Automatic detection and cofiguration in wireless networks

• US 20090290527A1
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas A. Schultz, Wey-Yi W. Guy
• Original Assignee: Thomas A. Schultz, Wey-Yi W. Guy
• Inventors: Schultz, Thomas A., Guy, Wey-Yi W.
• Application Number:
  US12/462,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20090290527A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point

Abstract

Automatic detection of access points and range extension points and automatic configuration may be used to eliminate a need for manual configuration.

Claims

1. A method of performing operations in a first access point, the operations comprising:

detecting a first beacon transmitted from a second access point, wherein the second access point is either a wired root unit or has established a first communication link with a wired root unit;

establishing, subsequent to said detecting, a second communication link with the second access point;

transmitting a second beacon, wherein the second beacon can be received by one or more wireless stations; and

associating, subsequent to said transmitting, with the one or more wireless stations; and

disassociating, subsequent to said associating, from the one or more wireless stations.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second beacon includes an indication of a number of hops from the wired root unit to the first access point.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a response from a third access point in response to the second beacon.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a third beacon transmitted from a third access point prior to said transmitting the second beacon; and

not establishing a third communication link with the third access point.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

starting a timer corresponding to a predetermined period of time; and

checking for detection of another beacon from the second access point before expiration of the timer.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising performing said disassociating in response to not detecting said another beacon before said expiration of the timer.

7. An apparatus containing a first access point, the first access point comprising a memory, a transmitter, and a receiver, each coupled to a processor, the apparatus to:

detect a first beacon transmitted from a second access point;

establish a second communication link with the second access point subsequent to said detection of the first beacon;

transmit a second beacon, wherein the second beacon can be received by one or more wireless stations;

associate with the one or more wireless stations in response to receiving responses from the one or more wireless stations; and

disassociate from the one or more wireless stations subsequent to said association.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first access point is further to receive a response from a third access point in response to the second beacon.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first access point is further to:

detect a third beacon transmitted from a third access point prior to said transmitting the second beacon; and

not establish a third communication link with the third access point in preference to said establishment of the second communication link with the second access point.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first access point is further to:

start a timer corresponding to a predetermined period of time after said detection of the first beacon; and

check for detection of another beacon from the second access point before expiration of the timer.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising performing said disassociation in response to not detecting said another beacon before said expiration of the timer.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second access point is either a wired root unit or has established a first communication link with a wired root unit.

13. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions, which when executed by a computing platform, cause said computing platform to perform operations in a first access point, the operations comprising:

detecting a first beacon transmitted from a second access point, wherein the second access point is either a wired root unit or has established a first communication link with a wired root unit;

establishing, subsequent to said detecting, a second communication link with the second access point;

transmitting a second beacon, wherein the second beacon can be received by one or more wireless stations; and

associating, subsequent to said transmitting, with the one or more wireless stations; and

disassociating, subsequent to said associating, from the one or more wireless stations.

14. The medium according to claim 13, wherein said second beacon includes an indication of a number of hops from the wired root unit to the first access point.

15. The medium according to claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a response from a third access point in response to the second beacon.

16. The medium according to claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a third beacon transmitted from a third access point prior to said transmitting the second beacon; and

not establishing a third communication link with the third access point.

17. The medium according to claim 13 wherein the operations further comprise:

starting a timer corresponding to a predetermined period of time; and

checking for detection of another beacon from the second access point before expiration of the timer.

18. The medium according to claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise performing said disassociating in response to not detecting said another beacon before said expiration of the timer.