The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 15, 2008
Filed:
Dec. 23, 2003
Paul Harrison Benson, Raleigh, NC (US);
Cory Allen Chapman, Raleigh, NC (US);
James Stephen Rutledge, Durham, NC (US);
Ken Scott Seethaler, Raleigh, NC (US);
Paul Harrison Benson, Raleigh, NC (US);
Cory Allen Chapman, Raleigh, NC (US);
James Stephen Rutledge, Durham, NC (US);
Ken Scott Seethaler, Raleigh, NC (US);
Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore, SG;
Abstract
The present invention provides a 'smart' AP, whereby the AP periodically checks its connection with a network and, if a determination is made that the connection between the AP and the network server has been lost, an indication of this loss of connection is made available to all wireless stations connected to the AP. In a preferred embodiment, the indication given to the wireless stations is in the form of an SSID change. When the AP detects the loss of network connection, it automatically changes its SSID from a primary SSID to an alternative SSID. The wireless stations receive the alternative SSID and, since they are configured to connect to the primary SSID, immediately and automatically begin to search for another AP in the system that is using the primary SSID, and then connect to AP having the strongest signal. In one embodiment, the alternative SSID's can be selected so as to provide diagnostic assistance to a person attempting repairs to the faulty AP/network connection.