Device and method for detecting unauthorized, “rogue” wireless LAN access points

A wireless local area network (LAN) monitoring system comprising:

• a wired LAN;
• a wireless LAN comprising at least one access point connected to said wired LAN for allowing wireless devices to communicate to the wired LAN;
• and
• a wireless LAN monitoring device connected to said wired LAN for receiving wireless LAN radio frequency signals from access points or wireless devices and determining the existence of an unauthorized access point or wireless device within the vicinity of the wired LAN, and comprising;
• a multi-sector antenna or phased array antenna that receives wireless LAN radio frequency signals,
• a network interface that receives the wireless LAN radio frequency signals from the antenna and demodulates the received radio frequency signals into packet communications signals;
• and
• a processor operatively connected to said network interface for monitoring and analyzing said packet communications signals for unauthorized access points and wireless devices.

A wireless local area network (LAN) monitoring device for determining the existence of an unauthorized access point or wireless device comprising:

• a low-noise preamplifier that receives wireless LAN radio frequency signals from access points or wireless devices and preamplifies the signals;
• a network interface that receives the wireless LAN radio frequency signals from the low-noise preamplifier and demodulates the received wireless LAN radio frequency signals into packet communications signals;
• and
• a processor operatively connected to said network interface for monitoring and analyzing said packet communications signals for unauthorized access points and wireless devices.

A wireless local area network (LAN) monitoring device for determining the existence of an unauthorized access point or wireless device comprising:

• a multi-sector or phased array antenna that receives wireless LAN radio frequency signals from access points or wireless devices;
• a network interface that receives the wireless LAN radio frequency signals from the multi-sector or phased array antenna and demodulates the received radio frequency signals into packet communications signals;
• and
• a processor operatively connected to said network
• interface for monitoring and analyzing said packet communications signals for unauthorized access points and wireless devices.