WLAN infrastructure provided directions and roaming

• US 7,821,986 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomson, Allan, Stephenson, David Sheldon
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/443,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20070280152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 3409951-99519, 370/338, 370/328, 370/352, 370/401, 701200-211, 455/41.2, 455/432.1, 455/456.1, 455/434, 455/436
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for facilitating maintaining wireless connectivity and roaming in wireless networks includes estimating a current location of the wireless client and determining a physical route and a wireless access point route based on the current location and a destination.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for obtaining route information, the computer-readable instructions when executed operable to cause a processor and a network interface to:

transmit a direction request identifying a destination in a physical region;

receive a direction response, wherein the direction response comprises physical route information and wireless access point route information to the destination, wherein the wireless access point route information identifies one or more wireless access points; and

use the wireless access point route information in the direction response when roaming between wireless access points by pre-allocating resources of one or more wireless access points identified in the wireless access point route information prior to establishing a connection with the one or more wireless access points.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the direction request includes a direction update request.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the physical route information comprises a map of at least a portion of the physical region.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the computer readable instructions are further operable to cause the processor and the network interface to display the physical route information to a user.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the computer readable instructions are further operable to cause the processor and the network interface to receive direction updates.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the physical route information and the wireless access point route information are based at least in part on one or more of coverage hole policies and security policies.

7. A wireless client comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory;

a wireless network interface; and

one or more modules, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless client to;

transmit a direction request identifying a destination in a physical region; and

receive a direction response, wherein the direction response comprises physical route information and a wireless access point route information to the destination,

wherein the wireless access point route information identifies one or more wireless access points; and

use the wireless access point route information in the direction response when roaming between wireless access points by pre-allocating resources of one or more wireless access points identified in the wireless access point route information prior to establishing a connection with the one or more wireless access points.

8. The wireless client of claim 7 wherein the direction request includes a direction update request.

9. The wireless client of claim 7 wherein the physical route information comprises a map of at least a portion of the physical region.

10. The wireless client of claim 7 wherein the one or more modules further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless client to display the physical route information to a user.

11. The wireless client of claim 7 wherein the one or more modules further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless client to receive direction updates.

12. The wireless client of claim 7 wherein the physical route information and the wireless access point route information are based at least in part on one or more of coverage hole policies and security policies.

13. A method for obtaining route information comprising:

transmitting a direction request identifying a destination in a physical region; and

receiving a direction response, wherein the direction response comprises physical route information and a wireless access point route information to the

destination, wherein the wireless access point route information identifies one or more wireless access points; and

using the wireless access point route information in the direction response when roaming between wireless access points by pre-allocating resources of one or more wireless access points identified in the wireless access point route information prior to establishing a connection with the one or more wireless access points.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the direction request includes a direction update request.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the physical route information comprises a map of at least a portion of the physical region.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising displaying the physical route information to a user.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving direction updates.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the physical route information and the wireless access point route information are based at least in part on one or more of coverage hole policies and security policies.

19. Logic for providing route information, the logic encoded in one or more media for execution and when executed operable to:

receive a direction request identifying a destination in a physical region;

estimate a current location of a wireless client;

determine credential and black list information associated with the wireless client;

determine physical route information based on the current location, wherein if the wireless client is not authorized to enter one or more particular zones, determine physical route information based at least in part on the credential and black list information;

determine a wireless access point route information to the destination based on the physical route information; and

transmit a direction response, wherein the direction response comprises the physical route information and the wireless access point route information.

20. The logic of claim 19 wherein the logic is further operable to identify the wireless access points based on their proximity to the physical route.

21. The logic of claim 19 wherein the logic is further operable to determine whether a subscription exists.

22. The logic of claim 19 wherein the update event comprises one or more of a predetermined time period, a predetermined distance that the wireless client has traveled, and a network reconfiguration.

23. The logic of claim 19 wherein the logic is further operable to:

determine coverage hole information; and

include a coverage hole notification in the direction response.

24. The logic of claim 19 wherein the physical route information and the wireless access point route information are based at least in part on one or more of coverage hole policies and security policies.

25. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory;

a network interface; and

one or more modules, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless network server to;

receive a direction request identifying a destination in a physical region;

estimate a current location of a wireless client;

determine credential and black list information associated with the wireless client;

determine physical route information based on the current location, wherein if the wireless client is not authorized to enter one or more particular zones, determine physical route information based at least in part on the credential and black list information;

determine a wireless access point route information to the destination based on the physical route information; and

transmit a direction response, wherein the direction response comprises the physical route information and the wireless access point route information.

26. The wireless network server of claim 25 wherein, to determine the wireless access point route information, one or more modules further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless network server to:

identify the wireless access points based on their proximity to the physical route.

27. The wireless network server of claim 25 wherein the one or more modules further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless network server to determine whether a subscription exists.

28. The wireless network server of claim 25 wherein the update event comprises one or more of a predetermined time period, a predetermined distance that the wireless client has traveled, and a network reconfiguration.

29. The wireless network server of claim 25 wherein, to determine physical route information, the one or more modules further comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless network server to:

determine coverage hole information; and

include a coverage hole notification in the direction response.

30. The wireless network server of claim 25 wherein the physical route information and the wireless access point route information are based at least in part on one or more of coverage hole policies and security policies.

31. A method for providing route information, the method comprising:

receiving a direction request identifying a destination in a physical region;

estimating a current location of a wireless client;

determining credential and black list information associated with the wireless client;

determining physical route information based on the current location, wherein if the wireless client is not authorized to enter one or more particular zones, determining physical route information based at least in part on the credential and black list information;

determining a wireless access point route information to the destination based on the physical route information; and

transmitting a direction response, wherein the direction response comprises the physical route information and the wireless access point route information.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising identifying the wireless access points based on their proximity to the physical route.

33. The method of claim 31 further comprising determining whether a subscription exists.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the update event comprises one or more of a predetermined time period, a predetermined distance that the wireless client has traveled, and a network reconfiguration.

35. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

determining coverage hole information; and

including a coverage hole notification in the direction response.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein the physical route information and the wireless access point route information are based at least in part on one or more of coverage hole policies and security policies.

37. A system for providing route information, the system comprising:

a wireless client operable to transmit a direction request identifying a destination in a physical region; and

an apparatus operable to receive the direction request, estimate a current location of a wireless client, determine physical route information based on the current location, determine a wireless access point route information to the destination based on the physical route information, and transmit a direction response to the wireless client, wherein the direction response comprises the physical route information and the wireless access point route information, wherein the wireless access point route information identifies one or more wireless access points; and

wherein the wireless client is further operable to use the wireless access point route information in the direction response when roaming between wireless access points by pre-allocating resources of one or more wireless access points identified in the wireless access point route information.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the physical route information comprises a map of at least a portion of the physical region.

39. The system of claim 37 wherein the apparatus is further operable to identify the wireless access points based on their proximity to the physical route.

40. The system of claim 37 wherein the physical route information and the wireless access point route information are based at least in part on one or more of coverage hole policies and security policies.