# US 7,613,119 B2 · Self-configurable wireless local area network node > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,613,119 B2 - Document ID: US7613119B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/321,393 - Filed: 2005-12-29 - Published: 2006-10-12 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-04-11 - Assignees: InterDigital Technology Corporation - Inventors: Juan Carlos Zuniga; Marian Rudolf; Shamim Akbar Rahman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613119B2 ## CPC - H04W 24/02: Arrangements for optimising operational condition - H04L 69/24: Negotiation of communication capabilities - H04W 88/08: Access point devices - H04W 88/12: Access point controller devices - H04W 92/12: between access points and access point controllers - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract In a wireless local area network including an access controller (AC) and an access points (AP), the AC transmits a functionality inquiry to the AP. Upon receiving the inquiry, the AP transmits a query response including the functional capabilities of the AP. The AC then generates a map of the functional capabilities present in the network based on the inquiry response. Conflicting or redundant functional capabilities are identified and are disabled, enabled, or reconfigured by instructions from the AC. The AC may selectively enable and/or disable functional capabilities at nodes in the network to provide a more balanced load on the network, and to provide for load sharing by allocating functionalities between and among network nodes having common functional capabilities to satisfy a variety of situations encountered in the network. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method implemented in an access controller (AC) for configuring nodes in a wireless local area network, comprising: transmitting a functionality inquiry; receiving a response to the functionality inquiry, the response including functional capabilities of an access point (AP), wherein the functional capabilities include media access control layer functionalities; mapping the functional capabilities of the AP as if the AP had all possible functional capabilities on a condition that a response to the functional inquiry is not received after a predetermined time; determining whether a capability conflict exists between the functional capabilities of the AP and the functional capabilities of the AC, wherein a conflict can include redundant capabilities between the AP and the AC; and resolving the capability conflict. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: storing the functional capabilities of the AP. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising: transmitting a capabilities disable message. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, further comprising: receiving an acknowledgement, wherein the acknowledgement indicates that the AP has successfully disabled the conflicting capabilities. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising: transmitting a capabilities reconfiguration message. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, further comprising: receiving an acknowledgement, wherein the acknowledgement indicates that the AP has successfully reconfigured the conflicting capabilities. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: setting a timer in response to the functionality inquiry being transmitted; determining that the timer has expired; and mapping the functional capabilities of the AP as if the AP had all possible capabilities, the mapping being performed after the timer expires. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: halting support of services to the AP on a condition that no functional inquiry response is received after the predetermined time. ### Claim 9 An access controller (AC) for configuring nodes in a wireless local area network, comprising: a transceiver; an inquiry device configured to transmit functional capability inquiry messages to an access point (AP) in the network, wherein the functional capabilities include media access control layer functionalities; a capability mapping device configured to receive functional capability inquiry response messages from the AP and to map the functional capabilities of the AP; a capability evaluating device configured to determine whether a functional capability conflict exists between the AP and the AC; and a timer configured to: start in response to the inquiry device transmitting the functional capability inquiry message; and alert the capability mapping device in response to the timer expiring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The AC according to claim 9, wherein the capability evaluating device is further configured to transmit functional capability disabling or reconfiguring messages. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The AC according to claim 9, wherein the capability mapping device is configured to determine whether the response message has been received and on a condition that no response message has been received, the capability mapping device is further configured to map the functional capabilities of the AP as if the AP had all possible capabilities.