US 12,757,259 B2 · Configuring backup wireless access points (WAPS)

Abstract

The disclosure describes techniques for configuring wireless routers of a wireless mesh network with one or more secondary wireless access points (WAPs) such that client devices connected to the mesh network may remain online in the event that a primary WAP goes offline or otherwise becomes unavailable. For instance, a user of the wireless mesh network may specify a device, such as a mobile electronic device connected to a cellular network, to operate as a secondary WAP in the event that a primary WAP becomes unavailable. Thereafter, upon a wireless router of the mesh network detecting that the primary WAP is unavailable, the wireless router may perform a network scan to identify SSID(s) that are available within the environment. The wireless router may also instruct the other routers of the mesh network to perform a network scan.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method implemented at least in part at a first wireless router of a wireless mesh network that includes at least the first wireless router and a second wireless router, the method comprising:

establishing a network connection between the first wireless router and an Internet Service Provider (ISP);
storing, at the first wireless router, credential data associated with establishing, at least partly in response to termination of the network connection, a wireless connection with a secondary wireless access point (WAP);
determining, after the storing, that the network connection has terminated;
sending, to the second wireless router and in response to the determining that the network connection has terminated, instruction data representing an instruction to scan for available wireless networks in the environment;
scanning, by the first wireless router, for available wireless networks in the environment;
determining, based on at least one of the sending or the scanning, that a secondary WAP is available;
and
establishing, using the credential data, the wireless connection between the first wireless router and the secondary WAP.

5 more elements

A method comprising:

establishing, in an environment that includes a first electronic device wirelessly connected to a second electronic device, a network connection between the first electronic device and an Internet Service Provider (ISP) server;
storing, at the first electronic device, first data associated with establishing, at least partly in response to termination of the network connection, a wireless connection with a secondary wireless access point (WAP) connected to the ISP server or a different ISP server;
determining, after the storing, that the network connection has terminated;
sending, to the second electronic device and in response to the determining the network connection has terminated, instruction data representing an instruction to scan for available wireless networks in the environment;
scanning, by the first electronic device, for available wireless networks in the environment;
determining that the secondary WAP is available;
and
establishing, using the first data, the wireless connection between the secondary WAP and at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device.

5 more elements

A computing device comprising:

one or more processors;
and
one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
establishing, in an environment that includes the computing device wirelessly connected to a second electronic device, a network connection between the computing device and an Internet Service Provider (ISP) server;
storing first data associated with establishing, at least partly in response to termination of the network connection, a wireless connection with a secondary wireless access point (WAP) connected to the ISP server or a different ISP server;
determining, after the storing, that the network connection has terminated;
sending, to the second electronic device and in response to the determining the network connection has terminated, instruction data representing an instruction to scan for available wireless networks in the environment;
scanning for available wireless networks in the environment;
determining that the secondary WAP is available;
and
establishing, using the first data, the wireless connection between the secondary WAP and at least one of the computing device or the second electronic device.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Configuring backup wireless access points (WAPS)

Life of this patent

Configuring backup wireless access points (WAPS)

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21