Method and apparatus for automatically configuring devices on a wireless network

A method in a first wireless station of a wireless network, the method comprising:

• wirelessly receiving a discovery message transmitted by a second wireless station;
• wirelessly transmitting a configuration request message in response to wirelessly receiving the discovery message;
• wirelessly receiving a configuration data message from the second wireless station, the configuration data message being transmitted by the second wireless station within a settable time interval in response to the second station receiving the configuration request message and after the second station waits for a backoff time interval;
• extracting one or more configuration parameters from the configuration data message;
• and
• applying the one or more configuration parameters to the first wireless station to configure the first wireless station,
• such that the first wireless station can be automatically configured,
• wherein the transmitting of the discovery message by the second wireless station includes:
• the second wireless station wirelessly transmitting the discovery message at a first output RF power level;
• the second wireless station waiting for a configuration request message;
• in the case that no configuration request message is wirelessly received by the second wireless station within a period of time, wirelessly re-transmitting the discovery message at a higher output RF power level;
• and
• the second wireless station repeating such waiting and re-transmitting until either a maximum output RF power level has been reached, or a configuration request message has been wirelessly received by the second wireless station,
• such that the range of reception of the wirelessly transmitted configuration data message is limited.

A computer-readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor in a first wireless station of a wireless network cause carrying out a method in the first wireless station, the method comprising:

• wirelessly transmitting a discovery message;
• waiting for a settable time interval to wirelessly receive a configuration request message from a second wireless station within the settable time interval, the configuration request message being wirelessly transmitted by the second wireless station in response to the discovery message being wirelessly received by the second wireless station;
• and
• in the case the configuration request message is received within the settable time interval, generating a configuration data message for the second wireless station including one or more configuration parameters for the second wireless station, and wirelessly transmitting the configuration data message to the second wireless station,
• such that the second wireless station can be configured,
• wherein the transmitting of the configuration message is after waiting for a backoff time interval, and
• wherein the wirelessly transmitting the discovery message includes:
• wirelessly transmitting the discovery message at a first output RF power level;
• waiting for a configuration request message;
• in the case that no configuration request message is wirelessly received within a period of time, wirelessly re-transmitting the discovery message at a higher output RF power level;
• and
• repeating such waiting and re-transmitting until either a maximum output RF power level has been reached, or a configuration request message has been wirelessly received,
• such that the range of reception of the wirelessly transmitted configuration data message is limited.

A computer-readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor in a first wireless station of a wireless network cause carrying out a method in the first wireless station, the method comprising:

• wirelessly receiving a discovery message transmitted by a second wireless station;
• wirelessly transmitting a configuration request message in response to wirelessly receiving the discovery message;
• wirelessly receiving a configuration data message from the second wireless station, the configuration data message being transmitted by the second wireless station within a settable time interval in response to the second station receiving the configuration request message and after the second station waits for a backoff time interval;
• extracting one or more configuration parameters from the configuration data message;
• and
• applying the one or more configuration parameters to the first wireless station to configure the first wireless station,
• such that the first wireless station can be automatically configured,
• wherein the transmitting of the discovery message by the second wireless station includes:
• the second wireless station wirelessly transmitting the discovery message at a first output RF power level;
• the second wireless station waiting for a configuration request message;
• in the case that no configuration request message is wirelessly received by the second wireless station within a period of time, wirelessly re-transmitting the discovery message at a higher output RF power level;
• and
• the second wireless station repeating such waiting and re-transmitting until either a maximum output RF power level has been reached, or a configuration request message has been wirelessly received by the second wireless station,
• such that the range of reception of the wirelessly transmitted configuration data message is limited.

An apparatus in, a first station of a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

• means for wirelessly receiving;
• means for wirelessly transmitting;
• and
• means for responding, including means for waiting, the means for waiting configured to wait for a settable time interval for the means for wirelessly receiving to receive, the means for responding configured to respond, after the settable time interval, to receiving a configuration request message from a second wireless station, the means for responding including means for generating a configuration data message for the second wireless station including one or more configuration parameters for the second wireless station, and using the means for wirelessly transmitting to transmit the configuration data message to the second wireless station,
• such that the second wireless station can be configured,
• wherein the configuration request message is wirelessly transmitted by the second wireless station in response to the discovery message being wirelessly received by the second wireless station,
• wherein the transmitting of the configuration message is after waiting for a backoff time interval, and
• wherein the means for wirelessly transmitting the discovery message includes:
• means for wirelessly transmitting a discovery message at a first output RF power level;
• means for waiting for a configuration request message;
• means for ascertaining whether no configuration request message has been wirelessly received within a period of time,
• means responsive to the means for ascertaining for wirelessly retransmitting the discovery message at a higher output RF power level if it is ascertained that no configuration request message has been receive within the period;
• and
• means for repeating such waiting and re-transmitting until either a maximum output RF power level has been reached, or a configuration request message has been wirelessly received such that the range of reception of the wirelessly transmitted configuration data message is limited.

An apparatus in first a station of a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

• a wireless transceiver coupled to an antenna and able to wirelessly transmit and wirelessly receive messages to and from another wireless station;
• a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to cause the wireless transceiver to wirelessly transmit a discovery message and to wait for a settable time interval to wirelessly receive a configuration request message from a second wireless station within the settable time interval the configuration request message being wirelessly transmitted by the second wireless station in response to the discovery message being wirelessly received by the second wireless station,
• in the case that the configuration request message is received from the second wireless station within the settable time period, the processor being further configured:
• to generate a configuration data message for the second wireless station including one or more configuration parameters for the second wireless station;
• and
• to cause the wireless transceiver to transmit the configuration data message to the second wireless station,
• such that the second wireless station can be configured,
• wherein the transmitting of the configuration message is after waiting for a backoff time interval, and
• wherein the wirelessly transmitting the discovery message includes:
• wirelessly transmitting the discovery message at a first output RF power waiting for a configuration request message;
• in the case that no configuration request message is wirelessly received within a period of time, wirelessly re-transmitting the discovery message at a higher output RF power level;
• and
• repeating such waiting and re-transmitting until either a maximum output RF power level has been reached, or a configuration request message has been wirelessly received,
• such that the range of reception of the wirelessly transmitted configuration data message is limited.

An apparatus in a first wireless station of a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

• means for wirelessly receiving;
• means for wirelessly transmitting;
• and
• means for responding configured to respond to wirelessly receiving a configuration data message from a second wireless station, the responding to wirelessly receiving the configuration data message including extracting one or more configuration parameters from the configuration data message, and applying the one or more configuration parameters to the first wireless station,
• wherein the apparatus is configured such that the means for wirelessly transmitting transmits a configuration request message in response to wirelessly receiving a discovery message transmitted by the second wireless station, and wherein the configuration data message is transmitted by the second wireless station within a settable time interval in response to the second station receiving the configuration request message after the second station waits for a backoff time interval,
• such that the first wireless station can be configured,
• wherein the transmitting of the discovery message by the second wireless station includes:
• the second wireless station wirelessly transmitting the discovery message at a first output RF power level;
• the second wireless station waiting for a configuration request message;
• in the case that no configuration request message is wirelessly received by the second wireless station within a period of time, wirelessly re-transmitting the discovery message at a higher output RF power level;
• and
• the second wireless station repeating such waiting and re-transmitting until either a maximum output RF power level has been reached or a configuration request message has been wirelessly received by the second wireless station,
• such that the range of reception of the wirelessly transmitted configuration data message is limited.