Access Point Controller Discovery via Token-Based Registration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for automatically discovering a controller in large-scale WiFi networks are time-consuming and complex, often requiring additional server configurations and are challenging when access points belong to different organizations with different controllers.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a device registration platform where controllers are authenticated and authorized through an authorization service, receiving an authorization token, and providing network addresses and access point identifiers, allowing access points to efficiently discover and connect with registered controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual configuration of controller network address is used, then setup accuracy is improved, but setup time increases significantly in large-scale networks
Solution Approach 1:
The access point performs automatic self-configuration by discovering and selecting a controller autonomously through listening to beacon frames and processing discovery responses, eliminating the need for manual network address configuration by administrators
Solution Approach 2:
Controllers pre-register themselves with the medium access controller before access points need to connect, storing their network addresses and capabilities in advance so that access points can quickly discover and connect to appropriate controllers without manual intervention
2Ease of operation
If DHCP option 43 or DNS registration is used to advertise controller address, then automatic discovery is improved, but system complexity increases due to external server configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The controller discovery and selection logic is extracted from external servers (DHCP/DNS) and embedded directly in the access point and controller devices themselves, eliminating dependency on external server configurations
Solution Approach 2:
A standardized medium access controller serves as an intermediary that receives registrations from controllers and provides discovery responses to access points, simplifying the interaction model compared to direct DHCP/DNS configurations
3Area of stationary object
If access points from different organizations share the same subnet, then network coverage is improved, but controller discovery becomes difficult due to multiple controllers in different subnets
Solution Approach 1:
The medium access controller provides universal registration and discovery services that work across multiple organizational domains and subnets, allowing access points from different organizations to discover appropriate controllers regardless of network boundaries
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a registration dimension beyond simple subnet broadcasting, allowing controllers to be discovered across different network subnets through centralized registration with the medium access controller
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for facilitating automatic discovery of a controller device by one or more access points of a network, thereby providing a more secure and easier deployment of the access points. For example, a method may include receiving an indication of an authorization grant by a networking device; requesting, by the networking device, an authorization token from a remote authorization service; obtaining, by the networking device and from the remote authorization service, the requested authorization token; and transmitting, by the networking device and to a device registrar, a request to register the networking device with the device registrar, where the request includes the authorization token.