METHODS AND NODES FOR UPDATING OF MAC ADDRESS

• US 20160302058A1
• Filed: 03/26/2015
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Mestanov, Filip, Hiertz, Guido, Wilhelmsson, Leif
• Application Number:
  US14/437,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20160302058A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5092 by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Methods and a first node for updating a MAC address of the first node and a second node for managing an update of a MAC address of a first node are disclosed. The first node sends, over the WLAN connection to the second node, a request for a second MAC address. The second node receives, over the WLAN connection from the first node, a request for a second MAC address.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a first node, for updating a MAC address of the first node, wherein a Wireless Local Area Network “

WLAN”

connection is established between the first node and a second node, wherein the first node is identified by a first Media Access Control “

MAC”

address, wherein the method comprises;

sending, over the WLAN connection to the second node, a request for a second MAC address.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request includes an indication that the second MAC address is requested.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request includes the second MAC address to be used by the first node when connecting to the second node at a later stage.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

receiving, from the second node, a response for indicating acknowledgement or non-acknowledgement of the request.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the response is included in an Information element carried in an Action frame.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the Information element is a vendor specific element.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request is included in a further Information element carried in an Action frame.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the further Information element is a further vendor specific element.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

storing the second MAC address.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the storing comprises storing information relating to time of validity for the second MAC address.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first node is a wireless device and wherein the second MAC address and the information relating to time of validity for the second MAC address is included in a network profile.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first node is a wireless access node and wherein the second MAC address and the information relating to time of validity for the second MAC address is included in a Station context.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first node is a wireless device and the second node is a wireless access, or wherein the first node is a wireless access node and the second node is a wireless device.

14. A method, performed by a second node), for managing an update of a MAC address of a first node, wherein a Wireless Local Area Network “

WLAN”

connection is established between the first node and the second node, wherein the first node is identified by a first Media Access Control “

MAC”

address, wherein the method comprises;

receiving, over the WLAN connection from the first node, a request for a second MAC address.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the request includes an indication that the second MAC address is requested.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the request includes the second MAC address to be used by the first node when connecting to the second node at a later stage.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises:

sending a response for indicating acknowledgement or non-acknowledgement of the request.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the response is included in an Information element carried in an Action frame.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the Information element is a vendor specific element.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the request is included in a further Information element carried in an Action frame.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the further Information element is a further vendor specific element.

22. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises:

storing the second MAC address.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the storing comprises storing information relating to time of validity for the second MAC address.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the first node is a wireless device and wherein the second MAC address and the information relating to time of validity for the second MAC address is included in a network profile.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the first node is a wireless access node and wherein the second MAC address and the information relating to time of validity for the second MAC address is included in a Station context.

26. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first node is a wireless device and the second node is a wireless access node, or wherein the first node is a wireless access node and the second node is a wireless device.

27. A first node for updating a MAC address of the first node, wherein a Wireless Local Area Network “

WLAN”

connection is established between the first node and a second node, wherein the first node is identified by a first Media Access Control “

MAC”

address, wherein the first node is configured for sending, over the WLAN connection to the second node, a request for a second MAC address.

28. The first node according to claim 27, wherein the request includes an indication that the second MAC address is requested.

29. The first node according to claim 27, wherein the request includes the second MAC address to be used by the first node when connecting to the second node at a later stage.

30. The first node according to claim 27, wherein the first node is configured for receiving, from the second node, a response for indicating acknowledgement or non-acknowledgement of the request.

31. The first node according to claim 30, wherein the response is included in an Information element carried in an Action frame.

32. The first node according to claim 31, wherein the Information element is a vendor specific element.

33. The first node according to claim 27, wherein the request is included in a further Information element carried in an Action frame.

34. The first node according to claim 33, wherein the further Information element is a further vendor specific element.

35. The first node according to claim 27, wherein the first node is configured for storing the second MAC address.

36. The first node according to claim 35, wherein the first node is configured for storing the second MAC address by further storing information relating to time of validity for the second MAC address.

37. The first node according to claim 36, wherein the first node is a wireless device and wherein the second MAC address and the information relating to time of validity for the second MAC address is included in a network profile.

38. The first node according to claim 36, wherein the first node is a wireless access node and wherein the second MAC address and the information relating to time of validity for the second MAC address is included in a Station context.

39. The first node according to any one of claims 27, wherein the first node is a wireless device and the second node is a wireless access node, or wherein the first node is a wireless access node and the second node is a wireless device.

40. A second node for managing an update of a MAC address of a first node, wherein a Wireless Local Area Network “

WLAN”

connection is established between the first node and the second node, wherein the first node is identified by a first Media Access Control “

MAC”

address, wherein the second node is configured for receiving, over the WLAN connection from the first node, a request for a second MAC address.

41. The second node according to claim 40, wherein the request includes an indication that the second MAC address is requested.

42. The second node according to claim 40, wherein the request includes the second MAC address to be used by the first node when connecting to the second node at a later stage.

43. The second node according to claim 40, wherein the second node is configured for sending a response for indicating acknowledgement or non-acknowledgement of the request.

44. The second node according to claim 43, wherein the response is included in an Information element carried in an Action frame.

45. The second node according to claim 44, wherein the Information element is a vendor specific element.

46. The second node according to claim 40, wherein the request is included in a further Information element carried in an Action frame.

47. The second node according to claim 46 the preceding claim, wherein the further Information element is a further vendor specific element.

48. The second node according to claim 40, wherein the second node is configured for storing the second MAC address.

49. The second node according to claim 48, wherein the second node is configured for storing the second MAC address by further storing information relating to time of validity for the second MAC address.

50. The second node according to claim 49, wherein the first node is a wireless device and wherein the second MAC address and the information relating to time of validity for the second MAC address is included in a network profile.

51. The second node according to claim 49, wherein the first node is a wireless access node and wherein the second MAC address and the information relating to time of validity for the second MAC address is included in a Station context.

52. The second node according to claim 40, wherein the first node is a wireless device and the second node is a wireless access node, or wherein the first node is a wireless access node and the second node is a wireless device.

53-56. -56. (canceled)