Method and system for location based configuration of a wireless access point (WAP) and an access device in a hybrid wired/wireless network

• US 8,315,211 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frank, Ed H.
• Primary Examiner(s): PARK, JUNG H
• Application Number:
  US10/658,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20040051664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,360 Days
• Field of Search: 370/208, 370/229, 370/230, 370/235, 370/252, 370/254, 370/328, 370/329, 370/331, 370/338, 370/352
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02521 using a radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1607 Details of the supervisory signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• 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 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• 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 69/18 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 69/329 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 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 : Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

Aspects of the invention provide a method and system for location based configuration of a wireless access point and an access device in a hybrid wired/wireless network. A method for providing location based configuration in a hybrid wired/wireless network may include identifying a location of a network device within the hybrid wired/wireless network. Configuration information corresponding to the determined location of the network device may be determined. The determined configuration information may be communicated to the networking device in order to facilitate location based configuration of the network device. The network device may include, but is not limited to, an access device, an access point and a switching device.

Claims

1. A method for providing location based configuration in a hybrid wired/wireless network, the method comprising:

identifying a location of a network device within the hybrid wired/wireless network, the network device being movable within the hybrid wired/wireless network, where the network device is selected from a group consisting of an access device, an access point and a switching device;

determining, outside of said network device, configuration information for said network device, said configuration information corresponding to said identified location of said network device;

discovering at least a portion of said configuration information from at least one of a database, and a memory associated with at least one of said access point and said switching device, where said discovering comprises scanning said database and said memory by said access device, said access point and said switching device to discover said configuration information; and

communicating said determined configuration information to said network device, where said determined configuration information facilitates seamless network service to said network device without denial or disconnection from the hybrid wired/wireless network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said determining comprises scanning at least one RF channel by at least one of said access point and said access device to discover at least a portion of said configuration information.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said RF channel is both a broadcast channel and a setup channel.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising updating said network device with said communicated configuration information.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising dynamically updating said network device with said communicated information whenever it is determined that at least one network setting corresponding to said location of said network device has changed.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said determined information is at least one of bandwidth etiquette and sharing rules, channel availability, preferred channel, and available communication protocols.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said determining comprises:

sending a ping message to one or more network routing devices;

receiving routing information associated with said ping message; and

triangulating locations of said one or more network routing devices named in said received routing information to determine said location of said network device.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising querying said network device for location information.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising informing at least one of said access point, said access device and said switching device of at least one network parameter related to said location based configuration.

10. A machine-readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having at least one code section for providing location based configuration in a hybrid wired/wireless network testing, the at least one code section executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps comprising:

identifying a location of a network device within the hybrid wired/wireless network, the network device being movable within the hybrid wired/wireless network, where said network device is selected from a group consisting of an access device, an access point and a switching device;

determining, outside of said network device, configuration information for said network device, said configuration information corresponding to said identified location of said network device;

discovering at least a portion of said configuration information from at least one of a database, and a memory associated with at least one of said access point and said switching device, where said discovering comprises scanning said database and said memory by said access device, access point and switching device to discover said configuration information; and

communicating said determined configuration information to said network device, said determined configuration information facilitates seamless network service to said network device without denial or disconnection from the hybrid wired/wireless network.

11. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said determining code section comprises code for scanning at least one RF channel by at least one of said access point and said access device to discover at least a portion of said configuration information.

12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein said RF channel is both a broadcast channel and a setup channel.

13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, comprising code for updating said network device with said communicated configuration information.

14. The machine-readable storage according to claim 13, comprising code for dynamically updating said network device with said communicated information whenever it is determined that at least one network setting corresponding to said location of said network device has changed.

15. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said determined information is at least one of bandwidth etiquette and sharing rules, channel availability, preferred channel, and available communication protocols.

16. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said determining code section comprises code for:

sending a ping message to one or more network routing devices;

receiving routing information associated with said ping message; and

triangulating locations of said one or more network routing devices named in said received routing information to determine said location of said network device.

17. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, comprising code for querying said network device for location information.

18. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, comprising code for informing at least one of said access point, said access device and said switching device of at least one network parameter related to said location based configuration.

19. A system for providing location based configuration in a hybrid wired/wireless network, the system comprising:

an identifier adapted to identify a location of a network device within the hybrid wired/wireless network, the network device being movable within the hybrid wired/wireless network, where said network device is selected from a group consisting of an access device, an access point and a switching device;

a determinator adapted to determine, outside of said network device, configuration information for said network device, said configuration information corresponding to said identified location of said network device;

a discoverer adapted to discover at least a portion of said configuration information from at least one of a database, and a memory associated with at least one of said access point and said switching device;

a scanner adapted to scan said database and said memory by said access device, access point and switching device to discover said configuration information; and

a communicator adapted to communicate said determined configuration information to said network device for providing location based configuration of said network device, said determined configuration information facilitates seamless network service to said network device without denial or disconnection from the hybrid wired/wireless network.

20. The system according to claim 19, comprising another scanner adapted to scan at least one RF channel by at least one of said access point and said access device to discover said configuration information.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said RF channel is both a broadcast channel and a setup channel.

22. The system according to claim 19, comprising an updater adapted to update said network device with said communicated configuration information.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said updater may be adapted to dynamically update said network device with said communicated information whenever it is determined that at least one network setting corresponding to said location of said network device has changed.

24. The system according to claim 19, wherein said determined information is at least one of bandwidth etiquette and sharing rules, channel availability, preferred channel, and available communication protocols.

25. The system according to claim 19, comprising:

a sender adapted to send at least one ping message to one or more network routing devices;

a receiver adapted to receive routing information associated with said ping message; and

a triangulator adapted to triangulate locations of said one or more network routing devices named in said received routing information to determine said location of said network device.

26. The system according to claim 19, comprising at least one querying agent for querying said network device for location information.

27. The system according to claim 19, comprising at least one informing agent for informing at least one of said access point, said access device and said switching device of at least one network parameter related to said location based configuration.