network, and responsively (a) directs its respective node to enter a bridging mode and (b) provides its respective node with bridging data that includes a security key for communications between the two nodes. The two nodes then associate with each other using the security key, allowing communications to pass between the two wireless mesh networks.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of joining a first wireless mesh network (“
- first network”
) with a second wireless mesh network (“
second network”
), wherein the first network includes a first-network controller and a plurality of first-network nodes, and wherein the second network includes a second-network controller and a plurality of second-network nodes, the method comprising;the first-network controller receiving from a given first-network node a first message, the first message indicating that the given first-network node received a first signal from a given second-network node; responsive to receiving the first message, the first-network controller (i) validating the second network and (ii) responsive to validating the second network, (a) directing the given first-network node to enter a first bridging mode and (b) providing the given first-network node with first bridging data that includes a security key for communications between the given first-network node and the given second-network node; the second-network controller receiving from the given second-network node a second message, the second message indicating that the given second-network node received a second signal from the given first-network node; responsive to receiving the second message, the second-network controller (i) validating the first network and (ii) responsive to validating the first network, (a) directing the given second-network node to enter a second bridging mode and (b) providing the given second-network node with second bridging data that includes the security key; and the given first-network node and the given second-network node associating with each other using the security key, thereby allowing communications to securely pass between the first network and the second network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- first network”
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11. In a system comprising a first wireless mesh network (“
- first network”
) and a second wireless mesh network (“
second network”
), wherein the first network includes a first-network controller and a plurality of first-network nodes, and wherein the second network includes a second-network controller and a plurality of second-network nodes, the improvement comprising;first logic in the first-network controller, the first logic being executable to;
(i) in response to the first-network controller receiving from a given first-network node a first message, wherein the first message indicates that the given first-network node received a first signal from a given second-network node, validate the second network and (ii) in response to validating the second network, (a) direct the given first-network node to enter a first bridging mode and (b) provide the given first-network node with first bridging data that includes a security key for communications between the given first-network node and the given second-network node; andsecond logic in the second-network controller, the second logic being executable to;
(i) in response to the second-network controller receiving from the given second-network node a second message, wherein the second message indicates that the given second-network node received a second signal from the given first-network node, validate the first network and (ii) in response to validating the first network, (a) direct the given second-network node to enter a second bridging mode and (b) provide the given second-network node with second bridging data that includes the security key. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- first network”
Specification