Apparatus and methods for monitoring and diagnosing a wireless network

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for monitoring a wireless local area network (WLAN) to identify inoperative or degraded devices and restore network connectivity to end users. In one embodiment, the network includes one or more access points (APs) in data communication with a cable modem, which in turn communicates with managed network entities via a backhaul connection. Each AP is configured to provide connectivity to client devices, as well as monitor the operation of other network components including the cable modem, via logic indigenous to the AP, and invoke corrective action when failures or degraded performance is detected. In one variant, the logic operative to run on the AP includes both diagnostic and self-healing functionality, so as to enable at least partial automated diagnosis, localization, and recovery from faults, thereby obviating costly troubleshooting by the network operator or service personnel.