Wireless Mesh Access Point Self-Configuration via Beacon Encapsulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless network installations require costly and time-consuming surveys to ensure adequate coverage, which can be inaccurate, leading to areas with poor or no coverage.
Innovation Solution
A wireless network system that includes wireless access ports capable of encapsulating wireless data packets into wired data packets and further encapsulating them into second wireless data packets, allowing them to be transmitted between wireless and wired access points, eliminating the need for prior installation surveys by enabling self-configuration and centralized management through a wireless switch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless network installation surveys are conducted to ensure adequate coverage, then coverage reliability is improved, but installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Wireless access ports automatically perform survey functions by listening to beacon frames from other access ports and autonomously determining their positions and coverage areas without requiring manual survey equipment or personnel. The system self-configures by exchanging capability information and calculating optimal channel assignments independently.
Solution Approach 2:
Beacon frames serve as intermediary carriers that transmit position information, capability data, and coverage information between wireless access ports. These standardized frames enable automatic survey by allowing access ports to extract necessary information from overheard beacons without direct interaction or manual measurement.
2Measurement precision
If manual wireless network surveys are performed to determine coverage areas, then measurement precision is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical survey equipment (such as spectrum analyzers, signal strength meters, and manual measurement tools) with electronic information exchange through beacon frames. Wireless access ports use software-based signal processing to calculate coverage areas and positions automatically, eliminating the need for specialized physical survey instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of physically measuring coverage areas with survey equipment, the system creates virtual representations of coverage zones by processing information contained in beacon frames. Each access port generates a digital model of its coverage area based on transmitted power, antenna characteristics, and observed signal strengths from neighboring ports, replacing physical measurement with information-based modeling.
3Adaptability or versatility
If access ports perform all wireless network functions independently, then system flexibility is improved, but management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides network management functions into two segments: autonomous local functions (surveys, position determination, capability advertisement) performed by individual wireless access ports, and centralized coordination functions (configuration validation, global optimization, authentication) performed by a central controller. This segmentation allows flexibility at the access port level while maintaining simplified centralized management.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the central controller directly manage each access port's configuration, the system inverts the traditional hierarchy by allowing access ports to autonomously perform survey and configuration functions, then report results to the controller for validation. The controller manages the network by receiving and coordinating information from access ports rather than directly configuring each device, simplifying centralized management while maintaining flexibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system comprises a wireless switch, a plurality of wired access ports and a plurality of wireless access ports. The plurality of wired access ports are coupled to the wireless switch via a wired connection and are configured to receive data over the wired connection and over a wireless connection. The plurality of wireless access ports are configured to receive data over the wireless connection from the wireless access port and to send data over the wireless connection to the wired access port. The wireless access ports are further configured to receive and encapsulate first wireless data packets in to first wired data packets based on a wired transmission protocol and encapsulate the first wired data packets into second wireless data packets based on a wireless transmission protocol.