Wireless Access Point Radio Failover for Wired Link Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless network topologies lack failover capabilities to maintain connectivity when a wired Ethernet link fails, leading to loss of connection for access points and their associated client nodes, reducing service availability and bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enables selective reconfiguration of radios in access points from an access mode to a backhaul mode upon detection of a wired link failure, allowing for alternative communication paths through neighboring access points, ensuring continuous connectivity for client nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radios in access points are statically configured in access mode, then client node connectivity is maximized, but failover capability against wired link failures is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic radio configuration where radios can switch between access mode and backhaul mode based on detected wired link status. When a wired link failure is detected, the system dynamically reconfigures radios from static access mode to backhaul mode to establish wireless mesh paths, thereby achieving failover capability while maintaining operational flexibility.
2Reliability
If one radio is dedicated to backhaul mode, then wired link failure recovery is enabled, but access service capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes radios multi-functional by enabling them to operate in either access mode or backhaul mode as needed. Rather than dedicating specific radios to fixed functions, any radio can be dynamically assigned to backhaul mode when wired link failures occur, allowing the same hardware resources to serve both access and backhaul functions under different conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of radios based on network conditions. When wired link failures are detected, radio parameters are changed from access mode configuration to backhaul mode configuration, enabling the same physical radio to adapt its function and maintain network connectivity without reducing overall system capacity.
3Productivity
If all access points use wired backhaul connections, then network performance is optimized, but service continuity is vulnerable to wired link failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares backup wireless backhaul paths in advance by enabling radios to operate in backhaul mode when needed. Although wired connections are the primary performance-optimized path, the system pre-configures the capability to switch to wireless mesh paths, cushioning against potential wired link failures and ensuring service continuity without sacrificing normal operational performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and corresponding system for providing for recovering from a failure of a wired link used for communication between the first access point and a wired network. The first access point has at least two radios including a first radio and a second radio each for providing a wireless communications link. The method including selectively configuring the radios in an access mode for enabling a communications path with a corresponding client node to enable each client node to have a communication path via the first access point to the wired network, wherein the first and second radios are enabled to be associated with a first and second client node, respectively. The method and system includes providing communications paths for the client nodes to the wired network in response to detection of loss of the wired link to the first access point by selectively reconfiguring the second radio to a backhaul mode.