Trapeze Networks, Inc.

Juniper Networks, Inc.

Stan Chesnutt

Gary Eugene Morain

James Michael Murphy

Allan Thomson

Matthew Stuart Gast

Dan Harkins

Jamsheed Bugwadia

Yun Freund

Dan Simone

Roy Gignac

Tim Kolar

Edward S Harriman, Jr

James Murphy

A technique for implementing AP-local dynamic switching involves Layer 2 switching. This may be accomplished by providing data associated with wireless stations to an AP sufficient to enable the AP to determine whether traffic from a particular wireless station should be locally switched. Alternatively, the wireless station may be able to determine whether to locally switch traffic based upon the traffic itself. For example, it may be desirable to AP-locally switch voice traffic to avoid latency, which is particularly detrimental to voice transmissions such as voiceover-IP. Traffic that is not to be switched locally is Layer 2 tunneled upstream.

AP-local dynamic switching

A technique for implementing an untethered access point (UAP) mesh involves enabling AP-local switching at one or more UAPs of the mesh. A system constructed according to the technique may include an untethered access point (UAP), including: a radio; a backhaul service set identifier (SSID) stored in a computer-readable medium; an anchor access point (AAP) selection engine embodied in a computer-readable medium. In operation, the AAP selection engine may use the radio to attempt to associate with the AAP if a beaconed backhaul SSID matches the stored backhaul SSID. A method according to the technique may include beaconing with a backhaul SSID; acting in concert with an upstream switch as an authenticator for a downstream station that responds to the beacon; providing limited local switching functionality for the downstream station.

Untethered access point mesh system and method

A technique for implementing AP-local dynamic switching involves Layer 2 switching. This may be accomplished by providing data associated with wireless stations to an AP sufficient to enable the AP to determine whether traffic from a particular wireless station should be locally switched. Alternatively, the wireless station may be able to determine whether to locally switch traffic based upon the traffic itself. For example, it may be desirable to AP-locally switch voice traffic to avoid latency, which is particularly detrimental to voice transmissions such as voice-over-IP. Traffic that is not to be switched locally is Layer 2 tunneled upstream.

A technique for implementing an untethered access point (UAP) mesh involves enabling AP-local switching at one or more UAPs of the mesh. A system constructed according to the technique may include a wireless switch; an access point (AP) wire-coupled to the wireless switch; and a UAP mesh, wirelessly coupled to the AP, including a UAP with an AP-local switching engine embodied in a computer-readable medium. Another system constructed according to the technique may include an untethered access point (UAP), including: a radio; a backhaul service set identifier (SSID) stored in a computer-readable medium; an anchor access point (AAP) selection engine embodied in a computer-readable medium. In operation, the AAP selection engine may use the radio to attempt to associate with the AAP if a beaconed backhaul SSID matches the stored backhaul SSID. A method according to the technique may include beaconing with a backhaul SSID; acting in concert with an upstream switch as an authenticator for a downstream station that responds to the beacon; providing limited local switching functionality for the downstream station.

A technique for dynamically responding to threats in a wireless network involves deploying a single network including APs capable of booting from a plurality of software images. Individual APs can switch (or be switched) between multiple sets of software so that network managers can select the AP software most appropriate for a given instance. For example, if a threat is detected, multiple APs can be switched to sensor mode to deal with the threat. As another example, all of the APs can be switched to sensor mode after hours. Alternatively, a server can provide the software image(s) needed for an AP to operate in accordance with a desired functionality.

Application-aware wireless network system and method

Various embodiments are discussed for approaches to transparent mobility, which attempts to permit a wireless station to be handed off between wireless access points without packet loss, without noticeable delay to the station user, and/or without loss of session continuity.

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Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Stan Chesnutt