Managed access point protocol
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsPatrice R. Calhoun, Scott G. Kelly, Rohit Kumar Suri
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Abstract
Methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating deployment and configuration of managed access points in hierarchical wireless network systems. An embodiment of the invention facilitates deployment and configuration of conventional, substantially autonomous access points operating in connection with a central management node, such as a server or appliance. In another embodiment, the present invention facilitates deployment and configuration of light-weight access points in a hierarchical wireless network system. In one embodiment, the present invention also provides a streamlined encryption key exchange protocol adapted to hierarchical wireless network system architectures.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- at an access element in a wireless local area network, sending a discovery request to one or more central control elements for the wireless local area network;
- waiting a threshold period of time for discovery responses from the one or more central control elements;
- selecting a central control element that sends a discovery response, wherein selecting is based on priority according to:
- (1) first, a primary central control element, if configured;
- (2) second, a master central control element;
- and (3) third, a central control element reporting a smallest load;
- wherein the master central control element is a central control element exclusively tasked with the configuration of access elements.
A system comprising:
- one or more central control elements for a wireless local area network;
- an access element in the wireless local area network;
- wherein the access element is configured to:
- send a discovery request to the one or more central control elements for the wireless local area network;
- wait a threshold period of time for discovery responses from the one or more central control elements;
- and
- select a central control element that sends a discovery response, based on priority according to:
- (1) first, a primary central control element, if configured;
- (2) second, a master central control element;
- and (3) third, a central control element reporting a smallest load;
- wherein the master central control element is a central control element exclusively tasked with the configuration of access elements in the wireless local area network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.