Method for wireless network self-configuration
AssigneeAvaya Holdings Limited
InventorDaniel John MacDonald
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method for wireless communications network self-configuration. A preferred embodiment comprises determining a state for communications links in the communications network, entering a normal operating mode, and periodically repeating. The determining of communications link state creates a set of shortest paths connecting each access point in the communications network to a wired access point. If a change in the communications network is detected, the connectivity of each access point to the wired access point is verified and the method is repeated to create a potentially new set of shortest paths. Automatic configuration is enabled to provide a measure of fault tolerance.
Claims17
A method for configuring a communications network comprising a plurality of access points, the method comprising:
- determining communications link state in the communications network, wherein the determination of communications link state comprises, at each access point,
- (a) transmitting, by the access point, a message on a default link of the access point to a wired access point, wherein the default link is a communications link that is part of a shortest path from the access point to the wired access point;
- (b) marking, by the access point, a state of the default link with a first hierarchical indicator, wherein the first hierarchical indicator represents a rating of the default link in a hierarchical scale;
- (c) marking a state of one communications link with a second hierarchical indicator in response to a receipt of a message on the one communications link, wherein the second hierarchical indicator represents a rating of the one communications link in the hierarchical scale;
- (d) after the marking of said state of said one communications link, marking a state of another communications link with a third hierarchical indicator in response to not receiving a message on the another communications link for a specified period of time, wherein the third hierarchical indicator represents a lower hierarchical value than either the first hierarchical indicator or the second hierarchical indicator;
- and
- (e) disabling communications links with states not marked with either the first hierarchical indicator or the second hierarchical indicator;
- entering a normal operating mode;
- and
- periodically repeating the determining and entering steps.
A method for determining communications link state in a communications network comprising a plurality of access points, the method comprising at each access point in the communications network:
- transmitting, by the access point, a maintenance message on a default link of the access point to a wired access point, wherein the default link is a communications link that is part of a shortest path from the access point to the wired access point;
- marking, by the access point, a state of the default link with a first hierarchical indicator, wherein the first hierarchical indicator represents a rating of the default link in a hierarchical scale;
- marking a state of one communications link with a second hierarchical indicator in response to a receipt of a message on the one communications link, wherein the second hierarchical indicator represents a rating of the one communications link in the hierarchical scale;
- marking a state of another communications link with a third hierarchical indicator in response to not receiving a message on the another communications link for a specified period of time, wherein the third hierarchical indicator indicates a lesser quality communications link than either the first hierarchical indictor or the second hierarchical indicator;
- disabling any communications links with states marked with the third hierarchical indicator;
- and
- periodically repeating the transmitting and marking steps.
A method for determining communications link state in a communications network, wherein the communications network comprises a plurality of access points, wherein each access point has a maximum number of allowed links, the method comprising at each access point in the communications network:
- transmitting, by the access point, a message on a default link of the access point to a wired access point, wherein the default link is a communications link that is part of a shortest path from the access point to the wired access point;
- marking, by the access point, a state of the default link with a first hierarchical indicator, wherein the first hierarchical indicator represents a rating of the default link in a hierarchical scale;
- and
- marking a state of one communications link with a second hierarchical indicator in response to a receipt of a message on the one communications link, wherein the second hierarchical indicator represents a rating of the one communications link in the hierarchical scale;
- after the marking of the states of the communications links with the first hierarchical indicator or the second hierarchical indicator, marking the state of all communications links not already marked with the first hierarchical indicator or the second hierarchical indicator with a third hierarchical indicator in response to an elapsing of a specified interval of time;
- disabling any communications links with states marked with the third hierarchical indicator;
- and
- periodically repeating the transmitting and marking steps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.