Communication system and method for discovering end-points that utilize a link layer connection in a wired/wireless local area network

• US 8,254,346 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2003
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Martin, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Blanche
• Application Number:
  US10/606,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20040054820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,351 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/312, 370/432, 370/445, 370/480, 370/245, 370/313
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02529 not involving signal parameters, i.e. only involving identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1607 Details of the supervisory signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/201 Multicast operation; Broadcast operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/323 in the physical layer [OSI layer 1]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/327 in the session layer [OSI layer 5]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 : for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 : for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 : Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 : using signalling between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 : Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 : Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 : Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/045 : between access point and backbone network device

Abstract

Aspects of the invention provide a communication system and method in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network. At least one discovery message may be broadcasted to at least one of a plurality of access points. A response may be received from one or more of the access points. The response may report a presence of at least one access device located within a coverage area of one or more of the access points. A status of at least one access device located within a coverage area of one or more of the access points may be requested from the access points.

Claims

1. A method for providing communication in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network, the method comprising:

in a network device;

broadcasting, by the network device, at least one discovery message to at least one of a plurality of access points within the hybrid wired/wireless local area network, wherein said at least one of said plurality of access points is operable to connect at least one device to the hybrid wired/wireless local area network;

receiving, by the network device, a response from said at least one of said plurality of access points, said response reporting a presence of at least one access device located within a coverage area of said at least one of said plurality of access points, said at least one access device being separate and distinct from the network device and from said at least one of said plurality of access points; and

requesting, by the network device, from said at least one of said plurality of access points, a status of said at least one access device located within said coverage area of said at least one of said plurality of access points by sending at least one status request message only to a particular one of said plurality of access points within whose coverage area said at least one access device is located.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising, receiving from said particular one of said plurality of access points within whose coverage area said at least one access device is located, at least one status reply message indicating said status of said at least one access device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein one or more of the following:

said at least one discovery message, said at least one status request message and said at least one status reply message is transmitted utilizing a messaging protocol of a device communication protocol umbrella.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said broadcasting comprises broadcasting said at least one discovery message from one or more of the following:

a server, a switch and at least another one of said plurality of access points.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said broadcasting comprises broadcasting said at least one discovery message only to one or more of said plurality of access points located in a particular subnetwork of said hybrid wired/wireless local area network, said subnetwork with a particular IP address.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon a computer program having at least one code section for providing communication in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network, the at least one code section executable by a computer for causing the computer to perform the steps comprising:

in a network device;

broadcasting, by the network device, at least one discovery message to at least one of a plurality of access points within the hybrid wired/wireless local area network, wherein said at least one of said plurality of access points is operable to connect at least one device to the hybrid wired/wireless local area network;

receiving, by the network device, a response from said at least one of said plurality of access points, said response reporting a presence of at least one access device located within a coverage area of said at least one of said plurality of access points, said at least one access device being separate and distinct from the network device and from said at least one of said plurality of access points; and

requesting, by the network device, from said at least one of said plurality of access points, a status of said at least one access device located within said coverage area of said at least one of said plurality of access points by sending at least one status request message only to a particular one of said plurality of access points within whose coverage area said at least one access device is located.

7. The computer-readable medium according to claim 6, comprising code for receiving from said particular one of said plurality of access points within whose coverage area said at least one access device is located, at least one status reply message indicating said status of said at least one access device.

8. The computer-readable medium according to claim 7, wherein one or more of the following:

said at least one discovery message, said at least one status request message and said at least one status reply message is transmitted utilizing a messaging protocol of a device communication protocol umbrella.

9. The computer-readable medium according to claim 6, wherein said broadcasting code comprises code for broadcasting said at least one discovery message from one or more of the following:

a server, a switch and at least another one of said plurality of access points.

10. The computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein said broadcasting code comprises code for broadcasting said at least one discovery message only to one or more of said plurality of access points located in a particular subnetwork of said hybrid wired/wireless local area network, said subnetwork with a particular IP address.

11. A system for providing communication in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network, the system comprising:

at least one broadcaster within a network device, the at least one broadcaster broadcasts at least one discovery message to at least one of a plurality of access points within the hybrid wired/wireless local area network, wherein said at least one of said plurality of access points is operable to connect at least one device to the hybrid wired/wireless local area network;

at least one receiver within the network device, the at least one receiver receives a response from said at least one of said plurality of access points, said response reporting a presence of at least one access device located within a coverage area of said at least one of said plurality of access points, said at least one access device being separate and distinct from the network device and from said at least one of said plurality of access points; and

a requester within the network device, the at least one requester requests from said at least one of said plurality of access points, a status of said at least one access device located within said coverage area of said at least one of said plurality of access points by sending at least one status request message only to a particular one of said plurality of access points within whose coverage area said at least one access device is located.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said at least one receiver receives from said particular one of said plurality of access points within whose coverage area said at least one access device is located, at least one status reply message indicating said status of said at least one access device.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein one or more of the following:

said at least one discovery message, said at least one status request message and said at least one status reply message comprises is transmitted utilizing a messaging protocol of a device communication protocol umbrella.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said at least one broadcaster broadcasts said at least one discovery message from one or more of the following:

a server, a switch and at least another one of said plurality of access points.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said broadcaster broadcasts said at least one discovery message only to one or more of said plurality of access points located in a particular subnetwork of said hybrid wired/wireless local area network, said subnetwork with a particular IP address.

16. A system for providing communication in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network, the system comprising:

one or more circuits within a network device, said one or more circuits broadcast at least one discovery message to at least one of a plurality of access points within the hybrid wired/wireless local area network, wherein said at least one of said plurality of access points is operable to connect at least one device to the hybrid wired/wireless local area network;

said one or more circuits receive a response from said at least one of said plurality of access points, said response reporting a presence of at least one access device located within a coverage area of said at least one of said plurality of access points, said at least one access device being separate and distinct from the network device and from said at least one of said plurality of access points; and

said one or more circuits request from said at least one of said plurality of access points, a status of said at least one access device located within said coverage area of said at least one of said plurality of access points by sending at least one status request message only to a particular one of said plurality of access points within whose coverage area said at least one access device is located.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits receive from said particular one of said plurality of access points within whose coverage area said at least one access device is located, said at least one status reply message indicating said status of said at least one access device.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein one or more of the following:

said at least one discovery message, said at least one status request message and said at least one status reply message is transmitted utilizing a messaging protocol of a device communication protocol umbrella.

19. A system for providing communication in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network, the system comprising:

at least one processor within a network device, said at least one processor tJ;

;

1.at broadcasts at least one discovery message to at least one of a plurality of access points within the hybrid wired/wireless local area network, wherein said at least one of said plurality of access points is operable to connect at least one device to the hybrid wired/wireless local area network;

said at least one processor receives a response from said at least one of said plurality of access points, said response reporting a presence of at least one access device located within a coverage area of said at least one of said plurality of access points, said at least one access device being separate and distinct from the network device and from said at least one of said plurality of access points; and

said at least one processor requests from said at least one of said plurality of access points, a status of said at least one access device located within said coverage area of said at least one of said plurality of access points by sending at least one status request message only to a particular one of said plurality of access points within whose coverage area said at least one access device is located.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said at least one processor receives from said particular one of said plurality of access points within whose coverage area said at least one access device is located, at least one status reply message indicating said status of said at least one access device.