Wireless mesh network including resilient backhaul links and WLAN traffic local switching
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- at an access point (AP) in a wireless mesh network including a plurality of mesh APs and a root AP forming a root of a tree of the mesh APs in which the mesh APs are linked back to the root AP through parent-child relationships over wireless backhaul links, the root AP having a wired connection to a wired network;
advertising to each child AP of the AP an actual path-cost leading back to the root AP; and
after the advertising, detecting a loss of connectivity from the AP to a controller of the mesh network through which traffic to and from the wireless mesh network is normally routed from and to the wired network, and in response to detecting the loss of connectivity;
if the AP is the root AP, operating the root AP as a proxy controller through which traffic to and from the wireless mesh network is routed from and to the wired network;
notifying each child AP of the loss of connectivity;
maintaining connectivity with parent and child APs over the wireless backhaul links that exist when the loss of connectivity is detected, so as to maintain the tree; and
advertising to each child AP an artificially reduced path-cost that is less than an actual path cost so as to inhibit each child AP from roaming to a different parent AP during the loss of connectivity.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless mesh network includes mesh APs and a root AP forming a root of a tree of the mesh APs in which the mesh APs are linked back to the root AP over wireless backhaul links. The root AP has a wired connection to a wired network. An AP detects a loss of connectivity to a controller through which traffic associated with the AP is normally routed to and from the wired network. In response, if the AP is the root AP, the root AP operates as a proxy controller through which the traffic may be routed. The AP maintains connectivity with parent and child APs over the wireless backhaul links.
9 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
at an access point (AP) in a wireless mesh network including a plurality of mesh APs and a root AP forming a root of a tree of the mesh APs in which the mesh APs are linked back to the root AP through parent-child relationships over wireless backhaul links, the root AP having a wired connection to a wired network; advertising to each child AP of the AP an actual path-cost leading back to the root AP; and after the advertising, detecting a loss of connectivity from the AP to a controller of the mesh network through which traffic to and from the wireless mesh network is normally routed from and to the wired network, and in response to detecting the loss of connectivity; if the AP is the root AP, operating the root AP as a proxy controller through which traffic to and from the wireless mesh network is routed from and to the wired network; notifying each child AP of the loss of connectivity; maintaining connectivity with parent and child APs over the wireless backhaul links that exist when the loss of connectivity is detected, so as to maintain the tree; and advertising to each child AP an artificially reduced path-cost that is less than an actual path cost so as to inhibit each child AP from roaming to a different parent AP during the loss of connectivity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An apparatus comprising:
-
one or more radios in an access point (AP) configured to communicate over backhaul links of a wireless mesh network including a plurality of mesh APs and a root AP forming a root of a tree of the mesh APs in which the mesh APs are linked back to the root AP through parent-child relationships over wireless backhaul links, the root AP having a wired connection to a wired network; and a processor coupled to the one or more radios, the processor configured to; advertise to each child AP of the AP an actual path-cost leading back to the root AP; and after advertising the actual path-cost, detect a loss of connectivity to a controller of the mesh network through which traffic to and from the wireless mesh network is normally routed from and to the wired network, and in response to detecting the loss of connectivity; if the AP is the root AP, operate as a proxy controller through which traffic to and from the wireless mesh network is routed from and to the wired network; notify each child AP of the loss of connectivity; maintain connectivity with parent and child APs over the wireless backhaul links that exist when the loss of connectivity is detected, so as to maintain the tree; and advertise to each child AP an artificially reduced path-cost that is less than an actual path cost so as to inhibit each child AP from roaming to a different parent AP during the loss of connectivity. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A non-transitory processor readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
-
at an access point (AP) in a wireless mesh network including a plurality of mesh APs and a root AP forming a root of a tree of the mesh APs in which the mesh APs are linked back to the root AP through parent-child relationships over wireless backhaul links, the root AP having a wired connection to a wired network; advertise to each child AP of the AP an actual path-cost leading back to the root AP; and after advertising the actual path-cost, detect a loss of connectivity from the AP to a controller of the mesh network through which traffic to and from the wireless mesh network is normally routed from and to the wired network, and in response to detecting the loss of connectivity; if the AP is the root AP, operate the root AP as a proxy controller through which traffic to and from the wireless mesh network is routed from and to the wired network; notify each child AP of the loss of connectivity; maintain connectivity with parent and child APs over the wireless backhaul links that exist when the loss of connectivity is detected, so as to maintain the tree; and advertise to each child AP an artificially reduced path-cost that is less than an actual path cost so as to inhibit each child AP from roaming to a different parent AP during the loss of connectivity. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification