System and method of conforming wireless devices to worldwide regulations
First Claim
1. A method of conforming a wireless networking client product to a regulatory environment, the method comprising:
- passively scanning all frequencies at a first interval for a beacon including explicit regulatory information;
if receiving a beacon including explicit regulatory information, then operating in one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode based on the explicit regulatory information;
if not receiving a beacon including explicit regulatory information, then determining whether an information element including implicit regulatory information is received; and
if receiving a beacon including implicit regulatory information, then operating in one of the infrastructure mode and the ad hoc mode based on the implicit regulatory information.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Countries or regions of the world can have different regulations governing wireless devices. A client product advantageously conforms to any regulatory environment, thereby allowing the client product to operate permissibly in any wireless network. The client product scans all frequencies at a predetermined interval for explicit information on regulation-conformant methods of operation, including frequencies and output power levels. If the client product receives a beacon, then the client product extracts relevant information from the beacon. Based on the relevant information, the client product operates in either the infrastructure mode or the ad hoc mode. On the other hand, if the client product does not receive explicit information, the client product detects other types of information and implicitly derives methods of operation in both infrastructure and ad hoc modes that conform to local regulations.
40 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of conforming a wireless networking client product to a regulatory environment, the method comprising:
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passively scanning all frequencies at a first interval for a beacon including explicit regulatory information; if receiving a beacon including explicit regulatory information, then operating in one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode based on the explicit regulatory information; if not receiving a beacon including explicit regulatory information, then determining whether an information element including implicit regulatory information is received; and if receiving a beacon including implicit regulatory information, then operating in one of the infrastructure mode and the ad hoc mode based on the implicit regulatory information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An automatic startup process for a client product, the process ensuring permissible operation in an unknown regulatory environment, the process comprising:
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passively scanning all frequencies at a first interval for a beacon; if a beacon including explicit regulatory information is found, then determining whether the client product is set in one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode; if set in the infrastructure mode, then associating in the infrastructure mode in a wireless network using the explicit regulatory information; and if set in the ad hoc mode, then operating in the ad hoc mode in the wireless network using the explicit regulatory information. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when run on a computer, allow a wireless device to operate in an unknown regulatory environment, the instructions comprising:
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passively scanning all frequencies at a first interval for a beacon; if receiving a beacon including explicit regulatory information, then operating in one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode based on the explicit regulatory information; if receiving a beacon including implicit regulatory information, then operating in one of the infrastructure mode and the ad hoc mode based on the implicit regulatory information; and if not receiving any beacon, then operating in the ad hoc mode at a frequency acceptable in substantially all regulatory environments. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A computer-readable medium comprising code, that when run on a processor, ensures permissible operation of a wireless device in an unknown regulatory environment, the code comprising:
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code for passively scanning all frequencies at a first interval for a beacon; code for extracting relevant information from a beacon including explicit regulatory information and operating in one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode based on the relevant information; code for extracting relevant information from a beacon including implicit regulatory information and operating in one of the infrastructure mode and the ad hoc mode based on the relevant information; and code for operating in the ad hoc mode at a usable frequency in substantially all regulatory environments if not receiving any beacon including explicit or implicit regulatory information. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A system for ensuring permissible operation of a wireless device in an unknown regulatory environment, the system comprising:
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means for passively scanning all frequencies at a first interval for a beacon; means for extracting relevant information from a beacon including explicit regulatory information and operating in one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode based on the relevant information; means for extracting relevant information from a beacon including implicit regulatory information and operating in one of an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode based on the relevant information; and means, if not receiving any beacon, for operating in the ad hoc mode at a usable frequency in substantially all regulatory environments.
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Specification