Wireless local area network with clients having extended freedom of movement
First Claim
1. A network with wireless access capability comprising:
- a plurality of wireless access points with a first communications protocol;
at least one Ethernet aggregation switch, ones of said plurality of access points being connected to each said at least one Ethernet aggregation switch, each said Ethernet aggregation switch being virtual LAN (VLAN) aware and matching client traffic from connected said access points with access VLANs;
a free-form virtual network switch with a plurality of VLAN trunk interface ports, each said at least one Ethernet aggregation switch connected to one of said plurality of VLAN trunk interface ports, client traffic passing between said access VLANs at each said connected Ethernet aggregation switch and appropriate core VLANs; and
at least one tunnel endpoint connecting to an access VLAN at one of said plurality of VLAN trunk interface ports and bridging an other wireless network through a tunnel to said free-form virtual network switch, said other wireless network having a second communications protocol different than said first communications protocol, wherein client wireless devices having contact with said other wireless network selectively connect to said free-form virtual network switch through said tunnel endpoint wherever said plurality of wireless access points are unavailable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless virtual local area network (VLAN) and a device selectively connecting to the wireless VLAN over a second wireless network that may be independent of the wireless VLAN. The device is capable of connecting to at least the wireless VLAN and to the second wireless network. Wireless VLAN access points are each connected to an Ethernet aggregation switch, which is VLAN aware and matches client traffic from connected access points with access VLANs. A wireless VLAN switch maintains an association table between access VLANs and core VLANs. The second wireless network may be remotely connected over the Internet or a private network to a tunnel endpoint. The tunnel endpoint is connected to the VLAN switch, which uses the association table to manage free-form client traffic between connected devices and other mobile stations at access VLANs and appropriate core VLANs.
143 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A network with wireless access capability comprising:
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a plurality of wireless access points with a first communications protocol; at least one Ethernet aggregation switch, ones of said plurality of access points being connected to each said at least one Ethernet aggregation switch, each said Ethernet aggregation switch being virtual LAN (VLAN) aware and matching client traffic from connected said access points with access VLANs; a free-form virtual network switch with a plurality of VLAN trunk interface ports, each said at least one Ethernet aggregation switch connected to one of said plurality of VLAN trunk interface ports, client traffic passing between said access VLANs at each said connected Ethernet aggregation switch and appropriate core VLANs; and at least one tunnel endpoint connecting to an access VLAN at one of said plurality of VLAN trunk interface ports and bridging an other wireless network through a tunnel to said free-form virtual network switch, said other wireless network having a second communications protocol different than said first communications protocol, wherein client wireless devices having contact with said other wireless network selectively connect to said free-form virtual network switch through said tunnel endpoint wherever said plurality of wireless access points are unavailable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A network with wireless access capability comprising:
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a plurality of wireless access points with a first communications protocol; a plurality of mobile stations wirelessly connectable to said plurality of access points, at least one mobile station connectable to at least one other wireless network each having a communications protocol different than said first communications protocol; Ethernet aggregation means for connecting ones of said plurality of access points to said network, said Ethernet aggregation means being virtual LAN (VLAN) aware and matching client traffic from said plurality of access points with access VLANs; free-form virtual network switching means for switching client traffic between said access VLANs at said Ethernet aggregation means to appropriate core VLANs, said free-form virtual network switching means having a plurality of VLAN trunk interface ports, each said at least one Ethernet aggregation means connected to one of said plurality of VLAN trunk interface ports; and tunnel endpoint means for terminating Ethernet packets tunneling over other wireless networks and providing terminated said Ethernet packets as client traffic to said free-form virtual network switching means, said tunnel endpoint means connected to an access VLAN at one of said plurality of VLAN trunk interface ports and bridging said free-form virtual network switching means through a tunnel to said other wireless network and providing a MAC address proxy for connected one of said at least one mobile station, said free-form virtual network switching means switching client traffic from said tunnel endpoint means to appropriate core VLANs wherever said plurality of wireless access points are unavailable. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A network with wireless access capability comprising:
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a plurality of wireless Ethernet access points; at least one Ethernet aggregation switch, one of said plurality of access points being connected to each said at least one Ethernet aggregation switch, each said Ethernet aggregation switch being virtual LAN (VLAN) aware and matching client traffic from connected said access points with access VLANs; a free-form virtual network switch passing client traffic between said access VLANs at each said connected Ethernet aggregation switch and appropriate core VLANs; and at least one IP tunnel endpoint to an IP layer 2 tunnel bridging a cell phone network to said free-form virtual network switch, wherein client wireless Ethernet devices having contact with said cell phone network seamlessly connect to said free-form virtual network switch through said cell phone network to said IP tunnel endpoint whenever said plurality of wireless Ethernet access points are unavailable.
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Specification