System and method for reducing broadcast traffic wireless access-point networks

• US 7,356,032 B1
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon BBN Technlogies Corp. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BBN Technologies (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Sumorok, Daniel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad; Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong; Blanche
• Application Number:
  US10/285,721
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/103 across network layers, e.g. resolution of network layer into physical layer addresses or address resolution protocol [ARP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for reducing broadcast traffic in a wireless backbone network. In operation, a wireless access point receives an address resolution protocol (ARP) message from a network device. The wireless access point determines the destination of the ARP message and attempts to identify the Ethernet address associated with the destination network device. If the Ethernet address cannot be determined, the access point sends an ARP request message to the other wireless access points on the network, requesting them to transmit ARP packets to the network device. When the desired network device comes within range of the network, the access points discontinue transmitting ARP packets and a message acknowledging the device'"'"'s presence is transmitted to the original access point. This method of having access points periodically broadcast ARP packets to network devices reduces ARP broadcasting across the wireless backbone, thereby increasing network throughput.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for communicating an information packet on a wireless network including a plurality of wireless access points, said method comprising;

receiving said information packet by a first one of said plurality of wireless access points from a first wireless network device registered with said first wireless access point, said information packet comprising a request to communicate with a second wireless network device and an identifier for the second wireless network device;

searching a table stored on said first wireless access point with the identifier to determine at least a second wireless access point not attempting to register said second wireless network device;

forwarding a second request by said first wireless access point to said at least second wireless access point to register said second wireless network device;

repeating the searching and forwarding steps for at least a subset of said plurality of wireless access points on the wireless network;

transmitting said request by said at least second wireless access point to at least one unregistered network device in-range of said at least second wireless access point; and

registering said at least one unregistered network device on said at least second access point, wherein said at least one unregistered network device corresponds to said second wireless network device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a response message from said at least second wireless access point to said first wireless access point, said response message including a reply from said second network device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving said response message by said first wireless access point from said at least second wireless access point, said response message including a reply from said second network device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding further comprises:

receiving a message from said at least second wireless access point, said message including a period of time said at least second wireless access point will attempt to register said second wireless network device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is an address resolution protocol (ARP) message.

6. A computer-readable medium containing instructions, which when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to carry out a method for communicating an information packet on a wireless network including a plurality of wireless access points, comprising:

receiving said information packet by a first one of said plurality of wireless access points from a first wireless network device registered with said first wireless access point, said information package comprising a request to communicate with a second wireless network device and an identifier for the second wireless network device;

searching a table stored on said first wireless access point with the identifier to determine at least a second wireless access point not attempting to register said second wireless network device;

forwarding a second request by said first wireless access point to said at least second wireless access point to register said second wireless network device;

repeating the searching and forwarding steps for at least a subset of said plurality of wireless access points on the wireless network;

transmitting said request by said at least second wireless access point to at least one unregistered network device in-range of said at least second wireless access point; and

registering said at least one unregistered network device on said at least second access point, wherein said at least one unregistered network device corresponds to said second wireless network device.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising instructions, which when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to transmit a response message from said at least second wireless access point to said first wireless access point, said response message including a reply from said second network device.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions, which when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to receive said response message by said first wireless access point from said at least second wireless access point, said response message including a reply from said second network device.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein forwarding comprises:

receiving a message from said at least second wireless access point, said message including a period of time said at least second wireless access point will attempt to register said second wireless network device.

10. A wireless network including a plurality of wireless access points with at least one associated wireless network device, said network comprising:

means for receiving an information packet by a first one of said plurality of wireless access points from a first wireless network device registered with said first wireless access point, said information packet comprising a request to communicate with a second wireless network device and an identifier for the second wireless network device;

means for searching a table stored on said first wireless access point with the identifier to determine at least a second wireless access point not attempting to register said second wireless network device;

means for forwarding a second request by said first wireless access point to said at least a second wireless access point to register said second wireless network device;

means for repeating the searching and forwarding steps for at least a subset of said plurality of wireless access points on the wireless network;

means for transmitting said request by said at least second wireless access point to at least one unregistered network device in-range of said at least second wireless access point; and

means for registering said at least one unregistered network device on said at least second access point, wherein said at least one unregistered network device corresponds to said second wireless network device.

11. A computer system for communicating an information packet on a wireless network including a plurality of wireless access points, comprising:

a memory having program instructions; and

a processor configured to use the program instructions to;

receive said information packet by a first one of said plurality of wireless access points from a first wireless network device registered with said first wireless access point, said information packet comprising a request to communicate with a second wireless network device and an identifier for the second wireless network device;

search a table stored on said first wireless access point with the identifier to determine at least a second wireless access point not;

attempting to register said second wireless network device;

forward a second request by said first wireless access point to said at least a second wireless access point to register said second wireless network device; and

repeat the searching and forwarding steps for at least a subset of said plurality of wireless access points on the wireless network;

transmit said request by said at least second wireless access point to at least one unregistered network device in-range of said at least second wireless access point; and

register said at least one unregistered network device on said at least second access point, wherein said at least one unregistered network device corresponds to said second wireless network device.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the processor includes instructions to transmit a response message from said at least second wireless access point to said first wireless access point, said response message including a reply from said second network device.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the processor includes instructions to receive said response message by said first wireless access point from said at least second wireless access point, said response message including a reply from said second network device.

14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the forwarding instruction is further comprised of the following instructions:

receive a message from said at least second wireless access point, said message including a period of time said at least second wireless access point will attempt to register said second wireless network device.