IEEE 802.11U FAILOVER FOR A MESH NETWORK

• US 20150023155A1
• Filed: 07/22/2013
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Shanmugavadivel, Senthilraj, Cherian, Kiran
• Granted Patent: US 9,306,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update

Abstract

The present invention provides IEEE 802.11u failover for a mesh network that contains a root node coupled to a network operations center through a backhaul connection and coupled to a plurality of non-root nodes at least one non-root node of which being capable of IEEE 802.11u communication with an infrastructure device of an external network. A first step includes determining that a first connection to the root-node in the mesh network has been disrupted, disrupting communications on the backhaul connection. A next step includes configuring the one non-root node to act as a root node and configuring a radio of the one non-root node to act as an IEEE 802.11u client. A next step includes associating the radio to the infrastructure device of the external network using an IEEE 802.11u protocol. A next step includes establishing a secure tunnel second connection from the one non-root node to the network operations center through the infrastructure device of the external network using the IEEE 802.11u protocol. A next step includes passing backhaul data through the secure tunnel second connection.

Claims

1. A method of IEEE 802.11u failover for a mesh network that contains a root node coupled to a network operations center through a backhaul connection and coupled to a plurality of non-root nodes, at least one non-root node of which being capable of IEEE 802.11u communication with an infrastructure device of an external network, comprising:

determining that a first connection to the root-node in the mesh network is disrupted, disrupting communications on the backhaul connection;

configuring the one non-root node to act as a root node and configuring a radio of the one non-root node to act as an IEEE 802.11u client;

associating the radio to the infrastructure device of the external network using an IEEE 802.11u protocol;

establishing a secure tunnel second connection from the one non-root node to the network operations center through the infrastructure device of the external network using the IEEE 802.11u protocol; and

passing backhaul data through the secure tunnel second connection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising tearing down the secure tunnel second connection when the first connection has been restored, reconfiguring the one non-root node to act as a non-root node, and transferring backhaul data back to the network operations center through the root-node.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first connection is between the root node and the plurality of non-root nodes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first connection is between the root node and the network operations center.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein in the determining step the first connection is disrupted for a predetermined period of time before the remaining steps are performed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first connection has been disrupted can be indicated by any of the non-root nodes not being able to communicate with the root node.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one non-root node is chosen based its ability to communicate with all other non-root nodes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the infrastructure device is one of the group of a switch and an access point of the external network.

9. A system for providing IEEE 802.11u failover for a mesh network that contains a root node coupled to a network operations center through a backhaul connection and coupled to a plurality of non-root nodes at least one non-root node of which being capable of IEEE 802.11u communication with an infrastructure device of an external network, comprising:

a mesh entity operable to determine that a first connection to the root-node in the mesh network has been disrupted, disrupting communications on the backhaul connection;

whereupon

the one non-root node is configured to act as a root node and to configure a radio of the one non-root node to act as an IEEE 802.11u client;

the radio operable to associate to the infrastructure device of the external network using an IEEE 802.11u protocol, establish a secure tunnel second connection to the network operations center through the infrastructure device of the external network using the IEEE 802.11u protocol, and pass backhaul data through the secure tunnel second connection.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one non-root node is further operable to tear down the secure tunnel second connection when the first connection has been restored, reconfigure itself to act as a non-root node, and transfer backhaul data back to the network operations center through the root-node.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first connection is between the root node and the plurality of non-root nodes.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the first connection is between the root node and the network operations center.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the mesh entity waits for a predetermined period of time before determining that the first connection is disrupted.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the mesh entity is any of the non-root nodes not being able to communicate with the root node.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the mesh entity is a critical resource monitor.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the one non-root node is chosen based its ability to communicate with all other non-root nodes.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the infrastructure device is one of the group of a switch and an access point of the external network.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the radio is a dedicated IEEE 802.11u radio.