Virtualized Wireless AP Management Console for Remote Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless access points (APs) can halt due to software failures or module failures, leading to loss of remote management access, making it difficult to resume Wi-Fi service, especially when physically accessing the AP is challenging due to its location or remote distance from the wireless AP controller (AC).
Innovation Solution
Implementing virtual wireless access points with a host hardware platform and a hypervisor that runs a first virtual machine with a guest operating system for managing wireless connections, along with a wireless AP management console outside the guest OS to manage operations and maintain remote access, even when the guest OS or Wi-Fi module fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If wireless APs are deployed in remote or hard-to-access locations, then wireless coverage is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the AP system into a headend component (containing management console and virtualization platform) and remote AP components (wireless modules). The headend is located at an easily accessible central location, while wireless functions are distributed to remote APs. This allows centralized management and recovery capabilities to be separated from the remote wireless access points, resolving the contradiction between wide coverage and ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a headend as an intermediary between the central controller and remote APs. The headend runs a management console that can remotely manage and recover APs through virtual machine operations. This intermediary provides the necessary management capabilities at a centralized location while allowing APs to be deployed remotely, eliminating the need for physical access to recover failed APs.
2Device complexity
If conventional AP management is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The management functionality is segmented into a separate headend component that runs independently from the APs. The headend contains the management console and virtualization platform, while APs only handle wireless functions. This segmentation ensures that management operations can continue from the headend even if individual APs fail, improving reliability without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary recovery actions by maintaining virtual machine images and management capabilities at the headend before failures occur. When an AP fails, the headend can immediately initiate recovery operations using pre-prepared virtual machine images and configurations, ensuring continuous management access without waiting for physical access or manual intervention.
3Reliability
If virtualization is implemented in APs, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex virtualization and management console functions from the remote APs and places them in a centralized headend. The APs themselves remain relatively simple wireless access points without virtualization overhead. This extraction maintains the reliability benefits of virtualization (through centralized management and recovery capabilities) while avoiding the complexity burden on individual remote AP devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Wireless access point (AP) and methods for providing wireless connectivity to wireless client are provided. According to one embodiment, a wireless AP includes a host hardware platform and a hypervisor for providing a first virtual machine where a first guest operating system (OS) is configured to run on the first virtual machine. A wireless module is configured to run on the first guest OS for managing the wireless connection to at least one wireless client. A wireless AP management console is configured to run on the wireless AP but outside the first guest OS and to manage operations of the wireless module and the first guest OS.