Apparatus, system, and method for rapid wireless network association
First Claim
1. An apparatus for rapid wireless network association, the apparatus comprising:
- a search module configured to conduct a preliminary full band search on a predefined frequency spectrum to identify the frequency of an active communication channel;
an investigation module configured to investigate the availability of the active communication channel identified during the preliminary full band search; and
an association module configured to associate with a wireless network device on the available active communication channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for rapid wireless network association. The apparatus includes a logic unit containing a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of conducting a preliminary full band search on a predefined frequency spectrum to identify the frequency of an active communication channel, investigate the availability of the active communication channels identified during the preliminary search, and associate with a wireless network device on the available active communication channel. These modules in the described embodiments include a search module, an investigation module, and an association module. Beneficially such an apparatus, system, and method provide for more efficient searching, scanning, and association than typically found in wireless networks.
172 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus for rapid wireless network association, the apparatus comprising:
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a search module configured to conduct a preliminary full band search on a predefined frequency spectrum to identify the frequency of an active communication channel;
an investigation module configured to investigate the availability of the active communication channel identified during the preliminary full band search; and
an association module configured to associate with a wireless network device on the available active communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for rapid wireless network association, the apparatus comprising:
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a transmit module configured to transmit energy that can be detected during a preliminary full band search on a predefined frequency spectrum;
a receive module configured to receive an association request from a wireless network device; and
an association module configured to associate with a wireless network device on an available active communication channel in response to the association request.
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11. A system for rapid wireless network association, the system comprising:
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a wireless access point configured for wireless network connections; and
a wireless network client configured to;
enable operation according to promiscuous mode to conduct a preliminary full band search on a predefined frequency spectrum to identify the frequency of an active communication channel;
investigate availability of the active communication channel identified during the preliminary full band search; and
associate with a wireless access point on an available active communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations for rapid wireless network association, the operations comprising:
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conducting a preliminary full band search on a predefined frequency spectrum to identify the frequency of an active communication channel;
investigating availability of the active communication channel identified during the preliminary full band search; and
associating with a wireless access point on an available active communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for rapid wireless network association, the method comprising:
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conducting a preliminary full band search on a predefined frequency spectrum to identify the frequency of an active communication channel;
investigating availability of the active communication channel identified during the preliminary full band search; and
associating with a wireless access point on an available active communication channel.
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30. An apparatus for rapid wireless network association, the apparatus comprising:
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means for conducting a preliminary full band search on a predefined frequency spectrum to identify the frequency of an active communication channel;
means for investigating availability of the active communication channel identified during the preliminary full band search; and
means for associating with a wireless access point on an available active communication channel.
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Specification