Seamless roaming options in an IEEE 802.11 compliant network

#The present invention relates to the field of networking. In particular, this invention relates to a protocol for providing load balancing and test pattern signal evaluation information to wireless units in accordance with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 constraints.

#The ability of users to access programs and share data over local area networks (referred to as “LANs”) has become a necessity for most working environments. To improve efficiency and ease of use, certain enhancements may be added to a LAN such as remote wireless access. By providing remote wireless access, a wireless LAN (WLAN) is formed.

#As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,062 issued to Netwave Technologies, Inc., now owned by Nortel Networks Limited, one type of WLAN employs dedicated stations, which are referred to as access points (APs). Therein, each AP is a relay station that includes a radio frequency (RF) transceiver that receives radio data packets from a mobile unit such as a notebook-type computer with a suitable adapter card as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,062. Thereafter, the AP transmits the data packets to the fixed backbone network. Of course, the AP may receive data from the fixed, backbone network and transmit it to one or more mobile units.

#The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention in which:

#FIG. 1 is a first exemplary embodiment of a wireless network system.

#FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of an access point (AP) of a wireless network system.

#Herein, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a protocol for providing static load balancing and test pattern signal evaluation information to wireless units while still maintaining compliance with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11. These embodiments are not exclusive; rather, they merely provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Well-known circuits are not set forth in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.

#In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe features of the present invention. For example, “logic” includes hardware and/or software module(s) that perform a certain function on incoming information. A “software module” is executable code such as an operating system, an application or an applet for example. The term “information” is defined as data, address, and/or control. For transmission, the information may be placed in a frame featuring a single data packet or a series of data packets.

#In addition, a “link” is broadly defined as one or more information-carrying mediums to establish a communication pathway. Examples of the medium include a physical medium (e.g., electrical wire, optical fiber, cable, bus traces, etc.) or a wireless medium (e.g., air in combination with wireless signaling technology).