Blue tooth out-of-band management and traffic monitoring for wireless access points

• US 20030021250A1
• Filed: 07/24/2001
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Vollkommer, Richard M., Willins, Bruce A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,680,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/344 Out-of-band transfers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

In a wireless data communications system a method is provided for conducting out-of-band for management and other communications with access points. The system operates under a first protocol, such as IEEE 802.11 protocol to provide wireless data communications. The access points are provided with a second radio module for conducting wireless data communications using a second protocol, such as Bluetooth. A wireless terminal, operating as a Bluetooth master can access the processor in the access point to conduct management and other communications relating to the operation of the access point.

Claims

1. In a system for providing wireless data communication using a first protocol, said system having access points for conducting wireless data communications with mobile units using said first protocol, a method for conducting out of band management communications with an access point comprising providing said access point with a radio module operating according to a second wireless data communications protocol, and conducting management communications with said access point using said second wireless data communications protocol

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said first protocol is 802.11 Protocol.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said second wireless data communications protocol is Bluetooth.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said conducting management communications includes authenticating said communications.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second wireless data communications protocol is Bluetooth.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein said conducting management communications includes associating said radio module as a slave unit.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said conducting management communications includes authenticating said communications.

8. An access point for use in a wireless data communication system, comprising:

a first interface for conducting data communications with one or more computers a first radio module using a first protocol for transmitting wireless data messages received at said first interface and for receiving and relaying data messages via said first interface;

at least one processor connected to said first interface and said radio module for controlling said access point, said processor having a port; and

a second radio module operating using a second wireless data communications protocol, different from said first protocol, for providing wireless data communications with said processor via said port.

9. An access point as specified in claim 8, wherein said second radio module is arranged to operate as a slave module using a master slave protocol.

10. An access point as specified in claim 8, wherein said second radio module is arranged to operate as a slave module using the Bluetooth protocol.

11. An access point as specified in claim 8 wherein aid processor is further arranged to authenticate communications via said second radio module.