Optimizing the protection of wireless local area networks with real-time, flexible, perimeter sensor feedback
First Claim
1. An apparatus configured to protect a wireless local area network, said wireless local area network comprising at least one access point (AP), said apparatus comprising:
- a. means for setting the acceptable signal strength to be allowed at a perimeter,b. means for sensing the radio frequency (RF) signal strength at the perimeter using RF signal sensors,c. means for providing feedback from the sensors to a radiation source controller, andd. means for adjusting the central radiation source signal strength upwards or downwards based on acceptable ranges,e. assigning a higher priority to feedback from outer perimeter sensors in order to override feedback from inner perimeter sensors where there is a conflict.
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Abstract
The invention optimizes the security of data communication on wireless local area networks (WLANs). This invention uses radio frequency (RF) radiation sensors (sensors) on the physical perimeter of a campus, or between nodes in a wireless mesh network, to detect signal bleed outside of an acceptable geographic range. In a preferred embodiment, this is achieved by (1) setting the acceptable signal strength (“bleed”) to be allowed at the perimeter, (2) sensing the RF signal strength at the perimeter sensors, (3) providing feedback from the sensors to the central radiation source controller (controller), (4) adjusting the central radiation source signal strength upwards or downwards based on acceptable ranges, (5) repeating this procedure in real time to provide constant optimization.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus configured to protect a wireless local area network, said wireless local area network comprising at least one access point (AP), said apparatus comprising:
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a. means for setting the acceptable signal strength to be allowed at a perimeter, b. means for sensing the radio frequency (RF) signal strength at the perimeter using RF signal sensors, c. means for providing feedback from the sensors to a radiation source controller, and d. means for adjusting the central radiation source signal strength upwards or downwards based on acceptable ranges, e. assigning a higher priority to feedback from outer perimeter sensors in order to override feedback from inner perimeter sensors where there is a conflict. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method to protect a wireless local area network (WLAN), said WLAN comprising at least one access point (AP), comprising the steps of:
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a. setting the acceptable signal strength (bleed) to be allowed at a perimeter, b. sensing the radio frequency (RF) signal strength at the perimeter using RF signal sensors, c. providing feedback from the sensors to the central radiation source controller, and d. adjusting the central radiation source signal strength upwards or downwards based on acceptable ranges, e. assigning a higher priority to feedback from outer perimeter sensors in order to override feedback from inner perimeter sensors where there is a conflict. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for protecting wireless network signal bleed outside of an outer perimeter, while attempting to maintain adequate signal strength within an inner perimeter, comprising the steps of:
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a. sensing signal strength on the outer perimeter, b. providing continual feedback to ensure the signal strength does not rise above a detectable level at the outer perimeter, c. sensing signal strength on the inner perimeter, d. providing continual feedback to ensure the signal strength does not fall below a detectable level at the outer perimeter, i.e., balancing the signal strength within an acceptable range based on simultaneous feedback from both the outer perimeter sensors and inner perimeter sensors, e. assigning a higher priority to feedback from inner perimeter sensors in order to override feedback from outer perimeter sensors where there is a conflict. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for protecting wireless network signal bleed outside of an outer perimeter, while attempting to maintain adequate signal strength within an inner perimeter, accomplished using feedback from distinct sets of perimeter sensors, and further comprising the steps of:
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a) sensing signal strength on the outer perimeter, b) providing continual feedback to ensure the signal strength does not rise above a detectable level at the outer perimeter, c) sensing signal strength on the inner perimeter, d) providing continual feedback to ensure the signal strength does not fall below a detectable level at the outer perimeter, e) balancing the signal strength within an acceptable range based on simultaneous feedback from both the outer perimeter sensors and inner perimeter sensors f) assigning a higher priority to feedback from the outer perimeter sensors in order to override feedback from the inner perimeter sensors where there is a conflict.
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Specification