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Method and system for detecting characteristics of a wireless network

  • US 7,603,710 B2
  • Filed: 04/03/2003
  • Issued: 10/13/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. In a wireless network, a method comprising:

  • detecting a first packet identifying a wireless access device, a type of the first packet, and at least one device currently communicating with the wireless access device;

    defining a first state of operation of said wireless access device as the type of the first packet and the identity of the at least one device;

    creating a state transition table for the wireless access device that includes a first entry indicative of the first state;

    observing a sampling of fewer than all of a plurality of packets transmitted or received by the wireless access device to determine a type of the sampled packets and one or more source devices or one or more destination devices of the sampled packets;

    defining a current state of operation of the wireless access device as the type of the sampled packets and the one or more source devices or destination devices;

    determining, based on said sampling of packets, that a state change has occurred for the wireless access device when the first state differs from the current state, and when said state change has occurred;

    identifying said state change in said state transition table,generating an event notification indicating said state change, andchecking, using at least one security policy element, whether the state change corresponds to a prohibited activity based on said event notification; and

    sending, based on a result of said checking, an alert indicating that said state change has occurred in the wireless network only when the result of said checking indicates a violation of the at least one security policy element.

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