Native WI-FI architecture for 802.11 networks
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a network interface card configured for communicating with a wireless network, and configured for operating in a station only mode, in an access point only mode, and in a station and access point mode; and
a software-based wireless infrastructure system configured for implementing components that are configured for operating in the station only mode, in the access point only mode, and in the station and access point mode, the components comprising;
a station driver configured for communicating with the network interface card;
an access point driver configured for communicating with the network interface card;
a user interface configured for dynamically configuring the device for operation as a station or as an access point, the configuring comprising setting a mode of operation of the network interface card, the mode of operation being selected from a group of modes of operation comprising the station only mode, the access point only mode, and the station and access point mode.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A software based wireless infrastructure system is provided. The system has a driver that communicates with the network stack and a network interface card (NIC), a station server in communication with the station driver and an 802.1X supplicant or an 802.1X authenticator. Each NIC provides station and/or access point functionality support. The driver drops packets that have been received if the packet has not been authenticated and associated. Packets that have been fragmented or encrypted are unfragmented and decrypted. An association manager is used in conjunction with a configuration table manager to associate stations and access points via management packets. A manager receives 802.1X data packets from the packet processor and sends them up to a station server that communicates with user mode applications and an 802.1X supplicant or an 802.1X authenticator that are used to authenticate and deauthenticate stations and access points. APIs are provided to enable communication between the components.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A device comprising:
-
a network interface card configured for communicating with a wireless network, and configured for operating in a station only mode, in an access point only mode, and in a station and access point mode; and a software-based wireless infrastructure system configured for implementing components that are configured for operating in the station only mode, in the access point only mode, and in the station and access point mode, the components comprising; a station driver configured for communicating with the network interface card; an access point driver configured for communicating with the network interface card; a user interface configured for dynamically configuring the device for operation as a station or as an access point, the configuring comprising setting a mode of operation of the network interface card, the mode of operation being selected from a group of modes of operation comprising the station only mode, the access point only mode, and the station and access point mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of operating a computer comprising at least one processor and a network interface card that is configured for communicating with a wireless network, the method comprising:
-
by operating the at least one processor; via a user interface, dynamically configuring software within the computer, the software configured for operating as a station driver and an access point driver, the software further configured for operating the computer as a station or an access point; and setting a mode of operation of the network interface card in accordance with the configured software, the mode of operation being selected from a group of modes of operation comprising a station only mode, an access point only mode, and a station and access point mode, wherein the network interface card supports each mode of the group. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification