Methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating management of airspace in wireless computer network environments
First Claim
1. A system facilitating the management of airspace associated with wireless computer network environments, comprisingan airspace management platform operably connected to a computer network, wherein the airspace management platform is operative to:
- transmit requests for scans to wireless access points registered with the airspace management platform,receive, from the wireless access points, scan data characterizing detected wireless traffic, andanalyze the data to identify rogue wireless devices; and
at least one wireless access point operably connected to the computer network,wherein the at least one wireless access point includes wireless communications functionality allowing for wireless communication with at least one wireless client device;
wherein the at least one wireless access point further includes scanning functionality operative to detect wireless traffic on at least one frequency channel;
wherein the airspace management platform further comprises an ignored access point table including information relating to previously detected access points; and
wherein the airspace management platform is operative to process scan data against the ignored access point table to identify rogue devices; and
wherein the at least one wireless access point comprises a scanning agent operative, in response to a request from the airspace management platform, to;
scan for wireless traffic;
record scan data characterizing the detected wireless traffic, andtransmit the scan data to the airspace management platform.
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Abstract
Methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating the management of wireless computer network environments and the detection of rogue and other devices that may affect the performance and/or security of the wireless computer network. The present invention enables accurate and cost effective WLAN airspace mapping. In one embodiment, the present invention allows any conforming access point the ability to routinely scan its airspace, collect data on all operating frequencies and report this information back to a management platform. In one embodiment, the management and reporting functionality described herein uses a standards-based vehicle, such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). In one embodiment, the present invention allows for detection of all wireless traffic within or affecting an enterprise'"'"'s computer network environment, picking up all active access points (Ad Hoc or Infrastructure) and all wireless clients data regardless of SSID, channel, or security settings. The management platform, according to an embodiment of the present invention, analyzes information received from the access points under management to detect and report the state of the computer network environment. In one embodiment, the present invention facilitates isolation of rogue wireless devices affecting the computer network environment and effective decision-making as to management of the detected device. The present invention also allows network administrators to optimize the configuration of the wireless network environment for performance and security.
84 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system facilitating the management of airspace associated with wireless computer network environments, comprising
an airspace management platform operably connected to a computer network, wherein the airspace management platform is operative to: -
transmit requests for scans to wireless access points registered with the airspace management platform, receive, from the wireless access points, scan data characterizing detected wireless traffic, and analyze the data to identify rogue wireless devices; and at least one wireless access point operably connected to the computer network, wherein the at least one wireless access point includes wireless communications functionality allowing for wireless communication with at least one wireless client device; wherein the at least one wireless access point further includes scanning functionality operative to detect wireless traffic on at least one frequency channel; wherein the airspace management platform further comprises an ignored access point table including information relating to previously detected access points; and
wherein the airspace management platform is operative to process scan data against the ignored access point table to identify rogue devices; andwherein the at least one wireless access point comprises a scanning agent operative, in response to a request from the airspace management platform, to; scan for wireless traffic; record scan data characterizing the detected wireless traffic, and transmit the scan data to the airspace management platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification